NBA Trainer Chris Brickley On Revolutionizing Basketball with Style, Sound, and Skill
“I incorporated the things that I personally really liked and it made sense. So, here I am.”
June 27, 2024
Chris Brickley is more than an NBA trainer. He is an influencer, a fashion icon, and a PUMA Ambassador who creates his own sneakers. He mixes sports, music, and culture in his training sessions, creating new and innovative approaches to make his athletes better.
During his recent Herzo HQ visit, he took the time to chat with us about his Basketball journey, unique training philosophies, and the latest PUMA x CHRIS BRICKLEY sneaker drop.
During his recent Herzo HQ visit, he took the time to chat with us about his Basketball journey, unique training philosophies, and the latest PUMA x CHRIS BRICKLEY sneaker drop.
🏀 Getting to know Chris FOREVER. FASTER. Style 🏀
High-tops or low-tops on the court?
Chris: Low tops
If you had to choose one song to play during every workout, what would it be?
Chris: It would be we made it by H.E.R.
Video gaming session or movie marathon?
Chris: Movie marathon.
If you could go one-on-one with any NBA legend, who would it be and why? I would go one on one with Michael Jordan because he’s a goat.
Post game fashion: Suit up or sweat suit?
Chris: I would say sweatsuit.
Chris: Low tops
If you had to choose one song to play during every workout, what would it be?
Chris: It would be we made it by H.E.R.
Video gaming session or movie marathon?
Chris: Movie marathon.
If you could go one-on-one with any NBA legend, who would it be and why? I would go one on one with Michael Jordan because he’s a goat.
Post game fashion: Suit up or sweat suit?
Chris: I would say sweatsuit.
What’s the most memorable place basketball has taken you?
Chris: The most memorable place basketball has taken me. I would say Italy because my grandma’s from there.
Instagram or TikTok?
Chris: Instagram
Ice bath or foam roller?
Chris: Foam Roller
What’s one word that comes to mind when you think of PUMA?
Chris: Life-changing.
Chris: The most memorable place basketball has taken me. I would say Italy because my grandma’s from there.
Instagram or TikTok?
Chris: Instagram
Ice bath or foam roller?
Chris: Foam Roller
What’s one word that comes to mind when you think of PUMA?
Chris: Life-changing.
CATch Up: Chris, your journey from a passionate basketball player to one of the most influential NBA trainers is inspiring. Can you share the pivotal moment that led you to pursue a career in training?
Chris: So, I would say when I graduated college I could have gone overseas, but I had a legendary coach / mentor named Rick Pitino who was one of the best college coaches of all time. And he led me into wanting to teach basketball. So, I think at that moment, seeing all of the legendary things that he’s done made me want to do that too.
Chris: So, I would say when I graduated college I could have gone overseas, but I had a legendary coach / mentor named Rick Pitino who was one of the best college coaches of all time. And he led me into wanting to teach basketball. So, I think at that moment, seeing all of the legendary things that he’s done made me want to do that too.
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A post shared by Chris Joseph Brickley (@cbrickley603)
Your training sessions are known for their unique blend of sports, music, and culture. What led you to developing this unique approach and how do you think this environment influences the development of the players you work with?
Chris: I think just growing up, I was super into music. I was super into fashion, and I was super into basketball. So, once I started being a professional, I incorporated the things that I personally really liked and it made sense. So, here I am.
You’ve introduced innovative training tools and methods, such as the slick and weighted basketballs. What was the inspiration behind these, and how have they changed the way players train?
Chris: Yeah, so, shoutout Wilson Basketball for making my ideas into a reality. I just wanted players to get better in an innovative way. So, we made a slick ball, and we made this ball that doesn’t dribble straight up. When I was little it was a thing to, put like a bag around the basketball and dribble it. So, I was like, how could I do this to get this slick effect without putting a bag around the ball?
Chris: I think just growing up, I was super into music. I was super into fashion, and I was super into basketball. So, once I started being a professional, I incorporated the things that I personally really liked and it made sense. So, here I am.
You’ve introduced innovative training tools and methods, such as the slick and weighted basketballs. What was the inspiration behind these, and how have they changed the way players train?
Chris: Yeah, so, shoutout Wilson Basketball for making my ideas into a reality. I just wanted players to get better in an innovative way. So, we made a slick ball, and we made this ball that doesn’t dribble straight up. When I was little it was a thing to, put like a bag around the basketball and dribble it. So, I was like, how could I do this to get this slick effect without putting a bag around the ball?
That’s how we came up with the slick ball. Then we came up with the heavy ball, which is an idea that was already used. And then we came up with this ball that doesn’t dribble up all the way. That was the first one ever made of those. Took a few years to make and that helps players with their ball handling. Just cool innovative ways to develop your game. That was the vision. And it’s worked so far.
