Lucas Faggiano has extensive experience in professional basketball, having competed in the leagues of the United States, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico. In this interview, the Argentine point guard highlights how education provided him with new tools to shape his professional future beyond the court
Now, at 36 years old, Lucas Faggiano combines playing with a leadership role both on and off the basketball court. His experience as a student of the University Master’s Degree in Sports Management Online at Johan Cruyff Institute has given him a strategic vision of the sports industry, as well as practical tools to plan his transition toward new professional challenges.
In this conversation, Lucas Faggiano reflects on his evolution as an athlete, the keys to online learning for active professionals, and the reasons why he recommends preparing now for a career beyond athletic performance.
You have played in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and Mexico. What personal and professional lessons did playing in so many countries give you?
It was truly an enriching experience. Playing in different countries broadens your mind a lot. Each place has its own culture, its idiosyncrasies, its way of understanding life, and that represents a constant challenge of adaptation. When you arrive in a new country, you can’t expect everything to work as it does back home; you have to learn to adapt to their reality.
Experiencing different cultures and lifestyles gives you tools that go beyond sport. You don’t just grow on the court, but also off it. Over time, each new destination becomes another exercise in adaptation, and even if the environment is very different, you already have a foundation to handle it.
“Whether in Brazil, Mexico, or Europe, every experience adds up. Beyond athletic performance, what I value most are the human relationships that are built. In the end, that’s what remains once your playing career is over.”
How has your role as a player evolved over the years?
I think I’ve followed a pretty natural progression. When I was 18 or 19, I started earning a place on the first team by contributing wherever I was needed. I observed what the team required and tried to add from there. At the beginning, I often came in during difficult moments, when the team needed to change its momentum. Over the years and with more experience, I took on a more prominent role, especially between the ages of 28 and 30, becoming a central part of the team.
“Now, at 36, I’ve been playing a role more connected to leadership, both on and off the court. As a point guard, I can provide calm in key moments and take responsibility in close endings.”
It’s also my turn to share my experience with younger players, which I consider essential—especially in this position.
What has been the most challenging moment of your sporting career?
I’ve faced several challenges, but without a doubt the toughest was playing with the national team. It was also one of the most memorable experiences. I made my debut against the United States in a decisive game for qualifying for the 2019 World Cup in China.
It’s not the same to play a friendly or a preparation tournament as it is to fight for World Cup qualification. That added pressure makes the responsibility much greater. Without a doubt, it was the biggest challenge of my career.
What motivated you to study at Johan Cruyff Institute?
I’ve always been interested in studying. I’m a curious person, with concerns both inside and outside of sport. I had started some distance-learning courses before, but for different reasons I couldn’t keep them up. I had been looking for a sport management program for some time, but many options were in person, which is complicated when you’re still playing professionally. Even if you live in the city where the program is offered, schedules constantly change.
I already knew about Johan Cruyff Institute, so I did some research and found a serious, prestigious institution that also adapted to my needs. When I saw the opportunity, I didn’t hesitate.
“I enrolled because it was exactly what I was looking for: a solid education that offered practical tools. And I’m glad I made that decision.”
How has this education influenced your view of sport and your professional future?
Johan Cruyff Institute gave me many tools and provided me with a broad and in-depth perspective on sport. It allows you to understand aspects that, as an athlete, you usually don’t see. Everything that happens behind an event—the work going on in the shadows to make everything run—is enormous.
“As a player, you’re focused on what happens on the court—and that’s already a lot—but there’s a very complex system behind it, and understanding it is key if you want to remain involved in sport from another role.”
Now, when I go to a stadium, I don’t just watch the game; I also pay attention to how everything is organized: the venue, the staff, the systems, the flows… I’m especially interested in sport management and the business side, more than in technical direction. That’s where I see my future path.
What would you say to an athlete who is hesitating about starting their studies?
I would tell them to go for it. It’s more than proven that it’s possible to combine both. We have enough time, and today many institutions adapt to our schedules.
Of course, it’s not easy. Our routines change constantly. Sometimes you have to study at home, other times in a hotel or on a plane. It requires sacrifice: using rest time or leisure time to study. But it’s worth it.
“After I shared on social media that I had completed the master’s, I was surprised by how many athletes reached out to ask about the experience. There are a lot of questions and interest out there, a lot of desire to study.”
If they’re considering it, I’d tell them not to hesitate. It’s an investment worth making.
What lesson or tool would you highlight from your experience at Johan Cruyff Institute?
The course I enjoyed the most was Management of Sport Organizations. For me, it’s the foundation. I loved it because it allows you to carry out a structured analysis, a real diagnosis of an organization, and from there design a strategic plan.
That approach gave me concrete tools to think about how to restructure a club, how to drive a project forward, how to lead a transformation process. That’s the part that motivates me most, and the one I’d most like to develop in the future.
