Los Angeles Lakers Director of International Scouting Adam Filippi Interview
Adam Filippi is the Los Angeles Lakers’ Director of International Scouting and Player Development Coach, and he also agreed to take some questions from me to let us all know what his job’s about, and why and how he got into his profession.
He, like one of the players he coaches, grew up moving back and forth between the United States and Italy. While in Italy, he pursued his basketball career, and ended up in the Italian B League. After a career that admittedly wouldn’t have NBA teams calling and a few knee injuries, he took up a career on the management and operational side of the game.
When he’s not working hard, he’s playing hard and keeping busy with his wife and three children.
Q: What exactly are your duties with the Los Angeles Lakers?
A: I am the Director of International Scouting and I follow all major overseas leagues. Along with that, I must have a working knowledge of all players that are NBA Draft eligible and all free agents playing outside of the NBA. After that, it’s a long process of elimination and hoping that four or five of them fall into your draft range. I like to find American players that may have developed their games overseas that could be NBA ready.
Q: What team did you follow when you were growing up?
A: I’ve always been a Lakers fan, as soon as I saw Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar play, I fell in love with the team. After that, I fell in love with all of the role players—Michael Cooper, Bob McAdoo, Byron Scott, etc.
Q: Who were the players that you idolized?
A: There were so many—Magic Johnson, Julius Irving, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar initially. And, even though I hated the Boston Celtics, as I grew to understand the game, I started to admire the Celtics too—Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Danny Ainge, Dennis Johnson, etc. And every kid idolized Michael Jordan throughout his career.
Q: How did you become more interested in the operational side of basketball, as opposed to the playing side?
A: I got to a point at the age of 25, after two knee surgeries, that I realized that I was always going to be a "semi-pro" in an Italian major league. It was fun, but I wasn’t going to be able to make a real living doing it and it got tiring having to prove myself year after year. I didn’t plan to, or think that I’d quit, but when I saw an opportunity to break into basketball operations as a scouting coordinator for a great European team, I jumped on it.
Q: I’m assuming that during your playing days you were a shooter, what is/are your most memorable shot/s?
A: I was a scorer and from there developed into a good shooter. But, I started learning more about the art of shooting when I started studying players’ skills as a scout and from there started to teach. I can still make shots, when I’m in shape, but I’m not a GREAT shooter by any means. I do like to think, however, that I’ve analyzed this fundamental as well as anyone. In the end, I’d like to be remembered and recognized as a better teacher than as a great shooter. It’s all about the players, not me.
As a young player, I remember that with five seconds left in a game, I hit two-of-two free throws to win the game. Or, so I thought at the time. Our opponents scored right away, and at the buzzer I was fouled again. I hit both of those free throws as well. So, I won the game twice. There were a lot of emotions, and a lot of relief.
Q: What are some quick tips to becoming a better shooter?
A: Don’t lie to yourself, don’t live in denial. Meaning that if there is a major flaw in your shooting technique that you MUST address it. First, learn the proper fundamentals and develop into a consistent set shooter through constant repetition. Then, progree to jump shooting as your body begins to develop. Practice is only productive once you have mastered the basics. Then you must challenge yourself each and every day.
Q: How close do you get with the players that you scout?
A: The NBA rules prohibit us from meeting personally with the players and their families, so the majority of it is all background research. But, their body language often tells us a lot about them as a player, and as a person.
Q: Who is the most memorable player that you scouted/passed through your training?
A: Basically I remember all of the players that have come from Europe, and most from the United States since 1998. My favorite of all time that I really enjoyed watching, though? Manu Ginobili, Pau Gasol, Andrei Kirilenko, Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez.
Every player that I work with are special in different ways. Sure the famous ones are fun to work with, but it’s more the younger ones that you learn the most from and that give you the most satisfaction.
Q: Who is the one player that you thought: “Man, this guy’s never going it make it,” but ended up doing it?
A: Maybe initially I said that when they were younger, 17, 18 years old. Marc Gasol was so overweight and non-athletic at a young age that he had no chance. But, once he got into shape and grew into his body, I knew he’d be good. Same thing for Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams. Their body changes and then their games just evolved to a new level.
Q: You’re also a public speaker of sorts, do you only speak on basketball, or does it delve into motivational speaking as well?
A: I love being apart of the game and being around aspiring players, like I was as a kid. I wouldn’t say that I’m a public speaker, but at camps or clinics, I like to give kids a mix of technical basketball information (shooting, ballhandling, fundamentals), explain what I look for as a scout, motivation, explaining how important basketball can be in forming you as a person, and mix in a few good NBA stories as well.
The kids end up being happy, and their parents do as well. The first time I ever spoke to a group of children I was nervous, because I expected them to only want to hear stories about famous NBA players, until I realized they were actually more interested in what my job consisted of. Evidently, there are some aspiring scouts and coaches out there!
Q: What inspired you to write your book?
A: Well, I didn’t know I was writing one! Somebody asked me to write an article on basketball fundamentals, I started with shooting and couldn’t stop. All the notes I took ended up being a rough copy for a book. I never even got to all the other fundamentals.
Q: What’s the basic idea of your book?
A: It’s about the long road to becoming a good shooter. Starting from the basic mechanics, to shooting on the move, to the mental side, to workouts. It covers all the bases and is a great tool for both coaches and players.
Q: You’re living your dream, any tips for the kids out there that aren’t sure of what they want to do with their lives?
A: Well, I guess that I am living a dream. I’ll never be a celebrity, or a millionaire, but if you’re lucky enough, as I am, to make your passion your job, then you’re living a dream I’d say.
You’re not going to figure out what you want to do in life right away, figure out what you love to do first. Then understand WHERE you can fit in, you MUST have something special to offer. I realized what I wanted to do as I quit playing the game. I missed it SO much, that I basically created a job for myself in the basketball world. One step at a time, through hard work and determination, I was able to better my position, and hopefully will be able to continue that practice.
Q: Any speaking, camps or clinics coming up for you soon?
A: There aren’t many chances to do those things here in Europe, it’s a lot easier in the US, especially during summer camps. However, I AM trying to reach out to more camps, teams, and organizations around the world. I REALLY want to go to Asia to help develop the game in that area.
Q: Anything else that you’d like to get out to the world?
A: Basketball is a great sport, and even if you don’t become an NBA player, it can prepare you for the difficulties of life and for your future profession. Being part of a team can be crucial for your formation as a person, and that’s FAR more important that being able to put a ball in a basket.
As you can tell, Mr. Filippi is a VERY classy guy, a very humble guy and we truly appreciate him taking time out of his busy day to answer these questions. But, maybe I like him more for the fact that, unlike most interviews I’ve done personally, it wasn’t myself asking him for one and him saying yes. It was us talking for a good hour after he agreed to answer the questions, about nothing more than life, his book, etc.
By the way, his book will be hitting shelves in February, and I encourage everyone to buy it, check it out at the library, whatever you can do to read it.
If you’re interested in more information about him and what he does, check out his website at: http://www.probasketballtraining.com/
By Phenomenal TJ: Co-Owner/Admin/Contributing Author - SportsJabber.net
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