Jon Niednagel, Brain Types, the Celtics, NBA Draft, and Gregg Popovich

[WilyWestbrook0]

Some of you may have heard of Jon Niednagel in the '90s. He worked with the Phoenix Suns then, has worked with the Celtics at various times, and he's also dabbled in football. He's probably best known for predicting in 1998 that Peyton Manning had the right "Brain Type" to be a superstar QB while Ryan Leaf didn't. He says "Brain Types" are inborn, having a genetic basis, and that we are pre-wired to excel in certain motor and cognitive skills because of them. Some types will not have much success in sports whereas others, especially with the right attitude and training, can be coached to be among the best.

This sounds a little absurd and too good or too easy to be true at first hearing, but there seems to be at least some truth to what he says. It would be one thing if he was just some weirdo throwing out stuff like this, but there's even a guy out at UCLA named Dario Nardi who, while having no connection to Niednagel whatsoever, is nonetheless finding predictable cognitive patterns among the Myers-Briggs types using EEG (Brain Types uses the same basic types found in the Myers-Briggs system, but due to subjective bias in Myers-Briggs testing - people mistype themselves at a very high rate - Niednagel doesn't administer the MBTI tests, instead typing people based on their motor skills, speech, mannerisms, and so forth). There are 16 types, and acronyms include ISFJ, ENFP, ESTJ, and so forth. You're either more introverted or extroverted (I or E), sensing or intuitive (S or N), thinking or feeling (T or F), and judging or perceiving (J or P).

So what value does this have, say, for the NBA draft? Quite a bit. In 2007, for instance, Niednagel warned about Greg Oden. The media kept comparing him to Bill Russell (ENTP type). Greg Oden is actually an ESFJ type, a very different type that is injury-prone and seldom makes it to stardom in the NBA. The media often makes shallow comparisons, such as Oden was a great defender like Bill Russell. Yeah, but beyond that, they have few similarities. Unlike Bill Russell, who was known for his fluidity and strategic thinking, Oden's type is prone to becoming too mechanical, too stiff with gross motors, and not thinking very strategically. They do have more of a defensive mindset, but they do not go about it in the same manner as ENTPs like Russell, who have far greater innate body flexibility, quicker reaction times, better spatial thinking on the court, and so forth.

What about this year's draft? Has the media overrated it? Yes, though they are finally catching up with the reality that Andrew Wiggins (ENTP) will not be Michael Jordan (ISTP, historically the best type in pro basketball). The "Maple Jordan" nickname was rather silly. Wiggins doesn't have Jordan's intensity, nor his fine motor skill, or even his in-the-moment court awareness (ENTPs, while possessing good spatial thinking and a strategic mindset, sometimes daydream too much and lose track of their immediate, tactical environment, which doesn't happen with ISTPs). Of all the ENTPs in the NBA, historically, he'll probably fall somewhere in between Rudy Gay and Vince Carter.

Finally, "Brain Types" also has value in coaching. Niednagel said years ago that Gregg Popovich had the same Brain Type as Phil Jackson (INTJ). INTJ is an uncommon type, but it often rises to the top ranks in pro coaching. They are able to reflect upon, analyze, and break down matters (introversion and judging) using long-term strategizing (as intuitive thinkers) better than any other type. They get more out of their players than any other type except possibly a similar and also uncommon type, ISTJ (Jeff Hornacek, John Wooden, and Mike Krzyzewski). Tony Parker (INFP), Kawhi Leonard (ENTP), Manu Ginobili (ENTP), and many other Spurs players wouldn't have had anywhere near the same success level with coaches of different Brain Types, who wouldn't have known how to make the best use out of them. That is why none of those guys were lottery picks. Don Nelson and Rick Carlisle are also INTJ coaches. Among current players, so is Thunder reserve Nick Collison, so Nick should certainly consider coaching when he's done playing.

The majority of you are ENTPs (Niednagel purports that they at least half the American populace, and possibly up to even 70 or 80% of it) and thus will either be fascinated by this and look a little more into it, or dismiss it completely. If intrigued, the web site explains more; it can be found at www.braintypes.com .

(btw, Niednagel has typed me as ENTP, though some of his close associates think INTP is also possible. I gave friends unfamiliar with Myers-Briggs descriptions of the types, and every friend picked either ENTP or INTP as fitting me best, lol)

[pwaldo]

What about this year's draft? Has the media overrated it? Yes, though they are finally catching up with the reality that Andrew Wiggins (ENTP) will not be Michael Jordan (ISTP, historically the best type in pro basketball). The "Maple Jordan" nickname was rather silly. Wiggins doesn't have Jordan's intensity, nor his fine motor skill, or even his in-the-moment court awareness (ENTPs, while possessing good spatial thinking and a strategic mindset, sometimes daydream too much and lose track of their immediate, tactical environment, which doesn't happen with ISTPs). Of all the ENTPs in the NBA, historically, he'll probably fall somewhere in between Rudy Gay and Vince Carter.

Don't know why anybody would want the Jordan nickname tag. The last guy to have it "Baby Jordan" Harold Minor was a bust. Nobody is ever going to be the next Jordan out of this draft. Sorry ESPN but it is true.

[Tagged]

I've worked for many companies that required a profile, I'd be surprised if the NBA hasn't been doing it for 20 years, or much more.