Future EuroLeague coach? Switch off your phones and meet Tuomas Iisalo / News - Basketnews.com

Paris Basketball head coach Tuomas Iisalo is considered a potential future EuroLeague head coach, attributed to his approach, diligent work ethic, and a distinctive high-tempo basketball style underpinned by exciting fundamentals.

Credit: Paulius Peleckis/BNS Credit Paulius Peleckis/BNS

He has never been on Instagram. Although he had a Twitter account a couple of years ago, he eventually quit. It was his primary source for links and quality articles, but he decided to deactivate it. He observed that it was gradually undermining his ability to focus. Something fundamental in his life.

Paris Basketball / Schedule

Paris Basketball Umana Reyer Venezia100-70 Paris Basketball Veolia Towers HamburgWed19:30

"I've always been big on reading books and long-form articles. But it was becoming really difficult for me because you're used to reading bite-size chunks of information,"Tuomas Iisalo, the head coach ofParis Basketball, explains in an interview withBasketNewsin Vilnius.

"Especially in this work, I feel like you have to protect the concentration a lot mainly because the video work is very, very focus-consumed. As I get older, I'm trying to protect that side for myself, and I noticed that I would rather spend that time reading articles I get from friends or finding them somewhere else. So I just replaced those with mailing lists from people I follow, like blogs or essays," the 41-year-old Finnish coach recalls.

"Yeah, my focus came back to a higher level, and I'm able to read again and focus on reading novels and non-fiction, stuff like this," Iisalo finds value in distancing himself from social media. "I've been very happy with that change. I think social media is a very difficult concept for any brain to handle overall. It's just preys on human nature. It's like you cannot really do anything about it. They're so well designed to capture your attention."

What was the latest book he brought along on his flight to Vilnius for the game against BC Wolves Vilnius?

A while ago, Iisalo delved into Vince Lombardi's "Run to Daylight!"

In his book, the NFL coach Vince Lombardi of the 1960s Green Bay Packers takes through his diary of a week at the helm of a historical team, from the very first film session on Monday to the final whistle of the Sunday game.

3-pointers this season

38%10,3Points made:10,3Accuracy:37,7%Place in standings:4Record max:19Record min:6Most made 3FGs:Nadir HifiTeamEuroCupStatisticsSchedule

Now, he's listening to an audiobook, "The Manic," by the Chilean author Benjamin Labatut.

It's a story centered on the Hungarian polymath John von Neumann, who was involved in developing the atomic bomb, the modern computer, and game theory.

"I read very little about basketball. I try to read a very wide variety of different stuff. I feel like that's where all the best ideas and connections come from. I always believe that to make different connections than others, you also have to have different inputs to have different outputs. Some coaches watch basketball more or sports overall for innovations. But for me, it comes from many different areas of life," says Iisalo.

Why is all of this important, you might wonder?

Well, it's a key aspect of Tuomas Iisalo's basketball philosophy. Concentration plays a vital role in Iisalo's fundamental approach to basketball, shaping a philosophy known for fast-paced, high-scoring, efficient, and winning gameplay.

The previous year, Iisalo made a name for himself as a promising head coach by winning the Basketball Champions League with Telekom Baskets Bonn. It marked Bonn's first title in 28 years.

Years earlier, he elevated Crailsheim Merlins from the second German division to the first division, guiding the team to the playoffs in his third season in the Bundesliga.

Many within the basketball community believe that Iisalo is one of the most intriguing head coaches with the potential to lead a team in the EuroLeague.

What qualities make him a promising head coach? Switch off your phone (you'll soon see why) and get to know Tuomas Iisalo.

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