Founder & Head Coach

Alex Sarama

Head Coach, Portland Fire · Author · Founder, Transforming Basketball

Alex is Head Coach of the Portland Fire in the WNBA. Before Portland, he served as Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Alex Sarama coaching a Portland Fire timeout huddle in the WNBA — Head Coach of the Portland Fire, coaching a timeout huddle in the WNBA.

Alex Sarama is the founder of Transforming Basketball. He is widely regarded as an industry-leading voice within the field of contemporary skill acquisition and more specifically, the constraints-led approach. Sarama's bestselling Amazon book, Transforming Basketball, was released in April 2024. He has delivered clinics in over 40 countries around the world and worked as a coach developer for numerous organizations and international basketball federations. This includes work done in multiple sports outside of basketball.

Alex is currently Head Coach for the Portland Fire in the WNBA. He previously worked for the Cleveland Cavaliers as Assistant Coach / Director of Player Development, Paris Basketball in the EuroCup, the Rip City Remix (Portland Trail Blazers’ G League Affiliate), the London Lions and NBA Europe.

Prior to these roles, Alex spent a formative three years working at College Basket Borgomanero in Italy, where he first started sharing ideas on how to apply an ecological approach in multiple departments. It is these ideas which now form the basis of the Transforming approach.

Alex has written three books on contemporary skill acquisition principles in basketball: Transforming Basketball (2024), a Constraints-Led Approach to Basketball Coaching (2026), and Transcending Basketball (2027 release). Furthermore, he has written guest chapters in the following books: Ecological Dynamics in Sport Coaching: An Essential Guide (2026), Talent Identification and Development in Basketball - Science and Practice (2027 release), and Sustainable Athleticism & Longevity (2027 release).

While no longer running Transforming on a daily basis, Alex’s ideas and vision underpin the principles being brought to life by the Transforming team, as well as inspiring the movement being explored by thousands of coaches around the world to change how basketball is coached.

Alex Sarama has been featured in

Clinics & practice

Watch Alex in action

See the approach on court, from a full practice to coaching clinics and player development.

Full practice

A full practice with Alex

Watch Alex run a practice using the constraints-led approach, and see how the ideas in his work take shape on court.

Watch on YouTube

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Interviews

The Transforming Basketball Approach

A collection of conversations with Alex on coaching, learning and player development, gathered on Spotify.

Open playlist in Spotify

In the headlines

Alex in the media

Reporting and conversations about Alex’s ideas, career and work on court.

11 stories · Press & interviews

0111

Press feature
A feature on constraints-led training in elite sport
This feature explores constraints-led training in elite sport, including Alex’s work in basketball and how it challenges familiar ideas about practice.
Jared WeissSeptember 29, 2025
Read articleRead: A feature on constraints-led training in elite sport
Press feature
How the expansion Portland Fire are bringing CLA training to the WNBA
ESPN examines how Alex and the Portland Fire use the constraints-led approach in WNBA practices. The feature connects his ideas about learning to player development on court.
Kendra AndrewsJuly 15, 2026
Read articleRead: How the expansion Portland Fire are bringing CLA training to the WNBA
Press feature
Why Portland Fire Coach Alex Sarama Is Going All In On CLA
This feature examines Alex’s commitment to the constraints-led approach with the Portland Fire and the thinking behind his approach to coaching.
Justin RobertsonAugust 10, 2026
Read articleRead: Why Portland Fire Coach Alex Sarama Is Going All In On CLA
Interview
Isaac Okoro on Alex’s coaching
Okoro describes Alex’s coaching as Sarama prepares to lead the Portland Fire.
Jack MaloneyNovember 18, 2025
Read articleRead: Isaac Okoro on Alex’s coaching
Press feature
Alex Sarama: how a 30-year-old Englishman became an WNBA head coach
This profile traces Alex’s path from England to Portland.
Jacob UittiDecember 24, 2025
Read articleRead: Alex Sarama: how a 30-year-old Englishman became an WNBA head coach
Video interview
Portland Fire HC Alex Sarama on Coaching Philosophy + Defensive Keys to Success
Alex joins The Dunker Spot to discuss his coaching philosophy and Portland’s defensive approach. This link opens his interview segment.
Nekias Duncan and Steve JonesJuly 24, 2026
Publisher episode page
Watch interviewWatch: Portland Fire HC Alex Sarama on Coaching Philosophy + Defensive Keys to Success
Press feature
Welcome to the Fire Pit: Portland embraces its reborn WNBA team
Alex’s coaching helps shape Portland’s WNBA return.
Associated PressAugust 11, 2026
Read articleRead: Welcome to the Fire Pit: Portland embraces its reborn WNBA team
Press feature
WNBA expansion reimagined: Inside the bold minds building the Portland Fire
This feature explores Alex’s vision for the Portland Fire and how his evidence-based coaching ideas inform the expansion team’s culture and player development.
Meghan L. HallMay 14, 2026
Read articleRead: WNBA expansion reimagined: Inside the bold minds building the Portland Fire
Press feature
Alex Sarama named WNBA Coach of the Month
This story covers Alex’s WNBA Coach of the Month recognition with the Portland Fire.
Read articleRead: Alex Sarama named WNBA Coach of the Month
Press feature
Shooting shades: What's behind the glasses Luke Travers was wearing during Cavs' practice
This report connects the glasses used at Cavaliers practice with Alex’s role in player development and explains how players use them to assess their shots.
Camryn JusticeOctober 7, 2025
Read articleRead: Shooting shades: What's behind the glasses Luke Travers was wearing during Cavs' practice
Fear the Sword
Press feature
Cavs embrace analytics and new player development approach under Kenny Atkinson
This story examines Cleveland’s changing approach under Kenny Atkinson, including Alex’s role in bringing constraints-led ideas into player development.
Jackson FlickingerOctober 7, 2024
Read articleRead: Cavs embrace analytics and new player development approach under Kenny Atkinson