Q&A With G League Ignite Head Coach Jason Hart: Lessons Learned From Hall-of-Fame Coaches And Progression Of Team's Prospects

In a Q&A with The Call-Up, Ignite Head Jason Hart discusses his journey in basketball, lessons learned from playing under legendary head coaches, and the progression of the Ignite's prospects.

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Note: This interview was done on February 16th before the G League Ignite played games against the Cleveland Charge and Santa Cruz Warriors.

Dakota Schmidt: How did you fall in love with the game of basketball?

Jason Hart: I think it’s just something that came naturally. My dad played high school basketball and introduced it to my brothers and I when we were really young. Growing up in the same city where the Lakers played we really couldn’t help but like it. 

JH: Looking back, what are some of your memories of your time playing for Jim Boeheim at Syracuse?

DS:: I had great memories, man. We won a lot of games and I really learned a lot by being around a Hall-of-Fame coach. He really kept us even-keel and always was able to prepare us to play in those big games. 

DS: What kind of things did you learn from Coach Boeheim? 

JH: I learned how to prepare and be able to compete at all times. 

DS: Over the course of your pro career, you played with nine different NBA teams. What kept you focused and committed to your craft with the immense stress that came from that uncertainty?

JH: Just the love of the game, man. Just wanting to keep that love of playing basketball going. At times it did get frustrating but the love of the game and playing basketball kept me going and my eyes on that prize. 

DS: As a player, you played for Hall of Fame coaches like Boeheim, George Karl, Gregg Popovich, Rick Adelman, and Jerry Sloan. How did the work of all those men help guide you on your journey as a player?

JH: They helped me a lot, man. Helped me even more because I’m a coach now since they were always fair and always had plans in place on the days of practice and preparations for games. So it was good to see how they were all perfectionists in their own crafts. 

DS: Is there anything else that you learned from a tactical or personal side of the game that you have carried over to your work? 

JH: It’s more so how you treat men. Being able to understand and support them on their daily walk through life because at the next level you’re dealing with men. Each of those coaches also showed great respect for each individual that they coached and went about it in a professional way. 

DS: After your last season in 2010, what led you to immediately make the transition into the world of coaching? 

JH: Playing point guard, you’re always somewhat of a coach so I feel like it was a natural progression to go into coaching and see what I can do. I’ve always loved the game so that was always a goal for me. 

DS: As you’ve gone from coaching high school to working as an assistant for Marty Wilson (Pepperdine) and Andy Enfield (USC), how do you think you’ve grown when it comes to you as a person and your craft as a coach? 

JH: I feel like I’ve grown tremendously. With coaching, it builds patience and I feel like that has been something that’s helped me the most. Just having patience with knowing that not everything is going right all the time. The ability to counter and react in a positive way to where the team doesn’t get discouraged. So I feel like patience is the biggest area where I’ve grown. 

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DS: What was the mental process adjusting from being an assistant to being the head coach of a team of players?

JH: For me, it was all about being prepared as much as possible and studying the craft of coaching because I wasn’t experienced. By doing that, it allowed me to grow quicker. Being prepared daily and studying the craft are two things that I tried to do being that it was going to be my 1st year as a head coach. 

DS: In terms of preparing and studying your craft, much did you know about the prospects before you took the gig?

JH: I knew about all of those prospects. Scoot was a little younger but I was a college recruiter so our job is to know about every player  in the United States. I knew about all of those players prior to taking the job because they were all highly recruited players in high school. The only one I didn’t know about was Dyson Daniels being that he was in Australia. 

DS: At the time of your hiring, the team already had signed their top high school talent. What type of input on the types of vets to surround those prospects? 

JH: We did a lot of Zooms with these guys to figure out which types of humans they were. We were looking for players that would be selfless and be able to understand that this position was about helping and being able to cultivate an environment to push others, especially our young players. I had input on that. 

DS: When it came to those veterans, did you put more emphasis on how they would be as players or off-court fit with how they’d be as mentors for the young talent? 

JH: We wanted to bring in men that would bring in characteristics that we were looking for like being unselfish and knowing what they were coming here to do. Everyone that has been part of this program fits that mold in terms of helping and understanding that in the long haul that this program is for the young players. 

DS: How do you feel like those vets have done in that role? 

JH: I feel like they’ve been great. We haven’t had any problems and I feel like they’ve been competitive, high-level professionals when it comes to their own craft. 

DS: From the time that you started working with the team last fall until now, how have you been balancing the work of helping them develop as basketball players but also young men that are a few months away from dealing with everything that comes from being an NBA player?

