#67 - Chris Brickley

biggest sports NBA trainer of all time. We sat down with him in my hotel room pause in New York City, had an incredible conversation. If you are a basketball fan, you will be glued to this and you will appreciate it deeply. If you're not, you should get some inspiration out of this because this guy's self fucking made. So shout out to Chris Brickley and shout out to our sponsors. Odd socks go to odd socksoficial dot com, keyword bootleg cav save twenty percent off of whatever you want to

purchase at add sooxoficial dot com. They got all the license socks. They got Kellogg's, the Fruit Fruity pebble Joints. They got SpongeBob, they got damn cup of Noodles, they got Naruto, Wwe, Scarface, mac Dre, Mike Tyson, all of it. You can get twenty percent off by going to odd socksoficial dot com and get you some of their new draws. They got their boxer briefs. They just dropped in there, so soft and so comfy on that ass. You know what I'm talking about. Anyway, let's get into the podcast.

Chris Brickley live from New York City. Got to sit down with the legend himself and talk some basketball for an hour and some change. So I hope you enjoy it. It's the Bootleg Cap Podcast. Are your Bootleg Cap podcast? Man? We're in New York City in a hotel room setting up shot. Man. Chris Brickley is here, and thanks for having me. I've watched so many interviews over the years, so this is kind of cool to be he It's cool to talk to you. It's crazy because I was

already kind of hip to who you are. Were like I would see you on like because I follow a lot of just these hoop pages you know, but what really kind of had me like dive into two years ago, right, two three years ago? It was a while ago. Yeah, and and your come up man was so like inspirational for people because you were you was it you were

homeless for a second or was it? Like because I think I remember, like, I mean, it's been since then since it came out that I remember watching it, but I remember like just hearing about like how you got like you were going to college, right, yep, give us give kind of refresh on your come up man. Yes. So you know, I grew up in New Hampshire, small in New Hampshire. You ever been in New Hampshire? I might have? No, No, I haven't. Yeah. Yeah, So grew

up in New Hampshire. Uh. You know, I played basketball, was really good, top one hundred in the country, and then ended up going to Louisville as a walk on. So I played a little bit. But I know I wasn't going to the NBA coach. Patino's the coach I was gonna ask that Patino years Yeah, okay, so he has a huge coaching tree, so I'm like, I'm gonna gett into coaching. So you know, I was the youngest Division one assistant coach in the country. You know, I

did the coaching thing. Uh was with the Knicks player development youngest NBA player development brist coach. No. So once I left louisvill I was a j O miss That was my first stop. Then I was the youngest Division one assistant coach in the country. I fairly Dickinson, New Jersey, and then I lay in the NIXT job. I was the youngest player development director. But like all these jobs, like in coaching, you don't make money like that. You know, even when I was with the Knicks, you make like

sixty thousand. You live in New York. You cut that in half. That's yeah. So you know I did that for like four years, built a bunch of relationships, and then I, uh, I was like, you know what, I'm gonna start my own business. But I didn't really know exactly like how I was gonna do it. And then that summer was I think the summer you're talking about. I you know, I went through a little period where I didn't I didn't have a place to stay, so I was just like maxed out all my credit cards.

It was bad. I was like I muldn't have left the next because I had two more years left in the contract. Believe in myself though, and it's worked out. Yeah, a lot of people wouldn't have voluntarily left the job with the Knicks. Not for sure. My family wasn't happy. Yeah, So talk about that summer and you leave. What was like the you know, because anytime I feel like anyone ever takes a chance on themselves, there's a breaking point where you're like, damn, did I make a mistake or

you know, before things start going the right way. What was that low point for you during that period? Yeah? So, you know, so I left because me and Kamala Anthony were super close. So I'm like, all right, So the last four summers, I'd meet Lebron, I met Katie, I met James, I met Ross, so I kind of knew him. I didn't have relationships with them, but I knew him. So I'm like, God, if I leave the Knicks, I think I could like start a training business. Uh. You know,

