Ep. 322 David Thorpe pt. 2, The Godfather of Player Development

This week Coach Brendan Suhr continues the conversation with David Thorpe—widely regarded as the “Godfather of Player Development”—and the two dive even deeper into what it actually takes to help players grow and succeed at every level.Thorpe breaks down the daily habits that separate real developers from drill collectors, why ball handling is non-negotiable for every position, and the simple truths young players must embrace to earn trust. He also shares his blueprint for what an NBA player development staff should look like, why so many programs miss the mark, and how great coaches keep players grounded—especially when they’re struggling.The conversation closes with powerful insight on the assistant coach role. This episode is truly a masterclass in building players—and building a staff that actually develops them.All that and more on episode 322 of the Coaching U Podcast presented by Noah Basketball.Learn more about David's PTC Virtual programNoah Basketball is trusted by 28 NBA teams, over 200 NCAA programs, and over 1,000 high school programs to capture and analyze key shooting metrics to help your players perfect their shot and reach their max potential.Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠noahbasketball.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📧 Want plays delivered directly to your email inbox each morning? We just launched our FREE Give & Go Newsletter - sign up today to start receiving plays each day!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to sign up⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🏀 Work on Your Game with Coaching U+Now’s your chance to watch every speaker, every session, and learn every strategy shared at this year’s clinics anytime, anywhere, on any device!Watch NOW: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coachingulive.com/plus⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Not a member? Save 20% off your membership to Coaching U+ by using promo code PODCAST20 at checkout🚨 We're also trying out something new for Coaching U Live 2026... and you can register now for the lowest price we have ever offered!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CLICK HERE to learn more