By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
At the Memphis Grizzlies preseason media day on Monday, head coach Tuomas Iisalo reflected on his tactical observations over the summer break.
When asked if he had studied international tournaments during the offseason to find elements he could implement moving into the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season, the 44-year-old tactician looked at the game through a macro-lens. He observed how styles contrast deeply with traditional American structures, a theme the Finnish strategist has routinely discussed when highlighting the differences between the NBA and Europe.
“I’ve been saying that for years. There’s always something to be learned,” he replied. “One of the things that I thought was very interesting was just thinking about myself and also adapting to the US and to the NBA. And one of the things we thought about is, let’s call it the cultural theory of invasion sports.”
The mastermind pointed out that European and global field sports rely on dynamic, continuous ball movement, whereas American sports culture historically relies on singular focal points to dictate the action.
“If you look at South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, you have a lot of games where the ball is essentially ping-ponged to each other, whether it be soccer, rugby, hockey, ice hockey,” Iisalo explained. “Whereas in the US, a lot of that is very centralized. So when you look at the US, you have the quarterback who makes most of the passes, you have the pitcher who makes the passes, and basketball also has similar type of things.”
To bridge this cultural gap, he spent the offseason transforming how his players approach individual development, aiming to match modern trends of collectiveness, speed, and effort.
“That has been one of the driving factors of what we’ve also tried to get guys to do in the skill workouts during the summer, whether they’re here or with their trainers: to become better passers to each other,” he stated. “And not just these opening passes, but also giving flow to the game.”
NBA media, distractions
As the press conference progressed, reporters asked Iisalo how being an NBA coach has differed from his initial perceptions, and what major lessons he would implement to alter his approach going forward. Transitioning from European sidelines to the NBA landscape presents hurdles that extend far beyond the traditional boundaries, demanding a completely different allocation of mental energy compared to his time overseas.
“From a distance, it’s really difficult, first of all, to make assumptions,” he admitted. “When Coach Jenkins was running it, I wasn’t envious of him in that position. And one of the things is because of the discussions that take place in this room, for example, and that’s maybe the biggest difference to Europe.”
For a pure basketball mind, the heavy focus on offcourt narratives can become a steady part of the daily routine.
“I would like to talk about the game, I would like to educate the people, I would like to offer my understanding about the game,” he expressed. “The topics that get discussed are mostly at a meta-level or outside the game.”
Despite the outside noise, the Helsinki native remains dedicated to using his platform to push the sport forward on a global scale.
“Instead of focusing on the actual games, you sometimes need to prep for these meetings about what to say,” he remarked. “That’s definitely different from Europe, and I’m trying to do my part also to help the game because it is a global game. I feel I have an obligation to the game that has given me everything to also try to give back, and this is one of those avenues, and I’ll try to stay on that way.”
Constant self-improvement
Complacency is the ultimate enemy for Iisalo, who operates with a relentless internal pressure to evolve alongside his players. When addressing the lessons he has gathered, he detailed a strict philosophy of self-evaluation that dictates his entire professional life. This ties directly into his distinct approaches to coaching, where he constantly balances technical execution with psychological growth.
“If you know me, you know I’m like paranoid about staying put as a person,” he openly shared. “I need to develop, and I need to see our teams also develop, and that’s why I’m in this. I feel like it’s my duty to do that. I can’t stand being the weak link in the whole thing.”
“If you think about basketball, you can think about our own basketball, what we want to play, but then specific to the NBA, understanding the other teams and the context much better, how the rules are interpreted,” he added. “When it comes to coaching, it’s more like designing practices, understanding athletes, but also the relationship part and the human aspect. So that’s how I’ve kind of divided it within my head and trying to make improvements every year.”
Reuniting with Julius Thomas
Asked about Julius Thomas being brought into his staff, Iisalo commented on the reunion welcoming a young offensive mind into the NBA circle, further bridging their shared European background with the league.
“We have added one assistant coach to the staff, which is Julius Thomas, who worked as an assistant for me, first in Bonn in Germany and then in Paris, and was the interim head coach last year in EuroLeague, the youngest EuroLeague head coach in history,” he confirmed.
“He will work mostly on the offensive side as kind of my right-hand man with that,” continued Iisalo. “He has extensive knowledge of that system.”
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