So I left the job as health insurance. You know, it's the whole You're leaving a job, a good job. So I left, and then I'm thinking, like right off the bat, I'm gonna be able to Lebron's is gonna come to my gym and k and didn't work like that right after bat. You know, it took a minute. It took a little bit, and uh so you know, I think, like a few months in middle of the summer, I'm like, damn, I don't know if I made the right decision, Like I really don't know if I wasn't

making any money. Uh it was, it was. It was a struggle. And then that was when I came up with Black Ops and I started doing these five on five games, and then that kind of like changed my life. I you know, put together these pickup games that arguably, you know, some of the greatest pickup games ever. Yeah, get kind of let me know what like with the Black Ops thing, with the five or five pickup games kind of good. So Black Ops is like my business. I work up elead NBA guys and I do these

five on five runs in the summer. So Lebron comes through, Katie. You know, I've had like twenty five All Stars. I've had uh the last seven m vps. Like everyone comes through and it's exclusive. It's dope. Media. The media loves it and Uh yeah, so yeah, so I guess that's kind of a for people who don't know you're the you were like the IT trainer in basketball, you know

what I'm saying. Yeah, I mean I guess I guess it's you know, as you know, when you're in it, you don't think that, but for sure, Yeah, I think what some people don't understand is like if you're Lebron, if you're Mellow, because I always remember seeing Melow was in with you heavy when he wasn't like back in the league yet you know, and you have you know, especially if you're on an NBA roster, right, Like there's coaches on those rosters. You were one of them, right,

why go to you? Yeah, I mean that's that's a good question. You know, I study the game. I just I know the game and I know how to understand people. I know what motivates James and I know what motivates Mellow, and you know, you need to figure that out. Otherwise they're not going to talk to you. You could, you could try to coach them. It's gonna go in one area out the other. So you need to build a

relationship with them. You need to study the game and uh, you know at this point, now I have like such a big name within basketball, I can almost like work with who I want, which is like a super blessing. I try and like super thankful because just three years ago, I was hoping I could get just three guys a

day type stuff. So life's really changed. It's a and then you know, it's the first train ever to be an NBA two K. So I'm my own character, yep, first trainers, not a sneaker deal, just doing things that trainers have never done. Just trying to like inspire kids that if you don't make the NBA, you could be like me. Yeah, cause you know, I think like people don't understand like the full grind of getting to the NBA, like just because you didn't make it to the league.

And you know, we think about this with coaches too, right, Like a lot of coaches like may not have even been great in the NBA, you know what I mean. Sure, but that doesn't mean that you don't know the game. That doesn't mean that you don't know like the technique,

you know what I'm saying. Like for the disconnect, for people who are watching this, they're like, yo, why why the fuck would Lebron, James go train with this white boy, like you know what I mean, like talk about the skill set that you bring to the table, Like, what

are you helping these guys work on? Yeah, so I guess one of my specialties is so you know, Mellow has great footwork, right, So when I was with the Knicks, I started learning this footwork and then guys would come to me being like, I want some of Mellow's foot work. So got Kawhi, Leonard, got Katie, I got you know. So I specialized like in that mid post area just with like footwork moves, and then you know, working with James,

I kind of learned a whole another. So when you work with like these super superstars, I'm learning from them and they're learning from me. It's like a two way street. So then when I work with like the regular NBA guy, I have so much knowledge that I can it really helps. But with the superstars, we're both learning from each other. With James Harden, like, he's somebody who I've been following since college when he was at ASU, and I love watching James hard and play. Now there's some people who

hate watching James Harden. I would say that he's probably one of the most polarizing guys in the league. It's like him and Westbrook for sure. Like when you want the sports TV shows, they either love him or they hate him. It's actually changed the game, like just the way he plays off the bounce, you know. So so what the haters say, Oh, you know, he dribbles too much, he travels, he you know, but really he's he's been extremely creative and uh, he's kind of revolutionizing the game

as far as having to playoff the bounce. No one can stop him. Well, yeah, that that that step back is something that everyone mimics now exactly. Yeah, was that something that like you would notice when you were like training with him or you'd be like, like, did you like help him fine tune that a bit? Not so.

So what he's big on in the workouts is he likes to He's like, all right, Chris, just throw me like he wants me to give him like super hard moves, like like instead of doing working on one move, it will be like four moves at once. So he his his big thing is like, just try and challenge me as much as possible with the ball. So once the game comes and one man in front of me, doing one move is easy. So you know, I think James

could be m VP in my opinion this year. Yeah. Yeah, well listen man, oh and b got injured and I think he was probably the favorite Lebron's out. He was probably the second guy. Yeah, and I think now it's either Harden or Jokic. Yeah yeah, Yokic is nice. Jokic is a beast. Yeah. Or you know, if they'll stop hating on my Phoenix suns, you know, give Chris Paul and Devin Booker a look, is what I'm saying. You're

playing good. They are, man, they are good. Yeah. Out of everybody you've trained, Like, who would you consider to be like your closest friend, Like someone who like you know, because some people you know, you work with them, their associates. It's all love. But like when the training stops, it's like see you next time. Then you have friends, you know what I mean. Yeah, I would have to say it's like a mix. I would say, you know Mello, Donovan, Mitchell, Dangelo,

