(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
As many of you are aware, I’ve been working on my next book, The WE Gear. It is about the art of being a good teammate and shifting your focus from me to we.
During the course of my research for the book, Kendrick Perkins’ name keeps coming up. Last week, I had a chance to sit down and chat with the NBA veteran and gain some valuable insight into the mindset of a renowned good teammate.
I realize that not everyone who reads my blog is a diehard sports fan, and some of you may therefore not recognize the name.
Kendrick Perkins, or “Perk” as he is often more affectionately known, has been a common denominator on some of the most successful teams in the NBA over the past decade.
He was a key component of the Boston Celtics’ 2008 World Championship team. He also played a role in helping the Oklahoma City Thunder (2012) and Cleveland Cavaliers (2015) reach the NBA Finals.
The 6’10” center has been a respected teammate of several future Hall of Famers, including LeBron James, Kevin Garnett, and Kevin Durant—all of which have publicly made note of the unique value he brought to their respective teams.
A Sports Illustrated: The Crossover article titled “Oral History: Kendrick Perkins, the NBA’s Best Teammate” quoted reigning league MVP Russell Westbrook as saying Perkins is “the type of guy that’s willing to do whatever it takes to help your teammates.”
While you will have to wait for the release of The WE Gear to gain access to the full insight of what I learned from my discussion with Perkins, I will share one tidbit that he gave me to which I’ve become particularly fixated.
I asked him what specifically he thought his good teammate “superpower” was, and he described being able to “lose myself in the team.”
Lose myself in the team.
Think about that. We live in a society where people are always trying to find themselves. When you consider the growing opioid epidemic and all of the other afflictions affecting our society, it would seem as though many of us are simply looking in the wrong places.
As Perkins points out, the key to being a good teammate, and ultimately acquiring happiness in life, isn’t finding yourself, it’s losing yourself…in your team.
It’s setting your ego aside and settling into the role your team needs from you. It’s serving the needs of your team.
I prefer to conduct face-to-face interviews when I am doing research. I like to see the passion in the other person’s eyes and hear the sincerity in their voice. I noticed both of those when I spoke to Kendrick Perkins about this topic.
It’s hard not to be inspired by his unwavering commitment to being a good teammate, regardless of his surroundings or his situation. I think we could all learn something from this big man, with the even bigger heart.
As always, remember: Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.
