NBA Team-Building: The 3 Pillars Approach

I've spent a lot of time thinking about optimal strategies for putting together the most balanced team that exists in harmony. The inspiration: these 2021 Phoenix Suns. Sculpted through the draft, free agency/ trade and patience, this piece isn't meant to go over the acquisition methods and salary cap balances necessary to make a roster hit its stride at the right time.

Instead, we'll discuss the actual mesh on-court and how different positions, skill sets and organizational culture come together to formulate the optimal on-court product. Let's start with the most simplistic, obvious statement to make, but one that is necessary to state: the optimal on-court product is a championship-caliber team. The second obvious statement that also needs to be said: star players win championships.

There's an oversimplification that centers on players either being stars or supporting cast, meaning that only two types of players exist. While it's true that stars anchor these runs, there are ways to win without having a collection of star power. Furthermore, a group of excellent role players, cohesion and identity helps make up for the lack of a star.

In trying to encapsulate this entire concept, I've come up with a model that I believe illustrates how to best build a roster and is flexible enough to bend to the differences in constructing a successful team: the 3 Pillars Approach.

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