Russell j R. Smith. I would say those guys with Mellow, you were training with him a lot. A lot of videos were like coming up on my timeline. When he wasn't not on a roster, when everyone was counting him out for sure, and that was obviously a huge mistake. Yeah it was. Man. I won the Breakfast Club one time and I said, I think Mellow. This is when he wasn't an NBA. I said, I think that Melo's better than sixty percent of the NBA right now. The

media like destroyed me. I thought I was canceled, And four months later, this guy's starting in the NBA, which means if you're an NBA starter, you're better at sixty So it's funny how the media works. Mello's back year eighteen. He's playing great this year. Yeah, man, I think like that just shows you, like with Mellow, like this guy's one of the most prolific scores in NBA history, sure, top ten. Yeah, it's and like he never had any

like crazy injuries or anything. I think people just like just thought like the league had moved past what he does, and it's like that's not. He just ended up in shitty situations with Oklahoma City and Houston, like Mike D'Antoni did not fuck with him, you know what I mean. Like, so I'm glad he got that second chance. What do you think is the biggest miss misconception about someone like

Carmelo Anthony. I personally hate it when someone's like, all right, because he didn't win a ring, then I'm gonna, you know, not give them the credit for you know, some people are on that, and I understand to fig your legacy, but at the end of the day, they people put in the NBA, I think he's ninth all time score for all time, Like he's done some amazing things, he hasn't won a ring. Hopefully he will win a ring,

but you shouldn't be judged just off a ring. Yeah, I think, like you said, how many like when you really break down, how many people have rings compared to the people who have played in the league, it's insane.

I even think during our era, like the last twenty years, it's been harder than ever to get a ring these with these super teams, right Yeah, well, I mean look, even if you go back so like when the Celtics got Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, that was to me the first that was like the first super team of this era. Yeah, where it was like oh a free agency they just got they just went and got a big three, and then they won the ring year one. Yeah,

that was the beginning of it. And then the Spurs had a dynasty, which you know, and then of course there was the Lakers and yeah, you know, and then and then the Heat Yeah, and and then the Calves and then the Warriors. Yeah. Yeah, it's it's pretty wild, man. You also fuck with a lot of rappers, so some of these these pickup games you'd be having are like who's who of hip hop? Running up and down the court?

For sure? Now, the guy who I have always heard now I've seen Quevo play Quavo, you know, obviously he hooped for that Bleacher Report ship and did his thing. But the guy who I always hear is the best is Coal. Yeah, hands down. So so you're saying Cole at all the hip hop artist rappers, it's J Cole. J Cole is the best. So uh yeah. So you know, before COVID, we worked for like six seven straight months,

meaning J Cole just working on his shot, working. You know, he would religiously, I think you go to the studio during the day and at night we would work out like every night, and then he start playing in the Black Ops NBA runs. I'd be nine very good NBA players and he'd be on the court and he was playing really good. And uh, now he can really hoop. It's not even close as far as like that's some good rappers that are good. But he could like hang

with it what overseas right now he could. Yeah, he's he's worked on it and he's good. Yeah. When someone puts that much time and effort, like you said, for like for hover many months, they must be serious about trying to get better at basketball. There's been rumors that he might be trying to make a run to get in the league. Is that something that he's got that that you know that like might be maybe on his goal list? Yeah, I can't speak for him. Maybe, I

guess we'll see. I mean the Pistons, man, you know, we'll see they could get I think there's a few teams that could literally use anybody, and the Pistons are one of them. Yeah. No, I wouldn't be surprised if it happens, but it hasn't happened since master P. He's better than master P. He's best. I've seen the clips. I've seen master P clips has Is he better than any NBA players you've trained. You don't got to tell me who, No, so I would say, so, let's be honest.

