March 4, 2026 • 47 mins
Stewie and Myles are joined by elite skills trainer Chris Brickley for a discussion about how he got to the top of the game, the keys to working with the best basketball players in the world and what he does to stay grounded through it all.
They get into Chris' early days at Louisville with Coach Rick Pitino, the most skilled player he ever worked with and the best Black Ops run he ever saw. The conversation gets personal with his connection to Stewie, his meaningful tattoos, the best advice for success and the impact of his signature shoe deal with Puma.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
They don't know and they're just giving each other and
served in that. It's like boggling that. So I'm big
on like, I don't want to know before I before
I speak on it.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Okay, Yeah, no, no, that's real. That's real.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
He's literally we're gonna text me this like in the
middle of the night and be like, send this to myles.
I know, it's kind of I know.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
It's welcome to game recognized game. I'm Miles Turner. I
love your NBA VET Center for Milwaukee Bucks, along with
my legendary co host, three time WA champion Brianna Stewart
(00:41):
aka Stewart, and.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Today we're lucky to be joined by a guy who
knows a lot about game, one of the best basketball
skills coaches in the world, the owner of black Ops Basketball,
Chris Brickley. Thank you for.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Coming, No, thank you so much for having me. Uh, definitely, Stewie.
We've been working for years and uh, you know, Miles,
I would love to work with you, you know, eventually, but
always been been a big fan for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
That's love, bro. But we got a big show today.
We're gonna talk to Chris about how I got started
as a top trainer, ask about the most skilled and
hardest working players he's trained with, and we'll get to
know Chris a little bit off the court man, trying
to see what you belt.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Let's do it, all.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Right, So I'm gonna just I'm gonna just dive right
in here. I feel like, first I want you to
tell the story about how we first met from like
what you remember, and then talk more recently about us
being in Spain.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
And all that for sure. So I think we're talking
about in Spain. I don't either I sent you a
DM or Player's Tribune or I'll just let's just say
I sent you a DM. I think I don't know
what we connected. We worked out the sky. You had
a photographer that I believe still like around in your life,
(01:57):
right that was there taking Yeah what she was?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, you didn't miss like the first two workouts, Like
you didn't miss a single shot. I was like, what
is going on? Like it was incredible. I remember you
were with one of your teammates at point Guard. Do
you remember this, Sonaria Snayah? Yeah, you know, And I
(02:21):
was just blown away at your at your skill set
and and I feel like, you know, it's been a
number of years and it's been it's been cool just
to build a relationship, you know, from leaving Nike to
go to pullm when to coming to New York and uh,
some of my friends your friends and you know, we've
kind of intertwined in New York. It's been dope. And uh,
(02:42):
I feel like your family is my family. You know,
I've met your grandma, you know, all types of stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
So all right, Chris, So one thing we really like
to do on this show. I mean, obviously the title
of the show is game Recognized Game one, like a
big thing is like what does that mean to you?
And then just to follow ups that, like when's the
first you realize it you felt like, damn, b I
got game.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Man. Probably coming up in middle school, high school. Uh,
I'm trying. I think I'm gonna give you a concrete answer.
I think I'm just starting varsity as a freshman.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
That was that was a.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Really cool moment. Yeah, team was really good out in
the Hampshire, small state, but yeah, I think that was
like that was a cool moment. That was definitely like
the first time I was like, okay, like I think
I've I'm good at basketball. I guess that that was
that was my moment.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
So you went to Louisville, and I feel like I
never really asked you this before because you played for
coach Patino, coach Yama, they're they're kind of sounds similar.
What was like, what was the biggest thing you learned
from him? But also like what was his like craziest
moment where you were like this man is man.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
That's that's a lot. I would say the craziest moment was,
you know, we went to like a month period where
the team was turning the ball over too much. So
in practice if he turned it over, you had to
run outside. So you know, at the University of Louisville
it's like a basketball football you know, the basketball players
the football players you will know. So you had to
run outside, get a sign and hold Papa John's is
(04:23):
hiring for ten to drive by, and then you can
run back into practice and my good familion, that was
out the lot. For sure. I wouldn't let us sleep
on the plane like if we lost, you know, so
like you'd be like like you just wouldn't want to
(04:44):
sleep because he'd be pacing up and down the thing. Definitely,
you know, in the moment and you might, but you
guys are winning so crazy. We were numbering in the
country too, But it was different. I was a walk on.
I wasn't so I'm doing all this work and and uh,
you know, to be a walk on, and he's like
going at me, going at me, and I'm just I
(05:07):
was kind of miserable. And then it took like years
after to me to be like, Wow, he taught me
so much about life, how to treat people, how to
deal with different personalities. So I'm thankful for him.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
That's real. Like he recruited me for a little bit, man,
I think get a real chance just to you know,
spend a lot of time with him. But I've heard
nothing but great things about him. Is like what you
were talking about, Like basketball is one thing, but just
as a man, what he teaches you in life and
just what more the brain the game can bring to you.
And I think it's hoped to have them like figures
in your life that early, especially like starting up in
your career.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
That's real for sure. Great coaches, I feel like that
they all have that in common.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
M h yeah, man, So just you work with pretty
much everybody bro stars, rookies, role players and I mean again,
you've done an amazing job of just branding yourself and
just you know, being more so about the game than
the actual brand itself. You know, like how long did
it take you to tell a player is going to
be like great when you started working with them, because
you know, typically I feel like the better trainings can
(06:06):
tell right away just off they first vibe, you know.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
For sure, for sure you can always tell if a
player has something you always a tell the like that
dog in them, right, That's like I think that's the
toughest thing to teach, like someone to play with that
like inner like dog in them. I guess, like I
guess that's the way I'm a word it. It's that's
a hard thing to teach. So I think that And
(06:31):
that's been at so many different levels. Like I started
working out with Donovan when he was in high school,
ranked like two hundred in the country. Then I started
working when CJ. McCollum after his second year in the NBA,
when he played like six minutes a game. Then he
got most improved player after that. So like that's been
(06:52):
like really some really cool moments where it's like, damn,
I think what I'm doing is working and I've always
been huge on and Stewie knows this, Like, no trainer
is making a player. You guys do the work right,
you deal with the injuries, you deal with everything, and
it's uh. I think a trainer's job is just to
(07:14):
bring the best out of out of you guys. But
I'm really a bit I'm heavy on the like I
don't think trainers maybe when when you're really young, right
hand leafts, left hand lafts, but when you get to
like the pro level, obviously you're teaching. But like, no,
no trainers making a player. Yeah, I just and because
you hear that so much and so many trainers think
(07:35):
that that player's mind. I just hate hearing that, you know,
because I feel like you guys, you guys dedicate your
life to it.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, that's real. Is there any difference between training, like,
you know, men or women with you, because I'm obviously
you have a wide variety of players that you work with,
and I feel like this is more so like to
the general audience. I think in the hoop world, you know,
we know what's up, like we step in between them
lines like it's just what it is. You know. I
know plenty of women that I grew up with, you know,
played with us, you know, like in the high school runs.
(08:04):
But like, what's your philosophy when it comes like just
to you know, coaching and trying to be in first women?
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Yeah, I mean shouts Stewie. She was the first you know,
female basketball player that I've worked with and so in
and that led just she has such a big herald
in name. I feel like that led down to page
and easy and I even think like Asia, like I
(08:30):
feel like Stuwie really helped me, Like so Carmelo helped
me on the men's side, started working with him, I
was this guy and then and then Stewie really helped
me in the women's side. So I owe Stuie everything.
I'll forever be thankful for her, not even and yeah,
so now as far as so you have to take
(08:53):
shot making, I feel like you could argue that it
will work out. Girls make more shots. Like if you
were just to like look at you were to take
one hundred WNBA players, one hundred NBA players put them
through three hundred shot workout, I think women might shoot better.
I don't know, Sue, what do you think?
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's I think it's interesting
because I think whenever I like work out with Chris,
it's kind of like, you know, he gives you this
goal and at his gym it's like the NBA three.
You know you're not shooting any closer than that. So
you have a goal of like how many you need
to make, whether it's like standstill threes or moving threes
and that type of thing, and he'll be like, oh,
(09:38):
so and so got I don't know, seventy five, like
you want to beat that, or there's like a dribbling
drill where it's like the number to beat. So it's
I think with Chris, it's like the numbers the same regardless,
like the expectation is the same. Yeah, sometimes like when
you're doing anything closer to the basket, it might look
a little bit different, but from from the workout itself.
(10:02):
Like when I when I've worked out and then I
see the workouts he does with other people, I'm like, yeah,
this is like I'm going through these drills, but this
drill sucks, so that you know, you know what's one
is like a killer for sure?
Speaker 1 (10:16):
No, for sure, And obviously you're gonna have this man
and woman from Athleticism right that it's going to be different.
That's life. But as far as yours, there's there you
you could argue that this if if you take all
athleticism away, it's pretty damn close.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
And I feel like that's the argument quite a bit.
I mean, I think that's what the casuals try to say.
It's like, you know, oh, well, you know, men are
better athletes and this is that and women are more fundamental.
But if you really like, break down the game, bro,
I like what you said right there, like just take
you know, make that obsolete, just hoop or hoop, go
out there and actually let's like let's find out. You know,
I think it'd be a I think it'd be an
interesting case study, you know one day. I don't know,
(10:57):
I think it's a I'm biased and I'm always a
wrote me to row with us, but you know it is.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
No no for sure for sure?
