EP#78 Sani Becirovic - From the hardest time of his life to Euroleague champion
If you want to support my podcast (Ačiū!!): https://www.patreon.com/bmatkeSponsor: www.proballers.com"Sani Boy":Sani is a well-known former player as well as highly respected personality because of his positive attitude and mindset. Sani was drafted by the Denver Nuggets and played an incredible 20years as a professional, winning his first Euroleague title in 2007 with Panathinaikos. After numerious domestic titles and junior MVPs and All Star appointments he decided to go into the front office after a short stint as an Assistant at PAO...and ends up winning another Euroleague titles with Panathinaikos in 2024.Today, we talked about Sani's trials and tribulations with his 13 knee surgeries that he had to go through, what he had to live through after almost not being able to walk and his path out of the dark places. Sani also talked about his daily life and work structure, what he looks for in players as well as politics and communication behind the scenes.This episode was very emotional for Sani and a rather unique and rare conversation about the struggles of a pro-athlete who has to recover from his injuries.Topics:0:00 Intro & Lithuania2:45 Knee surgeries & mindset9:40 Draft & Stash14:00 Influence of a father21:40 Coaching & Agent Experience 27:15 Learning curve as an executive35:06 ProBallers.com 39:30 Communication48:50 Evaluating practices / arguments54:00 Changes 57:30 Qualities of players1:00:40 ATOs #SaniBecirovic #Panathinaikos #FrontOffice #Champion #Athens #Euroleague #GreeceYou can Find "Sani" here:X: https://x.com/SaniBecirovic Finding “The Benas Podcast”:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.Comment, Like & Share here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3www.bmatke.com
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1:11:48
EP#77 Guillaume Vizade - French system, 'effort oriented' culture, sincere coaching & the 'tag up' system
If you want to support my podcast (Ačiū!!): https://www.patreon.com/bmatkeSponsor: www.proballers.com"Guillaume":Guillaume is making a name for himself in France and this is just the beginning. After being the Head Coach at Vichy for numerous years he won the Leader's Cup of the ProB in 2024 and was appointed the head coach of LeMans the following season where he also managed to the Leader's Cup of the ProA in his first season. Meanwhile, Guillaume also won 2 gold medals in a row with the French u20 team in the FIBA u20 Eurobasket in 2023 & 2024.Today, we talked about a variety of topics that involved his experiences with the French u20 team as well as his style of leadership. I addressed the improvement of the English language within the French basketball community as well as the culturally diverse French ProA. Guillaume also talked about the importance of terminology and how to incorporate young talents into the pros. Also some tactical nuances like the 'tagging up' system and more.It's very important for this podcast to continue to grow and your activity is very important in all this. Please share, like and comment so the YT algorithm will be prompted to help us too :)Topics:0:00 Intro 2:00 English language in France3:30 Culturally diverse French league10:00 Effort oriented culture16:00 Back to back gold with France u2023:15 Terminology & Transition to pro27:30 Personal growth & Coaching staff36:45 ProBallers.com38:00 "Tagging Up" system44:00 Scouting vs Self-scouting46:10 Sources for scouting players54:00 Decompressing55:50 Vincent Collet specialties1:00:25 ATOs#GuillaumeVizade #FrenchBasketball #Franceu20 #FIBA #LeadersCup #LeMans #ProAYou can Find "Guillaume" here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guillaume_vizade/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guillermo.bill.william X: https://x.com/GuillaumeVIZADE LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guillaume-vizade-b054a446/ Finding “The Benas Podcast”:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.Comment, Like & Share here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3www.bmatke.com
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1:08:27
#76 Linas Kleiza (LT) - apie pasitikėjimą savimi, NBA naujoko gyvenimą, traumas, vaikus ir naujus iššūkius jų tėvams
Bilietai į B8 Summit 2025 Vilnius renginį:www.b8summit.comMano podcasto palaikymas (Ačiū!!): https://www.patreon.com/bmatkeRėmėjas: www.proballers.comSvetainė:www.bmatke.com "Linse":Šio epizodo svečias yra Linas Kleiza - jo ilgai pristatinėti nereikia. Be šešių sezonų, praleistų NBA, Linas gali pasigirti medaliais, iškovotais su Lietuvos vyrų rinktine 2007ais, 2010ais ir 2013ais metais! Linui teko žaisti ir trijuose Eurolygos klubuose - Olympiacos, Fenerbahce ir Milane.Šiandien mes su Linu kalbėjom apie jo profesinę kelionę, kokie iššūkiai jo laukė atsidūrus NBA lygoje, ką jam reiškia darbo etika ir kaip išgyventi NBA naujokui. Taip pat aptarėm naują augančią kartą ir kokie iššūkiai laukia tėvų, auginančių jaunus sportininkus naujomis aplinkybėmis - kaip pasikeitusios gyvenimo sąlygos keičia ir žaidėjo mentalitetą, norą nugalėti bei kovoti už būvį.Linas pasidalino asmeninėmis istorijomis iš “savo laikų” ir palygino juos su dabartine situacija krepšinio pasaulyje! Kalbėjom ir apie aistrą motociklams, Lino patirtis būnant sporto direktoriumi Ryto komandoje ir dar daug įdomių istorijų.Šis epizodas yra unikalus ir labai svarbus išgirsti šiuolaikiniam sportininkui bei jo tėvams. Tėvai išgirs, į ką reikia atkreipti dėmesį auginant vaiką be lepinimo, nors tam galimybių yra kasdien!Labai svarbu dalintis šiuo epizodu ir prenumeruoti mano kanalą tam, kad galėtume pasikviesti daugiau svečių kaip Linas Kleiza! Komentuok bei paspausk 'like' mygtuką, kad algoritmas šį kanalą siūlytų ir kitiems, kam tai aktualu! :)Topics:0:00 Intro 4:40 Savęs suvokimas8:30 Pasitikejimas savimi ir branda16:50 NBA naujoko gyvenimas ir darbas19:00 Gyvenimas su traumom ir identitetas28:10 B8 Summit 2025 Vilnius29:20 Motociklas ir adrenalinas32:00 Kaip auginti vaikus ir naują sportininkų kartą46:40 ProBallers.com48:50 Direktoriaus pareigos ir skautingas1:03:40 ATOs#LinasKleiza #DenverNuggets #TorontoRaptors #NBA #Eurolyga #Krepsinis #Lietuva #NaujaKarta"Linse" rasite čia:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linaskleiza/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lkleiza Finding “The Benas Podcast”:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.Comment, Like & Share here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3www.bmatke.com