So if he were to be a pro, he'd be a shooter. Right. He's a better shooter than some of the guys for sure, for sure, So he'd be a spot up shooter. He'd be a shooter JJ Reddick, Yeah, he'd be that type of except JJ Reddick was really good with moving out the ball. I think he'd just

be more of like a spot up shooter. Cole would be the he would be the I'm trying to think who else he'd be the Kyle corverd in the corner he had He had six seven game winners in the black ops games and like the NBA guys would be so pissed like every time he'd do it because they were really trying and he'd be hitting game winners his ice in his veins. Wow, that's crazy with with with basketball right now. There's obviously COVID has been happening this

last season and this season. Has the COVID shit like affected your business at all? Like players like what kind of protocols they got to go through to do outside training? And sure for sure this pass offseason wasn't regular, Like I couldn't do as many works I want. I couldn't do the five on five runs. But you know, thank God to just everything that's you know, signing these deals. I've been I've been blessed to over this COVID period to stay with body armor and lids and stock X

and so I've been I'm I'm thankful. Break down some of these deals you're talking about. Man, you just ran through some big brands. I mean it's uh, it's you know, shut out my manager, Alex. Alex Cobland's kind of changed my life. But yeah, no, it's uh, it's crazy. Sometimes I've been getting these deals and uh, you know, we'll be on the phone and they'll be like, you just got this deal over these three NBA guys, and I'm like, damn, I'm like getting these deals and NBA guys. It's crazy

to me. Still, is like you're getting deals that like that they over them, so essentially, instead of them getting the deal, you got the deal as the trainer. Yeah. Yeah, and uh, which is which is really cool. That was never the goal though, but it just it's just happened like that. You know, I've had my own bowl at Chipotle. That was cool. So you can go to Chipotle across the country and get the Chris Rickley Bowl. That was fire.

I had a stock x deal Lids deal. When you say you have a Lids deal, they give your own hat or like what is I designed like two hats that come out across the world. So I own color Blind. It's like a clothing company. So you know, we made some hats with them. I'm in the NBA. Two k's designed to deal with body armor, which is cool. We had stock x h Wilson, so I actually have my own like training balls with Wilson, which is fire. I mean,

got his own basketballs. Yeah, it's dope. That's crazy. That is crazy with the next generation because you know, there's always I'll be around Ethica a lot in Orange County and they always have at their location, they always have all these high school kids. It looks like a warehouse, right but the yeah, yeah, so there's always like all the young high school kids always there, you know, and

some guys trained there as well. You know. But but I know that with AAU and just kind of the way the game has been, I mean it's been a while since since the AAU should have kind of taken over, Like we kind of already kind of know who's probably gonna be like the next it dudes in the league, you know, as long as they don't fuck up. Do you work with a lot of those, like like the younger kids, whether they're highchool kids or like kids in college.

That's actually my number one focus, Like I don't you know, I don't. You wouldn't know by my social media, but like my number one thing is getting like the number one eighth grader in the country, ninth grade or tenth grader, eleventh grade, twelfth grader, So then I build that relationship. So then when this they become players, we have that relationship. So yeah, I'm big on that. I'm huge on that. Yeah.

I think, like I just saw I think Slam just had like three or four variant covers with like all kids in high school. Yeah, and I was like, oh shit, some of these kids are huge. Mikey Williams, some of these kids have like five six million followers, they're like sophomores in high school. Yep. Yeah. I think the first guy I kind of noticed like that was like that was when when he was in high school was Zion. Yeah, I was like, yo, this, I was looking at his

highlights in high school ball. Isn't that? You know? La Melow? Yeah, you know it's crazy were talking about LaMelo because I think LaMelo is somebody who there were so many doubts. And I don't know if you ever worked with him, but I'm sure as a fan you watched probably some of his tape. Did you have an idea that he would be as fire as he is in the lag Lying to you, No, I didn't. I didn't because he

played overseas. You know, he played in that GB. He never really played in any like giant platform against really good players, So I didn't know. And then, uh, the NBA has made for him. He's great in the open core, you can shoot it. I think he's gonna be a superstar and already is. Yeah. I mean he kind of is man that they just put out that. ESPN just put out that controversial list where he was like number three overall and I was like, bro, book is number eight.

