Chris Brickley | Ep 105 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME Basketball

Published Sep 23, 2021, 8:44 PM

NBA trainer and skills coach Chris Brickley is in the house as ALL THE SMOKE episode 105 brings the 🔥. Brickley opens up to Matt and Stak about his basketball journey and shares stories about some of his most legendary runs. 

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Welcome to All the Smoke, a production of The Black Effect and our Heart Radio and partnership with Showtime. Welcome back to another edition All the Smoke coming to you from New York. Jack, what's up? I like your tain bro brother, Appreciate, appreciate it. It is. We got a special guest here today, man, someone that I meeting for the first time in person today. But I just admired his work, ethic, his grind, his hustle. Welcome Chris Brickly. I appreciate you. Appreciate offseason time. This is your time to shine right now. What has you most excited about going into the next season for the gods you train? First off, it's not my time to shine, you know. It's I'm big on that. It's it's it's the player's time to get better. I'm big on It's not about me. It's about the guys. UH got like four or five core guys that come in throughout the whole summer and you know, we kind of figure out different aspects of the game to get better. And then you guys, since being in New York, guys are being in out the whole summer. I've built, like you know, with the Black Ops. Anytime someone comes in the city, they'll get a little workout in, and that's that's different than like the core guy workouts. Those are like, you know, just getting shots and going about that. So it's kind of two different things that I'm working on right now. So when you have your core core guys, I saw you watching film the other day on your I g like, what kind of stuff do you do? And then how much you know he tells you what he like, because I remember one time, you know, I think Kobe was talking to somebody and he says something like, I can't tell you what you need to work on your Like you need to know what you need to improve on how much of that is you study and then also collaboring with your work. So actually, Kobe on your Guys show, so I was saying, how he's he's big on the player needs to communicate with the trainer what he thinks needs to work on, and you know it's the trainer's job to figure that out. You know, I think it's it's two ways. You know, you have a guy like Kobe Bryant who he's so self aware of himself, but you have like a nineteen two year old rookie. They don't always know exactly what they need to work on. They might want to just score twenty points a game instead of understanding their role. And you know, so then that's kind of when I put my input in. But you know, when I'm working with like a James or even like a C. J or Mellow, you know, it's kind of collective and they tell me, you know, I want to work on this, I want to work on that, and it's my job to go through the film and kind of figure it out. What is black ops basketball? So black Ops is song that me and Mellow started. So I was actually got me and a lot of trouble when I started. So I was, I was, I was working with the Knicks at the time, and uh so I'll tell the story. I was working with the Knicks at the time. We're in Puerto Rico. Mellows like, yo, when we get back to New York, put together this run. I'm like, all right, put together this run. It was like Katie, it was a bunch of non Nick players, and the media heard about it. And if you're coaching for an NBA team, you can't be having other players and you can't be conducting a workout with other players. So that was the start of Black Ops. And then you know, me and Mellow we have a U team. We we do the Black Ops runs and kind of all the training is under Black Ops. That's kind of what we call so the name some of for those who aren't familiar, um name you know some of your top guys that you've trained consistently or worked with over the years. Yes, and you know Mellow has been one. J R. Kind of give me my start. That's my guy, man, I owe him everything. Uh you know c J. McCollum. I work with Donovan from like eighth grade un till till right now. So just watching that whole progression. Cole Anthony since a little kid. Uh, you know, I've I've worked with Kauai for a few off seasons. That worked with Dwell and Bead for a few off seasons. I've worked with Katie for a few off seasons. James the last three off seasons. It's been in a dope experience. Who where have you looked up to? We had a chance to have Phil Handy on a couple of shows ago. Who have you looked up to in this space? Who are some of the people you kind of have helped create your package. I played at Louisville so Rick Pettino, and then when I was at the next Phil Jackson when he got the job, he literally fired the entire staff and kept me. I was like, oh ship that like the day that that happened. I'm like, I'm being fired, Like coach goes in would he he's fired, assistant fired, and I'm the last one in the list. I'm