Researchers have analysed the make-up of basketball and football teams, for example, to find out how the addition of highly rated players improves overall team performance. When analysing the World Cup, for instance, they examined how many of each nation’s players came from the most prestigious clubs, such as Manchester United or FC Barcelona. Surprisingly, they found that the benefits of that exceptional individual talent were often underwhelming. Thanks, perhaps, to the star players’ rutting egos, the teams with the highest number of stars often failed to collaborate effectively.
I don't know if the issue is really ego, though it might be; but it could also simply be that the rest of the team has trouble synchronizing with a physicality that is far beyond its average. In any case, I have noticed this effect in teams that try to buy themselves into a great position by recruiting 'genius' players. A team that thinks and acts as a team is often more effective in a team sport than one that is made up of people who are trying to support a single genius.
Of course, not all sports are team sports. Sometimes there's a case for the lone gunslinger.
2 comments:
it could also simply be that the rest of the team has trouble synchronizing with a physicality that is far beyond its average
One example of this, albeit somewhat extreme, was Pete Maravich's attempt at an NBA career. When he played for a memorably bad team, the New Orleans Jazz, his no-look passing and moves to fake out of position players guarding him and/or his teammates were so far over his teammates' heads that he often fed the courtside fans because his teammates were that unable to keep up.
For one player to make a serious difference for his team, the delta between the one's skills and his teammates skills needs to be small enough that they really can benefit. That's the difference between a Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls and Maravich and his Jazz.
Eric Hines
Maravich is a good example. Similarly, both Bird and Magic had some advantage in their teams adjusting because they also had good passers and smart players.
This may apply in other fields as well. It has long been noted that writers, artists, and composers appear in clusters.
I have always believed I could help a good team move up three notches than a bad team move up one, but that may be a general rule.
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