The Transforming Basketball Podcast

Dr. Craig Liebenson, chiropractor and movement specialist who consults for NBA, NFL and MLB teams and founded First Principles of Movement, discusses fixing movement patterns rather than just treating pain. He covers movement quality, injury prevention, integrating movement-based training into practice, gamified drills, variability in coaching, and training around injuries to maintain performance.

Dominik Teodoro, performance coach for Rasta Vechta who specializes in warm-up design and movement variability. He talks about turning boring routines into playful, skill-building games. Short, progressive tasks that spark quick thinking, boost engagement, and manage injury risk come up a lot. Practical warmup games, timeboxing, and using novelty and autonomy to keep players alert are highlighted.

Felix Engel, a professional youth coach and coach educator from Germany, focuses on mindset, awareness, and discovery-based learning. He discusses the inner game of basketball and why awareness drives development. He explores shifting from instruction to player-led problem solving. He outlines building trust, autonomy, and practice designs that encourage decision-making and curiosity.

Don Showalter, veteran high school and USA Basketball coach who led youth national teams to multiple gold medals and runs Snow Valley camps. He talks standards vs rules, keeping fundamentals alive, structuring high-energy practices, short soundbite teaching, small-sided games like 3-on-3 to expose decision-making, and building a culture with enthusiasm and humility.

Mfon Udofia, Long Island Nets head coach and former Georgia Tech point guard, shares coaching roots and a concise bio. He talks about making effort measurable with Winning Momentum Plays. He explains building accountability with Individual Development Plans. He breaks down teaching decision-making in a conceptual offense and the nuts and bolts of pick-and-roll strategy and defenses.

Mike Mennenga, longtime Oregon assistant and player development guru known for recruiting NBA talent. He talks about recruiting for motor and toughness. He explains conditioning through pace-based practice. He breaks down Oregon’s matchup zone, its purpose, and teaching principles. He stresses playing without the ball, communication, and one-on-one accountability.

Corey McCrae, a college basketball coach steeped in DeMatha and ACC experience, shares stories from FAU about roster turnover and learning to close games. He talks about building a person-first team culture, practical player connections like film and meals, teaching and defending the Horns offense, recruiting priorities, and developing leadership through responsibility.

Antoine Broxsie, former pro player and coach with G League and international experience, shares his coaching journey. He talks about using constraints-led, game-like drills, teaching and defending the Zoom action, and how global experiences shaped his adaptable approach to player development.

Luke Bonner, former Division I and pro player turned grassroots coach and marketing lead at Player Data. He discusses multi-sport benefits and when players realise they’re elite. He explains using soccer-inspired drills and wearables to boost engagement and decision-making. He covers load management, constraint-led games to teach fundamentals, and efficient off-season planning to keep kids healthy and motivated.

Ryan Gensler, the Head Women's Basketball Coach at the University of Akron, shares insights from his diverse coaching background. He discusses the power of concept-based offense and relationship-driven leadership. Ryan emphasizes cutting as a key offensive weapon and demonstrates how small-sided games can enhance player development. He reveals strategies for fostering a strong team culture through shared values and emotional intelligence, while encouraging coaches to trust their players' decision-making skills on the court.