I've seen that. Have you ever worked with Devin Booker? I have. Yeah, He's came to some Black Ops runs we've worked on individually. He's just such a professional. He just I was gonna say tell because I'm a Son's fan and I think he don't get enough love when it comes to I mean, Lebron called him the most disrespected player in the game. Right now, what do you what do you feel about Book? Like working with him? Like you've seen him? Like, how good you think he

can be? Man, Sky's the limit. I mean he can score as good as anyone. You know, He's so smooth, he can shoot it, he can penetrate, he plays d he's uh and he every he does it every season. He's like the defense has gotten so much better for sure, for sure the last few years. Hey, what up? Man? How to interrupt the bootleg cap podcast to tell you about our good friends at odd Socks. All right, Yo, shout out to them for sponsoring the podcast but also

being such a fire company. And they just introduced their draws. That's right. Odd Socks now got your boxer briefs on deck, some top of TiO joints, and then of course they got the best socks in the game. Look at these stone cold socks. Look at these two. I mean, look, I love froot loops, but I love these fruit loop socks. These are fire. I'm taking those from myself. They got all the licenses breaking bad mac, dre od b w w E, Street Fight or whatever you want. They got

including these draws. I love these draws. I got some all right now. So listen, tap in with odd socks, Go to odd socksofficial dot com. Use the keyword bootleg keV and you will save twenty percent off at checkout. So odd socksofficial dot com keyword bootleg keV. Save twenty percent at checkout. Thak me later. So who do you think is in the league that might not necessarily be showing their greatest potential because they might be in a situation that's a bad fit for them. I mean, I

have a few, uh, And you're right. The league's all about opportunity like that's there's guys that are and even just being getting to the league. There's a lot of guys that oversees that should be in the league. There's a lot of guys that have a coach in the NBA that believe in them, and maybe if they didn't, they wouldn't even be in the league. The league's crazy, you know, you know Manuel Quickly the Knicks, Oh yeah,

Emmanuel Quickly. So he's having a really good season. But you know, Tibbs is like an old school coach, so he's playing him like eighteen minutes a game as a rookie. If he was playing like thirty three five minutes a game, he I think he would be, you know, up there for Rookie of the Year. That's one Mobamba the magic. I feel like he doesn't get he I don't feel like he's ever gotten an opportunity. Yeah, he just hasn't really played many minutes. He's been injured too. I think

that's one give you one more. This is a good question. I would have to say, just an better up. So Jalen Brown, Right, so he's already like really good. Yeah, but I feel like if he wasn't in the Celtics, wasn't playing with Tatum, I feel like he could be like m v P type good. Really yeah, he does he does it all. That's big man, he does it all. I mean they also have like common like like their

games are very similar, you know what I mean. So it's not like he's like like you know, they're they're both wings, so there's only so much like and Tatum gets more of the shine. So I think I think, Wow, Jalleen Brown, you think could be m v P. Huh, he's that good. Yeah for sure. He's trained with you. Yeah, and I'm not even saying that just because he's training.

He's he's a real deal. Wow, that's crazy. What about someone who's retired that you think could still just pick up the shoes and just just jump right into the league and just shake shit up. It's a good question. I would have to say, says retired, right, retired yep, not playing or even maybe Jennings retired. I mean Jenning Jennings should be in the NBA. He played eight years and he was good with the Bucks. You know, he got he got the little injury, but then he came out.

I think he should be. Obviously, Jared Smith and I retired, he should be in the NBA. Let me let me give you a better one. I would have to say, uh, you know what, give Baron Davis like B Diddy two months and I feel like he could play in the NBA. Y know, it's crazy you mentioned Brandon Jennings because I feel like he's one of those players that I always think, like, what if I think about that with him? I think

about Oj Mayo, yeah, oj Mayo was fire. Like there's like a few of those guys, what with Ty Lawson. You know what I'm saying, Like guys who are in the league that like just some shit happened or injury or off the court ship and it's like they were so good. Like Brandon Jens is doing this thing. Now, you know he has tough crowd. I didn't. I have no idea what's going on Brandon j Time clothing company one of the most popular up and coming clothing companies.

And yeah, he's doing his thing. In your opinion, because you're you're you're close to the NBA. Obviously you watch basketball. If every expecting let's I'm asking you this question, assuming everybody's healthy, Okay, so we're not in factoring anyone who's injured right now. Let's say the playoffs come, everyone's healthy at one hundred percent. Who do you got to win? The Ring? The Nets? The Nets? Hands down, hands down,

even against the Lakers. I just don't see someone beating Kyrie Irv and Katie James, Harden, Lake Griffin and all every game series, Aldridge Hair State. They just a really good team. I just think I think the only thing that they might have that might they might be lacking. Is who's going to guard a D? Yeah, not for sure. And then obviously they need to get along then you know, yeah,

they got to get along. Three haven't really been healthy for the thing, they all three of them haven't played together at once, Like I'm I think maybe it was like six games, maybe a few games, so, I mean, but off talent though, you you know, two guys, I just don't know how you can outscore the nets, like they don't even I look at it, like they don't even got to play defense, Like you got to outscore them.

