The New Class Of Skills Specialists Quietly Reshaping The NBA

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 13: Matas Buzelis dribbles the ball in front of a defender during practice at the 2026 NBA All-star weekend rising stars day at Intuit Dome in California, United States on February 13, 2026. (Photo by Jon Putman/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu via Getty Images When Matas Buzelis gave up seven first-half turnovers against the Miami Heat earlier this year, it tied for the most by a player this season. That data alone is enough to sink a 21-year-old in his second season.

If that was a player 10 years ago, they could have lost confidence, got frustrated or mentally shut down. But Buzelis did none of those things. He stayed in the moment.

The Bulls forward finished the game with 21 points including 11 points in the last quarter to help secure the win. “There’s a grittiness to stay there, to accept that, and then all of a sudden it’s a game-winning effort,” said Graham Betchart, a mental skills coach who works with Buzelis. “You’re like, that’s an epiphany.

That’s the stuff I look for. I can see if you’re present, I can see if you’re trusting, I can see your next-play speed, which is how fast you can recover and come back. ” How NBA Teams Are Maximizing Player Performance Betchart is part of the NBA’s expanding ecosystem of performance specialists — sleep scientists, mental skills coaches, linguists and other coaching consultants — who are helping players recover faster, think clearer, respond better and extend their careers.