I think effort is part of what people refer to as toughness, competitiveness, will to win, grit. It is a part of the player, but also something a good coach and help harness. Is it an integral part of talent? I don't know, I don't think it matters.
I think a coach, as part of a player's evaluation, need to find players that works for his system. If he ends up with "top 100 players" that are lazy, that's a failure in the evaluation or failure in motivation, or both, and that's a coaching failure, no need to dissect which aspect of coach failed.
The problem is some folks here asserted that effort is talent AND talent requires a higher NIL, therefore the failure is due to lack of NIL and not poor coaching. This is what is comical. Because if you were to accept that premise, than it follows that the "effort part of talent" needs a dollar sign attached to it.
It's basically the two excuses.
"Effort is on the players the coach is doing his job but if the players do not give the effort what can a coach do? He can't punish or yell at the player because they will transfer at the end of the season". Okay please, go ahead and transfer. I would definitely call out that players being lazy and unmotivated in the locker room, and if that doesn't work at the pressers. "He got one more rebound than a dead guy" may not be a bad idea. See if that player will be more motivated next game if he sees his "NIL" potential being questioned.
"If only we had more NIL, we would be able to get more talented players, and effort comes with that". No, I can give you five Cooper Flaggs and this will still be a dumpster fire of a season.
I don't even know why anyone would contribute to more NIL at this point. It's a waste of $ in my opinion. If I have NIL to donate I'll donate it to the football side.
