A Summer Across International Basketball: From EuroLeague to Player Development

As the summer comes to an end, it is a good moment to look back at the past few months — a period filled with international basketball, professional development, new connections and, above all, opportunities to continue learning through different areas of the game.

The starting point began in Greece with the EuroLeague Final Four, where I had the opportunity to work with international media in game analysis and talent evaluation, covering both the Final Four itself and the EuroLeague Basketball Next Generation Tournament U18.

Working in this environment provided a unique perspective on the game. Beyond watching the highest level of European basketball, the Next Gen tournament offered the opportunity to evaluate some of the most promising young players in Europe and observe the different stages of the talent development pathway.

Being able to combine game analysis, scouting and talent evaluation within one of the most important events on the European basketball calendar was an extremely valuable experience.

Learning from the European coaching elite

In June, the focus moved from scouting and analysis to the coaching side of the game.

I was invited to the International Clinic of the Cesare Scariolo Foundation in Marbella, where I worked as a technical and on-court interpreter during the presentations of Ioannis Sfairopoulos and Neven Spahija.

Working directly on court with coaches from the highest level of European basketball is always an extraordinary learning opportunity. Interpreting technical and tactical concepts requires much more than translating words — it requires understanding the language of the game, the terminology, the methodology and the intention behind every drill and concept.

It was also a pleasure to reconnect with Coach Sergio Scariolo and his entire organization in Marbella and to once again be part of such a high-level basketball environment.

Experiences like this continue to reinforce one of the areas that has become an important part of my professional career: connecting coaches, players and basketball knowledge across different languages and cultures.

Back to Athens and EHCB Academy

In July, I returned to Athens for the second time, this time for the EHCB Congress.

The congress brought together coaches and basketball professionals from different countries and backgrounds, including professionals working within EuroLeague and EuroCup environments.

For me, this edition was particularly meaningful because I had the opportunity to participate in a roundtable discussion, sharing my experience and journey as a member of the first generation of the EHCB Academy.

Returning to an environment where I had previously been a participant, this time with the opportunity to share my own experience with other coaches, was a very rewarding moment.

Once again, it was a privilege to be surrounded by professionals from different basketball cultures, exchange ideas and continue building relationships within the international coaching community.

The work between the trips

Of course, the summer has not only been about international events.

Between each trip, I have continued working on my international basketball programs and player development projects, with players arriving from different parts of Europe and the United States.

Alongside the international camps and programs, I have continued with individual and small-group development sessions in Valencia, working with players at different stages of their careers and development pathways.

These sessions remain one of the most important parts of my work: being on court, identifying areas for improvement and helping players develop their skills, decision-making, game understanding and overall performance.

Bringing American and European basketball together

August brought another international project that I organize each summer: the arrival of American university programs in Valencia.

This year, we once again had the opportunity to bring together players from both sides of the Atlantic, including a friendly game hosted at the Valencia Basket facilities, with players between 18 and 22 years old.

These experiences are particularly valuable because they create a direct competitive environment between Spanish players and NCAA American college players, allowing both groups to experience a different style of basketball and gain a better understanding of the opportunities and demands within each system.

For young European players, competing against NCAA athletes provides a valuable reference point and another perspective on their own development and potential pathway.

Finishing the summer on the court

The final weeks of the summer also took me back to England, continuing to work within international basketball environments and sharing the game with coaches and players from different backgrounds.

Back in Valencia, the final weeks of August have been dedicated once again to individual development work, including sessions with players involved in national team pathways and high-level development projects.

And just like that, another summer comes to an end.

Looking back, what stands out is not the number of countries visited or the number of events attended, but the diversity of environments in which I have been able to contribute:

EuroLeague. Next Gen U18. Game Analysis. Talent Evaluation. International Clinics. Technical Interpretation. EHCBA Academy. NCAA. International Camps. Player Development.

Different roles, different environments and different challenges — but always connected by the same objective: to continue learning, sharing knowledge and contributing to the development of basketball.

Every event provides a different perspective. Every coach brings a different methodology. Every player presents a different challenge.

That combination is what makes international basketball so valuable.

After another intense and rewarding summer, the next chapter begins.

New projects. New challenges. Same passion for the game.

🏀 Keep learning. Keep sharing. Keep developing.