Ep. 28 | Earn Your Minutes On The Court | with Georgios Dedas

We talk with Georgios Dadas about the unglamorous truth behind playing time, from being left off road trips to building a 17 year pro career through readiness. We share coaching lessons from Europe on why nobody can promise you minutes and what actually earns trust when the level gets serious. 
• life and work in Lithuania during the COVID season and why strong club culture matters 
• how a late developer can still reach pro basketball through steady growth 
• staying ready when you are not in the rotation through lifting and individual work 
• why opportunity shows up without warning and how to avoid wasting it 
• sacrifices that matter most including summers, recovery, sleep and food choices 
• why winning comes first in pro teams and what that means for youth development 
• real Rytas examples of young players earning roles through defense and discipline 
• what young call-ups struggle with most: physicality, anxiety and tactics 
• the simplest way to earn trust: energy, full-court defense and doing your job 
Subscribe so you don't miss the part two.

Transcript

Cold Open On Playing Time

SPEAKER_02 0:00

If they want to play professionally, it doesn't matter the talent, you know, talent helps you.

SPEAKER_00 0:03

What is the reason? Why did you get uh time to play? Because many people are struggling there and they're saying, like, I just don't get minutes to play.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

I wasn't even in the team sometimes. I was staying back home when the team was playing away, you know, in Athens or wherever the game was. So they say, okay, let's go down work in the weight room. Let's go, the assistant coaches, hey, let's let's let's make some individual practice. Back then I didn't think that it was so important.

SPEAKER_00 0:27

This podcast is for youth basketball players, their parents and the coaches who develop them. In every episode, we cover topics that determine your success. We talk basketball, body and mind. I am Stan, strength conditioning coach and physiotherapist, working with youth basketball athletes around the world. If you are serious about your development and you want to succeed in basketball, this podcast is for you. Let's get it.

Meet George Dadas

SPEAKER_00 0:56

Hello everyone and welcome back or welcome to another episode of Basketball Body and Mind. Today's my guest is George Dadas. He is a retired uh professional basketball player who spent 17 years uh playing uh around Europe and currently he is for not currently for last decade he is working as a head coach or assistant coach, working with only basketball, as you could assume. And during that time, he was actually in Lithuania working for BC Litovos Eritas where he won a couple of Lithuanian titles. George, welcome to the show.

SPEAKER_02 1:35

Hi, hi, hi Stan. Thank you for uh having me.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

Uh so first of all, shout out to Lukas for making this uh connection. But before, George, before we start, I would like to hear a little bit because you are from abroad and I'm from Lithuania. I want to hear a little bit about your experience uh in Lithuania, both professionally and personally. How

Coaching In Lithuania During Covid

SPEAKER_00 1:55

was it?

SPEAKER_02 1:56

No, let's start professionally. First of all, it was uh it was you know very very good experience. You know, we joined uh we joined the Ritas in 2020. It was a COVID season after the COVID season, so it was uh uh a little bit uh you know strange, you know, a lot of restrictions. Uh then you know it was uh players get injured get sick, and then we had to be 14 days back then currently. So it was it was you know for me you know working abroad and in this situation it wasn't easy, it was by myself because my family of course stayed back, and it was tough, but immediately we made good connections with the team, with the club, with everything, with the coaches, of course, and this went very smooth. And after, of course, after the first year, you know normal life more or less, you know, first year and then you know it was everything everything smooth. Professionally, I think okay, still all the all my colleagues there still continuing in the reason. Tadas Jackunas, the strength and conditioning coach, Gustas Maskolunas, the other assistants. So plus the all the members and the staff and uh you know office guys and uh management. So I want to say that it was very good seeing a team like uh because I was from Greece, I knew you know Ritas, it was one of us to play final for uh BC, not BCL excuse me, this uh Eurocup finals winning the finals. So it was a well-known team with well-known players in Greece, you know, still when I was playing. Actually, I played one time as a player against Redas in 2015, I think. So and we you know we try to make again Ritas like you know a connection with the fans. Uh team to play, you know, a way of basketball that fans will enjoy. We we try, you know, and you know, playing and practicing and recruiting players that will fit to the DNA of Ritas that we decide at that moment maybe it was the right one. And you can see the history now. Every year, fans are even more and more and more and more in the game, and even in the big arena. So I'm very not proud, but I'm very happy that I was part of this uh of this reconstruction of the team, and I'm happy to see that the team continues, they have solid bases. It's uh the other day they beat Nymburg, they made one zero in the in the uh BCL quarterfinal, so they have chances to go to the final for, and it's good to see a team that every year makes steps on the court of the court. And uh, you know, personally for me, Vilnius is one of the best cities I've ever been. My life, my family like it a lot, especially when they come, you know, during Easter time, uh, when it's a little bit better weather, a little bit more uh green. It's it's uh one of the best cities I've ever been. And actually, I made friends here, okay. Five years it's a lot of time. Uh and uh no, I I really joined. And I'm telling, I'm telling with my wife or the guys if I have time now, maybe I can I can visit a couple of days because now it's now it's a good time to go to Lithuania. Not so cold. Although I don't mind cold, but it's not so easy, you know, being you know snowing and uh and having you know this kind because they told me this season was very hard, the winter. It was one of the hardest.

