This week, Woj sits down with Charlotte Hornets assistant coach Josh Longstaff to go inside the high-stakes world of NBA player development.

Longstaff, a rising name in the coaching ranks, shares the lessons he learned in the trenches of Oklahoma City, where he helped mold three future Hall of Famers, and explains the radical "CEO" culture he is now building alongside Charles Lee in Charlotte.

Josh and Woj discuss:

• "He Would Test Me": The raw honesty required to earn the respect of a young Russell Westbrook and the moment Longstaff realized that truth is a coach's greatest currency.

• The Soul of Development: Why the Hornets' "holistic" approach reaches far beyond the court, focusing on mental performance, nutrition, and the "whole person."

• The CEO Mindset: How Charlotte empowers young stars like Brandon Miller and LaMelo Ball by putting them at the head of the table (literally) to own their professional growth.

• Mentoring Icons: What it was like to witness the daily, obsessive work habits of a young Kevin Durant and James Harden.

• The Head Coaching Path: Longstaff’s transition from the video room to leading an expansion G League franchise.

We’ll see you next week for episode fourteen of The Program.

Subscribe to The Program with Woj for more in-depth conversations with the biggest names in sports.

A big thank you to our presenting sponsor, Novig, America's sports exchange, where you can make picks on the NBA, NFL, and more at the best odds! Learn more at https://novig.com and use code THEPROGRAM for a match up to $100 on your first purchase. Must be 21+. No purchase necessary to play. Void where prohibited. New users receive 1,000 Novig Coins and 5 Novig Cash automatically. See terms of use for eligibility.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices