Low team performance in basketball is alarming. I explored the perception of basketball coaches in their leadership and strategies that influence athlete performance. The qualitative descriptive research design, purposive sampling, in-depth interview, and thematic analysis were the paddles of my research journey. Upon reaching the shore, I found that leadership is values-based and relational, while coaching strategies are athlete-centered, which influence the performance and development of athletes. I believe that sports coordinators, basketball coaches, and school leaders may address structural barriers through values-driven coaching, coordinated planning, and balanced academic-athletic support. I have high hopes for multiple linear regression to examine how values-based and relational leadership influence team performance, while simultaneously conducting an Exploratory Factor Analysis to develop and validate instruments.