THE ESCCA PODCAST

"YOUR BODY IS YOUR JOB." 💼🏀 Coaches, have you ever wondered how a world-class prospect’s training program changes when they sign that NBA contract?Today’s guest, Karlo Matković, gives us an inside look at the performance protocols that took him from a shot-blocking prospect to an NBA-ready big man.- The "Welcome to the NBA" conditioning shock. - Balancing explosive power with the demands of an 82-game schedule. - The evolution of "Balkan Grit" into scientific NBA programming. - Advice for coaches preparing European prospects for the jump. Whether you’re a coach, strength & conditioning professional, or performance enthusiast, this episode will challenge the way you think about athlete development and how to prepare prospects for the highest physical demands of the game. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube🌍 Learn more at escca.net #TheESCCAPodcast #ESCCAPodcast #BasketballPerformance #EliteCoaching #strengthandconditioning

In this episode, we sit down with Domenik Theodorou, a performance specialist currently working in Rasta Vechta, to explore the often underestimated power of the warm-up. Domenik shares his perspective on why the warm-up should be treated as a training tool, not just preparation, and how creativity can increase engagement, readiness, and transfer to performance. We dive into the concept of microdosing within the warm-up, discussing how small, targeted physical and cognitive stimuli can be used to develop athletic qualities without overloading the athlete. Throughout the conversation, Domenik provides practical insights and real-world examples from professional basketball, showing how warm-ups can be designed to enhance movement quality, decision-making, and overall performance.🎯 Topics covered:• Why the warm-up is a critical part of training• Creativity in warm-up design• Microdosing strength, speed, and coordination• Bridging preparation and performance• Practical applications for coaches and performance staff Whether you’re a coach, strength & conditioning professional, or performance enthusiast, this episode will challenge the way you think about warm-ups and how to use them more effectively.🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube🌍 Learn more at escca.net

In this episode, Justas Grainys — one of the sharpest minds in basketball performance — breaks down the craft of elite coaching. From decoding injury history to building data-driven training programs, he shares how years on the court have shaped his philosophy and sharpened his approach to athlete development. Justas dives deep into real-world assessment strategies, intelligent conditioning, recovery that actually works, and why continuous education is the true separator for modern coaches. This is a conversation built on experience, precision, and passion for the game. If you live and breathe high-performance sport, this episode delivers actionable insights you can use tomorrow. 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube 🌍 Learn more at escca.net Chapters 00:26 Exploring Athletic Performance Coaching01:57 Pre-Season and In-Season Assessments05:56 Understanding Injury History and Its Importance09:24 Utilizing Assessment Data for Training Programs13:18 Post-Game Conditioning and Lifts16:48 Evolution of Training Philosophy20:53 Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning

In this episode of the ESCCA Podcast, Lovro sits down with Regev Fanan, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv, for an open and insightful conversation on life behind the scenes in elite basketball. Regev shares his approach to optimizing player performance through hydration, nutrition, and sleep, and reflects on how to maintain training quality during demanding travel schedules. The conversation also touches on the importance of building a strong team culture, the role of experience in coaching, and the evolving landscape of strength and conditioning. 🔥 Regev offers his perspective on why former players are uniquely positioned to contribute to the future of performance coaching in the sport.If you live and breathe high-performance sport, this episode delivers real, practical value.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube🌍 Learn more at escca.net00:00Navigating Challenges in the Season02:52The Pillars of Recovery: Hydration, Diet, and Sleep05:36Traveling with a Team: Equipment and Adaptability08:15The Transition from Player to Coach10:52Building a Culture of Strength and Conditioning13:44The Role of ESCCA in Basketball Conditioning16:09Long-term Goals in Coaching and Community Impact

In this episode, host Roberto Iezzi welcomes Hugo Salazar, Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at Baskonia, one of the top basketball clubs in Europe. Together, they dive into a crucial topic for elite performance: Load Monitoring in Professional Basketball.How do top teams manage training loads across a grueling season? What tools and strategies are most effective? And how does data meet intuition on the court?Hugo shares his real-world insights, challenges, and practical tips from the front lines of European basketball.🔥 Whether you're a coach, practitioner, or just passionate about high-performance sport, this conversation is packed with value.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube🌍 Learn more at escca.netChapters00:00 Introduction to Load Monitoring in Basketball02:11 Evolving Philosophy on Load Monitoring06:49 Tools and Techniques for Load Monitoring11:30 Metrics and Data Interpretation15:59 Reporting and Communication with Coaches18:46 Recovery Strategies and Their Importance21:03 Integrating Load Data into Strength Training23:00 Post-Game Lifting and Player Involvement25:35 Continuing Education for Coaches

In this insightful episode, Lovro Miljkovic sits down with performance coach Luka Svilar for a deep dive into the high-performance world of professional basketball.They discuss the behind-the-scenes journey of creating the book "There Is More Than One Way to Skin the Cat", highlighting the unique collaboration between elite coaches from both Europe and the U.S.The conversation explores the power of networking in the coaching profession, the real-life challenges of managing player performance, and the complexity of evaluating new athletes mid-season.Luka also shares his firsthand experiences working in both the NBA and EuroLeague, offering valuable lessons and key takeaways on communication, adaptability, and building a strong coaching community.A must-listen for coaches, performance staff, and anyone passionate about the game behind the game.Tune in as they discuss the current initiatives, future goals, and the purpose behind the podcast itself: to bridge European strength and conditioning with global performance insights.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube🌍 Learn more at escca.netLET'S ELEVATE THE GAME TOGETHER!

In this powerful debut episode of The ESCCA Podcast, hosts Roberto Iezzi and Kostas Chatzichristos pull back the curtain on the origins of the EuroLeague Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (ESCCA).They explore the vision that sparked the creation of the association—fostering a connected community of high-performance coaches, driving knowledge-sharing, and elevating athlete development across Europe and beyond.Tune in as they discuss the current initiatives, future goals, and the purpose behind the podcast itself: to bridge European strength and conditioning with global performance insights.🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube🌍 Learn more at escca.netLET'S ELEVATE THE GAME TOGETHER!