Izquierdo on Younger Generations: 'They Want It All Now'

Josep Maria Izquierdo, a veteran basketball coach, has offered his perspective on the mindset of younger generations in the sport. The 58-year-old Catalan coach is best known for his long tenure as an assistant to the renowned Zeljko Obradovic. Together, they achieved significant success across various European clubs.

Izquierdo's career spans over three decades, beginning with a partnership that started when he picked Obradovic up at the airport nearly 33 years ago. This relationship led to 12 seasons working side-by-side on the sidelines. Their shared history includes a mix of historic victories and recent transitions, culminating in their joint departure from a Serbian club last November.

Reflecting on the current state of the sport, Izquierdo highlighted a distinct shift in player mentality. He observed that contemporary athletes possess a strong sense of urgency and ownership over their careers, a trait that defines the current era of basketball.

The coaching career of Josep Maria Izquierdo is defined by his close professional association with Zeljko Obradovic. Spanning 12 seasons, this partnership is a testament to their shared vision and success in European basketball. Their collaboration began in the 1993-94 season and continued through various high-profile stages of their careers.

Their first major achievement came at Joventut. In their inaugural season together, the team secured a historic victory in the European Cup. This success laid the foundation for a partnership that would eventually span multiple clubs and decades.

Following their time at Joventut, the duo reunited at Fenerbahçe in 2013. Over the next seven years, they built a dominant force in Turkish basketball. Their tenure there was highlighted by another Euroliga championship, cementing their status as one of the most successful coaching tandems in the sport.

Most recently, Izquierdo followed Obradovic to Partizán Belgrado starting in 2021. This chapter of their partnership concluded in November of the previous year, when both Izquierdo and Obradovic left the club. Izquierdo's deep knowledge of Obradovic's methods is rooted in a friendship that began nearly 33 years ago.

Reflecting on his extensive experience, Josep Maria Izquierdo shared his observations regarding the values of contemporary basketball players. He characterized the current generation of athletes by their high level of ambition and expectation.

Izquierdo stated that younger players today possess a distinct mindset regarding their careers and achievements. He summarized this attitude with a direct quote: “Los jóvenes de hoy lo quieren todo, ya y porque les pertenece” (Young people today want everything, right now, and because it belongs to them). This statement highlights a perceived sense of entitlement and immediacy among younger generations.

This perspective is shaped by Izquierdo's decades of experience working at the highest levels of European basketball. Having witnessed the evolution of the sport since the early 1990s, his commentary provides a veteran's view on the changing culture within professional basketball locker rooms.

Josep Maria Izquierdo is a highly respected figure in Spanish basketball, specifically hailing from Badalona. At 58 years old, he holds a máster en baloncesto, a qualification reserved for a select few in the coaching community.

His career is notable for the longevity and success of his collaboration with Zeljko Obradovic, a nine-time European champion. Izquierdo's ability to maintain such a partnership for 12 seasons speaks to his expertise and compatibility with one of the game's most demanding and successful coaches.

Their shared history is not just professional but also personal, dating back to Izquierdo's act of welcoming Obradovic to Joventut upon his arrival at the airport. This moment marked the beginning of a bond that would define both of their careers for decades to come.