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1:09:01
#75 Petteri Koponen - Draft & Stash mindset, Finland Basketball & Coaching in New Zealand
If you want to support my podcast (Ačiū!!): https://www.patreon.com/bmatkeSponsor: www.proballers.com"Petteri":Petteri is a well-known basketball player who was drafted in 2007 by Philadelphia but his rights ended up being traded several times during his career and he never made the final jump. On the contrary, Petteri had an illustrious career in Europe where he played for several high level teams throughout his career (Bologna, Khimki, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and more) and ended up winning several meaningful domestic titles in Germany & Spain. Petteri was known as one of the most accurate shooters in Europe and was twice a member of the unique "50-40-90 club" in Euroleague.Today, we talked about how he handled being drafted and spending his career in waiting to make it to the NBA, the mindset behind being a draft&stash player, his career challenges, hip issues that lead to retirement, the enjoyment of coaching kids and lessons learned from transferring knowledge to young guys vs coaching pros.This episode marks my third guest from Finland, after Hanno Mottola and Lassi Touvi have been my guests before. It's another unique episode that talks about the path of a former player to becoming a head coach.Please share with all players or former players looking to go into coaching...comment, like & share on all social media and audio platforms.Topics:0:00 Intro 2:00 Health issues7:00 Draft & Stash life11:50 Preparation for games14:30 Ending Career19:30 Finnish Basketball Culture27:50 ProBallers.com33:30 Early Coaching Lessons38:00 Coaching Juniors vs Pros43:20 Head Coach mentorship50:00 NBL vs Europe & Next Star Program59:30 New Zealand & Family Life1:11:50 ATOs#PetteriKoponen #Finland #FinlandBasketball #FCBarcelona #FCBayern #Adidas #NextGeneration #NZBreakers #NewZealandBasketballYou can Find "Petteri" here:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/petteri.koponen2 X: https://x.com/KoponenPetteri Finding “The Benas Podcast”:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.Comment, Like & Share here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3www.bmatke.com
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1:20:47
#74 Mikko Riipinen - Swedish NT, BG Göttingen Head Coach & Low-hanging fruit
If you want to support my podcast (Ačiū!!): https://www.patreon.com/bmatkeSponsor: www.proballers.com"Mikko":Mikko is the Head Coach of the Swedish Basketball NT and recently qualified with Sweden for the Eurobasket in 2025. He's also the Head Coach of BG Göttingen in the German BBL and is managing both positions at once. Before he joined Göttingen midway through this season, he was the Head Coach of the Swedish top club in Norrköping and won every domestic title there is to win in Sweden. Being only 37years old, it's safe to say that Mikko has a bright future ahead of him.Today, we talked about how he handles sitting on two high pressure chairs at the same time and how he manages to balance these two jobs and his family time. We also talked about how he handles his staff and the importance of delefation. Also, communication with players during the season as well as recruiting NT players. We also talked about Sweden's basketball system as a whole and much more.This episode is a premiere episode with a professional from Sweden and is useful on so many levels for so many young coaches. Please share, subscribe, comment & like this episode all over social media. It helps us grow tremendously.Topics:0:00 Intro 5:40 History & Balancing Work+Life8:50 Priorities in the Job10:40 Importance of delegating work17:00 Scouting23:30 Handling Staff27:20 Routines & Preparation34:40 ProBallers.com41:00 Sweden Basketball System47:40 Handling two Head Coaching Jobs54:00 Recruiting NT Players58:20 Low-hanging fruit & Purpose1:10:04 ATOs#MikkoRippinen #Sweden #BGGoettingen #BBL #Eurobasket #FIBA #HeadCoachYou can Find "Mikko" here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikkoriipinen/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikko.riipinen.9 X: https://x.com/mikkoriipinen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikko-riipinen-729a89166/ Finding “The Benas Podcast”:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-b-podcast/id1558492852?uo=4 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Bw5UJNSQLKo0wUybEIza3 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-benas-podcast…or visit www.bmatke.com to find more info.Comment, Like & Share here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3www.bmatke.com
My name is Benas and I'm passionate about traveling, sports and coffee. In this podcast I will aim to combine all three of them by 'zooming' around the world and talking to sports professionals and coffee savants around the world while having nuanced conversations about different topics within their profession. If you're interested in hearing the stories and lifestyles of high achievers, the biggest lessons throughout their life, their mindsets within their respective sports then please subscribe to this podcast, buckle up, get your cup of coffee and 'come fly with me'. Thank you :)
Italia