Todd Troxel’s career in basketball has never been about chasing recognition. Instead, it has been built on a simple but powerful belief: real success comes from daily discipline, relentless preparation, and an unshakable commitment to improvement. Over several decades, Troxel has influenced some of the sport’s most accomplished athletes, blending experience from the NBA, international leagues, and women’s professional basketball.
What makes his journey remarkable is how seamlessly he has adapted across different levels of the game while maintaining the same philosophy. For Troxel, whether he was training an NBA draft pick, guiding an international club to a title, or mentoring the world’s best women’s player, the mission has always been the same: never cut corners and never settle for less than excellence.
Early Work With NBA Players
Troxel began his career in the men’s game, training NBA players for more than a decade. His workouts quickly earned a reputation for being rigorous and detailed, designed to challenge even the most experienced professionals. Troxel demanded precision in every drill and held his athletes accountable for consistent effort.
These years shaped his identity as a coach. He learned how to tailor programs to the unique strengths and weaknesses of elite players, pushing them beyond their limits while building trust in the process. Among those he worked with were top draft picks and veterans who respected his high standards and relentless approach.
Expanding Across the Globe
Troxel’s career then expanded into international basketball, where he brought his methods to new environments and cultures. His time abroad included stints with powerhouse teams in Russia, where he contributed to Euroleague championships, and in China, where he guided the Shanghai Sharks junior squad to back-to-back titles and helped the senior team reach the CBA playoffs.
Success in these settings required adaptability. Troxel learned to merge his NBA-inspired intensity with the unique demands of each league. His international tenure demonstrated that while styles of play may vary, the fundamentals of preparation, effort, and discipline remain constant.
These experiences also enriched his perspective, giving him the ability to connect with athletes from diverse backgrounds. His global career became a foundation for the holistic approach he later applied in women’s basketball.
A Partnership That Redefined Women’s Basketball
Perhaps the most defining chapter in Troxel’s story is his work with Diana Taurasi, often described as the greatest women’s basketball player of all time. Their partnership began overseas, where daily training sessions quickly became the standard. Troxel introduced a new level of physicality and structure to her preparation, blending NBA-style intensity with his own strategic insights.
The results spoke for themselves: championships, MVP seasons, and a career that cemented Taurasi’s place in history. Yet, Troxel has always insisted that the relationship was a two-way street. He has often credited Taurasi with teaching him the true meaning of work ethic. Watching her train each day, he became even more committed to studying the game, creating new drills, and finding ways to maximize performance.
Their bond extended well beyond the gym. Troxel served as a mentor, strategist, and confidant, helping Taurasi prepare for opponents and offering adjustments during games. He describes their connection as family-like, built on trust, accountability, and shared ambition.
Principles of Coaching
Troxel’s philosophy can be summarized through a few key principles:
- Work harder than anyone else – For Troxel, effort is non-negotiable. He expects his players to bring maximum intensity, and he leads by example.
- Always study the game – He views basketball as an evolving puzzle, constantly seeking new strategies and techniques from leagues around the world.
- Honesty builds trust – Athletes don’t need empty praise, they need the truth. Troxel has built lasting relationships by holding players accountable and providing candid feedback.
These principles are simple, but their consistent application has made Troxel one of the most respected coaches in the sport. His players know that his tough standards are matched by genuine care for their growth as both athletes and individuals.
Preparing Athletes Beyond the Court
Troxel’s influence goes beyond the physical and technical aspects of the game. He emphasizes the mental preparation necessary to succeed at the highest levels. His coaching includes instilling confidence, teaching athletes how to handle pressure, and ensuring they are ready to adapt in critical moments.
Athletes under his guidance learn that basketball is as much about mindset as it is about skill. This focus on the mental side of competition has helped Troxel’s players achieve consistent success, even in the most demanding environments.
A Global Legacy
From NBA gyms to international arenas, from daily drills with the greatest players to mentoring rising stars, Troxel’s career represents a global legacy of excellence. His adaptability, honesty, and relentless preparation have made him a unique figure in the sport—someone who has shaped not just individual players but entire approaches to training and coaching.
What makes Troxel’s journey truly inspiring is that it reflects a broader lesson: greatness is built in the unseen hours. The championships and accolades that define players’ careers often stem from the preparation, guidance, and discipline instilled long before game day.
Troxel embodies that unseen force. His career shows that behind every championship banner and every celebrated athlete is a coach who demanded more, pushed harder, and cared deeply.
About Todd Troxel
Todd Troxel is an accomplished basketball coach and performance trainer whose career spans the NBA, WNBA, NCAA, and international leagues. He began by training NBA athletes for more than ten years, developing a reputation for his demanding, detail-oriented workouts and relentless approach to improvement.
His career reached a turning point when he partnered with Diana Taurasi, considered the greatest women’s basketball player of all time. Their decade-long collaboration produced championships, MVP awards, and a lasting friendship built on trust and accountability. Troxel’s innovative training methods brought NBA-style intensity into the women’s game, reshaping how athletes prepared physically and mentally.
Beyond his work with Taurasi, Troxel has coached in Russia, where he contributed to Euroleague championships, and in China, where he led teams to domestic titles and playoff appearances. His influence is global, reflecting both adaptability and a deep understanding of the game.
Respected for his honesty, strategic insight, and mentorship, Troxel continues to inspire athletes with the values of hard work, constant learning, and the pursuit of excellence. His legacy is defined not just by the championships he helped secure, but by the mindset he instills: champions are made in the hours when no one is watching.