Mike Weinar: Inside an NBA Finals Run - How Championship Teams Are Really Built | #242
In episode 242, Max chats with former Indiana Pacers Assistant Coach Mike Weinar! What actually goes into an NBA Finals run? Mike takes us inside the Indiana Pacers’ 2025 run to the NBA Finals - breaking down how a connected, resilient group led by Tyrese Haliburton was able to respond under pressure, come back in big moments, and compete on the biggest stage in basketball. We also dive into his 17-year journey in the NBA, working alongside Rick Carlisle, including a front-row seat to the Dallas Mavericks’ 2011 championship run and what it really takes to build a title-winning team. Mike shares incredible insight into playoff basketball - why defence tightens, how game plans evolve across a series, and how coaches approach the biggest moments when there are no secrets left. Plus, we explore leadership at the elite level - from building trust with players, to maximising talent, and why the best teams are deeply connected from the stars to the end of the bench. A fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at coaching, culture, and high performance in the NBA. All this and much more in episode 242 of Sporting Max! www.instagram.com/sportingmax.podcast/