Charlotte Hornets’ Dir. of Global Scouting, Adam Filippi checked in with Scoop B Radio’s Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson. Press Play Below To Listen!

Charlotte Hornets Director of Global Scouting, Adam Filippi is rich in hoops experience. He spent 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers and won 3 NBA championship rings. Before joining the Lakers in 2001, he was the youngest scout in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets in 1999.

Filippi has written two instructional books: “SHOOT LIKE THE PROS: The Road to a Successful Shooting Technique” (2011), with a foreword by Jerry West, which has been translated into several foreign languages, and is considered by many coaches to be the best book on shooting ever written.

He also wrote, “Mastering the Art of Free Throw Shooting” (2016), the first book ever to address in depth the most unique shot in the game of basketball.

As a player development coach, Filippi has worked with over 100 NBA and overseas professional players.

In the past, he has served as a shooting consultant for various teams, coaches and agents seeking help for their players.

In between his busy schedule, Adam Filippi checked in with Scoop B Radio and discussed the international game of basketball.

Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson: You’re the author of two books: “SHOOT LIKE THE PROS: The Road to a Successful Shooting Technique” and “Mastering the Art of Free Throw Shooting.” Looking at small ball, how do you implement the global game into what is now the NBA?

Adam Filippi: Well when I got into the league that was when, the European fever started. You know, in the 90s, with Nowitzki, Stojakovic coming into the league. And there’s no doubt that the Hornets were a team that was missing some international players. We got Nicolas Batum, even though Frank Kaminsky is not an international player, he kind of plays like one. But I think over the last few years we did add a international flavor, when Marco [Belinelli] came in we added more. I think the international player offers something in terms of skill set, shooting, and basketball IQ that translates in any style of basketball, and for our team that’s been huge. But you see with these other teams over the years, even when I was with the Lakers, when we got good again is when we got Pau Gasol, we had Sasha Vujacic. We had a lot of foreign players that were contributing and adding something that we didn’t have before. And again it’s a combination of being able to shoot the ball, make open shots, having a great fundamental skill set, and knowing how to play. Making the right pass, reading the defense, and those were huge things with the triangle offense, and shins those things translates in any kind of offense in my opinion.

Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson: Do you think the role of the big man is dead or do you think that the wave now is big man playing like small forwards and guards.

Adam Filippi: Well let’s be realistic right now, if the Golden State Warriors drafted instead of Steph Curry, let’s just say Kareem Abdul Jabbar, they would play a different brand of basketball ball. I think you’re going to kind of adapt to your personnel; I don’t think you’re going to go out there and say we’re going to play this kind of basketball. You’re going to see what kind of talent you have, and then you’re going to kind of adjust. That’s how Steve Kerr is and a lot of coaches been over a couple of years. Like Mike D’ Antoni, they did a terrific job maximizing shooting and the ball movements and there’s less great centers in the league today, there’s no doubt about that. But I still feel that if you have a big man that can be a threat on the block and move the ball. Let’s not forget that the best big man in the league can move the ball. Look at Marc Gasol, you know he’s a low post player but he can shoot, he can really pass, and he’s a terrific defender. So I still think that, every team that can choose can have, if there were 30 great big men in the NBA, everybody would be happy. Now of course if you have four or five great shooters on a team, then you can reinvent yourself a different style of ball that’s going to be exciting and fun.