Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach Byron Scott

In 1983 Byron Scott, soon to be NBA player and eventual Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach, received a phone call that changed his life. The Arizona State star basketball player was a transplant from Inglewood, California, who had dominated the Sun Devils squad since 1979 with record-busting seasons that earned him a place in the university’s Hall of Fame. It also gained him an entrée as first inductee into the school’s Pac-10 Hall of Honor, among a heap of other accolades.

At the moment, though, he was just waiting on some news. In the 30 odd years since that call, Scott has held onto a continuum of success—first as a player, then as a head coach—in a demanding and sometimes fickle industry.

Here, he shares some secrets to his longevity. Scott’s consciousness of his good conditions makes him quick to support those who serve on the front lines, the military. Scott’s appreciation currently takes the form of participating in a Suit for a Suit, which is a pro-veteran organization that sources smart business attire for returning soldiers who are headed to civilian job interviews.

As a coach, Scott’s leadership style is embedded with the experience of having been one of the guys lacing up his sneakers and heading onto the court each night. The difference between being a player and a coach? Shifting from a singular perspective to a collective one.