The Transforming Basketball Podcast

Transforming Basketball
  • 4.3 (4)
  • BASKETBALL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Transforming Basketball is all about breaking away from the status quo by helping the basketball world make sense of evidence-based ideas. Within the podcast, contemporary skill acquisition ideas are introduced to change the way we think about basketball performance. If you're ready to join us in our quest to transform the basketball world, challenge the way things have always been done, and reflect deeply on our coaching and organisational approaches, then this is the podcast for you!

  1. EP162: Winning a State Title with James Anderson

    4D AGO

    EP162: Winning a State Title with James Anderson

    In this episode, George is joined by James Anderson, a high school coach and state champion, to explore how conceptual offense, practice design, and intentional culture-building can transform a basketball program. James shares how embracing chaos, empowering players, and focusing on relationships helped elevate both performance and team identity.   Chapters: : 01:00 – Introduction to James Anderson and his coaching journey 02:00 – First exposure to Transforming Basketball and shifting coaching philosophy 03:00 – Transitioning from structured systems to conceptual offense and player empowerment 04:30 – How conceptual play accelerated development and improved team culture 06:00 – Managing growing pains and trusting the process through mid-season struggles 07:30 – Simplifying practice design with constraints and repeatable drill structures 09:00 – Why "less is more" in drills and focusing on key triggers and actions 10:30 – Embracing chaos: training for game-like environments with noise and pace 12:00 – Building a strong team culture through purpose, connection, and shared experiences 14:00 – Practical culture strategies: walk-and-talks, team rules, and off-court bonding 16:00 – Coaching non-negotiables: effort, unselfishness, and making the right play 18:00 – Adapting principles of play based on team strengths and season learnings 20:00 – Experimentation in practice: discovering impactful drills through trial and error 27:00 – Transformative Tip   Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/    Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

    29 min
  2. EP161: High School Coach of the Year Carson Huelle on Applying CLA Principles

    APR 29

    EP161: High School Coach of the Year Carson Huelle on Applying CLA Principles

    In this episode, George is joined by Carson Huelle, head coach of Fort Collins High School Girls Basketball. They talk about implementing constraints led approach (CLA) principles into his practice environment; this has fostered a player-first culture rooted in trust, growth, and creativity that led to a successful turnaround season.   Chapters: 00:01:00 – Returning to coach at his alma mater, Fort Collins High School, and taking on his first head coaching role 00:02:00 – How skill acquisition and the Constraints-Led Approach became central to daily practice plans 00:03:30 – Lessons learned from working with Jeff Schmidt and how mentorship reshaped his basketball philosophy 00:06:30 – Practical small-sided games coaches can use to teach offensive actions like ball screens, Zoom action, and spacing 00:09:30 – Using fast-break scenarios and finishing games to develop decision-making and scoring creativity 00:13:00 – What it means to "meet athletes where they're at" and why every player needs to be coached differently 00:16:15 – How player empowerment, trust, and culture fueled a dramatic team turnaround 00:20:40 – Why Carson would add even more chaos and game-like environments into future practices 00:23:50 – His transformative tip: embrace basketball's unpredictability and never stop evolving as a coach 00:26:10 – Transformative Tip     Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/    Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

    27 min
  3. EP160: Representative Shooting Drills with Arkansas State Assistant Coach Anthony Goods

    APR 22

    EP160: Representative Shooting Drills with Arkansas State Assistant Coach Anthony Goods

    In this episode, George is joined by Anthony Goods to explore representative shooting, scouting insights, and how coaches can better prepare players for real game conditions. They dive into contested shooting, decision-making, and the importance of designing practices that truly reflect the chaos and demands of competition.   Chapters:  00:00 – Overview of Anthony's background as a Stanford player, overseas pro, NBA scout, and now assistant coach 01:10 – What Anthony looks for in recruiting and scouting 06:30 – Breaking down shooting data from elite players 10:00 – Preparing for imperfection in games 13:00 – Creative shooting drills and intentional misses 14:30 – Adding cognitive load and variability in training 17:30 – Managing player frustration in "messy" practice 19:00 – Adapting to constraints and improving over time 20:30 –  Encouraging players to self-diagnose and understand their own performance. 22:00 – Transformative Tip   Join Transforming Basketball's 2026 Summer Camp in Italy. Exclusive training for players and coaches with world-class methods and expert guidance. Book your spot now: https://transformingbball.com/residential-summer-camp   Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/    Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

    25 min
  4. EP159: Understanding Non-Linear Pedagogy with Dr. Matt Bowers from the University of Texas

    APR 15

    EP159: Understanding Non-Linear Pedagogy with Dr. Matt Bowers from the University of Texas