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Oh, I mean, keeping keeping on the women's side a
little bit obviously, you know we worked out you train
easy a lot, wondering where you think she's going to
go in the draft, what's she go number one she's
been and and also what's the the biggest thing you've
seen change over the trajectory of her career, Like what
(11:27):
has she really like owned at this moment.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
I think just being herself, like being comfortable in her skin,
and that's just on the court off the court, and
I feel like that's really helped here. I've been working
with her since soft sophomore year of high school, and
you know, she's always been really good, but she's always
(11:50):
been kind of like an overthinker. And I feel like
she won the national championship, got that m VP and
like like almost like a chip, like I don't know,
she like rec relieved, and she's like, you know, this year,
she's shooting from one hundred percent from free throwing, like
I don't think. I don't even know if anyone's ever
(12:11):
done that for a season. If she continues to do that,
did you do that, Stuey fifty forty? No? No, you
did know forty ninety?
Speaker 3 (12:18):
No, I think really, I know I did fifty forty
and then I messed up the free throw, So no, really,
but I'm not sure if fifty forty ninety is a
tough thing to do. It's like one of my goals
in the W and I still have not gotten there yet.
So next season, yeah, got that.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
That's real, man, keep the work up. I'm curious before
we're going to break Chris, I just have one like
just kind off to beating path. Question, Bro, how do
you make your relationships? I mean, obviously again you've been
able to now word of mouth. You know, you've you've created, like,
you know, a great lane for yourself. But like when
you first get started in the industry, like how did
you just get connected with such great players or just
you know, was it like through the agencies? Was it
(12:56):
through just Instagram dms? Like how like how did you
make your relations.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yes, I've never done the agency thing. And no, no
disrespect the agents, you know, I respect the crafts, I
respect how they get their money. But I've never I've
always stayed away from like the agent manager all of that,
like stew you know, and that I know sometimes it
could be annoying for the player like whatever if you're
(13:21):
traveling or whatever. But I've always been like, Okay, we're
working together, like we can talk, Me and the player
can talk. So it's always been anyone you've ever seen
me in the gym with. It's been like someone I'm
genuinely either friends with or like we're working towards being
a friend. And I say a friend because I feel
like to get the to get the best out of someone,
(13:44):
you need to figure out what motivates them, why they're playing,
what makes them tick. And if you're not cool with
them and you don't understand them, you're not really gonna
go far. So yeah, I've always taken it like as
a personal thing.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
For sure. Nice. I respect that, man, that's real. I
just think that's again, it's industry is a business at
the end of the day, and I think you can
get lost in the fold of that. So I respect
that you take the time to make the relationship show
players because it goes a very long way, especially even
when basketball is done, you know what I mean. No,
for sure, all right, man, what's time for a quick break.
(14:20):
When we come back, we're gonna talk to Chris about
stuff that fans don't see. It really matters on the court.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Welcome back to game recognized game with STUEI and Miles
and we're joined by elite basketball skills trainer Chris Brickley.
No more libs, Time for the real, hard hitting questions.
M Okay, all right, don't be scared the people that
just see the Instagram videos like what's the hardest skill
to actually teach players?
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah? The Instagram videos that that alone is just so stressful.
Like people, Yo, you work out ninety minutes, right? Ten
workouts ninety minutes. That's I'm not a mathematician, but it's
a lot of minutes. I might post sixty seconds and
(15:24):
you have all the internet judging like that's his workout,
that's in it. I'm like, I just showed you sixty
seconds of twelve hours, and so you know, early on,
as I was like this building an audience, it would
like I would, it would weigh on me. And then
I realized it doesn't matter. As long as me and
(15:45):
the player on the same page and the player is improving,
that's all that matters. But it definitely I went through
phases where I didn't see it that way, But you mature,
and I'm sure with you guys, the same thing with
Instagram comment whatever it is, right, you go through phases.
Have you guys gone through phases with that? If you
(16:06):
read Instagram comments? How do you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Man? I mean, I'm not exactly sure how it goes
In the WNBA side. I mean, I've seen things that
are just honestly, just like distasteful, unspeakable, but just on
the men's side.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Bro.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
When I first got to the league, like I used to, bro,
stay up, search my name after every game, see what
people were saying. Like I cared so much, Bro. And
then like as I got older and mourns my career,
I realized that outside validation, it didn't mean shit. You know,
it didn't really matter. You know, at the end of
the day one, I'm the biggest critic of my game too,
Like ninety seven point shit, we'll say nine nine point
(16:42):
nine percent of people are in the comments. Couldn't last
thirty seconds in our job, bro, in our industry and
what we do. So you just learn to take the
sting out of the words that they say. But yeah, man,
there was definitely a time here where you know, it
was tough. You know, it's crazy nowadays we have this
prop betting and all this extra stuff like that makes
it worse. Yeah, Bro, it gets bad. Bro. People started
(17:04):
coming after your family death.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
They're broke, you know, they're like they can't pay their
bill the whole you know, it's a it's a it's
a rough thing.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
It's a disease. Bro, It's a disease. But I mean,
you know, you take it for what it is, you know, again,
like you know, these are people that just again just
to live in a kind of a fantasy land on
sea US as they see its props. Like you said,
like it's not betting for a reason, feel me. So
I mean, yeah, you just take it on the chin,
you know, do what you do with it. But I know, Stuart,
I know you can speak to it, like, you know,
especially the way you're you're game wheels.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Yeah, I mean literally the same. I think that it's
gotten even worse with the betting. And it was like
Game one of the Finals in twenty twenty four and
I made the free throw go to overtime, but I
missed the pre throwt to win the game, and like
after that it was just like so many death threats.
But it's like not for me, it's fine, but when
you involve my kids or my family, then I have
(17:55):
a problem. You know. And we live in New York City,
so I don't really read the comments. But it's like
when it gets to a level like that, you're like, Okay,
now I need to be like even more cautious about things.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
When it goes beyond your career, you're right when you
start involving family members or loved ones, that's when, like
you know, like you know, for me, like my man
at the end of the day, like you know you're
coming at my pride, like you know you're coming at
you know what I stand for, so you know it
differentiates from there. But when it comes to my craft,
it's like you can't, you can't do what the fuck
I do? So I don't want to hear it, right,
(18:29):
all right, I gotta go with like, what's a what's
a skill that like no one actually wants to work
on but matters the most in games?
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Just in your opinion, that's a that's a really good question.
I feel like that. I mean, I guess it all
depends on the player, right. I feel like there's a
lot of young younger players like and I don't even
want to sound like, but I feel like young younger
(18:57):
players nowadays they don't they don't want to watch film
as much as I feel like they should. And I
feel like watching film so like you guys would be
out there playing guys and girls out there playing and
feels a certain type of way, and then you watch
the film you're like, damn, I thought it felt different,
(19:19):
like everyone.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Was way worse. I thought it was way worse.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
And so film is so important, and with the whole
Instagram hype and the highlights and this and that, player
players don't want to really watch film, and I think, yeah,
I think that's hurting the game. And I think that whole,
like the whole European thing, like forty of the league
is now and I feel like they done the AU
games and it's just we need to we need to
(19:46):
kind of shift that.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Man. I let's expand on that a little bit more
because I enjoy that that topic right there, Like you know, yeah,
the league is shifting overseas and the more European players
and you know, because they one, they're playing the same
team since they're like twelve thirteen years old and all
come up together. They work on their practical skills, they
study the actual game, whereas now in america's more highlight culture.
(20:10):
And you know, now you got nil involved and like
you know with high school guys and ages in middle
school and bro like it's it's it's more of a
business you know, here than it ever has been. And
it's affecting the way Americans are, you know, coming into
this league now. So I'm curious your opinion, like you
know all that for sure.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
I mean, it's it's really it's a scary thing to
think about. You know, the majority of these kids in
college that's going to be the most money they make
in their lives. And so like just think, you go
to college, make one point five million dollars, so you
don't make the league, how are you going to take
a job making fifty five thousand dollars and like take
(20:48):
it serious? Yeah, it's like, wow, the harsh it's putting them.
It's almost like not fair to the kids and like
in the big scheme of things, but also it should
get paid. So it's like a weird It's just like
a very interesting thing. What do you think about?
Speaker 3 (21:11):
What about? What about I mean honestly, this isn't like
anything that we had ready, but but I thought about it.
What about like the ones that they go pro right
and now they can go back into school, Like this
guy was just in the n b A. He was
drafted and now he's like back at Baylor, No.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Sure for sure. And then and then also the whole
you you go to four schools and then when you're done,
what school do you identify with?
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Like, yeah, I like it that.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
They got the they got the little pendance of all
the two of the school.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Did it? Did it? That just happened? Texas? Texas got
like a she's like seven four or seven that I saw? Yeah, players,
it's wild, bro, because like seven feet tall, seven foot tall,
Borugh on the women's game, like what are we in college?
Like what are we talking about?
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Then she moved well.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
And I personally haven't seen her play.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I also haven't seen I've only saw that she was
like seven to one.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
But going against eighteen year olds, man, guys, people like
that are just I don't know, man. But I think
the Baylor the kid at Baylor is very interesting because
allegedly he played in summer league. Right, he never quote
unquote played a pro game, but he played professionally overseas
and signed a professional contract. And to me, yes, that
does voyas your amateur status. But there are Yeah, that's
(22:42):
what I believe it should be. But you get so
many lines crossing the nil because it's such an unregulated
thing and it was so rushed, and these teams, just
like anybody, are finding the gray here find a loophole.
So one, if you got the money, you know, you
got the evaluation, you can pay to play. And then
two you gotta really get how you live. Now. There
really is no no going back from here in my opinion,
(23:05):
even if you try to regulate it. Now, it's like,
well ship Will Baylor's doing this, why can't we do it?
Speaker 1 (23:08):
You know right, it's gonna turn ugly. It's definitely yeah,
bad for the kids. And you know hard is to
be like a high school player because all the big
schools transfer portal. I could get a twenty five year
old instead of bad seventeen year old. So it's making
it really hard for high school players to.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Oh yeah yeah if you're not a.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
High school players. And the coaches, the mid major coaches,
I think it's like really tough. Yeah all right, all right,
let's uh, let's let's get back on track to your situation.
