Basketball legend James Harden, one of the game’s most prolific scorers and eventual nine-time All-Star, was traded to the Houston Rockets in 2012. He showed up without much street cred and without knowing much about the organization, the coach or his new teammates.
In his very first practice, he took notice of something that bothered him, so he expressed himself openly. At a break in the practice, he addressed his new teammates and made a direct request with some degree of force: “Tuck your shirts in.” His teammates quickly complied. Leaders set standards. Details matter.