    In this episode, George is joined by returning guest Dr. Matt Bowers to dive deeper into the practical application of Non-Linear Pedagogy (NLP) and the Constraints-Led Approach in basketball coaching.   At its core, NLP focuses on five key principles to drive skill acquisition: Representative Learning Design: Ensuring practice environments contain the same information and "cues" found in a real game. Constraints Manipulation: Strategically adjusting task, environmental, or individual constraints to guide players toward functional solutions. Functional Variability: Encouraging "repetition without repetition" so players develop adaptable movement patterns rather than one "textbook" technique. Information-Movement Coupling: Linking perception directly to action; players learn to move based on what they see (teammates, defenders, spacing). External Focus of Attention: Directing a player's focus toward the intended outcome of a movement rather than internal body mechanics.   Building on their previous conversation, Dr. Matt Bowers breaks down how coaches can design more representative, game-like learning environments that empower players to solve problems, adapt in real time, and develop true basketball intelligence. Check their previous conversation here.   Chapters: 00:00 – Welcoming Matt Bowers as the first returning guest  02:00 – What is Non-Linear Pedagogy (NLP)? 05:15 – Why "messy" practice leads to better learning 07:30 – The trap of traditional drills and non-representative training 08:10 – Constraint manipulation and defining success in practice 10:00 – Rethinking success: decision-making vs outcomes 15:00 – Player autonomy and reducing coach dependency 17:00 – Practical example: using scoring systems to shape behavior 20:00 – Rewarding process over outcomes in practice 21:30 – External vs internal focus of attention 25:30 – Does NLP actually work? (research insights) 27:00 – Functional variability: multiple solutions to the same problem 30:00 – Perception-action coupling and game-like decision making 31:30 – Increasing complexity to improve transfer to games   Join Transforming Basketball's 2026 Summer Camp in Italy. Exclusive training for players and coaches with world-class methods and expert guidance. Book your spot now: https://transformingbball.com/residential-summer-camp Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/    Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

    34 min
  5. EP158: Transforming Team Offense: A Guide to implement the CLA and Conceptual Offense

    APR 8

    EP158: Transforming Team Offense: A Guide to implement the CLA and Conceptual Offense

    In this solo episode, George Vaz addresses the common challenges coaches face when transitioning from traditional pattern-based offenses to a conceptual offense using the Constraints-Led Approach (CLA). He discusses how to handle the "messy phase" of implementation, strategies for gaining stakeholder buy-in through transparency, and practical ways to use constraints and small-sided games to build a fluid, decision-based system.   Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction: Navigating the mess of adopting the CLA and conceptual offense. 01:30 - The Transparency Presentation: Educating parents and players on ecological dynamics. 02:45 - The Dominoes Phase: Establishing core principles like "Floor is Lava" and "1 can't guard 2." 04:00 - Defining the ROB Shot: Ensuring shots are Range, Open, and in Balance. 04:45 - Narrowing Triggers: Using known spacings and specific constraints to create structure. 05:30 - Practical Constraints: Implementing dribble limits and time limits for intentionality. 07:15 - Small Sided Games (SSGs): Continuous Dominoes and 4-on-3 Dominoes Bursts. 09:00 - 2-on-1 Shooting: Building complexity and dynamic starts 10:00 - The MAYA Principle: Most Advanced Yet Acceptable – meeting stakeholders in the middle. 11:30 - Conclusion: Balancing organized sets with conceptual freedom.   Resources & Links: Check it out here: The Pick and Roll Spacings Every Coach Needs to Know - Transforming Basketball   Join Transforming Basketball's 2026 Summer Camp in Italy. Exclusive training for players and coaches with world-class methods and expert guidance. Book your spot now: https://transformingbball.com/residential-summer-camp Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/    Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

    13 min
  6. EP157: Coaches' Essential Takeaways from the Transforming Summer Camp

    APR 1

    EP157: Coaches' Essential Takeaways from the Transforming Summer Camp

    In this episode, George is joined by Coaches Jared, Tom, and Henry to reflect on their experiences at the Transforming Basketball Summer Camp. They share key takeaways around creativity in practice design, the use of constraints and small-sided games, and the importance of curiosity and collaboration among coaches.    Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction to the coaches and overview of the Transforming Basketball Summer Camp 02:30 – First impressions and key learnings from the camp experience 05:00 – Rethinking practice design: creativity and "repetition without repetition" 07:30 – The role of curiosity in player and coach development 10:00 – Learning through collaboration and shared coaching environments 12:30 – Challenges of applying new ideas back with your team 15:00 – Gradual implementation: building buy-in and trust with players 17:30 – Increasing practice intensity and maximizing time on task 20:00 – Using constraints to guide decision-making and creativity 22:30 – Helping players become more expressive and confident 25:00 – The impact of small-sided games on learning and engagement 27:30 – Balancing structure with freedom in practice 30:00 – Creating a fun, competitive, and development-focused environment 32:30 – Translating camp concepts into real-season coaching 35:00 – Key coaching takeaways and mindset shifts 38:00 – Transformative Tip Join Transforming Basketball's 2026 Summer Camp in Italy. Exclusive training for players and coaches with world-class methods and expert guidance. Book your spot now: https://transformingbball.com/residential-summer-camp Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/    Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

