Are national teams crossing a line in the name of winning — or simply adapting to modern basketball?

On this episode of Full Court Passport, hosts Ric Bucher and Bostjan “Boki” Nachbar are joined by University of Wyoming assistant coach Chris Thomas for a deep dive into the evolution of global basketball development — and the growing controversy around naturalized players on national teams.

The conversation is sparked by reports involving Jaxson Hayes, the Los Angeles Lakers big man whose name has surfaced in discussions around Slovenia’s national team needs. From there, the episode expands into a masterclass on how European basketball teaches skill, decision-making, and processing speed earlier — and why that approach continues to produce MVP-caliber players.

Thomas also explains why the 24-second shot clock matters, how positionless basketball is reshaping development in the U.S., and what college programs are doing to close the gap. Plus, Ric and Boki examine EuroLeague financial pressures, club sustainability, and why “winning at all costs” may be changing the soul of international competition.

00:00 – Welcome to Full Court Passport (Ric Bucher & Bostjan “Boki” Nachbar)

00:00:45 – Sponsor: New Air Club

00:01:24 – Guest intro: Chris Thomas (University of Wyoming) + Sundance Wicks endorsement

00:04:11 – Chris Thomas’ Puerto Rico experience (GM & head coach lessons)

00:05:08 – Coaching Slovenia’s national team: pressure, pride, and perspective

00:06:40 – Basketball as a passport: coaching and traveling across 59 countries

00:08:16 – Why European development keeps producing elite decision-makers

00:09:52 – Youth basketball differences: shot clocks overseas vs. the U.S.

00:10:32 – 24-second vs. 30-second shot clock: pace, reads, and processing

00:11:18 – Phil Jackson “drum” story: teaching instant recognition

00:14:02 – Why MVP-level players are increasingly international

00:17:24 – Positionless basketball and modern player development

00:18:12 – Teaching reads, not just moves

00:19:16 – Isolation culture vs. flow offense

00:20:14 – NBA influence from European coaches and systems

00:24:38 – The controversy: Jaxson Hayes, Slovenia, and national-team “cheat codes”

00:27:21 – National pride vs. roster loopholes

00:37:46 – EuroLeague financial instability and club sustainability

00:41:28 – Monaco’s budget pressure and locker-room consequences

00:45:13 – Virtus Bologna stuns Monaco; Luca Vildoza’s late dagger

00:46:44 – What’s next for EuroLeague and national teams

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