Finish Strong Hoops is your premiere source for industry insights into basketball athletic performance and health. Hosted by Dr. Chris Hart, PhD, a current NBA Strength & Conditioning Coach and Physical Therapist, this podcast brings exclusive interviews with leading experts in sports science, performance training, nutrition, and rehabilitation. Each episode unpacks the latest science and turns it into real-world strategies to help you stay ahead of the competition and finish strong.
Ep 14: Phil Anloague - Foundations of Athletic Archetyping
Physical therapist Phil Anloague discusses athletic archetyping and functional testing to optimize performance and reduce injury risk in athletes, sharing insights from his work with professional sports teams in this interview.
20 Nov 2025
Ep 13: Trent Salo - Theory to Practice in Tendinopathy Assessment & Management
Physical therapist Trent Salo discusses tendinopathy assessment and management, including diagnostic tools, mechanical properties, and loading interventions for tendon adaptation in this interview episode.
18 Oct 2025
Ep 12: Matt Jordan - Force Plate Testing and Eccentric Capacities in Basketball
Dr. Matt Jordan discusses the evolution of force plate technology and its application in athletic training and rehabilitation, focusing on testing and training eccentric qualities to improve athlete performance post-injury in this interview.
2 Oct 2025
Ep 11: Matt Aldred - Fascial Archetyping and Training in Basketball
Strength and Conditioning Coach Matt Aldred discusses his journey into basketball strength training, individualized programs, NIL's impact, and fascial mechanics application, emphasizing adaptability and continuous learning in this interview.
13 Sept 2025
Ep 10: Adam Petway - Needs Analysis and Change of Direction Testing
Host [Host Name] interviews Adam Petway, Executive Director of Player Health and Performance for the Seahorses Mikawa, discussing his career, needs analysis, and change of direction testing in basketball.
28 Aug 2025
Ep 9: Jordan Sabourin - Longevity in the NBA & Practical BFR Integration
Detroit Pistons Head Strength Coach Dr. Jordan Sabourin shares his NBA longevity insights and practical blood flow restriction integration strategies in this interview.
13 Aug 2025
Ep 8: Mike Robertson - Advice on Training Pros vs. Developmental Players
Host interviews Mike Robertson, a leading performance coach, on optimizing training for professional and developmental basketball players, emphasizing foundational principles and recovery.
17 Jul 2025
Ep 7: Ramsey Nijem - Research to Weight Room Application in Elite Basketball
Ramsey Nijem explores his career as a strength coach in basketball, discussing off-season training, athlete relationships, and adapting coaching styles, in this interview episode.
29 Jun 2025
Ep 6: Erik Helland - Timeless Strength Coach Qualities for Success in Elite Basketball
Strength Coach Erik Helland discusses the evolution of coaching, the impact of mentorship from Al Vermeil, and the timeless qualities needed for success in elite basketball, highlighting team culture in this interview.
30 May 2025
Ep 5: Jess Elis - Realities for Success in the NBA
Former VP of Player Health for the New York Knicks, Dr. Jess Elis shares his journey into the NBA, discussing the realities and challenges professionals face in high-performance settings in an interview.
21 May 2025
Ep 4: Maggie Bryant - Evolving Leadership in the NBA
Maggie Bryant, President of Performance, Health, and Wellness for the LA Clippers joins us today to share her career story and how she has evolved to lead a highly reputable medical & performance department within the league.
Maggie discusses her early interest in basketball, the injuries that led her to physical therapy, and her progression through various roles within the NBA.
She provides deep insights into handling complex relationships and communication strategies within the team. The conversation also explores the importance of role clarity, continuing education, and the use of biomechanics to enhance player performance and injury prevention.
Maggie's experience and strategies offer valuable lessons for both current and aspiring professionals in the field.
This episode is brought to you by Vald and Teambuildr
Contact Maggie:
Email: maggieibryant@gmail.com (mailto:maggieibryant@gmail.com)
IG: maggsb55
X: bryant5maggie
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:45 Entering Professional Sports
04:09 Role with the Clippers
06:14 Staff Development and Team Dynamics
11:50 Handling Player Relationships
16:35 Challenges and Strategies
21:45 Communication and Decision Making
29:08 Innovations and Future Directions
34:22 Personal Insights and Advice
36:22 Conclusion and Contact Information
8 May 2025
Ep 3: Lee Taft - Effective Speed & Agility Training in Basketball
In this episode, I sit down with Lee Taft, widely known as "The Speed Guy."
With over 35 years of experience, Lee is a renowned authority on athletic movement and multidirectional speed training. His methodologies, drills, and principles are used by NFL, NBA, and MLB teams, top NCAA programs, and performance facilities across the globe.