like, call my dad. I'm like, just say, you know, I'm about to get fired right now. I need to figure something out going there. And uh it feels like I'm just gonna ask you three questions. So I'm just like, he's not paying attention to this. Asked me three questions. I answered him right. So he said, is Steve Nashal athlete? Why or why not? I said, yeah, he is? He said why? I said, well, for starters, he has that you know that three minute he has the record in that and I was like, he's really good at changing speeds. I was like, being an athlete doesn't mean you need to just be explosive. There's different types of being an athletes. So he's like, Okay, give me all the characteristics of a jumper, like all the type of jumping. So so I'm like, you could be a quick jumper, you could be like a high flyer. You'd have a quick second jump. You know. That was one of the questions he said, when you should have jump shot? Should you go one, two and two it? He should you hop into it? I said, it doesn't really matter. It's like there's great shoes that do both. And he's like all right. He's like, meet me tomorrow. You're gonna run the pre draft and I'm like, oh ship, and uh be a long story short. The next morning, he tried to teach me the triangle in fifteen minutes. I go into the pre draft workout. It was a disaster. He's sitting there side. No. No, I'm like, bro, you just taught me this the whole triangle in fifteen minutes. I'm trying to run this workout. So Phil and Rippettino, they've kind of been my mentors through this, and uh, I looked to them for because Field could be intimidating man walk into that office, that dark office sometimes. But yeah, I got to the point with you know, I comfortable with them. But in the beginning, it was it was rough. So again, like I said, how I found you in and started watching it and kind of, you know, I don't really know you, but every time you accomplish something, I see you getting these partnerships and deals. I'm like, crack congrass dopes. Let's talk about what is it like. I mean, you have a Puma partnership, you have a Hennessy partner partnership. Wilson, who's going to be the new ball the NBA next year, you have a partnership with them. I'm sure the list goes on. That's all we can find, but talk to us about what it's been like to be like, you know, like you're a workout guy that has kind of taking it to another level. You got an album, right, So yeah, with the partnerships, that was never the goal. The goal is always, you know. I was with the Knicks, I was like, okay, I've met so many players, do mellow. I think I can leave the Knicks and start a business. My whole family was so mad when I did that. They're like, You're gonna have no health insurance. How are you gonna get paid? And uh So I left the Knicks and I struggled for a little bit but I grinded. I was never always like in my mind and I was like something's gonna work. Like I was never big on like hitting the players over the head with like these big bills. I've never been that guy. And so you know, I just worked. I grinded, and Puma came to me, and you know, I became the first sneak trainer to get a sneaker deal, a real one, and then like NBA two K had me as like the first trainer in the game and it's not a body arm. And then they just started kind of compounding and it's been a blessing. Like I said, it hasn't always been the goal. But if I can make money through these big cornership you know, big businesses as opposed to being like mellow, I get this money from them that have to take it from the players exactly. So it's it's a big blessing and I'm kind of starting a blueprint for like, you know, you can't make the NBA, maybe you can look at me and say I could do it like that. Well I think that that's a great point too, because it was similar to Lebron and his team situations, Like he had a team and all of them played basketball, but all of them weren't going to the league. So what what is your niche? You could still be a part of the game by finding your niche in it, and you're creating another life for guys that have a passion and the love for working people out, taking it to another level. Not so talk about the album Man album. So that so how the album came came across is so over the years. You know, as you guys know, a lot of these NBA guys are friends with the rappers, and so we work out a lot of rappers. But it's it's not so, it's not like that. It's like, this is how it works. I'm working out James me came to watch the workout's done, Meek will shoot like ten shots, someone will recorded and it's a workout. It's not real, right, So like I get all this hate on social media like, oh, you're just working out rappers. It's like no, if you actually knew the story, I did a real workout or one of the rappers came to the Black Ops run Quavo was like, Yo, let's shoot around and then it's a workout. So it's not really workouts. The only time I've ever so one winter, Travis Scott uh was like, can you come on tour with me? Teach manage to the jump shots? So I was