SPEAKER_00 5:38

Yes, it was. We haven't had, I mean, I am in Lithuania only last three years, uh, because for before like seven years I was uh traveling uh around Europe uh with work. But yes, last some last winter was yes, minus uh you know 15 to 25 for I would say six weeks. Uh so it was but it's very very nice. But I'm happy to hear that you liked uh uh liked the experience. I mean, you cannot say anything else because I'm from Lithuania and listeners, some of them are from Lithuania. You cannot say, like, oh, it was bad, I didn't like it, I hate it. No, it was something bad.

SPEAKER_02 6:12

I would say, no, no. Okay, it's totally different, you know. Me being from the Mediterranean, from the south part of Europe, you know, different uh little bit, how can I say different uh different uh life background, how people would grow up, you know, but still, you know, it's uh I mean they said that Lithuania people are a little bit close, you know, not so but uh for me it's not uh it's not the case, it's not the problem, you know. Players, coaches who had the amazing uh how to say connection, and uh so I have nothing bad to say. Not even you know the smallest.

SPEAKER_00 6:49

Yes, yes, yes. I mean the Rita's had very, very good uh run with those uh five years. I mean they are continuing uh doing really well. But uh let's uh like continue now with what I would like to really talk uh with you today about is uh there are three topics. First of all, you personally as a basketball player, later, uh about your head coach uh experience and your uh like just in general, basketball coach experience and with youth athletes, like what do they need to do in order to get minutes? How can we make them easier transition to the pro level uh or to the senior level? And then lastly, about uh what you mentioned about that you had very good uh uh relationship with the strength coach and Eritas, so that uh talk a little bit about relationship and how can we uh what is the role and how we can work, improve, and what are the responsibilities and so and so on. How does this sound?

From Casual Hoops To Pro Path

SPEAKER_00 7:48

Good, good, let me so look again Yeah, so look, when you like I would like to know when you started to play basketball, and were you the person who was, let's say, talented from the very beginning, and everyone saw, okay, George has a chance, he will be super good, he will play, you know, professionally, or was it something that you kind of had to earn your spot to be professional?

SPEAKER_02 8:14

I think uh to start with the last part of your uh of your uh question, I think everybody uh needs to earn their if they want to play professionally, it doesn't matter the talent, you know. Talent helps you, of course, because maybe you are uh when you start, you are ahead of some other people, but uh there are a lot of how can I say a lot of aspects on that. So, in my case, when of course I was like basketball when I was a kid, you know, I was playing, you know, back then it was uh because I'm born in uh 1980, so I'm I want to say I am uh I consider my generation lucky once because we grew up without internet, and growing up, we found internet in our uh in our lives. So we just went outside and played basketball, football. In Greece, it's also famous to play football because the weather is better, you can play on the parks and basketball. We were you know going to the schools, you know, to after hours and playing. So I was I like basketball, but I never thought that it would be my main job, you know. So when I was uh a little bit getting older, and you know, school was a little bit tougher, and I had to to take a decision. I said, okay, maybe I will go to to study, and then if I can play basketball in the same time, good. I never thought that I would play professional. So it was uh 1990, 1998, 9.

SPEAKER_00 9:36

How old were you? So then you were like after school, 19, and before that you didn't think about that.