Facts like like someone's gonna be open. They always say that Kyrie's at least and and this has been going around a lot lately now that people are all all hot on Kyrie again because people are shitting on Kyrie for so long and I never understood it. But I've never seen anybody with a better handle than Kyrie. And lately the narrative of him being the most skilled player of all time has been getting thrown around. Is have you worked with Kyrie? I haven't, but like you watch him?

Is that something that like? Because he but he I think I like watching his highlights in slow motion. Yeah, because that you could really appreciate what Kyrie Irving does when he reacts art his handle. Yeah, No, arguably you you could say, like pound for pound, you know, he's the most skilled player of all time. What can he do? Can shoot it, he can dribble, he his good full work, he finishes of the day he dunked on someone. I mean,

I don't know what he can't do. Yeah, it's crazy. Right, Who do you think is the most slept on player that you work with? Because I've seen you work with you were working with CJ McCollum, right, Yeah, I would say c J McCollum. I think year in and year out, he averages like twenty five a game, never been an

All Star, had a crazy year before he got injured. Yeah, I think he would have been All Star this year if he and he always kills in the playoffs, you know, I think if he wasn't with Dame and he was on another team, I he'd be All Star. Maybe I could have answered that he could have been CJ. Yeah, that's some real shit. Yeah he's nice. Yeah, No, I think his his uh, the way he started this season was like I was like, oh my god, the Blazers

are going to be crazy. Yeah, like if they get that out of him, Like, yeah, man, you worked with him this past offseason. Yeah, I've worked with him for like seven So I worked with him, you know, after his rookie year, after like rhetor and then so I saw him sign his firste hundred million dollar deal next summer, worked just as hard. Then I just seen him sign a seconde hundred million dollar deal. So I've like seen I've seen it the whole come up and that guy

works hard. Man. We would go double sessions to two workouts for like four straight months. Woweah. Have you ever had a player who you trained up and then they got that big deal and they kind of threw you a little bonus like, hey, yeah, I appreciate you, bro, here this this for you. Yeah. A few guys for sure. I never asked either though, but yeah, a few guys Like can you tell us who I've looked out? Nah, I wouldn't want to do that, but you know I've

gotten a S five fifty someone's about me that player. Wait, someone about your bands? Yeah, I got you know, I have a rolex a bunch of jewelry that's like their favorite thing on a budget. Yeah, you know, it's about your fucking car. Yeah, Jesus, But that was like years and years of grinding and they got you know, they got a life changeing type contract and then they were like, yeah, I thank you, thanks for whatever you contributed for sure. That's crazy, man, is that like do you have to

pay the taxes on the car? You know, that's so funny you said that because at the time I wasn't really I'd really just started making money money like the last two three years. So when this happened, I wasn't. I was like, damn the insurance stuff there all that. Yeah, so you know I was that kind of like messed me up a little bit, but you know I didn't. Yeah I had. I had to pay the insurance and you know, pay the regular SI beat paid the car

off completely. So wow, hey man, that's that's crazy talk about. Because I'm a big proponent on betting on yourself, and you know, I always tell people who are extremely talented, like yo, you know a lot of times we look at and entities and companies that are in our field and we look at them as like our barometer of

what success is. Same way like you with anybody who would have gotten to the Knicks would have just been happy to be there and would have been like, I gotta grind this out as long as possible, and you

left voluntarily bet it on yourself. Just talk about how important that is that mentality, because I feel like it is imperative for people who are talented and hungry to realize that success is not you know, it's not what it's not always what you think it is, like you know what I mean, facts, man, I think it's huge. I think that's just so many things that come with

betting on yourself. Like I feel like people that you know, also, there's a lot of people that say they've been on themselves, but you can tell by their actions that they really don't. I think when you are really believe in yourself, you have like a confidence about you and what you do, and like that you you know, you know that, Like I know when I I don't care who you put on the court with me, and I know then I'm gonna get him better. I know I'm gonna study his

game and figure it out. So it kind of gives you like this confidence. And I feel like in life, when you when you don't have confidence in what you do. People can see that and it's just not going to work out. So just believing in yourself as everything, and you only need one person to believe in you too.

Like that's another thing. You know, as you're coming up, you can be believing in yourself and thirty people might say like not, you're not it, You're not it, But you know, you get that one GM from the NIXT and wanted to give me that job, and then you make the best of it, you know. So I think we live in a society where people like Instagram and all that, we're trying to win over everybody. It's impossible.

