Five fingers ball up into a fist that is stronger than the sum of its parts. Through meticulous planning and creativity, dead ends turn into onramps. Such has been the serpentine journey of Snyder, whose career has seen its fair share of unscalable road blocks that suddenly give way to euphoric successes. For Snyder, every experience, philosophy, and memory picked up along the way—all across the world—is valuable. Without them, he wouldn't be the leader he is. And the Jazz, a team he's coached since 2014, would not be as formidable as they are."I was always curious about basketball over there in the Euroleague," Snyder told VICE Sports.
"There's innovation going on with this game all over the world," Snyder said. "And you don't have an opportunity to be a part of that or see it or watch it sometimes because everything from the time change and the fact that we, in the NBA, are immersed in what we're doing."
The gyms are a sensory overload. Flares glow in crowds that sing, chant, and curse, while plumes of smoke waft towards the roof. Jackson has played professional basketball overseas for nearly a decade, and to him the atmosphere, intensity, and passion rival an NCAA game, except the student section is filled with adults who aren't shy about hurling random objects onto the court. Cigarettes are puffed by the pack."It's seriously day and night. NBA is so much space, not as many reads," said CSKA Moscow's Aaron Jackson. "It's: a read makes a basket. And in Europe, it's: read, read, read, counter, read, make the basket. Don't give many possessions to the other team."