The best teams often do not have a starting unit  of their best individual players.  Instead they have a unit of   players who play together best.  Basketball is a team game that requires many skills such as shooting, ball handling, passing, rebounding,  defense and stamina.

A top team requires all of these skills.   Some players possess all these skills to a high level, but it is rare that this is found in each of a team’s five best scorers.  Unlike football which has offensive and defensive players, basketball players have to play both sides of the game.

It is the job of a coach to determine which players mesh  best.   Certain players have a unique chemistry that enables them to anticipate the moves of others and fit together so well.  A smart coach has to rely on more than his starting five.  He has to work at least three substitutes into his game plan so his team is able to keep up a good pace and be strong at crunch time.

Last season’s NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder are a great example of a team that plays together and also relies on its bench.  The three top players, Shai Gilgeous Alexander was the leading scorer and assist man, Jalen Williams, second leading scorer and all-league defender and Chet Holmgren, leading defensive player and rebounder. are the core of the team and are all- around players.  They are backed by at least seven highly skilled players and future prospects..

The Thunder are led by a General Manager Sam Presti and Coach Mark Daigeiault, who built the team and established such good rapport on the team.  They should be favorites to win for several years because of their youth and togetherness.

While they play certain players more, they never forget that a major aim is to develop young players for the future.  They are also very astute in making trades if they feel it will benefit the team, such as getting Alex Caruso from the Bulls and Isaiah Hartenstein

from the New York Knicks.  In summary, players, management and the coaching staff are responsible for the teamwork of the Thunder.  They have a culture with a very strong foundation.