That's you know. I think it's just just focusing on just being the best you and someone along the way is gonna see that and give you an opportunity. When you get the opportunity, you need to be ready. You talked about studying people's games right and helping them, Like, I'm confident I could I could study someone's game. And what is something that specifically you've done for a player where you were like, hey, I've watched a bunch of tape.

We just like we just started working together, we've been working together. I can help fix this, So I guess, like, so with Donovan Mitchell, this is like I worked with him for a number off seasons, but every offseason we have like a new goal and so you know, I'm gonna get technical on you. So he's really good at dribbling left and shooting. Yeah, and when he dribbled right

and pulled up, his percentage is way lower. So we worked on him just the whole summer, just working on picking the ball from the right and shooting, and his like shooting percentage went really high. I think CG. McCollum. We worked really hard one summer he got he got you know, most improved player. That was cool. There's been a few times where we've worked on specific stuff and you know, every off season every player. I'm not just out there like people think, oh, he's just throwing him

through drills, Like, no, we're working on stuff specific things. Yeah. I mean, I think like the main thing that like from like a general and like basketball fans perspective, we always think of like guys who like have broken shots or can't shoot free throws, and it's like, you know, I think someone like Donovan Mitchell is like a perfect example. Like when he came int the league. I feel like no one looked at him like he was a three

point shooter. He was very like you kind of thought of them like d Wade mid range game, taking it to the basket. For the last two years, he's launching them things. Sure, you know what I'm saying. Sure, And like, is that the hardest thing to do is to try to I'm not saying you did that with Donovan, but

I'm saying in general, to try to fix someone's shot. Yes, that's the hardest thing to do, for sure, and because so much comes with that, Like you're fixing their shot, but then like their confidence starts to waiver, because to fix your shot, you're going to become a worse shooter for a little bit, and then you become a better shooter. And guys can't handle that. So what happens is you

have your shot, you try and change it. They're like, man, forget this, I'm going back to the mold shot because they're not patient enough to understand that it's a process and you become a better shooter after So that, Yeah, that's definitely who's someone who you helped fix their form, fix their shot. Is there anybody that you could talk about make like tweaks. I mean an a bunch of guys.

We've made tweaks, just like little tweaks. But you know j Cole, Yeah, if we're talking, that was like the biggest project I've ever had to do in my life those like three months he used to shoot up here. We completely changed his shot and that's like the best thing for a coach to do, change something shot. But uh and then it works. Yeah, it works a good shooter. Andre Drummond needs to hire you, man, that's my guy too.

We need to work. We got to work on the free throws, man, because I'm afraid that he's not going to see a lot of playing time in the fourth quarter if the Lakers, you know, going to run free the line lineability. Yeah, facts, man, what's next for you? Because obviously, you know, you could pretty much do whatever you want at this point, but like what is like on your like goal list, Like how do you want to build out the company? What are the the the other things that you want to try to do in

the future. Man, Yeah, so I mean just keep building out this black Ops thing, you know. Done. I look at every summer like an album. So I've been I left the next four years ago and take COVID out. I've had like four like amazing albums that no one's ever done as far as like the pickup games. So like one off season is an album the guys. I've worked out the guys, I've gotten better. So I want to have fifteen more of those albums. You know, I'm

just getting started with that. And then you know, outside of basketball, I'm doing Uh, I have an album coming out, Mike. Speaking of albums, you got an album coming out for sure. I'm super excited about that call Welcome to the Grind. Remember Jock Jams back in the day, So it's gonna be like the hip hop Jock Jams. It's gonna be, you know, music that you can work out to. I want to be like the theme music for all Hoopers. I got, you know, a little baby on it. Dirk

Meek fab mm hmm. Travis, You got Travis Scott on the album? Yeah, Trey songs, Jesus Christ, that's a did you have to pay? Did you have to pay any of these people? Uh? Yeah. So I'm in like the process of that, but I'm doing it independently. The artist is gonna be able to keep ownership of this. I was gonna ask you, like with those like do they do it? And then you gotta like they do it on the string or the honest truth is actually been the biggest stress of my life in the last few months.

