The Benas Podcast

NEW EPISODE!(EP#97)If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):Support: https://www.patreon.com/c/bmatke Homepage: www.bmatke.comSponsor: www.proballers.com"Chris":Chris Babb’s basketball journey took him from Penn State and Iowa State to the NBA. After going undrafted in 2013, he made his mark with the Maine Red Claws, earned his opportunity with the Boston Celtics, and went on to build a long career playing across Europe.In this episode, Chris looks back on the draft process, his D-League-to-NBA transition, and adapting to life and basketball in Europe. We also talk about his decision to retire, the mental health challenges he faced throughout his career, and how he’s approaching the next chapter: coaching.Topics:00:00 Intro 3:00 NBA memories & mindset7:40 Decision to go to Europe12:05 Rookie & Euro experience16:00 Cultural experiences23:45 Mental Health journey31:30 Retirement & New Identity42:00 ProBallers.com45:40 Impact from other coaches49:00 "Must" for coaches53:00 Assistant Coach Lessons1:02:20 Scouting reports & Information1:10:21 ATOs📢 Subscribe to my YouTube channel The Benas Podcast, if you want to stay updated! You'll find this podcast on all audio platforms as well.👍 Press „Like“ ir and share this podcast to your network! #ChrisBabb #DLeague #NBA #InternationalBasketball #Coaching #Retirement #MentalHealthFinding Chris:IG: https://www.instagram.com/c_babb/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/ChrisBabbII 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 

NEW EPISODE!(EP#96)If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):Support: https://www.patreon.com/c/bmatke Homepage: www.bmatke.comSponsor: www.proballers.com"Igor":Igor Kokoškov’s remarkable coaching journey began in Serbia before taking him to the NCAA and then the NBA, where he spent more than two decades as an assistant, won an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons and became the first European-born head coach in league history. He later brought his expertise back to the EuroLeague, while his greatest FIBA achievement came in 2017, when he guided Slovenia to an unbeaten EuroBasket title.In this episode, Igor shares how meeting Quin Snyder at Duke helped shape his path, the mentors who influenced him during his Serbian basketball beginnings, and how he learned to build trust with NBA players as a foreign assistant coach. We also explore managing energy throughout a long season, the evolution of in-game play-calling, and his role as Head of Player Development with Project B—along with leadership, communication, adaptability and many more lessons from his extraordinary career.Topics:00:00 Intro 00:35 Quin Snyder impact6:00 Beginning of coaching10:20 Mentorship & Methodology18:45 Serbian Basketball Culture23:00 Foreign Coach in the NBA30:45 Decision-making process35:00 Connection with players40:20 Locker-room impact44:30 Energy Management & Information diet57:45 ProBallers.com1:06:25 Eurobasket 2015 & Playcalls1:17:00 Offensive Systems & Winning1:23:10 Project B1:25:34 ATOs📢 Subscribe to my YouTube channel The Benas Podcast, if you want to stay updated! You'll find this podcast on all audio platforms as well.👍 Press „Like“ ir and share this podcast to your network! #IgorKokoskov #NBAcoach #HeadCoach #FIBA #Euroleague #ProjectB #BasketballFinding Igor:IG: https://www.instagram.com/igor.kokoskov/ 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 

NAUJAS EPIZODAS!(EP#95)Jeigu norite palaikiti ši podkasta (Ačiū!!):Support: https://www.patreon.com/c/bmatke Svetaine: www.bmatke.comRemejas: www.proballers.com"Valdas":Valdas Dambrauskas – vienas ryškiausių Lietuvos futbolo trenerių, savo kelią pradėjęs Anglijoje ir vėliau dirbęs Lietuvoje, Latvijoje, Kroatijoje, Bulgarijoje, Graikijoje, Kipre bei Vengrijoje. Su skirtingais klubais jis iškovojo ne vieną nacionalinį titulą, o šiuo metu vadovauja Azerbaidžano klubui „Sabah“, kuris rungtyniauja UEFA Čempionų lygoje. Jo karjera – tai išskirtinė istorija apie atkaklumą, nuolatinį mokymąsi ir drąsą siekti aukščiausių tikslų.Šiame ypatingame „The Benas Podcast“ epizode kalbėjomės apie sunkią Valdo pradžią Anglijoje ir pirmąsias patirtis „Brentford“ klubo sistemoje. Aptarėme jo asmeninį požiūrį į tobulėjimą, mąstyseną ir tai, kodėl treneriui pirmiausia svarbu atrasti save kaip žmogų – tik tada gali suprasti, kokiu treneriu nori būti. Taip pat kalbėjome apie kompetencijos lanką, laikotarpį, kai Valdas labiausiai pasitikėjo savimi kaip treneriu, bei viso pokalbio metu lyginome futbolą ir krepšinį, jų kultūrą ir subtilybes. Valdas pasidalijo ir daugybe kitų įžvalgų bei istorijų iš skirtingų savo karjeros stotelių.Temos :00:00 Intro01:00 Old Trafford3:30 Valdzia / Manager'is12:00 Statistikos21:00 Sunki pradzia Anglijoje29:30 Inercija ir vizija karjerai34:15: Ose Aibangee itaka ir spaudimas55:10 Ugdyti žaidėjų savarankiškumą1:05:00 Zmoniskumas ir zinios1:09:30 Kompetencijos Arka1:22:10 ATOs📢 Prenumeruokite mano „YouTube“ kanalą „The Benas Podcast“, jei norite nepraleisti naujausių epizodų! Šį tinklalaidės epizodą taip pat rasite visose garso platformose.👍 Paspauskite „Patinka“ ir pasidalykite šiuo podkastu su savo tinklu!#ValdasDambrauskas #ChampionsLeague #Sabah #FutbolasValda rasite čia:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valdasdambrauskas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valdas.dambrauskas.96 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valdas-dambrauskas-34146176/ “The Benas Podcast” rasite čia: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…arba aspilankykite www.bmatke.com .Komentuokit, spauskit 'like' & dalinkites 'social media' kanaluose:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmatke/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bmatke/Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmatke3www.bmatke.com 