Who's the hardest worker that you've ever trained?
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Man? Besides me?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
But like, no shade to anybody, Like I don't know
who's the one where you're like, oh my god, he's
always he or she is always in the gym, Like
what what?
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, it's like it's it's so it's like not fair, right,
because there's so many players that like they sacrifice their
life towards it, and so for me to like say
one person, it's like I feel like I'd be doing
like eight guys wrong because I've been in the past.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
I know, I feel like that was a hard question.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
I I've gotten. Like, you know, I used to be like, oh, Lebron,
why did I say Lebron? Because we did a nine
o'clock workout He's showing up at six or seven am
every time, and I thought that was just like different.
But then like a few players sit me up and
they're like, yeah, he's doing that. But like I get
(24:42):
there thirty minutes and then I stayed two hours, so
it's like, you can't you can't.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
That.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Yeah, I learned there's a bunch of guys and girls.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
Okay, I was trying to set you up.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
I was just wondering, Yeah, that's fair.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Just yeah, on that topic too. Man, I think the
Black Ops Runs. Man, that was unbelievable. You know, still is,
but it was unbelievable when it first hit the scene.
You know what I'm saying. I feel like people were
really drawn to it. You know, you had all sorts
of people trying to get them gyms man like one like,
how did that come about?
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:15):
And then the second part that is like, what's like
the most what's the best like pickup game you've seen,
you know, within your black up run.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Yeah. So it came about when I was with the
Next Mellow used to do like these Mellow weekends and
where we're hanging out and he's like, when we get
back to New York, I want you to put the
best pickup game you can. I want to play pick up.
So I put together a little run with Katie Kimball Walker.
(25:42):
I thought I was like a cool thing. When I
was doing I was on the staff with the Next
Boom did the run. Go back to the office next
day and James Dolan. They're like get me with James
doing the owner and I'm like, oh no, you're in trouble.
I'm like, damn walk in the office. I'm making my
forty thousand a year. He's like, you know, you just
got us find fifty thousan's more than your contract. I'm
(26:05):
like I'm sorry, and he's like, you know what, But
I'm not that mad. He's like, because I like you
bringing players to New York. He's like, just don't do
it again. So like that was like the beginning of it. Okay,
that was I learned. I learned my lesson. That wasn't
why I left the next after, but I but you know,
I did want to start my own thing. That's been
(26:26):
some legendary ones though, you know, Katie versus on three
weeks after they just got done playing in game six
or something like that. There's been ones where it's been
you know, like see like nine All Stars and then
like my favorite ones are even like this past summer
when you have like the top junior in the country
(26:48):
small forward playing against like Jalen Brown, and it's like
it's like a dream come true for that for that player,
but then he's learning so much like within within the game.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Yeah, really cool.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
It's really dope. And and I wanted we gotta get
someone some runs.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
I know, we gotta do it.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
We gotta do some We had a we ha do
some w NBA runs. Yeah, for sure, what's up when
we're gonna do that? It's tough with DOUN rival, right.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
Honestly, let's do it. Let's do it. In March.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Was done.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
W season isn't starting well, we don't know when that's starting,
but like it's definitely not starting in March. So if
anybody wants to come to New York in March and
get some runs in, come listen to this and come there.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
You go.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Now year in New York. I know you said here,
here and there, but if you ever are.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Do we should just get a collapse workout. We should
just work out all three of us together.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
I'm actually down for that. That sounds dope.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
That'd be cool in New York.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
So whenever you get that, yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
You know eventually, No, I like it down south man,
but I hear you, I hear you.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Okay, so I asked the hardest worker, but like, what
about the most skilled player?
Speaker 1 (28:17):
So that's yeah, yeah, I can see No you're not.
You're right skilled player. If we're just talking skilled, I
gotta go with Kevin Durant, Like, you know, he's like
he doesn't want to say, but he's seven feet.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
And he.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Has handled he you know, ridiculous footwork, the way he
can make shots, uh, at the pace he plays with
the way he can put out the asies mid post's finishing,
like he really does that many any holes in his
game and he's like urgent every summer to like, so
I have a funny I haven't told this story, but
(29:03):
also this past summer, So if you were to come
work with me, Miles, I would. I I'm blessed to
have a team of like internstead of like really good
analytically right, And I know I'm not huge on it.
Analytics don't tell everything, right, but you can see some
things out of it. And so Katie, last season, not
(29:24):
this season. Last season, his what was it is? I
think it was his left shoulder turns left or right.
He was like one for nineteen in the season, and
so I mentioned it to him. So we get into
the workout and has to be left. Yeah, left. So
we into the workout and every time he he wants
(29:45):
to do some live every time he does it and
he hits it, he like stares me down, like I
almost like he's mad that I told him that. But
it was funny competitor that he is, like he wont
to really prove a point that, Like, so I thought
that was like that in the year Nights, it's Hall
of Famery. It's still still cures, like you know, and
(30:06):
that's part of why he is who he is.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Yea kudos zero for bringing that out of him, man,
because I mean, that's just that's real. Man. You said,
he's he's done everything in the game, but one of
the most decorated players, and it's like you still got
stuff to work on. And that kind of leaves him
to the next question, like, what's what's the biggest key
like to developing trust with players? You know, especially these
you know, these elite guys that you work with and
the resume that you have.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
You gotta be honest. You gotta be honest. And there's
been times where it's been like I'll never forget when
early on, like with working on Lebron, he was like,
all right, tomorrow morning, I wanted to come and I
want you to tell me everything that you think I
need to work on, specifically two things that will work
on them. And in my mind, I'm like, so that
(30:49):
whole night I didn't sleep. I'm like, damn, my god,
what am I going to say? So I like broke
down his game and like I found two things and
I was I was so nervous, and I just said them.
I'm like, I think we I think you need to
work on these two things. Like I think that you know,
you weren't efficient doing these two things, and he he
(31:11):
respected it. And so I think just being honest like
me and mellow the reason why I was an intern
rebounding and he missed the game winning shot third game
of this season, and everyone's like no, no, no one's
allowed to talk to him at when in these situations.
So everyone left. I went, I went into he's getting
(31:35):
like ice and I'm like a good shot, b I
was just talking the game, I was being and he
like respected that someone was talking to him, someone was
giving him, you know, advice or something, and they weren't
scared of him. And I feel like that goes a
long way. I feel like, you know, I'm sure you
(31:56):
know what I'm talking about, Miles, is that certain coaches
that they they it's almost like they don't want to
they get I don't know afraid or they don't they
don't you know what I'm saying about, So holding holding
players accountmals everything.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Yeah, that's real chipping that ego, man is reel. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Give it to a straight all right, So what do
I need to mop up? What do I need to
work on? Give it to me straight right now. I
mean we've talked about this, so I know what you're
gonna say, but just so everyone else.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
I think actually it's pretty simple. I think it's like
we talked about you, there's nothing you can't do. And
I feel like, well through the wear and tear over
the years, it does something to some to people's mental
and I feel like it maybe like second yes, some
(32:52):
things that for eight years in eight or so, and
then you know a few injuries later, like you know,
you start like aiming in a little bit, and and
we've talked about this, and even when we're in Spain,
like first day and then the rest of the days,
(33:13):
it was like you that was no aiming. You were back.
So I just like think that anything that just like
trust and how good you are and you know, and
I know it can be tough like with this the journey,
but uh yeah, I'm here to tell you you still
are her.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
M appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
I mean sometimes it's like the mental just it weighs
on you a little bit, especially after you've been going
through a you know, a rougher drought or you haven't
been playing as well as you want to. But and
that's one thing like I really appreciate from you, Chris,
is just like the way that you're constantly like you're good,
you got this, and like if anything was wavering, you
(33:56):
like really brought me back to where I needed to be.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
So I appreciate it for sure. You know, it's funny.
We never talked about this. I felt. I was like,
I've never done this before. Do you remember this past
season were a little shooting something and I did a
video and I was like, like a voiceover video, and I, yes,
I've never done it before. I felt so like weird.
I'm like, over, Yeah, it was funny, but yeah, yeah whatever,
(34:23):
it takes a few miles. Have you ever been in
any shooting slumps, any mental slumps? Like what's your experience
with that?
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Yeah? Absolutely, like one first foremost. But I just I
love Y'a's relationship bro, Like I said, just just from Afar.
That's dope, man. I mean I feel like you need
someone in your corner bro constantly. That shit is so important,
you know, as well as much as we go through
this league. But uh, to y'all's point or to your point, Chris, yeah,
I've definitely been shooting slump so damn near one right now.
You know what I'm saying you just gotta just uh
(34:54):
pull yourself out of it. Exactly. Come on, come on, talk.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
Is there anything that you do different? Do you train
and do things to say like how do you how
do you handle it? How have you handled it? You've
had a great career.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Yeah, so I appreciate that. Some of the best advice
I've gotten this. No, man, when when ship is going
like ass backwards, that's when people panic. That's when they
feel like they have to change certain things. They have
to change their approach, they have to move this finger
over here, this way, change their relase. Like, no, bro,
you stick to what got you here. You know what
I mean. I've been a shooter. I'm one of the
best shooting bigs in this league, doing it for quite
some time. Bro. So it's like you got to remember.