like, actually, this canna be dope. I'll go to all the NBA cities, be able to see my players and then be part of you do get to be with Travis. So that was like the only like time I've ever like really, I guess you could technically say I was like working out at a rapper, but um so yeah. So the album, you know, um big with the workouts, every workout I do. I asked to play without me. You want to play, they give me an album, will play it. So I was sticking over covid. I'm sitting there courting COVID board and I'm like, you know what I have. I know all these rappers. I'm just gonna start album. So I reached out to me and Travis, little Baby and Dirk and b Burn, uh, Chris Brown and it's gonna be a banger, and UH reach out to all of them, and we're working on it. Me and my manager are working on just getting the clearances. That music industry is no joke. Because they look at me, They're like you're a basketball trainer. So these guys in these white ties, like, so I have all the songs. I'm just waiting on the clearances. But it'll be dope, some DJ Kalett type ship. Just putting an all star team together. Yeah, I had social media helped you build a business brand in a career. It's helped me, you know. But but at the same time, por to social media. Prior to me being on social media grinding, I played, uh straight out of college. I was a graduate assistant that will miss, making like seven thousand dollars for the year, Um, living in the locker room. Didn't even live in a crib. You know, I didn't. I didn't grow up with money. Um. Then I took an assistant job after you did that for like two years, and then j R. Kind of changed my life by so the year he was six Man of the Year, I was coaching a fairly Dickinson. Every night we go in the gym, start working. He had a great year. So he went to management, Like, you know, he really helped me out last year. So I got an interview with him and I got got the job. I was a director of player development for four years. Cholott switch, like I said, I'll do anything for him, and uh, you know I got my got my feet wet in the NBA, you know, grinded that out and then once I left the next I was kind of when I started using social media, and uh, it's been good, you know it Also people get this, mister, like when I posted these workout clips, that's like ten seconds of the workout. You know, I'm not gonna post the player like going super tired, missing shots, and I hate when you read the comments like why don't you post mrs? Why don't you It's like, wow, would I post mrs? It wants to watch it, like you know, it's but it's definitely helped, definitely helped it. It's it's a gift in a curse at the same time, because you know, you signed these deals and you have to announce them and then your family thinks that you're like this ultra rich like you know, it's like it's good and it's bad, but um, there's more positives with it. So it's been a blessing. Talk about your upbringing in New Hampshire. I grew up Basketball is my life. Like for example, in nineties six, I was ten years old, and I watched the mcdohn's American game. I'm never forgetting uh yeah, twenty one points. You know, so I'm basketball not but if you really look at it. Crazy thing was is so after I watched that Kobe and I was like, oh I watched I I watched that game. I go, you were the high scorer you sco for that game. But thank you, Matt. You know it' always gives me love. But m yeah, what was the question. Uh, you're you're upbringing the New Hampshire. Yeah, New Hampshire. Man, New Hampshire. There's not much in the Hampshire. People go skiing, people are this woods. There's really nothing going on. So I just my entire life was basketball, and you know, got got a Division one scholarship and I kind of got me out of New Hampshire and I haven't been back since. When did you find a game of basketball? What age? Uh? Ten? A ten? I started taking it serious when I was like doing dribbling Joel's every day. Someone told me to take a jump ropen to a thousand jump rops a day. So by the time I was like a junior, I was top one hundred in the country. Uh, you know, my game felt really good. Um, and yeah, I'm literally my whole I was. I was that guy that like I was like, no, I'm not having a girlfriend. Now I'm not drinking. I'm out Like it was just basketball and uh yeah, those are the days. Watching your McDonald's game got a motivated jack some killers who you know coming up? Who were some of the teams and players you watched it? Admired Allen Iverson for sure, just I feel like, you know, on the court. And he started so many trends off the court. He's a real legend. Like people have tattoos because of him, but people with arms because of him, and people dressed. Yeah, he started so many trends. I loved him. Jay Will I was like, you know, the white one, Jason, I was like, my guy. I honestly didn't think he was talking about the other j Yeah, I was the other Jake. Will was nicest, fun bro. I don't see how you don't understand that it was. You may not like the character. He had games Lady against