SPEAKER_02 9:41

I mean, I was playing, you know, with my hometown, we were doing good. Actually, when I was uh you know under 16, we went to the Greek finals, we lost Olympiakos. It was a big uh big thing for uh for our city, but uh it wasn't you know in my mind, okay, I want to be professional basketball or I want to play basketball. I I like to play basketball, but never thought that how it will it will come, you know. And uh I think if somebody thinks like this, I don't think it's the right way that I want to play professional basketball. Of course, we like basketball, but it's not so easy. So I was the same time studying to go to university, so the same year when I finish my exams, uh because in Greece you need to give exams to the school and then enter to university because university is public, so it's for free. But you need to go through school, there is no no other way. You need to have some exams, and when what you want to follow, then you take some courses. But uh I want to say that you need to to to study a lot in school. So I did that, and uh I because in the same time as I told you, I started playing a little bit basketball. Uh I was growing up. I discussed with uh with my family and say, okay, let's uh focus on your uh on your exams. Maybe you can go to be a strength and conditioning coach, physical education coach because it's close to your uh what are you doing? Because you know, of course, I couldn't be you know to study to be a doctor or something because this needs you know focus uh like a lot and I didn't have the time, or maybe you know, I didn't want it. So it was a school that uh you don't need great grades, but uh you need to do enough. So I find the perfect timing. So and the same year that uh I gave the exams and I uh I went to university in Thessaloniki, you know, uh the so the same year I went to the second division team in Thessaloniki. So I studied my I started my studies and playing uh second division Greece back then, it was decent, but not like it's now professional. Like, you know, it was good. So I I find the team, I played there, and I played five years. Uh so it was similarly, you know. I started a little bit as a young 18, 19, not so young, but back then it was supposedly it was young, you know, veterans was playing. My first couple of years I didn't play. Uh so I focused a little bit more in my studies, so to take some courses, because in in Grisden University, you have to some courses you need to be there, present. So to do this. So I find some time. But the third year, and the fourth year, and the fifth year, I start playing more and more and more and more. Coaches liked me more. So I said, okay, maybe now it's uh you know it's maybe an opportunity for me. I was you know playing, coach helped me, and you know, after my fifth season finished, uh I went to the first division in a team called the Iraqlis. It's also in the Saloniki, very, very historical team, one of the three teams in the Saloniki. Uh they had players like Diamandidis, if you remember from Anna's, uh we are the same age. So we I joined, they said, okay, you are good, we want you, and you know, let's uh and then from that moment I I took how can I say because in Greece you can take a little bit, you can leave your school if you if you said that guys, I don't want to study now, don't don't take my years, you know, like let me on the side. When I have time, I will come back. So you somehow you have so I decided okay, I will stop uh I stop university, and then I start playing in the first division of Greece three years, then I went to Spain, and then I went back to Greece, I went to Pauk, and uh this is where I finished my season.

SPEAKER_00 13:21

So I didn't change too many tips. And uh you said, I mean, this is very interesting because you said for the first two years, uh, first of all, maybe it was different times that you did not even think about playing professionally, and you thought, okay, I will focus on my school, but then for two years you were not playing.

How To Earn Minutes While Benched

SPEAKER_00 13:38

So my question is did you do something differently? So on the third year you got time to play, or was the coach uh, I don't know, didn't have uh uh like the other players left. Like, what is the reason? Why did you get uh time to play? Because many people are struggling there and they're saying, like, I just don't get minutes to play.

SPEAKER_02 13:56

First of all, uh that's a very good question. I heard still we are in very good uh terms. Uh the strength and conditioning coach back then, uh we are still, you know, now she's okay, older enough, but uh we talk a lot. Um he was helping me a lot because you know when you go on the when the team goes away and you are out of I wasn't even in the team sometimes. I was staying back home when the team was playing away, you know, in Athens or wherever the game was. So they say, okay, let's go down work in the weight room. Let's go the assistant coaches, hey, let's let's let's make some individual practice. Back then I didn't think that it was so important. Uh I said, okay, you know, young kid, what can I say? You know, I was disappointed that I wasn't playing. But uh as you said, I was trying to keep my at least what now I know as a coach, my shape. Back then it was I was very young, it wasn't so modern technologies or internet to know about these things. So, whatever coaches were telling you, you have to follow. You didn't even have time to double check if it's got if it's right, they say, okay, let's do this, this exercise, and this exercise, of course, different things. And then I would start practicing playing, waiting for my opportunity. And uh then, because supposedly what I was doing good on the court was I was shooting the ball, and this you know kept growing. Uh I became stronger, I became, you know, understanding the game more. Plus, I was getting older, like I mean 21, 22, then I'm a ready player, let's say, and then the coach that it was there, it was uh the assistant coach, and he took over the team. He says, I would be, I will make you my my starting three position. I said, okay, and uh you know, of course I was after the first year I was playing some games good, you know, but not consistently. I didn't know that maybe I didn't know if I'm gonna play. You know, coaches back then they didn't explain you now you're gonna play, blah. You play, you are ready, you are not ready, you go out. So yes, uh but what kept me, you know, it's just uh working, working also because during the summers a lot, you know, like after the season, because I didn't, you know, I wasn't tired, I was young. Uh, coaches was sending you know some some schedules that you can follow. Because you know, individual coaching, it wasn't like very how you say, like I have a coach that I work with him during the summer. They will send you the in the paper or whatever, and you have to do find a way to do it by yourself, you know. So, and this is actually what helped me to the coaches uh helped me to stay, let's say, in shape and good in my mind. And after that, you know, I was playing, playing, playing, and uh this is how and then I continued doing this, you know, like uh trying to play and try every time to be in shape. That was also one one year when I was in Spain. So uh short story, I wasn't playing. I one one coach signed me, and for some reason didn't work out in the first part of the season. And then the coach told me, the assistant, and don't don't don't quit, you never know. And you know, some of the players get uh injured, small injuries, so they couldn't play, so it was my turn, and I played, and then after that, I was playing more than the others. So it's you know, this helped me a lot. You know, not I had people to tell me don't quit. Of course, sometimes you are disappointed when you don't play, you don't have the mood, but that's the moment that you need to be strength uh strong with yourself if you have somebody to guide you perfect to say no I will not quit because basketball playing, it's you never know what's gonna happen. You know, one player can call and say, I'm sick today, you have to play. So you need to be ready physically, first of all, and then mentally second.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

Mentally, yes, also definitely. I mean, two things that I like want everyone to understand. You are telling that you were not getting minutes at the age of uh like 20, plus minus 20 to 21.

