Here’s part 2 of our interview with Bruno Baltazar, an impressive eighteen-year old scout working for many international pro basketball teams. Make sure you read Part 1 if you haven’t already.

DB: What skills does it take to do your job? What work does it require to do well?

Bruno: To do this job, you need to see the game at a entire level. Most people, when see a game, they have their eyes on the ball. I must have my eyes on every player, analyze how they play on the floor, and not just the player with the ball. Plus, to be a scout you need to speak and meet as many new people you can. As much information doesn’t go public, it’s nice when someone calls you giving you inside information about this or that player. In some countries the media don’t take a close look, you need to improve and innovate the way of scouting. Personally, I use newer technologies such as scouting programs on my PDA and laptop.

Personally, during the time prior a game or when I’m at the hotel, I don’t visit the cities. I stay at the hotel watching DVDs and highlights of teams and things like that. The more games and players we analyze, the better job we do. That’s why I watch over then 3000 games a season. I don’t sleep much, but breathe and eat basketball, scout all of the competition I can, and not focus on just one thing as surprises always happen.

I consider myself to be the only person working for European teams as a advance scout. Each NBA team has one, where prior to your team facing X team, we have to scout the opponent and give inside information about them. Personally, I think the NBA has been able to improve more and more with technology, as it’s a high money sport. Wins mean more money, and they should sign people who can read what the coaches say during timeouts, things like that. An advance scout is between the people during the games trying to pass the best information he can to his coach. The best scout is the scout that gives the best and detailed info to the coach.

Also, if you want to be a scout, you better be ready for the logistics, such as visas, passports, and booking hotels. We don’t just scout, but do the best we can to be productive.

DB: When did you start working?

Bruno: I started to watch basketball at a very young age, as early as I remember, studying the game. I used to play, but I decided to move on to scouting as I knew I wouldn’t ever compete in the NBA. I got the chance to meet the right people in Portugal, and I’ve scouted since 2003 — since I was 14 years old!

DB: What’s your philosophy for scouting and coaching players?

Bruno: I use different philosophies, depending on if I’m considering the European style of game or American style. The Euro style requires players with better technique. It’s a slower game with fewer points; with high intensity, but less contact. The American style has more power and quickness, so players have got to be picked with those characteristics at the scouting level.

In coaching, you have to create a group and a team, which fit in the system you want to have in place. I want teams, not individuals, and that’s the attitude. I want leaders on the floor. I like to listen to players, and they must listen to me.

I love to create a group that loves to play defense, as defense wins championships. In order to do that, you don’t just teach them to play that style of game. You must show them that they must have that defensive mindset. That’s the only way you find good players in defense, otherwise you always find scorers. I play the players in the best shape, and the guys that work a lot in practice. I like to play a good zone — depends on the opponent team. I find Americans can’t play that defense. Substitutions are only made when a player is playing bad and not during the same periods as they use in the NBA. In close games, I also foul when I’m leading by 3 points, and put good free throw shooters in — if we don’t miss, they won’t have a chance to win the game.

DB: How do you overcome bias that you may be too young or inexperienced for the jobs Don’t you work with many players and coaches much older than you?

Bruno: Yes, I hear that a lot, and the only reason I’m not in the NBA is because they say I’m too young. They usually only sign scouts older than players. Silly thing, because age is a number. I know NBA scouts that know less than I know, and they have less years of scouting experience than I do. (Many foreign teams) don’t care, once I show them my work, they’ll sign me. Usually, I show them a free “preview” of my scouting skills. If they like it, they sign me. That’s how I built my resume. If you take a look at the teams I have already worked, you see experience is something I have.

(Overcoming age discrimination with) the players is another thing. I scout and select many players from the NCAA. The first thing I tell them is that I’m 18 years old — they get surprised — but once we talk about basketball, they understand why I am where I am right now. People judge books by the cover, but sometimes those covers are fake. I´m young, I’m hungry to prove the quality of my scouting. Others (scouts) are there just to be there.

DB: What’s your biggest motivation about this job?

Bruno: It’s the love for the game. I grew up with many personal and financial problems, and the only thing that made me happy was to watch basketball. Making a living of it is a dream come true. I want to be scout in the NBA some day.

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Tomorrow features the conclusions (Part 3) of our interview with Bruno. We’ll discuss the value of international scouts to the NBA and up-and-coming foreign players you may not know of.