him in college killer. How did he play in the league? He got the motorcycle accident? How long did you play? He was good? But we say, Jay Will, you do not think Jay Will from Duke. I'm sorry if you think about white chocolate lot there. Okay, yeah, and you you know who actually someone I would love this B D. Baron Davis was like, I just loved his game. Um, you guys play with him? Do you know him? Yeah, I've met him a few times. He's reached out, he's the most and now he's doing you know one time it's some weird Yeah, yeah, he's he's he's doing a lot. He's a good guys. Brother, it's a good guy man. So so you briefly, um discussed kind of your but but talk to us about your path from playing to assistant coach to that kind of continuing to evolve. Said you went to Louisville, I did who what this one? Other schools were recruiting you. So coming out I had, you know, I had West Virginia offered me, Rutgers offered me, Gonzizaga offered me, Central Florida, South Florida, big schools. Yeah, it was what made Louisville just you know, think Coach Patino after bat was like, listen, if you're loyal to me, if you're loyal to me while you're here, then I'm gonna be loyal to you for the rest of my life. And I was like, I just dope because I knew, you know, I'm a realist, Like, chances are I might not make the NBA. But if you're telling me that, you and yeah, and he's made so many calls. So to answer your question, you know, he got me that graduate assistant spott at all miss He helped me become the youngest Division one assistant coach in the country. You know, he helped me once Jr. Kind of helped me with the next He made the call to Allen Houston at the time and help me get that job. So I, oh, coach p everything. How did the Knixt opportunity to help you grow? And what kind of relationship did you have? My next years were crazy. I went through so many different coaches. What years. So I was there from uh two thousand, thirteen fourteen, and I was there for four seasons. So when I first got there, when he was the coach, Grunwald was the GM. Then Grunwald left, Steve Mills came in, then they hired Derek Fisher. That was probably my worst nicky years. He didn't he didn't uh like I mean, Mellow had a relationship that was kind of weird anyways, so he left and then um, Jeff Hornessy was there. Hey, we forgot about Jeff Hornessy was there, and uh so that those are the three coaches. So when I have cool stories when I first got there, me and Mellow were there. When I left, the only two people in the organization were still Mellow. So it was a good time though, h you mentioned earlier the black the first Black Ops run got you in a little bit of hot water. When did you know, Okay, I think I'm ready to make this jump. You say you struggle a little bit once you made the jump, But what was our turning or pivotal moments, like it's time to go being an NBA development coach, especially you know with the Knicks. The Knicks is an amazing organization, but you guys, know, you guys are Hooper's like you know they're they were big on Like all right, the workout was done. I want to see every number he shot and if he shot six out of tend this day in this workout, he's not getting better and like it was like no, like you can still get better if you have like a bad shooting with Drill. You know, it was so it was like I was just yeah, you know, I get you could say that. So I just wanted to kinda do my own thing. And it wasn't even a guarantee. Literally, you know, I could have gone all the way bad and I could have ended up back in the Hampshire. But I just trusted, you know, the people I met through Mellow and that's a good decision. What was the member turning point moment? But you have to go on off on your own. I was like broke, broke, like you know, uh bad, like bad. All my credit cards and max Style kept getting evicted. It was rough times. And you know I signed with this guy back there. I signed with him, and you know I got the Puma Deale like became you know, the first person in two K signed with stock X you know sound Body Armor, Uh signed with you know, I kept getting these deals there a Body, So he's changed my life and that's so I guess that was a turn point. That's really dope. What's been like building relationships with these you know, you're working out some of the greatest players to ever play the game. What is it like developing obviously a working relationship. But then you're cool with a lot of I see you with a lot of these dudes, you know outside of the court as well. What's that experienced been life? It's been cool, you know. I've always been big on just being myself. Like, at the end of the day, if if you don't like me for who I am, and we we don't need to do the relationship. And and and that's I'm not gonna say any names, but there's been some like NBA stars that they you know, if you if you're not gonna treat me like a human being, you're not gonna. I don't need to do this, I'm not. I'm only gonna do it if it feels right, if we click. So I'm big with the relationships. You