SPEAKER_02 17:45

18 to 20, let's say yes.

SPEAKER_00 17:46

18 to 20, 18 to 20. So imagine this like if somebody is right now 15 years old and you're not getting minutes in your school team, but somehow you will start getting minutes later when you will turn to professional, you might be facing the same issue. You will not be getting minutes again. So, first of all, if you're not getting minutes, find a way to get better, find a way to work, find a way to uh improve on your game, as you said, physically, mentally, basketball-wise, also. Because later, probably you will have the same issue, but a different but a different level at the pro level. And second thing, what I really, really like what you said, and I want everyone to understand this. You said two years, you kept on working, and you didn't get minutes. And uh I I believe, like it seems like for me, not I believe, but it seems to me that sometimes players believe that when they will turn pro or like go to senior, they will be getting those minutes, you know, right away. Everyone wants them red carpet, you know, just go and play basketball. No, two years continued working. Yes, so I believe I want everyone to hear that one more time that you kept on working.

SPEAKER_02 18:55

And I did it, this helped me, and then when I became a professional and I had you know established myself a little bit again, it was times that I wasn't playing because I wasn't the main guy in the teams. I was you know, like trying to help, you know, some teams, some years maybe a little bit more, some years a little bit less. But in my position, especially when I came back to Greece, usually it was an American player in my in my spot. Yes, or uh or in Spain, uh, when I was in Spain, I had some other players in front of me. So uh for a player like let's say in my status that I wasn't the main main guy, it was even more important because to stay in shape, uh to stay in shape mentally and physically. And this starting from, as I said, from my first team, being 18-19, not knowing what's going on in the world, you know, no internet back then in 2000s, you know, nothing. So uh not even cell phones, you know, who were calling uh people with uh with uh how you say home phones uh last yeah. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. So if you are not home and you cannot pick up the phone, maybe you're a practice or something. So yes, it was uh make me stronger. I mean, if you talk with player to with people in my age, you know, 80s, 80 79, 7 81, in that age, it was this uh process of our life. Um it uh it helps to to value things a little bit different.

SPEAKER_00 20:13

Yes, and imagine if you did not train, because your maybe your excuse is I apologize, your excuse is that uh I I'm still not playing. Like, why should I need to train? I'm not playing. Coach doesn't want me to play, I don't get any minutes, there's no reason for me to train. And then imagine opportunity comes and you're not gonna play.

SPEAKER_02 20:31

Exactly. This is, I mean, my humble opinion and from my personal experience as a player, and later as a coach, I had some examples. This is a the biggest mistake that the player can make. You know, I know it's not easy, I know you everybody wants to play. I know maybe a home background uh pushes you to play, to perform, to especially now with the NIL, you know, being uh college basketball being you know like this. I understand the pressure, different kind, but you know, first of all, um I can say something is maybe it's not good in the ears, but nobody nobody guarantees you that you're gonna play. Nobody. If somebody's telling you that, I'm sorry, but it's lying because now I'm I'm on the other side of the sport, I'm a coach. So nobody guarantees you, nobody, even if you have talent, uh you never know what's gonna happen in basketball in your team that you are in the same year. Maybe something different will happen, maybe another coach will come, because I had also these uh experiences. Maybe another player will come, like the team decides, okay, we need this player, so your min is going down. It's so many, so many, how you can say, so many parameters in the in the professional basketball, and uh that you cannot you cannot anticipate. And you know, to talking about professional basketball, I understand, you know. The young players that they are hopefully they are let's say entering a professional team, they have to understand that the professional team cares about winning first. You know, it's very. I wish there were more development teams like development that they develop young players. You know, it's not in every country, in Greece, in Lithuania, in even here in Belgium. I was in the team and say, okay, we have youth program. Actually, the youth programs last year, Ostend and Belgium and Ritas, they play in the BCL youth in the final. So supposedly Ostendi has the best youth skill program. There are some players, okay, decent, but at the same time, team wanted to win the league. And they say, guys, we cannot do both.

SPEAKER_01 22:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 22:42

Believe me, it's impossible. And maybe one young guy can start entering the team and then find his minutes. You cannot put two or three young fellows in the same time. That's not realistic. With the teams that you know, they want also to be at least in the finals. Like the last teams I was, you know, Ritas and Ostende.

SPEAKER_00 23:02

Yes. Yes. And looking looking back to your career, or even if your experience uh now as a coach, like what okay, I will ask about you, but you can answer like about uh not only your experience, but as I said, as a coach also, like what do you think like you needed to sacrifice or prioritize in order to reach that professional

Sacrifices Rest And Smart Training

SPEAKER_00 23:23

level? Like, if you would think back, like do like do you really need to sacrifice some things being young uh in order to get have success uh later?

