A new reality, by Tim Shea

"We come into the world alone. We go away the same. We're meant to spend the interlude between in closeness or so we tell ourselves. But it's a long way from the morning to the evening". Rod McKuen

We are, every one of us, products of our environment. Our homes and families, our schools, religions, society, neighborhoods and friends play a crucial and continuous role in our personal formation and beliefs. Like all sports, basketball, whether played by amateurs or professionals requires both physical and mental involvement. Here we will get into the professional club/team side and in particular my colleagues, Head Coaches.

If we explore the evolution of the basketball scene in Europe 2025 we see an outstanding reality and whether we recognize it or not Euro basketball has changed. Quite simply it is designed for and of a new generation. Furthermore, one significant, obvious and important change that distinguishes these club rosters from the past is that they are now home to an increased number of African Europeans and African American representatives. 

By way of example we can take a look at the EuroLeague. The combined number of African and African Americans this season, on the Hapoel Tel Aviv (the 1º place team) roster is ten, there are eight on the 2º place AS Monaco roster, ten on the 3º Crvena Zvezda Meridian bet Belgrade roster and the 4º place Valencia Basket there are eight. The top four teams with 36 non-Caucasian players. And on it goes.

If we accept the premise stated earlier that we are all "products of our environment" then it stands to reason that methodologies, to succeed, need to adjust to and stay "with the times". Both clubs and coaches must realize that the past, historical operational rules have become antiquated and that the functioning load of basketball production is being carried by players that are products of a culture and a universe unknown to Caucasians. 

To be perfectly clear…Most of us have seen racially focused news stories, movies or printed media accounts and have formed personal opinions. But let's be transparent, Caucasians have never suffered from or even had to deal with racism. 

First off, we need to clarify that systematic racism refers to the ingrained racial inequality that’s woven into the rules, norms, and frameworks of national institutions—resulting in race influencing outcomes in areas like education, housing, jobs, health, policing, and voting. For African Americans, the biggest hurdles and injustices in the U.S. stem from centuries of approved violence, exclusionary laws, and structural policies that have created lasting gaps in wealth, health, education, and safety. These injustices cover a range of issues from slavery and racial terror to today’s mass incarceration and biased housing and policing practices. After slavery ended, racial massacres and lynchings spread fear in Black communities and reinforced white supremacy through violence and intimidation. Discriminatory housing policies have blocked Black families from getting mortgages, stable neighborhoods, and homeownership—the main paths to wealth in the U.S. 

These policies, along with job discrimination and unequal educational chances, have led to a lasting racial wealth gap and concentrated poverty in many Black areas. State-sanctioned and extralegal violence against Black men, like today’s police killings, has been a recurring injustice. Daily racial biases—both small and large—pile up stress and limit opportunities at different life stages, continuing the cycle of disadvantage across generations.

The psychological effects are significant, including chronic stress, anxiety, depression, trauma symptoms, and increased feelings of hypervigilance or mistrust. It can lower self-esteem, encourage the internalization of negative stereotypes, and make people more vulnerable to long-term mental health problems. African and Afro Europeans share similar life experiences. 
I suggest that it’s time to take a fresh look at the old-school coaching methods (you know, the authoritarian, insulting, or disrespectful styles) and how clubs are run. There is a need to understand and adapt to the impacts of these historical, racially charged realities if we want to achieve winning and success in our clubs. If we acknowledge that past coaching methods and club disciplinary codes were made for men (players) from a different time, with different life experiences and social standings, then it’s pretty straightforward to grasp all of this. It’s just a matter of recognizing that "The Times Have Changed". It’s not 1990 anymore. It’s 2025. 

To wrap things up, I’d like to add a personal touch.
My professional (and personal) experiences have demonstrated that if we deny this new reality and subject players to outdated methods and philosophies, they may play with passion. However, if there is mutual respect, understanding, and indeed, if love is present, they will then offer you their very souls.