By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Reflecting on the evolution of the NBA within a broader global shift in ‘invasion sports’, Memphis Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo noted that ‘whether it’s football or ice hockey or soccer or basketball, they’re all going in the same direction’. The 43-year-old Finnish play-caller pointed out that the demands on players are escalating through increased pace and a move toward more organic organizational structures.
“There are a lot fewer scripted offenses in basketball, for example, than there were before, but that doesn’t mean that the teams are worse organized,” Iisalo explained on Monday, during his exit interview following the conclusion of the 2025-26 Regular Season. “They’re actually better organized, because it looks more organic and it’s harder to take away, and you have options after options.” This high-intensity movement, which he described as being ‘on a completely different level’ compared to previous decades, has forced teams to balance the pursuit of winning with the mounting challenges of player health.
To navigate these shifting dynamics, the Helsinki native remains ‘agnostic’ toward the source of tactical improvement, famously borrowing the ‘gegenpressing’ concept popularized by managers like Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola to enhance the Grizzlies‘ transition game.
“It came directly from there as a measure to increase intensity of the team sports,” Iisalo said of the soccer-inspired counter-pressing he applied to the offensive rebounding phase. He maintained that ‘to do it differently, to have different outputs, you got to have different inputs’, drawing inspiration from both European soccer and the process-oriented coaching of 1980s American football.
Despite the disappointment of a challenging 25-57 campaign, which Iisalo attributed directly to the ‘quality of work’ and a need for collective accountability, he remains focused on refining this identity heading into the 2026-27 season.
The Grizzlies’ efforts to maintain this high-intensity style were complicated by significant roster turnover and injuries to many players, including Spanish forward-center Santi Aldama, a cornerstone of the frontcourt, who saw his season end prematurely following an arthroscopic knee procedure in March, though he is expected to return for next year’s training camp.
In his absence, the team turned to a pair of French prospects to sustain the rotation. Rayan Rupert made a strong impression after joining on a two-way contract in early March, providing versatile production across 16 appearances.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity that the organization gave me. Going from being cut from the Blazers to playing like 30 minutes for the last two months has been huge for my development,” the 21-year-old wing said during his exit interview.
“I’m going to be a free agent, but I hope I’m going to stay here,” he added regarding his future in Memphis.
Beyond the NBA, Rupert has his sights set on international duty. “My goal is to play for the national team this summer,” he noted on possibly representing the senior national team of France during the upcoming games in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
Meanwhile, fellow countryman Adama Bal contributed 10.4 points per game over the season’s final eight games while playing on a hardship exception.