know, to me, player development. If you don't know what the players motivated by good luck can get them, so you need that relationship. Respect got to be mutual. Yeah. I have a question though, before we go to the next thing, since we're on the black ops, I mean you those are some of the most you know, your runs and then our homeboard Rico Hines runs too. Yeah, those are like the two Yeah, those are like the two main runs. Um, in the off season. Can you recall some some days that some guys just just memorable days, They just absolutely destroyed everybody on the court. The most memorable one to me was Devin Booker. They just destroyed one time. One time they had Russ for CP, they were going at it. There's been some some legendary moments in that gym. But what people don't understand, like unless you've really been around those runs and you're only getting glimpses when you see your runs, those runs are really than games, way really than games because there's not as many pussy ass foul called Like motherfucker's are really taking that ship on one on one because it's personal. It's not about I mean, obviously it's a pickup team, so it's not your team. So motherfucker's are really going. And they have to also have to understand, like guys have a role in the league. So you may think someone just does this in the game, but let them be free and they know that they could just go. It's a whole other story. And you know that the help defense isn't the greatest. So that means if you can't guard, if you can't guard, you man, yeah you're gonna be embarrassed for the whole day. And like Russell Westbrook was one guy that he gives no fox like, it doesn't matter who is in front of him. Every time he's been to a Black Ops he's gonna destroy you. He's not gonna talk to you. He's gonna be talking ship like and you know, I love I love that Russell Black Ops energy. It's uh, it's fun. It's definitely like people don't understand like j R. Smith is one of the best pickup basketball players in the history, in the history of pickup basketball. Does everything. Yeah, yeah, shoots the three, does everything. Yeah, well that's dope. And it's not a shot he can't make on the court. Fade in the way either, shoulder fade don't matter. Playing the picture for me though, a typical pack then y C Day Black Ops gym. What is looking like? Like pain said the same for us man who's watching, who's playing? You know the black Ops the games have become so that's kind of like the mini garden, Like if you go there, if you guys are to come tomorrow, you know there's gonna be you know, Faboys is gonna be there and eight book he's gonna be there and you know it's uh some actors sleeaning Gomez, it showed up like it's kind of like if you're in town the Black Ops. It's cool. It's cool that that that it's like built that it's kind of like the Garden vibe but with pickups. So you know that. But normally I'll do workout, so I'll have like three or four workouts. I do a Black Ops run and I'll do like three or four workouts after that. These days are a grind. I appreciate you making time. That was the first thing when I hit him up because I just hit him at racing. I was like, Bro, you want to pull up on the show. He's like, yeah, you need to come to the Black Ops though, Like what I was like, what do you want to be on the show. He's like yeah, But you know, well, we would appreciate because, like I said, I know what the mother of them runs are real, Like I'll go up in Rico sometimes and check his runs out of these runs are like to me, they're really than games because like I said, it's really man on man pride, Like you don't want to let if the world know there this dude just busted your ass all day because everyone's going now. Yeah, and like you said, it ain't that refre that and ditate the game. Yeah, you continue to climb up the ladder. What was it like partner of with ESPN Plus with your series or it was a little uneasy because you know, I had a rough childhood. You know, my mom commits suicide. Uh, you had a bunch of things, and so when you do when you do these shows, they like, you know, people like drama, so they wanted to, like, you know, how to go to my mom's grave and that. So it was a little uncomfortable. I know, the next time and whether we do season two or whatever we do, it will be smoother. But just starting just to understand that everyone's gonna watch you while you're at your most like vulnerable moments, sitting are your mom's grave, stuff like that. It was a learning experience. It was fun though we want a webby or up for a web before it, so it was cool. Uh, talk to me about Kevin Porter Jr. He was someone you worked with, didn't get off to a good start. But this kid is so fucking talented man, so talented. He's a he's a beast and everyone that sees it, like James is like, you know, we need to like make sure we worked together this summer. He's just he's uh, he's a he's a hooper, he has handle, he can shoot, he can he can he's he's athletic jo He's made a few mistakes and you know that's