    43 min
  7. EP156: Transforming the Athlete: NBA/NFL Consultant Dr. Craig Liebenson's Holistic Approach

    MAR 25

    EP156: Transforming the Athlete: NBA/NFL Consultant Dr. Craig Liebenson's Holistic Approach

    In this episode, George is joined by Dr. Craig Liebenson, a renowned chiropractor, movement specialist, and performance expert, to explore how movement quality, injury prevention, and holistic training approaches can transform basketball performance. Craig shares insights from decades of working with elite athletes, emphasizing why fixing movement patterns—not just treating pain—is key to long-term success.    Chapters: 01:00 – Introduction to Craig Liebenson and his background in performance and rehab 03:00 – The difference between treating pain vs. fixing movement patterns 05:30 – Why movement quality is the foundation of performance and injury prevention 08:00 – Common mistakes in traditional strength and conditioning programs 10:30 – The role of assessment: identifying dysfunction before it becomes injury 13:00 – Why "less is more" in training and avoiding overcomplication 15:30 – Integrating movement-based training into basketball practice environments 18:00 – How poor movement habits develop and how to correct them early 21:00 – The connection between mobility, stability, and athletic performance 24:00 – Teaching athletes body awareness and ownership of their movement 27:00 – Practical drills and routines coaches can implement immediately 30:00 – Transformative Tip     Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/    Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

    31 min
  8. EP155: Warm-up Design with German Pro League Coach Domenik Theodorou

    MAR 18

    EP155: Warm-up Design with German Pro League Coach Domenik Theodorou

    In this episode, George is joined by performance coach Domenik Theodorou to share innovative warm-up strategies, the importance of movement variability, and how to keep players engaged through creative game design. Discover practical tips for enhancing practice efficiency, reducing injury risk, and fostering a fun, dynamic environment for basketball players.   Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction and setting the stage for a discussion on rethinking basketball warmups  01:21 – Why traditional warmups often become boring and repetitive for players over time 05:36 – Using warmups to develop skills while encouraging players to solve problems in real time 06:43 – The "lightbulb speed" concept: designing tasks that trigger quick thinking and reaction 10:20 – Essential elements every effective warmup should include for both physical and mental readiness 11:44 – The unwritten rules of warmups that help practices flow smoothly and stay productive 15:13 – Building progression and flow within warmups to prepare players gradually for the main practice 16:53 – Movement variability and how diverse movements support player health and long-term development 19:27– Why novelty and new challenges can boost engagement and keep players motivated 23:00 – Encouraging player autonomy by allowing athletes to figure things out rather than over-instructing 23:37 – Recognizing when warmups aren't working and how coaches can quickly adjust 24:40 – The "Razzle Dazzle Football" example and how creative games can energize a team 26:47 – Designing constraints and achievable goals to guide learning without limiting creativity 27:32 – Timeboxing warmup games to maintain focus, intensity, and pacing during practice 28:37 – Favorite warmup game setups that coaches can easily implement with their teams 29:56 – "Basketball Volleyball" and other crossover-style games that build skills in fun ways 31:47 – Multi-basket possession play and how it increases decision-making and awareness 33:51 – Why warmups matter more than coaches realize and how small changes add up over time 37:25 – Transformative Tip Level up your coaching with our Amazon Best Selling Book: https://amzn.to/3vO1Tc7 Access tons more of evidence-based coaching resources: https://transformingbball.com/products/    Links: Website: http://transformingbball.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/transformbball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transformingbasketball/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transformingbasketball Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/transformingbasketball/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@transforming.basketball

    39 min
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4.3
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Transforming Basketball is all about breaking away from the status quo by helping the basketball world make sense of evidence-based ideas. Within the podcast, contemporary skill acquisition ideas are introduced to change the way we think about basketball performance. If you're ready to join us in our quest to transform the basketball world, challenge the way things have always been done, and reflect deeply on our coaching and organisational approaches, then this is the podcast for you!

Information

  • Creator
    Transforming Basketball
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    164
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Copyright Sarama SportsGroup, Trading as Transforming Basketball
  • Show Website
    The Transforming Basketball Podcast

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