May 23, 2013
Interview with Zeljko Obradovic
Zeljko Obradovic at Mastermind Clinic, 2011The Mastermind Coaching Seminars offer 5 coaches with more than 70 European and national championships combined and endless years of experience at the highest competitive level. What else do you think it offers?

It is very good that four coaches like these are together, where each has his own philosophy. They are four successful coaches, with lots of titles between them, having some things in common, and differences in others. It is good for the students.

What special emphasis do you think differentiates your particular Mastermind Coaching Seminar from the others?

It is very difficult to say. My material reflects what I do with my team. Each coach when faced with this has the ability to take what they want from another coach and work on this with their team.

Ettore Messina, Aito Garcia Reneses, Zelimir Obradovic, Xavi Pascual and Sergio Scariolo - rivals on the court yet collaborators in this initiative. What could the “elders” learn from the “youngster” and vice versa?

Every single clinic that I attend, I always learn something. It is possible to learn something every single day, from a young coach working in youth categories for example. I am very proud of being in the job I am, waking up every day and learning every day. The day that you think you know it all is the day that you are finished as a coach.

If you were a student for your own seminar, which individual lesson would you be most interested in reading?

I do not know which one I would pick – what I most like is when students ask questions. I am happy to talk about anything – this is the best way to learn – talking about basketball.

Which specific aspect of coaching (if any) would you most like to be remembered by after you have retired from coaching?

That I loved the game. I am happy to spend every day with my players and my team.

Since students are known for open minded communication and always questioning everything, could you please describe the difference between your relationship with students on this seminar and your players?

My players do not tend to ask so many questions. I try to explain everything to them regardless, but they tend to mostly just execute, so they are different to students.

What is it about the basketball that is currently being played in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague that you would most like to transmit to fellow coaches around the world?

The Turkish Airlines Euroleague has something that all other coaches from around the world are watching, including the NBA. I know for a fact that they are watching what we are doing. There is a very high level of basketball with lots of good coaches in the competition, even though some high level players leave to the NBA every year.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
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