So I'm I'm so cool with all these artists that you will go to the studio to make the song right here, and then then you gotta deal with the rest the label, the business, the management, the label. I got all the songs, it's just the labels. These labels, they don't respect me. I'm basketball I'm a basketball trainer, so you know, just waiting on these these people at the labels to sign off on it, to give the clearances to you know, it's just a headache, man. But

it's gonna be fire. The albums. I mean, funny, that's a hell of a that's a DJ Khaled esque. That's what I'm trying to do. I'm gonna do it. That's crazy, he said, Travis Scott. There ain't nobody getting no Travis Scott features out here. Ship that's wow. What about Cole? So you know, it's funny. That's the one guy that I reached out to about it, and he's he's an album mode, right, so he's like, you know, he wants the next music that he drops, he wants it to

be So I understood that. I understood that. Is he still actively training with you? Uh? Yeah, yes, we're still training. I go to North Carolina like a week, so not as much obviously as like a regular offseason. But he's still training and he's getting his album done. Do you think he do you think he like he has a serious chance to make a NBA roster. I don't know. If he keeps improving, there's a chance for sure, at least maybe a summer league roster for sure. Summer league

for sure. It's crazy, Like the whole Summer league thing is like it became its own thing, and that was one of the things I really like, uh missed this past year. Yeah, the summer league. Summer League was the ship Man facts. That's like a fun that's fun for fans. It's good to be back this summer. Yeah, definitely. Well, ship you got so much shit going on, albums coming out hopefully soon. I know how hard that is. Though.

You said a lot of big names, so you got to talk to a lot of all the red tape with some of the like in just in general, like you said, it's so easy to get the record out of the studio and get it on your phone and in your email, but to actually drop it, for sure, there's a lot more that comes with that. Can you see yourself ever going active coaches, coaching in the NBA

or on a college level ever? Sure. I think I would want to be like a GM actually kind of run a team, just with the relationships I have understand the game. That'd be cool. I'd be an NBA assistant coach maybe, But right now I'm making so much that they couldn't pay me enough. I'm making more money than pays for sure. So there would have to be something where you were like, all right, like this is something I want to do. Yeah, exactly, But I would love

to be like a head coach one day. A GM would be crazy, I always because you know, we all play two K and we always make trades. That'd be dope. I think GM would be insane. I would like, in your opinion, let's say you're a GM, right, pick a team. What's a trade that you think should have happened in the offseason that didn't happen. I think I mean the one I think of was like, Yo, how to Kyle

Lowry do not get fucking traded? He was walking back to the locker room crying like he was like last Raptor, saying in this like prior, you know what I'm about this year, we just had the trade deadline passed. What was the trade you think needed to happen? Man, Man, that's a good question. Uh, I don't know. I can't even answer that. I want the Knicks to get someone else, the Knicks to like, you know, I'm a big Knicks that's your team. Yeah, so they're like in the playoff run,

Juice Raando's an All Star. I want them to get like another All Star caliber player. I was thinking they might fuck around and try to get Russell Westbrook. To be honest, they're trying to get Ceg McCollum too. They're trying to you know, there were Devin book of rumors Roses. I know, I know, I know about it. Leon, I'm aware. But uh, with the two seed, bro cannot have book. Sons. He's finally winning. Yeah, let me let me get your opinion on the Suns. What's your opinion on what the

Sons have done this year? Playing great. I think CP and Book are like a tough combination. I think I like deanrew Ayton too. What do you think is missing with Ayton? Because I think I watch Aiden and sometimes I get frustrated because I feel like he's not as

aggressive and not as like skill set. I think like around the rim, you know, I think the other night, like Shaq was talking about it, he you know, he should have just done a little lefty hook and instead he shut and got blocked, just like little just like have skills, No, have a lefty hook, have a righty hook, havin up and under stuff like that. I'll pay five percent of his training costs if we can get DeAndre in this off season to come training with my guy too.

Seems like the sweetest dude. Yeah yeah, it seems like a real nice dude. Man. I just like sometimes I'm like, dude, you have to, you know, impose your will. I want him to dunk on people and scream at them, you know, I have like that dog and them. Yeah sure, yeah sure yeah man. Well look go follow him on Instagram. You got a real dope story, and congratulations on all the success, man, Because I think that anybody can look at what you've done. Are you ever planning on writing

a book or anything. Yeah, yeah, that's in the works for sure. I think anybody can look at your come up and apply it to their own lives in any field or any you know, whatever they're doing. I appreciate that. So, you know, hey, it was nice to link with you, and and hopefully we'll see you, you know, on an NBA bench one day or not. Honestly funk that you don't need that straight up like we're top, Like you don't need that ship. You'll do that if you want to. Yeah,

boom exact. Actually, thanks, appreciate you