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It was 1973, and the New York Knicks roster was filled with the legendary combined talent and tenacity of Walt Frazier, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Bill Bradley, Willis Reed, and Dave DeBusschere.

Each player was extremely skilled in his own right; but together, they created a formidable force. And what they did together planted the Knicks firmly into the history books, culminating with the winning championship that year.

As they say, history has a way of repeating itself. In this case, it took a while; but this year, it did.

It started with Knicks captain, Jalen Brunson. In 2024, he signed a four-year, $156.5 million extension with the Knicks. Had he waited just a little longer, he could have signed a five-year contract for about $269 million.

They say he “left $113 million on the table.”

But what he did made way for other strong talent to join and remain at the table. His generosity and timing laid the groundwork for history to be made once again.

While fans celebrate this year’s championship win, it is even more important to recognize the leadership that made it happen. Jalen Brunson is very talented. He would have gone far on his own. But he had a bigger vision: he wanted his whole team to go farther than he could go alone.

It is this perspective that makes all the difference, just as it did in 1973.

The difference is teamwork. And teamwork is about creating a collaborative culture that goes beyond each individual. It lends itself to legacy.

How do you create a championship culture in your world?

1. Realize it is not all about you.
2. Sacrifice present pleasure for future treasure, as the saying goes.
3. Don’t be a single great talent. Instead, multiply strengths across a solid team.
4. Build a winning culture.
5. Work hard…together.
6. Celebrate together.

The rising tide does, indeed, lift all boats. When you win alone, it is gratifying but fleeting. When you create a team that wins, it is satisfying and legacy-building.

There is something about creating a winning culture that carries everyone to a higher level.

Will you be that kind of leader?

Curious how your company measures up in this area, with real data you can take to the bank?  Connect with us or take the assessment here (https://www.orgiqsuite.com/). Get your Culture Scorecard today and get back on track to success.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!