Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernández joins Ric Bucher and Bostjan “Boki” Nachbar to break down the NBA’s accelerating internationalization—from foreign-born head coaches to the looming NBA Europe push. Fernández explains why the league is hunting ideas worldwide (coaching, performance, sports science), why the best system is a blend of European reads + American athleticism, and why relationships—not fear—are the real “superpower” in modern coaching.

Then Ric and Boki connect the dots to the NBA’s footprint in Europe, the “city list” debate, and the biggest issue European hoops keeps dodging: development—and why Europe can’t complain about losing 18–21-year-old talent if it won’t play them.

• 00:00 Fullcourt Passport intro: the global hoops gateway
• 00:31 Guest reveal: Brooklyn Nets HC Jordi Fernández + international coaching surge
• 01:18 Why the NBA is looking outside the U.S.: coaching, medical, performance, innovation
• 02:54 “The NBA doesn’t care about your passport”—what matters is your superpower
• 03:16 Europe vs. U.S. basketball education: reads & versatility vs. athleticism & competition
• 04:03 Fernández’s roots: Badalona, Joventut, and coaching at 15
• 07:15 The dream to return to Europe: EuroLeague/ACB aspirations + “surviving” the NBA job
• 09:11 What’s his superpower? Curiosity, relationships, accountability (both ways)
• 12:27 Ric’s comp: Jerry West as the ultimate learner + why humility wins locker rooms
• 13:36 National teams & the Olympics: why it’s the most intense, most special competition
• 15:49 Barcelona ’92 memories + how that Olympics changed everything globally
• 17:55 Coaching through sports psych + sports science: why variety makes you better
• 20:49 NBA Europe + European basketball’s crossroads: business realities vs. development
• 21:43 The key problem: Europe loses young stars… because it won’t play them
• 22:37 Nets example: six players ages 19–21 getting real minutes—development pipeline
• 24:10 Collaboration vs. competition: how the NBA will approach Europe
• 25:02 Ric & Boki react: modern coaching = connection, collaboration, and player management
• 27:51 Boki in Berlin: NBA games in Europe, atmosphere, and what it signals
• 36:36 El Clásico memories: Barça–Madrid intensity, culture, and rivalry psychology
• 39:17 Closest NBA equivalents: Texas rivalries + Nets–Knicks at MSG
• 43:56 Wrap: what to watch next week + the season tightening up

#FullcourtPassport #UnitedWeCast #NBA #EuroLeague #NBAEurope #InternationalBasketball #JordiFernandez #BrooklynNets #BasketballCoaching #PlayerDevelopment #Olympics #FIBA #ACB #ElClasico #GlobalBasketball

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EuroLeague forward Alec Peters (Olympiacos) joins Ric Bucher and Bostjan “Boki” Nachbar for a wide-ranging international hoops conversation—starting with the true business of jersey numbers (and a Chipotle gift card), then diving into why Peters chose a long-term overseas path, what NBA tanking actually feels like inside a locker room, and why EuroLeague winning hits different.

From CSKA’s championship culture to finding a home in Piraeus (and opening a restaurant called “25”), Alec breaks down how Europe helped him become a more complete player—and why the EuroLeague product is still under-discovered in the U.S. The episode closes with a big-picture debate: NBA Europe—what it could solve, what it could complicate, and why the league’s marketing model may clash with Europe’s club-first tradition.

Time Stamps

• 00:00 Welcome to Fullcourt Passport (United WeCast Network)
• 00:36 Introducing Alec Peters (Olympiacos)
• 01:04 Why he changed his Summer League number: jersey politics + a “hefty” Chipotle card
• 03:40 The jersey-number hustle: Brendan Haywood’s $100K story
• 05:08 Why Alec left the NBA for Europe (and what “tanking” looked like up close)
• 07:29 Choosing CSKA: stability, coaching, and a winning blueprint
• 08:52 Why EuroLeague wins feel different (emotion, rivalry, road environments)
• 10:07 Why EuroLeague is still under-marketed in the U.S. (and who’s actually watching)
• 13:09 Development: college “do everything” vs NBA “one skill” vs Europe “complete player”
• 18:17 Finding a home at Olympiacos + opening a restaurant in Greece
• 21:23 The restaurant name: “25”
• 22:01 NBA Europe: Alec sees both sides—elevate the product, reduce confusion
• 31:26 Kendrick Perkins’ “internationals taking over” + what “face of the league” means
• 37:01 NBA marketing stars vs Europe marketing clubs—collision course?
• 44:10 EuroLeague Game of the Week: Monaco vs Valencia + why it mattered
• 50:10 Next week teaser: EuroLeague coaches’ personalities and philosophies
• 51:46 Wrap + where to listen/watch live (NoFilter Network + United WeCast YouTube)

#FullcourtPassport #UnitedWeCast #EuroLeague #Olympiacos #AlecPeters #InternationalBasketball #NBAEurope #EuroLeagueBasketball #NBA #BasketballPodcast #RicBucher #BokiNachbar

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What does the future of basketball look like outside the United States — and how close is the NBA to planting permanent roots in Europe?

On this episode of Fullcourt Passport, longtime NBA executive Tommy Sheppard joins hosts Ric Bucher and Bostjan “Boki” Nachbar for a wide-ranging, insider conversation on the global evolution of basketball, the rise of international stars, and the controversial idea of NBA Europe.

Sheppard reflects on three decades in the NBA, the transformation of international scouting and player development, the influence of EuroLeague coaching and tactics, and why passion, culture, and relegation make European basketball fundamentally different from the NBA model. The trio also debate injuries, pace of play, commercialization, and whether basketball risks losing its soul as it grows globally.

This is a must-listen for fans of NBA, EuroLeague, FIBA basketball, international player development, and the future of the sport worldwide.

00:00 – Welcome to Fullcourt Passport

01:20 – Introducing Tommy Sheppard & his NBA background

05:10 – From the 1990s to today: how international basketball exploded

09:40 – Slovenia’s impact & paving the way for Luka Dončić

13:55 – International MVPs & changing perceptions of greatness

18:20 – EuroLeague academies vs U.S. development model

22:45 – Why EuroLeague basketball teaches higher IQ

26:10 – Is the modern NBA “too easy”? Toughness debate

30:05 – NBA Europe: league, partnership, or experiment?

34:40 – Culture clash: passion, history & European fans

38:50 – Relegation vs franchise stability

42:30 – Timeline, money & long-term viability of NBA Europe

46:05 – Injuries, pace of play & player workload concerns

49:10 – Greek Derby spotlight: Olympiakos vs Panathinaikos

52:00 – Final thoughts & wrap-up

#NBAEurope #EuroLeague #GlobalBasketball #NBATwitter #BasketballWorld

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