SPEAKER_02 23:34

That's 100%. The moment that you decide that uh I want to to make it, at least try to make my profession and being as as high in the highest level possible, you need to make sacrifices. Uh for me, you need to forget your summers, first of all, to start with. If you know summer, forget with the meaning that uh the vacation part, you need to work uh more. This is um uh back in the days. I remember in my teams it was mandatory to do off-season as a team. Mandatory. So the season finished, and then you gave you like 10 days off, and then come one month to make because you know the teams want to, especially the guys that they had the deals or contract with the next season, so to do the off-season, then I remember it was like four weeks off, and then pre-season back then. I remember I made eight weeks of pre-season as a player. Eight weeks, so running, running, running, running. So uh, but then okay, then a little bit this change, you know, the approach of uh of of uh you know conditioning in basketball changes a lot, and uh then in my last years I tried to keep to be in shape in the summer. In the summer is very important to work on your um on your weaknesses uh physically and uh technically, you know what uh what you think or your coach or your trainer thinks that is uh very important for you. And also during the season, it's a little bit different because during the season you have the game, you have the practice. You have to sacrifice, I sacrifice at least, and of course, a lot of friends that I know, teammates, like maybe family time, maybe girlfriend or wife time, maybe going out time, you know, that when you are young you still need this. Uh so you say, okay, if I go out now, uh can I wake up and you know and be good tomorrow, or I need to suffer, you know, or I have a small problem, so I don't need to to gamble, you know, better rest. You know, this is some sacrifice, small things that eat well, rest well. Because now, you know, better from your profession is like resting, is even more important, recovery more important than uh the practice itself, you know, because you need to recover, you need to be because also I'm on my first years I was practicing, then going out for coffee. I was more young, you know, I didn't understand this, but after that growing up, you know, getting older, same time practice the changes, more different way of practicing, and now being as a coach, I'm telling to the players, guys, you need to rest. I mean, you need to practice intense, I don't know, one hour and a half, two hours, I don't know, and then go rest. So need sacrifice, it's a lot of a lot of small things. It's not something, you know, very, how can I say, very big, for example, I will not say my family for one year, or uh I will not go out for one year. It's in every period of the season, summer, uh competition season, it's it's a lot of small things that you need not to give up, to sacrifice in order to be better. And having, let's say, at least to be good with yourself, like I did whatever I could, and then if I can play, good. And uh you know, and uh don't forget that young age they also have school, that it's a big part of their life, also.

SPEAKER_01 26:50

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_02 26:51

I know that you know, when I was you know high school and we started at uh games, we so we also had I will remember I was practicing in three different teams. So I had in the morning before school the school team, so we were going to school, high school. I had to go back, study, then going with the junior team that I was since 17 practicing, and then go with the men's team because I was, let's say, a little bit good enough in my town to play. So I had like three practices per day plus school plus study. So when I hear that I don't have time, for me it's not uh it's not an excuse. It's yes, you know, 24 days, you have plenty of time, you know, and uh 24 hours a day, I'm sorry, but you have plenty of time. I remember myself make three practices per day when I and still, you know, I'm not saying it's I'm not saying it's the best. How can I say how can I train? Yes, but uh the point is that if you want, then you have time. If you want, you have time, you're gonna find time and you're gonna rest, you're gonna eat, you're gonna study, everything. And uh that's my advice that uh don't get so much overwhelmed from oh, I need to have practice with uh this, this, that.

SPEAKER_00 27:59

I mean you can do it. Yes, right now, like when uh somebody says they don't have time, I always uh the first thing I ask is like I check screen time just just to know the screen time. Do you have time to scroll? And I always say if you have more time, if you're scrolling more time than your training, your future is clear. But do you think that these kind of let's say not sacrifices but choices that you choose not to go out, you choose to train, you choose to eat healthy, you choose to sleep more. Do you think that this is or these are the things that separate players who make to the pro level to those who don't make? Or is there like what what is like what is important in your opinion?

SPEAKER_02 28:48

Yes, I wish it was I could have a how can you say a clear answer. This is no like a specific answer. These for me are the tools that you need to carry with you through your uh growing up, let's say basketball mentality and work ethic. Does guarantee you that you're gonna play professional and be high level? No, I cannot I cannot uh uh I cannot how can I say say that? But what I can say from my experience is that this will help you a lot, and I I wish I was practicing more and more because my type of player and buddy wasn't the most athletic enough, so I had to find ways to to survive with the different ways, you know. And if you ask me, yes, I could do different practice, maybe more, but okay. I think this, let's say, as you said, choices can give you chances, uh fair enough chances to to be there, and then of course it's up to you also how you can uh how you can uh embrace and how you're gonna take uh advantage of your opportunities that uh that some kids, let's say, because now we're talking kids being pro, they will not have this, they don't have these opportunities very often. And uh it's it's part of the system, you know. I know but uh the times that you're gonna have the opportunity, if you have already these weapons, I think it's you have already a plus. And then as I talk to professional basketball, it's it's different than youth basketball. It's it's the team needs to have priorities. But these tools can can get you at least trying to have a chance.