kind of calls him. At the end of the day. I like him at Houston better than I like him at Cleveland, so I think he has a super bright future. I like him. How did the opportunity NBA two K come about me that that kind of like changed my life from a sense of like I'll go to the airport and people will be like, yo, yeah, you Chris really from two K. Like a lot of little kids just know me from Chris Realley from two K might not even know him a trainer in real life. It's crazy. So you have the whole world playing a video game as my tattoos and my drills, and it's, uh, it's amazing. I talked to Ronnie two K at Quevo celebrity game. We need to put all the smoke on two K. We made that happen, Alex, do you get that ship done. I'm gonnahire you too. Goddamn it, we can made that happen. But no, I think that would be dope. And I saw that you like, my boys knew about that because I was just like, they're like, Dad, do you know him. I'm like, really, I've been to him. He's like, well, you need to take us to New York and workout. I was like, okay, that's what I need to do. Right. So, up to this point, it's been incredible. I'm sure the best is yet to come. But what would you say you're most proud of? My dad was a postal worker. You worked for the USPS like a mailman my whole childhood. And so I struggled really all my twenties and up until like three years ago, I finally started like making real money. Um, just so I wanted to started making real money. It took to I went home, went to his work, surprised him and said, yoll retire. You can retire. I got you. That's the best feeling. Ever. That's the most problem with alright, coming to the end right here, quick, hitter's first thing to come to mind. Top five, This is gonna be tough. Most skilled players you've worked with. I gotta go with Mellow. I gotta go with James, I gotta go with Kauai. I gotta go with Katie. This is tough, skilled, skilled, I mean, I'll go with RUSSI all Hall of Famers, all time favorite, starting by this is just anybody, Mellow, We're just talking about this. This is tough. Going with Pistol Pete at the one, Ai at the two, Mellow with the three, Lebron at the four. I'm going with I'm from New England's I'm going with Bill Russell at the five. Five artists. Very interesting. I don't know that that's not the political correct way that's good in top five artists in the game, man, I gotta go with everyone that's showing love on the album, so a little Baby. I gotta go with Dirk, that's my guy. I gotta go with Meek. I gotta go with Travis, and I gotta go with a Bogie. Three songs always on the Black House playlist. You know what. This is a weird one, but it's always on there. Jane Biggie Brooklyn's Finest Some reason guys love that song. Two other ones that's always on there. I would have to go with h dreams and nightmares, Meek the intros that's always on there, and I would have to go with you know alright, p Nipsey, But you know there's always something Nipsey there, great music to work out to. I have fitting just find there if you're playing some nip um one message on the billboard for the world to see. Don't let people tell you how you should live your life. Simple, let people tell you all you should live like. That's dope. It's simple, just that simple. Though, who do you want to say on all the smoke? Before you answer, you got to help us with your answer. Get on the show. Okay, this could be any anybody, anybody. Okay, you gotta get with Dirk and Baby because they just came on that the joint out pect. I know Baby, but I don't I know Dirk, but I don't know I can help with that. Yeah, we need both of them. Are well, Chris Man. We want to thank you. We appreciate you. Like I said, I've been a big fan. I love your evolution. I learned more about your story today. But like I said, without realizing, you're setting the blueprint for who's next. You know what I mean? And that was something that that Jack like when we just jumped in, like we just jumped in this ship because we love it. You do what you're doing, but we're setting the blueprint as well in this space. So man, we always want to give people their flowers and show our appreciation fresh from the workout, fresh off of workout and working out mellow appreciate. And so for me, man, both of you guys are literally legends to me. Like, you know, you're a second round pick. Bro, you're averaging eighteen, you have a ring you you know, like you you guys both have these amazing careers. I feel like when you guys started this podcast, people did be like, oh, we'll see how it is. You guys have the best athletes in the world. Like, you guys are doing it big, and you know, it's it's tough to be a player and then leave and then do something big as host. It's tough, and you guys are time. So that's a wrap. C B C. You catch us our Showtime Basketball YouTube and the I Heart platform Black Effects. You know next week this is all a smoke a production of the Black Effect and our Heart Radio and partnership with Showtime

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