Címke: coaching

  • Hungarian Coaches’ Day 🇭🇺🏀

    Hungarian Coaches’ Day 🇭🇺🏀

    Today, we celebrate the coaches who teach, motivate, inspire, and help shape not only athletes, but people.

    Coaching is much more than what happens during practices and games. It requires knowledge, responsibility, patience, continuous learning, and above all, a genuine commitment to players and the sport.

    On Hungarian Coaches’ Day, we would like to thank every coach for the countless hours, energy, passion, and dedication they invest in developing the next generation.

    Happy Hungarian Coaches’ Day! 🏀🇭🇺

  • New Publication: What Career Paths Lead to an NBA Head Coaching Position?

    New Publication: What Career Paths Lead to an NBA Head Coaching Position?

    We are pleased to share our new research article published in Frontiers in Sports and Active Living:

    Career pathways and professional backgrounds associated with NBA head coaching status: evidence from the NBA, G-League, and NCAA

    The study was authored by Ágoston Nagy, Botond Ágoston Nagy, Szilvia Borbély and Benedek Ágost Nagy and examines one of the most interesting questions in professional basketball coaching:

    What professional experiences are associated with reaching an NBA head coaching position?

    Comparing Three Coaching Environments

    The study analyzed the professional backgrounds of 76 head coaches:

    • 30 NBA head coaches,
    • 30 randomly selected NCAA Division I head coaches,
    • and 16 NBA G-League head coaches.

    The analysis included demographic characteristics, playing experience and coaching-career variables in order to identify which factors were most strongly associated with NBA head coaching status.

    NBA Experience Matters

    The clearest result concerned previous experience as an NBA assistant coach.

    Among the NBA head coaches in the sample, 83.3% had previously worked as NBA assistant coaches, compared with 37.5% of G-League head coaches and 16.7% of NCAA Division I head coaches.

    In the final statistical model, previous NBA assistant coaching experience showed the strongest independent association with NBA head coaching status.

    NBA playing experience was also significantly associated with becoming an NBA head coach, although the relationship was weaker than that observed for assistant coaching experience.

    Professional Embeddedness Over Demographics

    One of the most important messages of the study is that advancement toward an NBA head coaching position appears to be associated more strongly with NBA-specific professional experience and organizational exposure than with demographic characteristics alone.

    Age was not a statistically significant predictor in the final model.

    The same was true for White race/ethnicity.

    Formal educational background also appeared less important than direct professional experience within elite basketball organizations.

    Playing Experience Helps — But It Is Not Enough

    Having played in the NBA may provide future coaches with valuable experience of:

    • elite competition,
    • player relationships,
    • team dynamics,
    • pressure,
    • and the organizational demands of professional basketball.

    However, the results suggest that playing experience alone does not define the pathway toward becoming an NBA head coach.

    The transition into coaching roles — and particularly gaining experience inside an NBA coaching staff — appears to be especially important.

    Coaching Careers Are Built Step by Step

    There is no single route to the top.

    Coaches may begin their professional development as:

    • players,
    • video analysts,
    • player-development coaches,
    • assistant coaches,
    • G-League coaches,
    • or college coaches.

    Over time, they accumulate experience through competition, mentoring, professional relationships and different organizational roles.

    The results of this study reinforce the idea that elite coaching development is a long-term professional process rather than a single qualification or career event.

    Why Does This Matter?

    Understanding coaching pathways can help:

    • aspiring coaches plan their professional development,
    • organizations better understand coaching-career structures,
    • coach-education programs identify relevant experiences,
    • and researchers explore how elite coaches develop over time.

    The findings also suggest that access to professional environments and meaningful coaching roles may be particularly important for career progression.

    Importantly, these findings describe associations rather than causal effects. Becoming an NBA assistant coach does not automatically lead to an NBA head coaching position, but within this sample, NBA-specific coaching experience was clearly associated with reaching that level.

    Publication Details

    Nagy Á, Nagy BÁ, Borbély S and Nagy BÁ (2026).
    Career pathways and professional backgrounds associated with NBA head coaching status: evidence from the NBA, G-League, and NCAA.

    Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Volume 8.

    DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2026.1820197

    Published: July 2, 2026

  • Five Fundamental Principles of Mini Basketball

    Five Fundamental Principles of Mini Basketball

    Antonio San Payo Arajúo, Technical Director of Mini Basketball

    1. The Importance of Mini Basketball

    In mini basketball, the child must always come first.

    Children have enormous imaginations and different needs, which they expect adults to understand. At the same time, they do not think or behave like adults.

    This must be taken into account when working in mini basketball. Our goal should be to develop independence and cooperation while providing every child with equal opportunities.

    2. Mini Basketball as a Learning Environment

    Today, more and more children grow up in apartment buildings, spend large amounts of time in front of televisions, computers and video games, have fewer opportunities to play with others, and often do not develop their motor skills sufficiently.

    For this reason, it is essential to create environments where children can develop their coordination and movement abilities through activity and interaction.

    When we work with children, we leave a lasting impression on them. Therefore, one of our greatest responsibilities is to provide them with as many positive experiences as possible.

    From this perspective, mini basketball should be a learning environment in which both children and adults enjoy themselves.

    3. The Importance of Competition

    Everyone likes to win. That is natural and human.

    However, in mini basketball, we should not rush toward winning as the main objective.

    The primary principle should be teaching and evaluating what the child has learned.

    Of course, we enjoy seeing children happy when they win. But when children play mini basketball, the emphasis should be placed on demonstrating and applying what they have learned.

    The final result should not be the most important factor.

    4. Health, Performance and Development

    Mini basketball should be accessible to every child, regardless of the coach’s expectations.

    It teaches children to love the game.

    If they enjoy basketball, they are more likely to remain involved in the sport. Through continued participation, they can develop their abilities and maintain a healthier lifestyle.

    This is particularly important today, when many children do not eat properly and do not get enough physical activity.

    5. Games and Officiating in the Best Interest of Children

    In mini basketball, officiating should also involve explaining the rules.

    Referees working with young players must understand the coordination difficulties that children may experience.

    The game can — and should — be adapted according to the players’ age and level of development.

    For U12, the game should be played 5-on-5.

    For U10, 4-on-4 is recommended.

    For U8, 3-on-3 is recommended, using a smaller court while still playing toward two baskets.

    The structure of the game should always serve the development and enjoyment of the children.

    Antonio San Payo Arajúo, Technical Director of Mini Basketball