Lee’s coaching roots run deep — he has coached basketball teams and athletes at all levels and does an exceptional job at simplifying complex concepts into digestible skills that can directly apply to the game.
He has a deep passion for the game of basketball, and is an incredible advocate for developing athletes and bridging the gap between coaches and players.
01:09 Importance of Language in Coaching
02:14 Guest's Background and Journey
05:32 Common Misconceptions in Basketball Coaching
12:42 Developing Locomotion Literacy in Athletes
17:18 Rehabilitation and Return to Play
21:01 Using Bands for Deceleration Training
23:43 Using Bands for Lower Body Emphasis
25:23 Importance of Skill Development and Free Play
29:40 Incorporating Skill Development in Team Settings
35:28 Conditioning and Skill Training Integration
39:17 Balancing Play and Training for Young Athletes
44:08 Conclusion and Resources for Further Learning
This episode is powered by Teambuildr. TeamBuildr PRACTICE is running a limited-time pre-sale. Secure 25% off by heading to teambuildr.com/practice (http://teambuildr.com/practice) before May 31, 2025.
Learn more from Lee at his website: https://leetaft.com/ (https://leetaft.com/)
Follow Lee on IG: https://www.instagram.com/leetaft/ (https://www.instagram.com/leetaft/)
26 Apr 2025
Ep 2: Erik Meira - Keeping the Science & Effective Athlete Care
Erik is a nationally recognized physical therapist, consultant, and educator based in Portland, Oregon, specializing in sports rehabilitation and applying science to sports medicine, with his current focus on supporting professional and elite collegiate athletes.
In this episode, he shares his observations on the gaps medical & performance professionals typically have when it comes to applying science into their practice. The conversation delves into what is really "evidence-based practice" and the critical appraisal of new technology in high-level basketball. Speaking from over two decades of experience, he advocates for the role of practitioners as guides rather than "fixers", stressing the need for transparency, hammering the basics well, and keeping interactions centered around the athlete's values.
Learn more about Erik and his courses at: www.thesciencept.com (http://www.thesciencept.com)
Register for the Elite Rehab Basketball Conference at: https://basketball.eliterehabconferences.com/ (https://basketball.eliterehabconferences.com/)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
01:05 Starting the PT Inquests Podcast
02:37 Journey into Physical Therapy
04:42 Developing a Unique Practice
06:00 Engaging with Higher-Level Athletes
08:02 Evidence-Based Practice in Physical Therapy
09:06 Challenges in Research and Application
22:13 Efficacy vs. Effectiveness in Therapy
28:18 Critically Appraising New Technology
29:22 Identifying and Addressing Performance Gaps
30:23 Challenges with High-Tech Solutions in Sports Science
32:50 The Importance of Simplicity in Athletic Testing
33:53 Athlete Perception and Technology
35:03 Focusing on Fundamentals Over Cutting-Edge Tech
36:57 Addressing Basic Issues in Athletic Performance
43:46 The Role of Medical Providers in Sports
52:32 Elite Basketball Rehab Conference and Networking
56:15 Online Courses and Resources for Professionals
10 Apr 2025
Ep 1: Keith D'Amelio - Navigating the Professional Landscape in High-Level Basketball
Dr. Keith D'Amelio has an extensive background in elite sports, including roles with such organizations as the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors and Stanford University as well as being the former Director of Athlete Performance at Nike,
In this episode, Keith shares his background on the evolution of the basketball landscape over his career as well as the changes in athlete expectations and relationships with training staff. He shares his opinions on the current structure of medical/performance departments as well as providing advice to professionals feeling the pressure of inevitable departures. We wrap up the conversation discussing the missing untapped aspect of player development that can give your athletes the competitive advantage.
Best contact to reach Keith is via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-d-amelio-phd-2166b54/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-d-amelio-phd-2166b54/)
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finish_strong_hoops/ (https://www.instagram.com/finish_strong_hoops/)
4 Apr 2025
Ep 0: Dr. Chris Hart - Introduction
Finish Strong Hoops is your premiere source for industry insights into basketball athletic performance and health.
This podcast will bring exclusive interviews with leading experts in sports science, performance training, nutrition, and rehabilitation. Each episode will unpack the latest science and turn it into real-world strategies to help you deliver high-quality services to your athletes.
Who has been a guest on Finish Strong Hoops
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Phil Anloague
Trent Salo
Matt Jordan
Matt Aldred
Adam Petway
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 12 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
12
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
Contact Finish Strong Hoops
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Finish Strong Hoops?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
