“Shoot! You’re open!”

We’ve all heard it.

Players hear it. Coaches yell it. Parents scream it from the stands.

But what if that’s the exact opposite of what great basketball teaches?

A few weeks ago, I interviewed Coach Iurgi Caminos — Head Coach of Taiwan’s Taoyuan Pilots and a seasoned Spanish coach who’s worked across Europe and Asia.

And he said something that instantly reframed the way I look at player development:

That line hit hard.

It’s a mindset shift. A culture shift. And maybe, the most overlooked lesson in Asian basketball today.

Why Most Players Don’t Know What to Do Without a Play

In many parts of Asia—Malaysia, Taiwan, and beyond—we’ve built systems around tactical execution, not decision-making.

Players are trained to memorize sets:

• Run horns.
• Set a screen.
• Go to this spot.
• Pass to that teammate.

It’s all scripted. But here’s the problem:

What happens when defenders take away those options?

I’ve seen it happen a thousand times. The moment a play breaks down, players freeze. The coach’s instructions are gone. The instinct isn’t there. And you end up with turnovers, bad shots, or worse—players looking at the bench asking, “What do I do now?”

The Spanish Way: Train Decision-Making, Not Playbooks

That’s where Spain (and probably the European) does things differently.

From U10 onwards, players aren’t just taught how to play.…They’re taught how to think on the court.

Spanish coaches use small-sided games like 3-on-2 or 2-on-1, not to run plays, but to force players into constant decision-making scenarios. Every pass, dribble, and shot is a choice—not just a task to execute.

And coaches ask the same critical question:

It’s not about running the right play. It’s about reading the right situation.

Why Our System Kills Basketball IQ

Here’s another critical point: It’s not just about what we teach—it’s also about how often and when we teach it.

Many youth players in Asia play 6 games in 7 days, then go weeks without games. There’s no rhythm. No structure to reflect, practice, and repeat.

In Spain? One game per week. Plenty of time for reflection, mistake correction, and thoughtful development.

In the coach’s own words:

In Asia, the game is treated like the final exam.

In Spain, it’s part of the learning loop — an ongoing feedback system.

Or put another way:

Real-World Example: The Victor Sada Principle

Coach Caminos shared a story of Victor Sada, a former FC Barcelona point guard who wasn’t a strong shooter—but still had a great pro career.

Why?

Because he played to his strengths. He didn’t force shots just because he was “open.” He made decisions that helped the team win. He created advantages. He understood spacing. He was a smart basketball player.

Let that sink in.

You’re open because the defense wants you to shoot.

Sada understood that. Most players don’t.

And that’s what separates high-IQ players from highlight-chasers.

How the Pilots Rewired Their Basketball Culture

When Coach Caminos arrived at the Pilots, he didn’t overhaul the team with complex tactics. He started small—creating a culture where players were encouraged to think, make mistakes, and grow.

No rigid sets. No overcoaching. Just film, repetition, and feedback.

Every week, post-game video reviews became learning labs.

Not to criticize, but to analyze:

After three years, the results speak for themselves:

Players became more confident, more adaptable, more independent on the court.

That’s what player development really looks like.

Practical Advice for Coaches (and Players)

Here’s what you can apply right now:

• Be repetitive, not reactive: Don’t change drills every week. Repeat situations until players make better choices instinctively.
• Ask 'why' more than 'what': Don’t just tell players what they did wrong—ask what they saw, what they were trying to do.
• Teach with positive language: Avoid saying "Don’t do that." Say, "Do this, because…" → This builds understanding, not fear.
• Give space for mistakes: Mistakes aren’t failure—they’re the starting point of learning. Don’t bench players the moment they mess up.
• Design drills with decisions, not instructions: Force players to choose between options. The more decisions they make, the better they become.

Raise Basketball IQ, Not Just Points Per Game

If there’s one thing I took away from this conversation, it’s this:

Great basketball isn’t about running plays—it’s about solving problems.

And the best players aren’t just fast or strong. They’re the ones who know when to pass, when to shoot, when to wait, and when to create.

If we want to raise the level of basketball in Malaysia, this is where it begins—not with more drills, but with more thinking.

Listen to the Full Podcast

This is just a glimpse. The full interview with Coach Caminos is packed with insights on youth development, Spanish coaching philosophy, and what Asia can truly learn.

Watch here 👇🏾

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Let me know what you think after you watch. Better yet, share it with a coach who needs to hear this.

Thank you for reading.

— Jordan

中文版

不是每個空檔都值得出手！

「快投啊，你有空檔！」你一定聽過這句話吧？但西班牙教練卡米諾斯卻說：「你會被放空，是有原因的。」

這句話真的值得反思。

亞洲籃球最常忽略的一課：決策力

在亞洲，我們太習慣跑戰術、照表操課，但忽略了「怎麼做決策」才是比賽的核心。卡總說得很直白：「你不是有空檔，而是被放空。」如果你不是一個好射手，那這個空檔其實是陷阱，不是機會。

西班牙為何能打出高水準籃球？

他們從U10開始就訓練決策力。不是只教怎麼跑位，而是教孩子「為什麼這樣做」。一個球員是否該投籃，不取決於空檔，而取決於他的技能和比賽情境。他舉了Victor Sada的例子——他不是射手，但靠其他貢獻打出職業生涯。

亞洲籃球制度的問題

卡總也批評亞洲青訓的結構問題：

• 一週內連打五六場比賽
• 接著一個月沒比賽

這樣的節奏無法幫助球員進步。比賽應該是檢驗學習的工具，不是最終目標。

西班牙一週只打一場比賽，剩下時間是訓練、錯誤修正和思考的黃金期。

教練該怎麼做？

• 給球員時間成長
• 講清楚「為什麼」而不是只說不要
• 重複再重複，錯誤是最好的教材
• 用正向語言教學，不是一直說「不准這樣做」

給你一個反思：

你的球員，是在解決問題，還是只是照指令動作？

如果你真心想看到進步，先改變「怎麼教」才是關鍵。

👉 [點這裡觀看完整訪談]

感謝你花時間閱讀。

— Jordan