LAUSANNE (Switzerland) - What if you could get advice on going pro from a former international star and NBA champion or from a rising star freshly drafted into the league? And what if that same day, you stood face-to-face with a ball signed by the 1992 Dream Team or saw Shaquille O’Neal’s original game-worn shoe? That's exactly what players at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025 experienced during the first-ever Players’ Workshop at FIBA's Headquarters.
The players were brought to Mies - about 45 minutes from Lausanne - for the event and got a chance to look around at all the artifacts and memorabilia on display at the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball inside FIBA's Headquarters.
France's Noa Kouakou-Heugue was impressed by seeing all the trophies on display and being able to look at the old items and think about how far the game has come.
"We have a lot of technology that we didn’t have before. It’s pretty cool to see these older items," Kouakou-Heugue said.
And Lucas Morillo from the Dominican Republic was also shocked by the size of Shaq’s shoe, but also the trophy from the South American Championship, which stands at nearly two meters in height and weighs 60 kilograms.
The Players' Workshop started, however, with a discussion about professionalism with former France long-time senior national team player and 2012 NBA champion Ronny Turiaf, and Switzerland's NBA rookie this past season, Kyshawn George, with the Washington Wizards.
Turiaf, who played at the 2012 Olympics, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2006 and three FIBA EuroBaskets for France, addressed the players about always being ready for the moment. He shared a moment early in his career when, after spending several games on the bench, he was suddenly called in to guard Kevin Durant - for 12 minutes. Unprepared and caught off guard, the experience became a turning point for the French big man, sending a clear message about the importance of always being ready.
Turiaf had one important message to the players:
Ask yourself a question to think about where you want to be. And then what do you need to do to get there? How are you building the support system around you to get to a higher level?
"I asked myself that in 2000 after winning the FIBA U18 EuroBasket," Turiaf added.
George, meanwhile, mentioned to the young talents that they should always be smart about where they are and their surroundings, both on and off the court. And he stressed always to respect the people around you and the game, and also hold yourself accountable.
George valued the opportunity to speak to the players.
"Just to be able to help. I think it's important to give guys some things about what it's like to be drafted in the NBA Draft - something they all dream about," he said. "From a 45-minute presentation, they might only remember one minute, but that one minute might help them a lot in their career. It's great just to help them any way possible."
The players, for their part, were also thankful.
When asked what he learned, Morillo said: "Off the court things: how they approach the off-season, how they approach the downs of the season, the lows. Kyshawn George mentioned how he was in a losing streak and how he dealt with that. And how to keep your circle tight and who to have around you."
Kouakou-Heugue's main message learned was: "You have to be the main character of your own project, be the center of your project. Don't let anybody think or talk for you. Just be you and have your own goals."
And Bom, meanwhile, took to heart something Turiaf had said.
"The tip I really take with me is you have to know where you want to go and you have to know what you need to do to get there. The expectations that you have must match your actions on a daily basis. You can't say you want to reach the NBA and then work out one day and not the next."
Shaquille O'Neal's shoe was a noticeable highlight for the players visiting the Patrick Baumann House of Basketball, drawing plenty of interest and curiosity.
"My wow was definitely Shaquille O’Neal's shoe. Size 56. I think four of my feet would fit in there. I would have never thought that. It really shocked me," said Cameroon guard Noe Bom.
FIBA