SPEAKER_00 30:22

Yes, and uh one way is like one thing is to get, as you said, and then you like to get to the that pro level, but to sustain there, as you said, to embrace everything, because then it's a business. You have to win, even though they say, Yeah, we are about to uh develop youth players, but they still want to win. And if and winning will come before anything, probably. Even if you're hurt, uh like uh Kevin um Kevin Durant, like with Golden State Warriors, he was hurt. It was what game seven, or it was I don't remember finals, uh, and he was not fully healthy, he stepped on the court, still not healthy. I said winning comes before everything, and then he tore his Achilles. So, also probably for kids to understand, like to you need to get to the level, but then how do you maintain? And those things, like choices that you make, uh will probably help you the most. It's not the only thing that you need to do, but it will help you.

SPEAKER_02 31:21

Yes, having the tools, as you said, you go to have the opportunity, but then as you said, it's a team, then you don't compete with yourself because these things now, what you are doing, it's between you and you and yourself, you know, like resting, eating, practicing. This you can do by yourself. But then when you enter to a team environment, a professional environment is totally different. You know, first of all, better players if you are young, let's say, coaches' agenda, team's agenda, and then this is the moment that that the players can be. I know to be young, you know, to to be strong, but uh mentally to say, okay, I will not quit even I don't play, I will continue my what I did all this and bring me here, and eventually opportunity will come. And uh you never uh no. As I

Opportunity Stories From Rytas

SPEAKER_02 32:07

said, I will tell you a so uh short story about my experience in Ritas, for example. One year uh Gedrus with was with the national team because he was back then uh in the national team staff, and they had some games, so I made the pre-season. Uh and and we had a lot of players, like I think Margot Normandas Rajavic, they were in the national team, so we didn't have players. So, what we did, because you know, in the pre-season, you need to have a lot of players to split the loads and stuff like this. We took a lot of players from Moritas too. That by the way, it's there they are doing an amazing job developing players, and you can see how they play and the players that they make. So, okay, and that was three years ago. So we had to somehow to to make the practices. And you know, uh we had a player that uh his name is Gandas Dryzanowska. He he's still in Ritas 2 now. He used to be in the I don't remember which of the two schools in Vilnius, uh SKM or VKM, but one of the two schools, and then he they somehow they merged with Ritas and then their players became players of Rita's schedule, something like this. So he's still playing in Ritas 2 and in the main team. Now he's of course a little bit older. Back then it was 18 or something. So we start, we didn't have, and I think we didn't have also one more guard, uh he gets injured or something. So we we we practice and uh we have the first friendly game. Um and uh and uh we discussed with uh coaches Tadas, Gustaf back then said, Okay, who will start? And let's say okay, let's start Gandhas. I mean uh he's practicing well, let's give him opportunity. I said, okay. I mean, talking about opportunities, and you never know. So he practiced very well, he he was ready, he was already very good athlete, he was practicing very good, he had the tools, the physical tools, he had the technique, okay, not uh mature enough, but still, you know, he has some quality. And and I told him, Look, you're gonna play, start from defense because don't think offense, because the young kids maybe they are good enough in their in their how can I say in their school in with their same years, 16, 17, might be scoring, but you can start with offense. It's yes look at Doncic and nobody else uh start from offense. Yeah, tell me, even Ricky Rubio when he was playing in Badalona 16, he was the best defender in Europe. He wasn't because of offense, he was because of defense. So, first of all, you have to find a way to be on the court. Whatever is this playing defense, make fouls, do this. So I say to Gandas, look, you're gonna play defense, and you know, and if you are open, shoot it. That's it. The only the only, let's say, advice. Somehow, that precision, I think we didn't lose any game. We played some good games, we beat Wolves also. So Gandhas played good. And then Getrus came from the national team, you know, I think one week before the season starts. And uh and we were talking, of course, through phones, sending videos and stuff like this, how the team is doing. And I said, Look, I mean, Gandas is killing, I mean, the team is winning, he's helping, guys like him because also for professionals, you know, to have a guy that sacrificed to make fouls and don't shoot the ball is very important. He will defend the best guy, he will make three fouls, he will not play 20 minutes, he will play 10-12. And she says, Okay, you know, I trust you guys, you were with him. And he started all the first five games of the LKL, you know, and uh and actually we won all five games, and he was very good. And uh but then then he needed to go also play with the Ritas 2, and we lost a little bit uh no, he also because Ritas II needed him, so we so I want to say that Gandha started playing LKL uh starting final and in a team that wants to go to the final if not win the league, and he was good because he was ready before that, and the opportunity for whatever reason now was national team players wasn't here. Three guards out of the team. So I want to say you never know. And then he established his his spot and uh now he's still you know in the in the Ritas 2 and uh helping you know helping the uh the team when it needed. Same happened decision with uh with uh Ignaz Urbonas, that also is a big part of Ritas schedule. They had two position three injured Ritas. So they had to play Utena like one month ago or two months ago. And uh they didn't have any three positions, so they played they play Igna 25 minutes because it was nobody else. And the guy scored 15 points on the road. First, you know, so because he was ready, you know, he was ready physically and mentally, first of all. I I'm talking about experience that I know from from uh from Ritas, you know, so for sure there are other teams that they have similar uh experiences, but I want to say that opportunity will come, just take advantage, at least not be your mistake that you didn't take advantage. I wasn't ready, I wasn't in shape, I wasn't practice or whatever it is, you know.