JH: Just learning from different experiences throughout my life’s journey when it comes to professionalism, playing the game, and real life. Just trying to keep them even keel. Don’t get too high, don’t get too low, just keep your eyes on the prize. They’ve been able to do that on their own which is why this is a special group. 

DS: Since the start of the new year, the team is 1-12 during their tour against different G League teams. How do you feel like this rough patch prepares the elite prospects that you have for the challenges they’re going to be facing at the next level?

JH: Yeah, you have to know what you’re in here for. Obviously, our team is young. I feel like we’re no different than how young NBA teams like Detroit and OKC get their butt kicked every day. I feel like the process that you have to go through with starting young guys is how it is. It’s no different in the NBA. Just because you get drafted high, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re going to win. Having them understand that you’re going to compete night-in-night-out and give it all each day. 

DS: In what ways are you balancing the focus on player development with wanting to compete for wins whenever you step onto the floor? 

JH: Well we want to win every time we step on the floor but it’s obviously about development. When a player makes a mistake or two, we’re not going to snatch him and sit him down. This program is designed for them to work through their mistakes and build confidence and that’s the goal. The goal is to win but also develop. 

DS: As I watch film, it’s clear that you’re putting Michael Foster in a lot of reps where he has the ball on the elbow/pinch post. How do you feel like that role has allowed him to grow as a player and playmaker?

JH: I think it's been great for him. He’s really good working on the elbow due to being an unselfish player that also likes to pass the ball. At that area around 15 feet from the rim, he’s very good at face up and making plays for his teammates. I try to put him where he’s strong when scouts are evaluating him?

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DS: How do you feel like he’s developing on the other end with his work as a drop defender? 

JH:  He’s been doing good at the defensive end by learning how to talk and communicate so it’s all a process. Normally, young players tend to struggle defensively in their first few years at the professional level so everyone is growing with each game. He’s been doing good with being the leader of the defense 

DS: This is the first time since you were with Taft that you had a chance to coach a player as young as Scoot Henderson. How unique of an opportunity is that and in what ways do you feel like he’s improved since you started to work together last fall?

JH: He’s improved tremendously. In high school it was all react and based on physical and athletic ability. Now, they’re guarding him in certain ways and he’s been able to read the game and understand how the defense is playing him. He’s growing and better each game. In another year or two, I see him being an elite NBA starter. I can't wait to see him be that. 

DS: How excited are you about the possibility of getting a chance to work with him next season? 

JH: It’s awesome. I feel like he has high level talent, which is why he’s playing for us. It’ll be a great honor and awesome to do it again. 

DS: From watching him, it’s clear that Jaden Hardy is excellent at using his quickness to get into the paint. How do you feel like he’s grown at being able to use that skill to not only help himself but the other players around him?

JH: I feel like he’s getting better at that daily. That’s one of the parts that we talk about his game with being able to play make for your teammates. I think he’s growing in that every day as I think he understands that part of the game is getting your teammates involved as well as me. I think that’s part of the daily process of getting better. 

DS: What were your initial impressions of Dyson Daniels when you first saw him in action?

JH: That he’s going to be a good NBA player, he’s selfless, and that he’s a connector with how he likes to pass, get others involved, and is a really good defender. When you have that skill set, and you’re that size and age, that’s going to carry you a long way in the NBA. 

DS: How does the Dyson Daniels that you saw in training camp compare to the one that’s playing now? 

JH: He’s much more confident in his ability and his overall approach to the game. Also his level of competitiveness is something that’s really good. He’s trending in the right direction and I feel like he has what it takes to be a pro. 

DS: Over the last few weeks, it’s clear that you’re giving Fanbo Zeng more of an opportunity to show his work. How do you feel like he’s done with that opportunity?

JH: He came to us hurt but he’s finally been healthy recently. It took him some time to fast track him towards playing high level basketball and it was tough. It’s taken him some time to adjust because the speed of the game here is different from when he was in China. 

DS:  Considering that he wasn’t the biggest name in the HS hoops world, what do you think that folks should know about him from both an on and off-field perspective. 

JH: His best skill is shooting, in fact I think he’s probably the best shooter on our team. He’s also a very good athlete. I just think he needs more game reps with playing the American style game and dealing with the speed and physicality of the game. He’s a competitive young man, works really hard, and I think he’s going to end up being a good player. 

DS: In what ways do you feel like you’ve grown as both a person and coach since you’ve become coach of the Ignite?

JH: Like we’ve touched on earlier, some of the losses build patience and it lets you know that you’re here to develop talent. As competitive as myself and the whole coaching staff are, we want to win. But we also understand that this is a process and developing these guys requires patience. Just have to stick to our goals and plans by not getting too high and and not getting too low.