(35:26):
You got to remember that ship. And it's exactly what
Chris is talking about. Bro. But yeah, the poor yourself
out of it. I mean, you know you can continue
to you can put your extra hours in the gym,
you can watch all the film you want. This ship
is all mental, bro. Oh my god, Bro, Like it's
so mental, Like there are times where like you know,
like you know, you fuck up and then it's like
in my head, it's like, man, I'm about to hit
(35:47):
this next so I'm about to get hot, like I'm
about hit the next three, and then all of a sudden,
it just fucking happens, you know. And then there's sometimes
that it doesn't happen, But you still got to fucking
be delusional and like believe that it's going to happen. Bro,
you got to, you know, I.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
Feel like, yeah, best players are have a delusional sense
with them and also to humanize what you guys are
talking about the best scores to ever play the game
in our generation. I've gotten texts from mid season being
like I've lost it, like none I can't make and
(36:21):
I'm just taking on my mind like and I'll hit
them with Stewie like stop like like but but it's
everyone is human. It's just a human and I think
fans forget that. I think a lot of people forget that.
You guys are human. Uh, the superstars, like the biggest, biggest,
(36:42):
best players are human. And yeah, it's just uh.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Because because it's like when you're consistently great and then
all of a sudden you're like not, It's like everyone's like, well.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
What happened for sure.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Yeah, but you need those human moments like just to
kind of remind you, Like, you know, you could be
riding high and all of a sudden you do on
that like two weeks slump or whatever, and then like
it just reminds that oh shit, like you know, like, yeah,
I know I'm him, But at the same time, shit,
you still gotta can't take the ship for granted, you know,
And I think it's good to fuck up on like
the biggest levels man, Like you just experience it, experience
(37:15):
the highest and high, experience lows and lows, but you
got to be able to experience the loads to appreciate
them highs that are coming and vice versa.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Like you know, it's real, that's life for sure. You
if you just live on a high, I feel like
you're not a that's not life. But you're not learning, No,
for sure. I'm so big on that you're not getting
too high, not getting too low in the journey and
then learning on the loads for sure.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Yeah. So I'm curious. It's Chris from AFAR, Like, you know,
if you were to work with me, like in the
coming off season or whatnot. I know you said you
have your team. You know analytics and you know guys
that can put stuff together just from the naked eye,
just from you know, the stuff you watch me do.
Like what's one of the biggest things, Like you want
me to focus on?
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Man, I mean, like you said, and I feel like
you're one of the best big man shooting. There's like
a list as like a maybe you can say it
on like one hand of guys that like have the
touch that you have from deep and and so my
big thing is I think I brought up to Stewie
(38:19):
before is okay. So one of my pet peeves is
when someone asks someone a basketball question and they answer
it but they don't truly know. So I can't tell
you because I want to give me three hours and
then I'll be so answer bro, I uh. And it
(38:39):
happens in like NBA scout. I'm not saying your team,
but go for it. He has scouts right that they
talk to each other, bullshit each other and they don't
know and they're just giving each other answer and that
it's like mind boggling. So I'm big on like I
don't want to know before I before I speak on it.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
Okay, Yeah, no, No, that's real, that's real.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
He's literally We're gonna text me this like in the
middle of the night and be like, send this to myles.
I know it's kinding.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
I know it's.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
Okay. Time for one more break. Next up, we go
off the court and we're gonna get personal. Welcome back
(39:37):
to game recognized game with Stuie and Miles. Let's get
a little personal today with our guest Chris Brickley.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
Dun, Dun, Dun.
Speaker 3 (39:47):
You want me to ask the first question?
Speaker 2 (39:49):
Yeah, go for it.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
Yeah, Okay, Honestly, this is a question that I've been wondering.
I've known you for a long time. You have a
ton of tattoos, but like, what's which tattoo is like
most special? And also why do you have so many?
Speaker 1 (40:02):
Okay, So I don't know why I have so many,
but I think it got to a point where I
was able to like express, like just I can look
on my body and remember certain moments in my life,
whether it's good or it's bad. So like my Okay,
(40:23):
so my left arm is all positive moments, my right
arms all like negative things that I've gone through. My
legs are all inspirations, and so I feel like it's
just I look at my body sometimes and I'm like,
I remember the rough times I've been through, the people
have lost, and it motivates me. And then I'll look
(40:47):
over here and I remember some of the dope things
that that's happened in my life. And then I'll look
at my legs and be like, I got a long
way to go because I have a lot of legends
on my legs. So it's kind of like mental things.
I really don't do it for other people. I know
it sounds so crazy, and I know so many people
would be what do you talk? But the truth is right.
(41:08):
I was with the Knicks, and I was in Vegas
with the Knicks. I didn't want to shoot my tattoos
Vegas heat. I'm wearing a coach's polo with short with
tights and long sweating. The staff's like are you okay?
And I'm changing one day in the locker room and
Phil Jackson's like, come on, man, just be yourself and
(41:32):
I'm like, that's what do you mean? Don't tell reper tattoos.
And at the first day walking into that practice, people
looked at me like I was not a human because
they were what, yeah, you know, yeah, yeah, so that
that I can't answer why, but it definitely plays a
(41:56):
big part in they're like your story, it's your story
for sure.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
Yeah, that's fine, bro, that's fine. I like the fact
that you have meaning behind your tattoos. I feel like
there are people who get tattoos just for other people
or for the showiness of it all that they'll regret
that shit like ten fifteen years later. But you know,
you know, you're carrying your story with you. You're allowing
your creative expression just to be be literally on your sleeve.
That's dope for sure, for sure.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
And I guess to answer your question, one is the
most important. I was able to retire my father someone
to a picture at that moment, and I got that
picture on my leg. That means a lot. And then
I feel like the last few years my life has
really changed and I have like a lot of like
like legends that lost their way and are tattooed on me.
(42:48):
And it's for a reason. It's like it's so easy.
I know both. It's so easy when you start making
a little bit of money and you have yes men
to lose your way. And there's been times I'm almost lost,
but I'll look down and be like like I don't
want to be Amy Winehouse. I don't want to be
you know. And it's like it's like a mental thing,
(43:10):
and it's really played a big part in my mental.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Well that's important, all right, man. So like you know,
when you're not hooping and you're not traveling, I feel like, again,
you're always in other people's time. Just what your profession
calls for, Like what like how do you get back
to your mental Like what do you like to do
off the court? Like what do you what do you
do for yourself?
Speaker 1 (43:30):
Man? Going on drives by myself at night, that's like
my thing. I lot's like my peace, Like going to
drive into the city the places that used to live with,
like when I was like super broke and just driving
in those neighborhoods, parking the car, walking around and like
getting myself back there. Like I'm big on that. And
(43:53):
then I'm also big on like if I feel like
I'm like starting to get an ego, I like do
this weird thing where like I like, okay, like starve myself,
like keep my like I won't get out of bed,
like I put myself in these situations that I was
in when I had no choice in like, yeah, it
(44:15):
might sound like a crazy person, but yeah, I put
myself back in those situations.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
You don't sound crazy at all, bro. I just everybody
has their thing. Bro. It just whatever it takes to
get you to that state, like it's you were in
Surviva Mo. You know, let's just called keeping a stack
of stack and then if you've got to get yourself
back to that state to remind yourself, and that's I
think that's that's sick.
Speaker 3 (44:38):
And honestly, like everybody that I know or everybody that's
like met you through me, they're like, oh my god,
Like Chris is Chris is so humble, Like I never
knew he was like this. I only saw the videos
and all this, and and so you're definitely like extremely
grounded for for all the success that you've had, especially
in some plate So I feel like you never forget
(44:59):
where you came from. Unless Miles has another question I have.
This is the last one. Obviously we're both Puma, so
I definitely want to give a shout out to that.
But I want you to talk about your signature shoe.
Only trainer with a signature shoe, like talk about it
(45:19):
a little bit talk and shit.
Speaker 1 (45:22):
It's it's just amazing. It's truly amazing just to be
able to motivate people. Uh, you know, not everyone can
make it to the NBA and just motivate trainers and
motivate coaches. You know, it means the world there's nothing,
there's nothing. There's never a time that I would like
(45:42):
not talk for three minutes to someone that comes up
to me that you know, wants to be a trainer.
And I think it's just really cool. I never thought
in a million years if you go six years back
and someone's like this is going to be your life,
I'd be like I have more likely everything day, Like wow,
(46:03):
So it's just pretty incredible. Like I'm thankful.
Speaker 2 (46:07):
I'm thankful man, Anscars, I got a lot of insight.
Like I said, I just again, I've only known you
from Afar, and you just speak to Stuie's point, man,
you are very humble in what you do and being
ground in this industry in his life is very important. Man.
So I just we appreciate you, and I know the
fans will appreciate this. I mean, if you give one
last piece of advice to you know, someone who is
(46:29):
just trying to come up, you know, whether it's a
young player, young trainer, like you know, what would what
would that be?
Speaker 1 (46:35):
I think just treat every day like it's a one
day contract. I think like, okay, think all of us
take something like when you go to sleep at night,
whatever you do, would you if you were like your boss,
your GM, your whatever brand, what would you resign you?
Would you give yourself a mad I can? I try to,
(46:58):
like go to sleep at night and ask myself. And
that's days where I'm like, man, I wouldn't reck. I
wouldn't resign myself after today, and I try to limit
those days. But like I try to live my life
like that where like I would resign myself.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
So I like that a lot. Yeah that's fine man,
cool man. Well all right, y'all, thanks for checking us out.
You can be part of the show. Send your questions
or our social channels, leave comments on the YouTube videos,
and please please please subscribe to the game recognized game Man.
See y'all next time.
Speaker 1 (47:32):
Thank you so much, Chris, Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (47:35):
That was great. That was incredible.
Speaker 2 (47:37):
Thanks
They don't know and they're just giving each other and
served in that. It's like boggling that. So I'm big
on like, I don't want to know before I before
I speak on it.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Okay, Yeah, no, no, that's real. That's real.
Speaker 3 (00:13):
He's literally we're gonna text me this like in the
middle of the night and be like, send this to myles.