SPEAKER_00 37:13

Yes, yes, exactly. This is very good stories, and when you tell a story, you tell a story, like we can really see how it really it's not some kind of like um in the dreamland that maybe opportunity will come. No, they come, but sometimes they can come like maybe one opportunity in a year. You know, the opportunity comes, coach, let's say head coach needs you, and you were not ready. So, what will coach think about you? You know, like you like do we need to bring that guy again? He was not ready when we asked him to come, he was not ready.

SPEAKER_02 37:46

So it's like being ready, very, very and you know, in a professional team, the big disc because it was some practice that we had a lot of guys from the second team for whatever reasons. Maybe we need 15 guys because it was you know not game period, so we need to load a little bit, or we had uh, you know, for whatever reasons. The main concern of at least in when I was there is these guys, they are good for us because they don't mess up the practice. That was our uh our talks with coaches. Oh, good practice. I mean, they didn't mess up the practice, you know. And uh you know what I mean, because you bring five, four young fellas that don't know their system very well. Okay, okay, they they see, but they are not there every day, they don't know the place, they don't, you know, they are you know uh body-wise, they are they are 18 years old, they play against players like Normandas or Rajavicus that they are uh high-level player or Marcus Foster, like great players, yes, yes, and they are standing the ground. So that's also very, very important. If you are practicing with a a good, better team, even if you don't take shots, even if you don't, you know, try to be there and help the team because from my experience at least this will help you, you know, to the coaching staff to have you a little bit high. So the next time, as you said, the opportunity will come and say, Hey, let's bring him. Ah, no, he was he wasn't good in the practice because he walked or bring him, he brings energy. Because now basketball is a lot of teams, if not the majority of the teams, it's uh it's more about energy and uh and less than the culture thing, let's say.

SPEAKER_00 39:24

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_02 39:25

So energy bringing energy is huge, huge value that is not on the stats. You know, energy and I'm not on the court, off the court, being polite, being how say not polite, how can I say being positive, loud. Uh it's it's things that uh these young fellas in the teams, they need to bring playing, not playing. You are on the bench, you have to be the the the the most uh how can I say the most uh loud guy on the court. The player comes, be positive, you know. These details make coaches trusting you more. It's not if you're gonna make a three. Believe me, no young fella will go to a professional team being making threes. It's not gonna be the, you know, it's gonna help him, but it's not the reason. I'm telling you, on the history of European basketball, which player 18-19 playing in high level, being of, I'm telling you, Luca Dodge, I cannot remember anybody else. Maybe I missed somebody, but it was the only young fella that he was dominating through offense. Who I'm telling you, Ricky Rubio, the let's say because this is the example everybody uses when he was in Badalona 16-17. He was picking up full court. That's why he was playing, not because he was making such. So this is very to be positive element on the court, of the court, so coaches can trust you, bring you again, bring you again. And if you are in the team every time, you see, long season, millions of games, small injuries, some other injuries, you never know. Uh also these guys from Ritas, too. They you know that Ritas had a lot of problems. The game, decisive game against Galatasera in Turkey, like one week ago, two weeks ago, when they have to clinch, it was Gandas, Urbonas. Uh they were in the team, and I think they played some minutes because Rita didn't have players, and they played two or three minutes in BCL game, you know, and they didn't mess up. So it's uh yes, and in the same time, Ritas is developing Rita's two team because every year they are winning the BCL youth, and you can see the players getting better. So I want to say combination Ritas trying to win and uh Rita's main team and Rita's 2 team trying to develop and also win, you know, in their youth uh youth system program.

What Young Call-Ups Struggle With

SPEAKER_00 41:39

And from your experience, when those young players come uh to the men's team, to the main team, do they usually like is there like one way that you would say, or is it you like depends on the player? But what do they usually struggle the most with? Is it like they physically not ready? Uh mentally they are like stressed and anxious, or should what should I do when they kind of lose the ball, or is it the basketball IQ tactics that they are struggling with?