NEW EPISODE!(EP#94)If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):Support: https://www.patreon.com/c/bmatke Homepage: www.bmatke.comSponsor: www.proballers.com"Peppe":Giuseppe “Peppe” Poeta is a former Italian national-team point guard who played for clubs including Virtus Bologna, Baskonia, Trento, Torino and Cremona. After retiring in 2022, he became an assistant coach at Olimpia Milano, then led Brescia to the 2025 Italian League Finals before returning to Milan. Since November 2025, Poeta has served as Olimpia Milano’s head coach, succeeding Ettore Messina.Today, "Peppe" reflected on his playing career and how those experiences shaped his approach to coaching. We discussed practice habits, leadership, handling difficult losses and the lessons he has learned throughout his coaching journey. He also shared how he manages his staff and whether his identity has evolved since transitioning from player to coach. and much more!Topics:00:00 Intro 00:30 Summer talk03:10 Positive aura05:14 Reflecting on his path07:50 Mentoring young players11:10 Negativity vs Positivity15:30 Rational decision-making20:00 Practice habits & approach25:30 Leadership & Learning31:30 ProBallers.com33:30 Changing identity to coaching42:00 There is no truth in basketball49:00 Tolerance in basketball, 4 pillars58:10 View on scouting reports1:04:26 Coaching Staff Politics1:08:00 ATOs📢 Subscribe to my YouTube channel The Benas Podcast, if you want to stay updated! You'll find this podcast on all audio platforms as well.👍 Press „Like“ ir and share this podcast to your network! #PeppePoeta #MilanoBasketball #Euroleague #HeadCoach #BasketballFinding Peppe:IG: https://www.instagram.com/peppepoeta8/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peppe.poeta 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 

NEW EPISODE!(EP#93)If you want to support this podcast (Ačiū!!):Support: https://www.patreon.com/c/bmatke Homepage: www.bmatke.comSponsor: www.proballers.com"Nico":Nicolej Krickau is a Danish handball coach whose playing career ended early due to injury, leading him into coaching at a young age. He rose to prominence with GOG, where he developed several world-class players and led the club to back-to-back Danish championships in 2022 and 2023. Known for his modern, player-centered approach, Krickau later won the EHF European League with SG Flensburg-Handewitt in 2024 and is now the head coach of Füchse Berlin. He is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and respected young coaches in European handball.Today, Nico and me talked about how he started to coach, what the similarities between basketball and handball really are, how he developed and currently coaches the best player in the world, Mathias Gidsel and many more topics that should interest you if you're a sports fan!Topics:00:00 Intro 1:20 Cultural Communication7:50 Coaching beginnings13:00 Openness and authenticity 18:30 Handball culture23:50 Scouting Handball players30:30 Coaching Mathias Gidsel51:50 Culture: Germany vs Denmark58:00 Coaching Culturally1:09:30 Relating to Basketball1:11:00 Improving a winning culture1:16:40 ATOs 📢 Subscribe to my YouTube channel The Benas Podcast, if you want to stay updated! You'll find this podcast on all audio platforms as well.👍 Press „Like“ ir and share this podcast to your network! #NicolejKrickau #Denmark #Berlin #Fuechse #Handball Finding Nico:IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicolej_krickau/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolej.krickau 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