I know, it's kind of I know.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
It's welcome to game recognized game. I'm Miles Turner. I
love your NBA VET Center for Milwaukee Bucks, along with
my legendary co host, three time WA champion Brianna Stewart
(00:41):
aka Stewart, and.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Today we're lucky to be joined by a guy who
knows a lot about game, one of the best basketball
skills coaches in the world, the owner of black Ops Basketball,
Chris Brickley. Thank you for.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Coming, No, thank you so much for having me. Uh, definitely, Stewie.
We've been working for years and uh, you know, Miles,
I would love to work with you, you know, eventually, but
always been been a big fan for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
That's love, bro. But we got a big show today.
We're gonna talk to Chris about how I got started
as a top trainer, ask about the most skilled and
hardest working players he's trained with, and we'll get to
know Chris a little bit off the court man, trying
to see what you belt.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Let's do it, all.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Right, So I'm gonna just I'm gonna just dive right
in here. I feel like, first I want you to
tell the story about how we first met from like
what you remember, and then talk more recently about us
being in Spain.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
And all that for sure. So I think we're talking
about in Spain. I don't either I sent you a
DM or Player's Tribune or I'll just let's just say
I sent you a DM. I think I don't know
what we connected. We worked out the sky. You had
a photographer that I believe still like around in your life,
(01:57):
right that was there taking Yeah what she was?
Speaker 3 (02:01):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, you didn't miss like the first two workouts, Like
you didn't miss a single shot. I was like, what
is going on? Like it was incredible. I remember you
were with one of your teammates at point Guard. Do
you remember this, Sonaria Snayah? Yeah, you know, And I
(02:21):
was just blown away at your at your skill set
and and I feel like, you know, it's been a
number of years and it's been it's been cool just
to build a relationship, you know, from leaving Nike to
go to pullm when to coming to New York and uh,
some of my friends your friends and you know, we've
kind of intertwined in New York. It's been dope. And uh,
(02:42):
I feel like your family is my family. You know,
I've met your grandma, you know, all types of stuff.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
So all right, Chris, So one thing we really like
to do on this show. I mean, obviously the title
of the show is game Recognized Game one, like a
big thing is like what does that mean to you?
And then just to follow ups that, like when's the
first you realize it you felt like, damn, b I
got game.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Man. Probably coming up in middle school, high school. Uh,
I'm trying. I think I'm gonna give you a concrete answer.
I think I'm just starting varsity as a freshman.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
That was that was a.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Really cool moment. Yeah, team was really good out in
the Hampshire, small state, but yeah, I think that was
like that was a cool moment. That was definitely like
the first time I was like, okay, like I think
I've I'm good at basketball. I guess that that was
that was my moment.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
So you went to Louisville, and I feel like I
never really asked you this before because you played for
coach Patino, coach Yama, they're they're kind of sounds similar.
What was like, what was the biggest thing you learned
from him? But also like what was his like craziest
moment where you were like this man is man.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
That's that's a lot. I would say the craziest moment was,
you know, we went to like a month period where
the team was turning the ball over too much. So
in practice if he turned it over, you had to
run outside. So you know, at the University of Louisville
it's like a basketball football you know, the basketball players
the football players you will know. So you had to
run outside, get a sign and hold Papa John's is
(04:23):
hiring for ten to drive by, and then you can
run back into practice and my good familion, that was
out the lot. For sure. I wouldn't let us sleep
on the plane like if we lost, you know, so
like you'd be like like you just wouldn't want to
(04:44):
sleep because he'd be pacing up and down the thing. Definitely,
you know, in the moment and you might, but you
guys are winning so crazy. We were numbering in the
country too, But it was different. I was a walk on.
I wasn't so I'm doing all this work and and uh,
you know, to be a walk on, and he's like
going at me, going at me, and I'm just I
(05:07):
was kind of miserable. And then it took like years
after to me to be like, Wow, he taught me
so much about life, how to treat people, how to
deal with different personalities. So I'm thankful for him.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
That's real. Like he recruited me for a little bit, man,
I think get a real chance just to you know,
spend a lot of time with him. But I've heard
nothing but great things about him. Is like what you
were talking about, Like basketball is one thing, but just
as a man, what he teaches you in life and
just what more the brain the game can bring to you.
And I think it's hoped to have them like figures
in your life that early, especially like starting up in
your career.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
That's real for sure. Great coaches, I feel like that
they all have that in common.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
M h yeah, man, So just you work with pretty
much everybody bro stars, rookies, role players and I mean again,
you've done an amazing job of just branding yourself and
just you know, being more so about the game than
the actual brand itself. You know, like how long did
it take you to tell a player is going to
be like great when you started working with them, because
you know, typically I feel like the better trainings can
(06:06):
tell right away just off they first vibe, you know.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
For sure, for sure you can always tell if a
player has something you always a tell the like that
dog in them, right, That's like I think that's the
toughest thing to teach, like someone to play with that
like inner like dog in them. I guess, like I
guess that's the way I'm a word it. It's that's
a hard thing to teach. So I think that And
(06:31):
that's been at so many different levels. Like I started
working out with Donovan when he was in high school,
ranked like two hundred in the country. Then I started
working when CJ. McCollum after his second year in the NBA,
when he played like six minutes a game. Then he
got most improved player after that. So like that's been
(06:52):
like really some really cool moments where it's like, damn,
I think what I'm doing is working and I've always
been huge on and Stewie knows this, Like, no trainer
is making a player. You guys do the work right,
you deal with the injuries, you deal with everything, and
it's uh. I think a trainer's job is just to
(07:14):
bring the best out of out of you guys. But
I'm really a bit I'm heavy on the like I
don't think trainers maybe when when you're really young, right
hand leafts, left hand lafts, but when you get to
like the pro level, obviously you're teaching. But like, no,
no trainers making a player. Yeah, I just and because
you hear that so much and so many trainers think
(07:35):
that that player's mind. I just hate hearing that, you know,
because I feel like you guys, you guys dedicate your
life to it.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yeah, that's real. Is there any difference between training, like,
you know, men or women with you, because I'm obviously
you have a wide variety of players that you work with,
and I feel like this is more so like to
the general audience. I think in the hoop world, you know,
we know what's up, like we step in between them
lines like it's just what it is. You know. I
know plenty of women that I grew up with, you know,
played with us, you know, like in the high school runs.
(08:04):
But like, what's your philosophy when it comes like just
to you know, coaching and trying to be in first women?
Speaker 1 (08:09):
Yeah, I mean shouts Stewie. She was the first you know,
female basketball player that I've worked with and so in
and that led just she has such a big herald
in name. I feel like that led down to page
and easy and I even think like Asia, like I
(08:30):
feel like Stuwie really helped me, Like so Carmelo helped
me on the men's side, started working with him, I
was this guy and then and then Stewie really helped
me in the women's side. So I owe Stuie everything.
I'll forever be thankful for her, not even and yeah,
so now as far as so you have to take
(08:53):
shot making, I feel like you could argue that it
will work out. Girls make more shots. Like if you
were just to like look at you were to take
one hundred WNBA players, one hundred NBA players put them
through three hundred shot workout, I think women might shoot better.
I don't know, Sue, what do you think?
Speaker 3 (09:16):
Yeah, I mean, I think it's I think it's interesting
because I think whenever I like work out with Chris,
it's kind of like, you know, he gives you this
goal and at his gym it's like the NBA three.
You know you're not shooting any closer than that. So
you have a goal of like how many you need
to make, whether it's like standstill threes or moving threes
and that type of thing, and he'll be like, oh,
(09:38):
so and so got I don't know, seventy five, like
you want to beat that, or there's like a dribbling
drill where it's like the number to beat. So it's
I think with Chris, it's like the numbers the same regardless,
like the expectation is the same. Yeah, sometimes like when
you're doing anything closer to the basket, it might look
a little bit different, but from from the workout itself.
(10:02):
Like when I when I've worked out and then I
see the workouts he does with other people, I'm like, yeah,
this is like I'm going through these drills, but this
drill sucks, so that you know, you know what's one
is like a killer for sure?
Speaker 1 (10:16):
No, for sure, And obviously you're gonna have this man
and woman from Athleticism right that it's going to be different.
That's life. But as far as yours, there's there you
you could argue that this if if you take all
athleticism away, it's pretty damn close.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
And I feel like that's the argument quite a bit.
I mean, I think that's what the casuals try to say.
It's like, you know, oh, well, you know, men are
better athletes and this is that and women are more fundamental.
But if you really like, break down the game, bro,
I like what you said right there, like just take
you know, make that obsolete, just hoop or hoop, go
out there and actually let's like let's find out. You know,
I think it'd be a I think it'd be an
interesting case study, you know one day. I don't know,
(10:57):
I think it's a I'm biased and I'm always a
wrote me to row with us, but you know it is.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
No no for sure for sure?
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Oh, I mean, keeping keeping on the women's side a
little bit obviously, you know we worked out you train
easy a lot, wondering where you think she's going to
go in the draft, what's she go number one she's
been and and also what's the the biggest thing you've
seen change over the trajectory of her career, Like what
(11:27):
has she really like owned at this moment.
Speaker 1 (11:30):
I think just being herself, like being comfortable in her skin,
and that's just on the court off the court, and
I feel like that's really helped here. I've been working
with her since soft sophomore year of high school, and
you know, she's always been really good, but she's always
(11:50):
been kind of like an overthinker. And I feel like
she won the national championship, got that m VP and
like like almost like a chip, like I don't know,
she like rec relieved, and she's like, you know, this year,
she's shooting from one hundred percent from free throwing, like
I don't think. I don't even know if anyone's ever
(12:11):
done that for a season. If she continues to do that,
did you do that, Stuey fifty forty? No? No, you
did know forty ninety?
Speaker 3 (12:18):
No, I think really, I know I did fifty forty
and then I messed up the free throw, So no, really,
but I'm not sure if fifty forty ninety is a
tough thing to do. It's like one of my goals
in the W and I still have not gotten there yet.