SPEAKER_02 42:06

I think it's uh it's all these three. I uh not in the same time. Different players have something more or something less. For example, uh we had a player from uh it was even Rita's three at that time. I mean, the third team of Rita's point are that he was small enough, like size-wise, and you know, for him size it was a disadvantage because he used to play in his level going into the rim and making layups, and in Rita's practice they were blocking him. And I said, What are you talking? I mean, you get blocked every time. Where are you going? Yes, yes. So, you know what though. For this, for for this player, it was size. Some other players they have anxious because, oh, I mean the main team, uh, I cannot catch the ball. I miss a layup. Oh, coach, what will you tell me? Or or tactically, maybe Ritas 2 or the other team, or they are used to different tactics, and uh they are not, you know, picking up um tactics very fast. It's not uh it's even professionals don't pick up tactics very fast. So in order my advice in order to eliminate this is what I said before. Energetic doesn't uh you don't need talent, you don't need size, you don't need tactics. Uh diving on the floor, making the fouls, going for every voice, every bound, you don't need this talent, you know, it's just there. You know. If the coach says uh do this, you go first to do this. Don't, you know, or uh being positive, if the coach says something, yes, it says yes, I got you, and do it, try to correct it, you know. Uh so so this is uh this is something that uh I I saw all this, what you mentioned. Sometimes some players they have all three, sometimes some players they have one or two. But one way to overcome this is what I said like bring the energy, try to listen when coach talks, don't be Don't you know, or ask a teammate, you know, ask hey, what coach at that moment? What we should do. And believe me, at least my philosophy, and you know, I know for sure uh you know, coaching stafferita's philosophy is if you do that, always you are welcome to play and practice. First practice and play, you know, because this is sometimes it's more important than uh if you miss open side, you know. Even as I said to the professionals, you're gonna miss more shots in your career than you're gonna make. I mean yes. Tell me if a professional player shooter finishes more than 50% career threes. Maybe some of them in some leagues that we don't know, but the majority of the players are gonna miss more threes than what they're gonna make. So I was considering a very good shooter, I finished 39%. So I missed more such anything.

SPEAKER_00 44:50

Yes, and you know, like I want everyone to hear what you are saying because it's it's not like you're not let's say this you're not sitting in the lab and doing the experiments and experiments, and you are not kinda doing anything practically, you are practically coaching. I'm not saying that science is not good, but I'm saying that what you are hearing now is from the coach who is working with basketball players, who is coaching teams. He's saying to you, if you lack some things, there are other things that you can kind of um do different compensate, yes. So be loud, you know, uh on the court, uh die for the balls and run the courts. Those like they don't require any. If you got to that level, you definitely are physically able to do all of those things. And if you're lacking others, you will pick up, you know, later when you coach will tell, hey, I think you need to develop this, you need to work more on this. But to get in there, this is what you need to do, and don't expect that you will start doing that only when you get to that pro team.

SPEAKER_02 45:57

They need to know or when you want to start playing, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 46:02

Exactly, otherwise, you will not get a chance.

SPEAKER_02 46:04

When the coach stands on the bench and see you says, Okay, I trust this guy for two minutes. Maybe it's a crucial difference, you know. Who knows? Yes, uh it's a stop, it's a foul. Go. My advice go on the court even for one second. If the coach tell you you have to sprint to go on the court, young fellas. If the coach says, Hey, go, don't walk. Nobody likes it.

SPEAKER_00 46:26

Yes, especially if you're young. Like, I'm very curious why do why it's not mandatory for young players do full court press every single time. I don't know. I I probably would make it mandatory, not that the coach says that, but if I was going on the team, I would make mandatory for myself. I have to full court press, you know, working on my defense skills. As you said, I will start with defense. Um, so I will work on my defense and I will show that I work hard, you know. I make others struggle. So, coach, oh, actually, let's use them for two minutes, let's make that player tired so you can go and defend because I know that under practices you defend a full court, so you will have like gas or energy to do that in the game, also.

SPEAKER_02 47:10

And something that also uh I saw examples also in Ritas, also in Ostende, because we had some young court practicing with us, and they they're still playing with their age, you know, under 19, second team, or whatever is the case. Even if they don't play, this is an advice to the players. Even if they don't play, let's say you go top in the main team, okay? You to make practice, to make to go work uh lifting. Uh you need to go individual, you need to make uh whatever practice. You have to defend if you are two positions like Gandhas, let's say you have to defend Marcus Foster, then you're gonna go to your level, and the guy you're gonna guard, it's 20 times worse than Marcus Foster. So it's gonna be way easier for you. Only for even some practices. And this, to be open, I saw it in Gandhas in that season. He was with us, then I was watching this, and he was cooking, let's say, first of all, defensively, uh, because he uh he practiced with the main guys. I mean, then he g he needs to guard 18-19 years old. It's not the same. So I want to say even practicing will help you to because now if you are 18-19, for sure you you play in your main team and then in your age team and the main team, especially in Lithuania, because I know the majority of the teams they have second teams, you know, so or an affiliated team that you can play. So this will help you in your let's say age uh age uh same age uh tournament.

Part One Wrap And Subscribe

SPEAKER_00 48:40

That is it for part one with George Taddes. Subscribe so you don't miss the part two.