A former professional basketball player, Tom Heinsohn spent his playing days with the Boston Celtics. Later, he gained notoriety in the NBA as a coach and analyst. The quote you cited highlights an intriguing finding regarding coaching philosophy and is based on his experiences as a coach and player.

Based on their physical characteristics and style of play, basketball players are divided into several positions, including forwards, centers or big men (taller players), and guards (shorter players who usually handle the ball). Heinsohn points out that a lot of NBA coaches were once guards. This is understandable given that passing and ball-handling abilities are frequently heavily emphasized.

But when Heinsohn coached, he adopted a different strategy. Regardless of position, he thought all players should acquire a variety of skills. Ensuring that every player could perform the hook shot, which involves turning sideways to the basket and using one hand to shoot the ball over a defender, was a fundamental component of his coaching philosophy.

Heinsohn likened this strategy to having a basketball "bail out" or escape plan, similar to having a spare key for your house stashed away. Players with a variety of skills are better able to adjust to changing circumstances on the court and improve their chances of scoring.

Heinsohn's view that adaptability is essential for both players and teams to thrive in fiercely competitive settings like the NBA is reflected in this philosophy. By pushing his players to learn new skills outside of their main responsibilities, he wanted to build a strong team dynamic where everyone could contribute successfully in a variety of situations.

All things considered, Heinsohn's strategy demonstrates how having a variety of skill sets can improve performance and flexibility on the basketball court. His approach to coaching placed a strong emphasis on giving players a variety of tools rather than depending only on their innate abilities or designated roles.