So next season, yeah, got that.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
That's real, man, keep the work up. I'm curious before
we're going to break Chris, I just have one like
just kind off to beating path. Question, Bro, how do
you make your relationships? I mean, obviously again you've been
able to now word of mouth. You know, you've you've created, like,
you know, a great lane for yourself. But like when
you first get started in the industry, like how did
you just get connected with such great players or just
you know, was it like through the agencies? Was it
(12:56):
through just Instagram dms? Like how like how did you
make your relations.
Speaker 1 (13:00):
Yes, I've never done the agency thing. And no, no
disrespect the agents, you know, I respect the crafts, I
respect how they get their money. But I've never I've
always stayed away from like the agent manager all of that,
like stew you know, and that I know sometimes it
could be annoying for the player like whatever if you're
(13:21):
traveling or whatever. But I've always been like, Okay, we're
working together, like we can talk, Me and the player
can talk. So it's always been anyone you've ever seen
me in the gym with. It's been like someone I'm
genuinely either friends with or like we're working towards being
a friend. And I say a friend because I feel
like to get the to get the best out of someone,
(13:44):
you need to figure out what motivates them, why they're playing,
what makes them tick. And if you're not cool with
them and you don't understand them, you're not really gonna
go far. So yeah, I've always taken it like as
a personal thing.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
For sure. Nice. I respect that, man, that's real. I
just think that's again, it's industry is a business at
the end of the day, and I think you can
get lost in the fold of that. So I respect
that you take the time to make the relationship show
players because it goes a very long way, especially even
when basketball is done, you know what I mean. No,
for sure, all right, man, what's time for a quick break.
(14:20):
When we come back, we're gonna talk to Chris about
stuff that fans don't see. It really matters on the court.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Welcome back to game recognized game with STUEI and Miles
and we're joined by elite basketball skills trainer Chris Brickley.
No more libs, Time for the real, hard hitting questions.
M Okay, all right, don't be scared the people that
just see the Instagram videos like what's the hardest skill
to actually teach players?
Speaker 1 (15:02):
Yeah? The Instagram videos that that alone is just so stressful.
Like people, Yo, you work out ninety minutes, right? Ten
workouts ninety minutes. That's I'm not a mathematician, but it's
a lot of minutes. I might post sixty seconds and
(15:24):
you have all the internet judging like that's his workout,
that's in it. I'm like, I just showed you sixty
seconds of twelve hours, and so you know, early on,
as I was like this building an audience, it would
like I would, it would weigh on me. And then
I realized it doesn't matter. As long as me and
(15:45):
the player on the same page and the player is improving,
that's all that matters. But it definitely I went through
phases where I didn't see it that way, But you mature,
and I'm sure with you guys, the same thing with
Instagram comment whatever it is, right, you go through phases.
Have you guys gone through phases with that? If you
(16:06):
read Instagram comments? How do you feel about that?
Speaker 2 (16:10):
Man? I mean, I'm not exactly sure how it goes
In the WNBA side. I mean, I've seen things that
are just honestly, just like distasteful, unspeakable, but just on
the men's side.
Speaker 1 (16:21):
Bro.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
When I first got to the league, like I used to, bro,
stay up, search my name after every game, see what
people were saying. Like I cared so much, Bro. And
then like as I got older and mourns my career,
I realized that outside validation, it didn't mean shit. You know,
it didn't really matter. You know, at the end of
the day one, I'm the biggest critic of my game too,
Like ninety seven point shit, we'll say nine nine point
(16:42):
nine percent of people are in the comments. Couldn't last
thirty seconds in our job, bro, in our industry and
what we do. So you just learn to take the
sting out of the words that they say. But yeah, man,
there was definitely a time here where you know, it
was tough. You know, it's crazy nowadays we have this
prop betting and all this extra stuff like that makes
it worse. Yeah, Bro, it gets bad. Bro. People started
(17:04):
coming after your family death.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
They're broke, you know, they're like they can't pay their
bill the whole you know, it's a it's a it's
a rough thing.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
It's a disease. Bro, It's a disease. But I mean,
you know, you take it for what it is, you know, again,
like you know, these are people that just again just
to live in a kind of a fantasy land on
sea US as they see its props. Like you said,
like it's not betting for a reason, feel me. So
I mean, yeah, you just take it on the chin,
you know, do what you do with it. But I know, Stuart,
I know you can speak to it, like, you know,
especially the way you're you're game wheels.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Yeah, I mean literally the same. I think that it's
gotten even worse with the betting. And it was like
Game one of the Finals in twenty twenty four and
I made the free throw go to overtime, but I
missed the pre throwt to win the game, and like
after that it was just like so many death threats.
But it's like not for me, it's fine, but when
you involve my kids or my family, then I have
(17:55):
a problem. You know. And we live in New York City,
so I don't really read the comments. But it's like
when it gets to a level like that, you're like, Okay,
now I need to be like even more cautious about things.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
When it goes beyond your career, you're right when you
start involving family members or loved ones, that's when, like
you know, like you know, for me, like my man
at the end of the day, like you know you're
coming at my pride, like you know you're coming at
you know what I stand for, so you know it
differentiates from there. But when it comes to my craft,
it's like you can't, you can't do what the fuck
I do? So I don't want to hear it, right,
(18:29):
all right, I gotta go with like, what's a what's
a skill that like no one actually wants to work
on but matters the most in games?
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Just in your opinion, that's a that's a really good question.
I feel like that. I mean, I guess it all
depends on the player, right. I feel like there's a
lot of young younger players like and I don't even
want to sound like, but I feel like young younger
(18:57):
players nowadays they don't they don't want to watch film
as much as I feel like they should. And I
feel like watching film so like you guys would be
out there playing guys and girls out there playing and
feels a certain type of way, and then you watch
the film you're like, damn, I thought it felt different,
(19:19):
like everyone.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Was way worse. I thought it was way worse.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
And so film is so important, and with the whole
Instagram hype and the highlights and this and that, player
players don't want to really watch film, and I think, yeah,
I think that's hurting the game. And I think that whole,
like the whole European thing, like forty of the league
is now and I feel like they done the AU
games and it's just we need to we need to
(19:46):
kind of shift that.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
Man. I let's expand on that a little bit more
because I enjoy that that topic right there, Like you know, yeah,
the league is shifting overseas and the more European players
and you know, because they one, they're playing the same
team since they're like twelve thirteen years old and all
come up together. They work on their practical skills, they
study the actual game, whereas now in america's more highlight culture.
(20:10):
And you know, now you got nil involved and like
you know with high school guys and ages in middle
school and bro like it's it's it's more of a
business you know, here than it ever has been. And
it's affecting the way Americans are, you know, coming into
this league now. So I'm curious your opinion, like you
know all that for sure.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
I mean, it's it's really it's a scary thing to
think about. You know, the majority of these kids in
college that's going to be the most money they make
in their lives. And so like just think, you go
to college, make one point five million dollars, so you
don't make the league, how are you going to take
a job making fifty five thousand dollars and like take
(20:48):
it serious? Yeah, it's like, wow, the harsh it's putting them.
It's almost like not fair to the kids and like
in the big scheme of things, but also it should
get paid. So it's like a weird It's just like
a very interesting thing. What do you think about?
Speaker 3 (21:11):
What about? What about I mean honestly, this isn't like
anything that we had ready, but but I thought about it.
What about like the ones that they go pro right
and now they can go back into school, Like this
guy was just in the n b A. He was
drafted and now he's like back at Baylor, No.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
Sure for sure. And then and then also the whole
you you go to four schools and then when you're done,
what school do you identify with?
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Like, yeah, I like it that.
Speaker 3 (21:44):
They got the they got the little pendance of all
the two of the school.
Speaker 2 (21:51):
Did it? Did it? That just happened? Texas? Texas got
like a she's like seven four or seven that I saw? Yeah, players,
it's wild, bro, because like seven feet tall, seven foot tall,
Borugh on the women's game, like what are we in college?
Like what are we talking about?
Speaker 1 (22:09):
Then she moved well.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
And I personally haven't seen her play.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I also haven't seen I've only saw that she was
like seven to one.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
But going against eighteen year olds, man, guys, people like
that are just I don't know, man. But I think
the Baylor the kid at Baylor is very interesting because
allegedly he played in summer league. Right, he never quote
unquote played a pro game, but he played professionally overseas
and signed a professional contract. And to me, yes, that
does voyas your amateur status. But there are Yeah, that's
(22:42):
what I believe it should be. But you get so
many lines crossing the nil because it's such an unregulated
thing and it was so rushed, and these teams, just
like anybody, are finding the gray here find a loophole.
So one, if you got the money, you know, you
got the evaluation, you can pay to play. And then
two you gotta really get how you live. Now. There
really is no no going back from here in my opinion,
(23:05):
even if you try to regulate it. Now, it's like,
well ship Will Baylor's doing this, why can't we do it?
Speaker 1 (23:08):
You know right, it's gonna turn ugly. It's definitely yeah,
bad for the kids. And you know hard is to
be like a high school player because all the big
schools transfer portal. I could get a twenty five year
old instead of bad seventeen year old. So it's making
it really hard for high school players to.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Oh yeah yeah if you're not a.
Speaker 3 (23:32):
High school players. And the coaches, the mid major coaches,
I think it's like really tough. Yeah all right, all right,
let's uh, let's let's get back on track to your situation.
Who's the hardest worker that you've ever trained?
Speaker 1 (23:49):
Man? Besides me?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
But like, no shade to anybody, Like I don't know
who's the one where you're like, oh my god, he's
always he or she is always in the gym, Like
what what?
