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Michael Davie is a Strength & Conditioning coach who has operated at the highest level of professional basketball, across both the college system and the NBA. He’s one of the few to have reached the pinnacle of the sport, winning an NBA Championship with the Milwaukee Bucks. His experience extends well beyond basketball and has worked across multiple Olympic sports at the Queensland Academy of Sport, including rowing, sailing, diving, triathlon, and soccer, and was part of the Australian Swim Team staff at the 2012 London Olympic Games. This diverse background has shaped his deep understanding of Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD), which he applied in his work with 2x NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. In this conversation, Michael shares insights into athlete development, his unconventional journey into professional sport, and how belief, persistence, and consistency helped him achieve his dream role.

Highlights from the episode…

• Having entered the industry later than most, bouncing around various jobs why Michael eventually chose to do S&C?
• After several years juggle part time S&C roles, family of 5 kids and working as a youth worker Michael was hit with a decision…take a $20,000/year role with the QAS or lean into a fulltime manager role youth working.
• The QAS. Michael provides a day to day outline of what his job entailed, the calibre of practitioners he worked alongside, the array of sports and diversity in elite level athletes.
• The relationship between “LTAD” and “vocabulary” and how the methodology of vocabulary can assist in coaching effective LTAD. 
• We discuss the challenge of balancing “Long Term Athletic Development” and winning and how athlete development can often come at the cost of wining and Vice Versa…So how do we achieve both?
• How universities attract top talent to their programs and the business of collegiate sport.
• After close to 8 years at the QAS and no pro basketball experience how Michael received a chance phone call asking him if he wanted to join the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA.
• Michael talks about what many don’t consider when transitioning into a new role outside of your own country including family considerations, VISAs, contracts, housing, schools, etc.
• Working in the NBA. Michael shares what his role entailed and the gruelling schedule that many aren’t aware of when working in the NBA.
• With 82 game season Michael discusses how the team managed load, periodised strength training and maximised recovery between games.
• When monitoring players Michael has moved away from the traditional wellness questionnaires and what he currently uses at BYU to monitor overall player wellbeing. 

People mentioned:

• Kelvin Giles: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2g1eUNqD0zQXRsKWno93Ce
• Suki Hobson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suki-hobson-588ba276/
• Troy Flanagan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-troy-flanagan-137a1b3/

Michael Davie contact details: 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldavie/
• BYU Website: https://byucougars.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/season/2025-2026/staff/michael-davie
• X: https://x.com/MichaelDDavie

Host: Luis Resa

Contact me on:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luis-resa-a975196b/
• Email: [email protected]

Thanks for listening and please leave a review. If you would like more information on anything mentioned in this episode simply send me an email.