Sean McCaw, former pro player and CEO of SJM Consulting, shared insights on the Fullcourt Podcast with Ric Bucher and Bostjan Nachbar about his experiences in Europe and helping players navigate professional careers abroad.

Reflecting on European basketball, he explained, “Basketball overseas is now in vogue. Now players want to play overseas. It’s a viable way to continue their career on many different levels.”

McCaw highlighted common misconceptions among American players, saying, “The EuroLeague is like the top 1% of all American players that get to play overseas… I would say probably about 80% of players that come overseas are making less than 5,000 a month.”

On adapting to life and play abroad, he stressed, “The most important thing what they have to learn in my opinion is they have to be able to adapt. If they think that everything is going to be like it was in the States, then they’re in the wrong place. They’re not going to make it.”

Discussing opportunities across Europe, McCaw said, “For most of the players, the goal should be to get on a team that is playing in some kind of European cup level… of course, the better you play, the better you have a chance to go onto a higher place.”

He also offered advice on evaluating teams, noting, “It really depends on the team… you have to rely on other people to give you that information. Reach out to players that have been there and ask them questions.”

On the idea of the NBA establishing a presence in Europe, McCaw shared, “I think the markets are two totally different, but I think there’s enough room for both to coexist… it just has to be very, very structured so that the NBA doesn’t take away from, let’s say, grassroots basketball in Europe.”

Reflecting on European coaching, he explained, “There’s more teaching than the actual game stuff… there’s definitely not that culture of highlights and dunking on people… coaches will check you on that over here.”

McCaw described how his personal journey shaped his career abroad: “I broke my leg two months after I came overseas. That switched my whole mentality… I knew pretty early on that I would stay overseas and I wouldn’t be going back.”