Speaker 1 (24:00):
Yeah, it's like it's it's so it's like not fair, right,
because there's so many players that like they sacrifice their
life towards it, and so for me to like say
one person, it's like I feel like I'd be doing
like eight guys wrong because I've been in the past.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
I know, I feel like that was a hard question.
Speaker 1 (24:21):
I I've gotten. Like, you know, I used to be like, oh, Lebron,
why did I say Lebron? Because we did a nine
o'clock workout He's showing up at six or seven am
every time, and I thought that was just like different.
But then like a few players sit me up and
they're like, yeah, he's doing that. But like I get
(24:42):
there thirty minutes and then I stayed two hours, so
it's like, you can't you can't.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
That.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Yeah, I learned there's a bunch of guys and girls.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
Okay, I was trying to set you up.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
I was just wondering, Yeah, that's fair.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Just yeah, on that topic too. Man, I think the
Black Ops Runs. Man, that was unbelievable. You know, still is,
but it was unbelievable when it first hit the scene.
You know what I'm saying. I feel like people were
really drawn to it. You know, you had all sorts
of people trying to get them gyms man like one like,
how did that come about?
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (25:15):
And then the second part that is like, what's like
the most what's the best like pickup game you've seen,
you know, within your black up run.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Yeah. So it came about when I was with the
Next Mellow used to do like these Mellow weekends and
where we're hanging out and he's like, when we get
back to New York, I want you to put the
best pickup game you can. I want to play pick up.
So I put together a little run with Katie Kimball Walker.
(25:42):
I thought I was like a cool thing. When I
was doing I was on the staff with the Next
Boom did the run. Go back to the office next
day and James Dolan. They're like get me with James
doing the owner and I'm like, oh no, you're in trouble.
I'm like, damn walk in the office. I'm making my
forty thousand a year. He's like, you know, you just
got us find fifty thousan's more than your contract. I'm
(26:05):
like I'm sorry, and he's like, you know what, But
I'm not that mad. He's like, because I like you
bringing players to New York. He's like, just don't do
it again. So like that was like the beginning of it. Okay,
that was I learned. I learned my lesson. That wasn't
why I left the next after, but I but you know,
I did want to start my own thing. That's been
(26:26):
some legendary ones though, you know, Katie versus on three
weeks after they just got done playing in game six
or something like that. There's been ones where it's been
you know, like see like nine All Stars and then
like my favorite ones are even like this past summer
when you have like the top junior in the country
(26:48):
small forward playing against like Jalen Brown, and it's like
it's like a dream come true for that for that player,
but then he's learning so much like within within the game.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
Yeah, really cool.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
It's really dope. And and I wanted we gotta get
someone some runs.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
I know, we gotta do it.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
We gotta do some We had a we ha do
some w NBA runs. Yeah, for sure, what's up when
we're gonna do that? It's tough with DOUN rival, right.
Speaker 3 (27:20):
Honestly, let's do it. Let's do it. In March.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Was done.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
W season isn't starting well, we don't know when that's starting,
but like it's definitely not starting in March. So if
anybody wants to come to New York in March and
get some runs in, come listen to this and come there.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
You go.
Speaker 1 (27:45):
Now year in New York. I know you said here,
here and there, but if you ever are.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Do we should just get a collapse workout. We should
just work out all three of us together.
Speaker 2 (27:58):
I'm actually down for that. That sounds dope.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
That'd be cool in New York.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
So whenever you get that, yeah.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
You know eventually, No, I like it down south man,
but I hear you, I hear you.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:11):
Okay, so I asked the hardest worker, but like, what
about the most skilled player?
Speaker 1 (28:17):
So that's yeah, yeah, I can see No you're not.
You're right skilled player. If we're just talking skilled, I
gotta go with Kevin Durant, Like, you know, he's like
he doesn't want to say, but he's seven feet.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
And he.
Speaker 1 (28:39):
Has handled he you know, ridiculous footwork, the way he
can make shots, uh, at the pace he plays with
the way he can put out the asies mid post's finishing,
like he really does that many any holes in his
game and he's like urgent every summer to like, so
I have a funny I haven't told this story, but
(29:03):
also this past summer, So if you were to come
work with me, Miles, I would. I I'm blessed to
have a team of like internstead of like really good
analytically right, And I know I'm not huge on it.
Analytics don't tell everything, right, but you can see some
things out of it. And so Katie, last season, not
(29:24):
this season. Last season, his what was it is? I
think it was his left shoulder turns left or right.
He was like one for nineteen in the season, and
so I mentioned it to him. So we get into
the workout and has to be left. Yeah, left. So
we into the workout and every time he he wants
(29:45):
to do some live every time he does it and
he hits it, he like stares me down, like I
almost like he's mad that I told him that. But
it was funny competitor that he is, like he wont
to really prove a point that, Like, so I thought
that was like that in the year Nights, it's Hall
of Famery. It's still still cures, like you know, and
(30:06):
that's part of why he is who he is.
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Yea kudos zero for bringing that out of him, man,
because I mean, that's just that's real. Man. You said,
he's he's done everything in the game, but one of
the most decorated players, and it's like you still got
stuff to work on. And that kind of leaves him
to the next question, like, what's what's the biggest key
like to developing trust with players? You know, especially these
you know, these elite guys that you work with and
the resume that you have.
Speaker 1 (30:28):
You gotta be honest. You gotta be honest. And there's
been times where it's been like I'll never forget when
early on, like with working on Lebron, he was like,
all right, tomorrow morning, I wanted to come and I
want you to tell me everything that you think I
need to work on, specifically two things that will work
on them. And in my mind, I'm like, so that
(30:49):
whole night I didn't sleep. I'm like, damn, my god,
what am I going to say? So I like broke
down his game and like I found two things and
I was I was so nervous, and I just said them.
I'm like, I think we I think you need to
work on these two things. Like I think that you know,
you weren't efficient doing these two things, and he he
(31:11):
respected it. And so I think just being honest like
me and mellow the reason why I was an intern
rebounding and he missed the game winning shot third game
of this season, and everyone's like no, no, no one's
allowed to talk to him at when in these situations.
So everyone left. I went, I went into he's getting
(31:35):
like ice and I'm like a good shot, b I
was just talking the game, I was being and he
like respected that someone was talking to him, someone was
giving him, you know, advice or something, and they weren't
scared of him. And I feel like that goes a
long way. I feel like, you know, I'm sure you
(31:56):
know what I'm talking about, Miles, is that certain coaches
that they they it's almost like they don't want to
they get I don't know afraid or they don't they
don't you know what I'm saying about, So holding holding
players accountmals everything.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
Yeah, that's real chipping that ego, man is reel. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
Give it to a straight all right, So what do
I need to mop up? What do I need to
work on? Give it to me straight right now. I
mean we've talked about this, so I know what you're
gonna say, but just so everyone else.
Speaker 1 (32:30):
I think actually it's pretty simple. I think it's like
we talked about you, there's nothing you can't do. And
I feel like, well through the wear and tear over
the years, it does something to some to people's mental
and I feel like it maybe like second yes, some
(32:52):
things that for eight years in eight or so, and
then you know a few injuries later, like you know,
you start like aiming in a little bit, and and
we've talked about this, and even when we're in Spain,
like first day and then the rest of the days,
(33:13):
it was like you that was no aiming. You were back.
So I just like think that anything that just like
trust and how good you are and you know, and
I know it can be tough like with this the journey,
but uh yeah, I'm here to tell you you still
are her.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
M appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (33:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (33:35):
I mean sometimes it's like the mental just it weighs
on you a little bit, especially after you've been going
through a you know, a rougher drought or you haven't
been playing as well as you want to. But and
that's one thing like I really appreciate from you, Chris,
is just like the way that you're constantly like you're good,
you got this, and like if anything was wavering, you
(33:56):
like really brought me back to where I needed to be.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
So I appreciate it for sure. You know, it's funny.
We never talked about this. I felt. I was like,
I've never done this before. Do you remember this past
season were a little shooting something and I did a
video and I was like, like a voiceover video, and I, yes,
I've never done it before. I felt so like weird.
I'm like, over, Yeah, it was funny, but yeah, yeah whatever,
(34:23):
it takes a few miles. Have you ever been in
any shooting slumps, any mental slumps? Like what's your experience
with that?
Speaker 2 (34:33):
Yeah? Absolutely, like one first foremost. But I just I
love Y'a's relationship bro, Like I said, just just from Afar.
That's dope, man. I mean I feel like you need
someone in your corner bro constantly. That shit is so important,
you know, as well as much as we go through
this league. But uh, to y'all's point or to your point, Chris, yeah,
I've definitely been shooting slump so damn near one right now.
You know what I'm saying you just gotta just uh
(34:54):
pull yourself out of it. Exactly. Come on, come on, talk.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
Is there anything that you do different? Do you train
and do things to say like how do you how
do you handle it? How have you handled it? You've
had a great career.
Speaker 2 (35:05):
Yeah, so I appreciate that. Some of the best advice
I've gotten this. No, man, when when ship is going
like ass backwards, that's when people panic. That's when they
feel like they have to change certain things. They have
to change their approach, they have to move this finger
over here, this way, change their relase. Like, no, bro,
you stick to what got you here. You know what
I mean. I've been a shooter. I'm one of the
best shooting bigs in this league, doing it for quite
some time. Bro. So it's like you got to remember.
(35:26):
You got to remember that ship. And it's exactly what
Chris is talking about. Bro. But yeah, the poor yourself
out of it. I mean, you know you can continue
to you can put your extra hours in the gym,
you can watch all the film you want. This ship
is all mental, bro. Oh my god, Bro, Like it's
so mental, Like there are times where like you know,
like you know, you fuck up and then it's like
in my head, it's like, man, I'm about to hit
(35:47):
this next so I'm about to get hot, like I'm
about hit the next three, and then all of a sudden,
it just fucking happens, you know. And then there's sometimes
that it doesn't happen, But you still got to fucking
be delusional and like believe that it's going to happen. Bro,
you got to, you know, I.
Speaker 1 (35:59):
Feel like, yeah, best players are have a delusional sense
with them and also to humanize what you guys are
talking about the best scores to ever play the game
in our generation. I've gotten texts from mid season being
like I've lost it, like none I can't make and
(36:21):
I'm just taking on my mind like and I'll hit
them with Stewie like stop like like but but it's
everyone is human. It's just a human and I think
fans forget that. I think a lot of people forget that.
You guys are human. Uh, the superstars, like the biggest, biggest,
(36:42):
best players are human. And yeah, it's just uh.
Speaker 3 (36:46):
Because because it's like when you're consistently great and then
all of a sudden you're like not, It's like everyone's like, well.
Speaker 1 (36:52):
What happened for sure.
Speaker 2 (36:53):
Yeah, but you need those human moments like just to
kind of remind you, Like, you know, you could be
riding high and all of a sudden you do on
that like two weeks slump or whatever, and then like
it just reminds that oh shit, like you know, like, yeah,
I know I'm him, But at the same time, shit,
you still gotta can't take the ship for granted, you know,
And I think it's good to fuck up on like
the biggest levels man, Like you just experience it, experience
(37:15):
the highest and high, experience lows and lows, but you
got to be able to experience the loads to appreciate
them highs that are coming and vice versa.
Speaker 1 (37:23):
Like you know, it's real, that's life for sure. You
if you just live on a high, I feel like
you're not a that's not life. But you're not learning, No,
for sure. I'm so big on that you're not getting
too high, not getting too low in the journey and
then learning on the loads for sure.
Speaker 2 (37:42):
Yeah. So I'm curious. It's Chris from AFAR, Like, you know,
if you were to work with me, like in the
coming off season or whatnot. I know you said you
have your team. You know analytics and you know guys
that can put stuff together just from the naked eye,
just from you know, the stuff you watch me do.
Like what's one of the biggest things, Like you want
me to focus on?
Speaker 1 (37:58):
Man, I mean, like you said, and I feel like
you're one of the best big man shooting. There's like
a list as like a maybe you can say it
on like one hand of guys that like have the
touch that you have from deep and and so my
big thing is I think I brought up to Stewie
(38:19):
before is okay. So one of my pet peeves is
when someone asks someone a basketball question and they answer
it but they don't truly know. So I can't tell
you because I want to give me three hours and
then I'll be so answer bro, I uh. And it
(38:39):
happens in like NBA scout. I'm not saying your team,
but go for it. He has scouts right that they
talk to each other, bullshit each other and they don't
know and they're just giving each other answer and that
it's like mind boggling. So I'm big on like I
don't want to know before I before I speak on it.
Speaker 2 (39:02):
Okay, Yeah, no, No, that's real, that's real.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
He's literally We're gonna text me this like in the
middle of the night and be like, send this to myles.
I know it's kinding.
Speaker 2 (39:11):
I know it's.
Speaker 3 (39:15):
Okay. Time for one more break. Next up, we go
off the court and we're gonna get personal. Welcome back
(39:37):
to game recognized game with Stuie and Miles. Let's get
a little personal today with our guest Chris Brickley.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
Dun, Dun, Dun.
Speaker 3 (39:47):
You want me to ask the first question?
Speaker 2 (39:49):
Yeah, go for it.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
Yeah, Okay, Honestly, this is a question that I've been wondering.
I've known you for a long time. You have a
ton of tattoos, but like, what's which tattoo is like
most special? And also why do you have so many?
Speaker 1 (40:02):
Okay, So I don't know why I have so many,
but I think it got to a point where I
was able to like express, like just I can look
on my body and remember certain moments in my life,
whether it's good or it's bad. So like my Okay,
(40:23):
so my left arm is all positive moments, my right
arms all like negative things that I've gone through. My
legs are all inspirations, and so I feel like it's
just I look at my body sometimes and I'm like,
I remember the rough times I've been through, the people
have lost, and it motivates me. And then I'll look
(40:47):
over here and I remember some of the dope things
that that's happened in my life. And then I'll look
at my legs and be like, I got a long
way to go because I have a lot of legends
on my legs. So it's kind of like mental things.
I really don't do it for other people. I know
it sounds so crazy, and I know so many people
would be what do you talk? But the truth is right.
(41:08):
I was with the Knicks, and I was in Vegas
with the Knicks. I didn't want to shoot my tattoos
Vegas heat. I'm wearing a coach's polo with short with
tights and long sweating. The staff's like are you okay?
And I'm changing one day in the locker room and
Phil Jackson's like, come on, man, just be yourself and
(41:32):
I'm like, that's what do you mean? Don't tell reper tattoos.
And at the first day walking into that practice, people
looked at me like I was not a human because
they were what, yeah, you know, yeah, yeah, so that
that I can't answer why, but it definitely plays a
(41:56):
big part in they're like your story, it's your story
for sure.
Speaker 2 (42:01):
Yeah, that's fine, bro, that's fine. I like the fact
that you have meaning behind your tattoos. I feel like
there are people who get tattoos just for other people
or for the showiness of it all that they'll regret
that shit like ten fifteen years later. But you know,
you know, you're carrying your story with you. You're allowing
your creative expression just to be be literally on your sleeve.
That's dope for sure, for sure.
Speaker 1 (42:23):
And I guess to answer your question, one is the
most important. I was able to retire my father someone
to a picture at that moment, and I got that
picture on my leg. That means a lot. And then
I feel like the last few years my life has
really changed and I have like a lot of like
like legends that lost their way and are tattooed on me.
(42:48):
And it's for a reason. It's like it's so easy.
I know both. It's so easy when you start making
a little bit of money and you have yes men
to lose your way. And there's been times I'm almost lost,
but I'll look down and be like like I don't
want to be Amy Winehouse. I don't want to be
you know. And it's like it's like a mental thing,
(43:10):
and it's really played a big part in my mental.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
Well that's important, all right, man. So like you know,
when you're not hooping and you're not traveling, I feel like, again,
you're always in other people's time. Just what your profession
calls for, Like what like how do you get back
to your mental Like what do you like to do
off the court? Like what do you what do you
do for yourself?
Speaker 1 (43:30):
Man? Going on drives by myself at night, that's like
my thing. I lot's like my peace, Like going to
drive into the city the places that used to live with,
like when I was like super broke and just driving
in those neighborhoods, parking the car, walking around and like
getting myself back there. Like I'm big on that. And
(43:53):
then I'm also big on like if I feel like
I'm like starting to get an ego, I like do
this weird thing where like I like, okay, like starve myself,
like keep my like I won't get out of bed,
like I put myself in these situations that I was
in when I had no choice in like, yeah, it
(44:15):
might sound like a crazy person, but yeah, I put
myself back in those situations.
Speaker 2 (44:22):
You don't sound crazy at all, bro. I just everybody
has their thing. Bro. It just whatever it takes to
get you to that state, like it's you were in
Surviva Mo. You know, let's just called keeping a stack
of stack and then if you've got to get yourself
back to that state to remind yourself, and that's I
think that's that's sick.
Speaker 3 (44:38):
And honestly, like everybody that I know or everybody that's
like met you through me, they're like, oh my god,
Like Chris is Chris is so humble, Like I never
knew he was like this. I only saw the videos
and all this, and and so you're definitely like extremely
grounded for for all the success that you've had, especially
in some plate So I feel like you never forget
(44:59):
where you came from. Unless Miles has another question I have.
This is the last one. Obviously we're both Puma, so
I definitely want to give a shout out to that.
But I want you to talk about your signature shoe.
Only trainer with a signature shoe, like talk about it
(45:19):
a little bit talk and shit.
Speaker 1 (45:22):
It's it's just amazing. It's truly amazing just to be
able to motivate people. Uh, you know, not everyone can
make it to the NBA and just motivate trainers and
motivate coaches. You know, it means the world there's nothing,
there's nothing. There's never a time that I would like
(45:42):
not talk for three minutes to someone that comes up
to me that you know, wants to be a trainer.
And I think it's just really cool. I never thought
in a million years if you go six years back
and someone's like this is going to be your life,
I'd be like I have more likely everything day, Like wow,
(46:03):
So it's just pretty incredible. Like I'm thankful.
Speaker 2 (46:07):
I'm thankful man, Anscars, I got a lot of insight.
Like I said, I just again, I've only known you
from Afar, and you just speak to Stuie's point, man,
you are very humble in what you do and being
ground in this industry in his life is very important. Man.
So I just we appreciate you, and I know the
fans will appreciate this. I mean, if you give one
last piece of advice to you know, someone who is
(46:29):
just trying to come up, you know, whether it's a
young player, young trainer, like you know, what would what
would that be?
Speaker 1 (46:35):
I think just treat every day like it's a one
day contract. I think like, okay, think all of us
take something like when you go to sleep at night,
whatever you do, would you if you were like your boss,
your GM, your whatever brand, what would you resign you?
Would you give yourself a mad I can? I try to,
(46:58):
like go to sleep at night and ask myself. And
that's days where I'm like, man, I wouldn't reck. I
wouldn't resign myself after today, and I try to limit
those days. But like I try to live my life
like that where like I would resign myself.
Speaker 2 (47:12):
So I like that a lot. Yeah that's fine man,
cool man. Well all right, y'all, thanks for checking us out.
You can be part of the show. Send your questions
or our social channels, leave comments on the YouTube videos,
and please please please subscribe to the game recognized game Man.
See y'all next time.
Speaker 1 (47:32):
Thank you so much, Chris, Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (47:35):
That was great. That was incredible.
Speaker 2 (47:37):
Thanks
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