You’re also training with PUMA athlete Breanna Stewart – can you maybe share a little BTS success story of how she was able to improve her game through your training program?
Chris: Yeah, so we started first in 2017 I think. She was still in college, or she just got out of college. She came to the gym, and, through a mutual friend, we started training and fast forward 6 or 7 years later she still comes to the gym. I have a good relationship with her grandmother and with her wife and with her family. It’s like a family environment. So, it’s definitely easy to work like that when you have such a close relationship.
You’re also training with PUMA athlete Breanna Stewart – can you maybe share a little BTS success story of how she was able to improve her game through your training program?
Chris: Yeah, so we started first in 2017 I think. She was still in college, or she just got out of college. She came to the gym, and, through a mutual friend, we started training and fast forward 6 or 7 years later she still comes to the gym. I have a good relationship with her grandmother and with her wife and with her family. It’s like a family environment. So, it’s definitely easy to work like that when you have such a close relationship.
You are also very successful as an influencer, sharing glimpses from your training sessions and everyday life. How do you balance your role as a trainer with your influencer activities?
Chris: Yeah, I just try to keep it as organic as possible. When I was eight or nine years old, I got a Wu-Tang cassette tape. That was the first music I ever bought. Then I got a 112 cassette tape, I’ve always been into hip hop. And I’ve always been into clothes. So really, I’m just showing people a glimpse of my actual life. And it happens to be stuff that people are into. So, I’m just keeping it organic and natural.
Your influence extends beyond the court into fashion and lifestyle. How do these aspects of your life influence your training methods, if at all?
Chris: I would say with my training methods, it’s more studying the players in studying the game of basketball, and that’s kind of what goes into my training methods, is just keeping it strictly basketball with also, you know, music, um, in the background. It’s like a comfort zone. Definitely.
You have been with PUMA for over five years, what do you look for in a brand partnership, and what made PUMA the right fit for you?
Chris: Yeah, I think Puma has been my best brand partnership, just because having a sneaker deal is such a big deal and also the PUMA Hoops family, the way they do things, they let you be innovative, they let you be creative. We’re working on something now that’s going to be super creative. So just the flexibility to work with and the family vibe.
Chris: Yeah, I just try to keep it as organic as possible. When I was eight or nine years old, I got a Wu-Tang cassette tape. That was the first music I ever bought. Then I got a 112 cassette tape, I’ve always been into hip hop. And I’ve always been into clothes. So really, I’m just showing people a glimpse of my actual life. And it happens to be stuff that people are into. So, I’m just keeping it organic and natural.
Your influence extends beyond the court into fashion and lifestyle. How do these aspects of your life influence your training methods, if at all?
Chris: I would say with my training methods, it’s more studying the players in studying the game of basketball, and that’s kind of what goes into my training methods, is just keeping it strictly basketball with also, you know, music, um, in the background. It’s like a comfort zone. Definitely.
You have been with PUMA for over five years, what do you look for in a brand partnership, and what made PUMA the right fit for you?
Chris: Yeah, I think Puma has been my best brand partnership, just because having a sneaker deal is such a big deal and also the PUMA Hoops family, the way they do things, they let you be innovative, they let you be creative. We’re working on something now that’s going to be super creative. So just the flexibility to work with and the family vibe.
The PUMA x CHRIS BRICKLEY collection features personal mantras and details. Can you share your design journey and what message do you hope to convey through these products
Chris: I’m a big, notebook. I like writing my goals and writing my feelings down and so I literally took stuff I wrote for my notebook to put it on the shoe. The name of the shoe is Love Yourself inside the shoe, there are just a bunch of things that I preach to my players that I work with. So, so we put a bunch of my notebook ideas onto a shoe. And I think it was really cool and did great. The shoe sold out on PUMA.com the first day, and I’m excited for my next one! I cannot say much about it yet, but I can say it’s going to be lifestyle!
Chris: I’m a big, notebook. I like writing my goals and writing my feelings down and so I literally took stuff I wrote for my notebook to put it on the shoe. The name of the shoe is Love Yourself inside the shoe, there are just a bunch of things that I preach to my players that I work with. So, so we put a bunch of my notebook ideas onto a shoe. And I think it was really cool and did great. The shoe sold out on PUMA.com the first day, and I’m excited for my next one! I cannot say much about it yet, but I can say it’s going to be lifestyle!
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for the future, both in terms of your training career and your work as an influencer?
Chris: So I don’t think about my future as an influencer, really. I just think of my future as a trainer and just being myself, and just keep pushing the narrative to the youth that you can be yourself and live off of those thoughts and ideas and go far in life. And that’s really it.
Chris: So I don’t think about my future as an influencer, really. I just think of my future as a trainer and just being myself, and just keep pushing the narrative to the youth that you can be yourself and live off of those thoughts and ideas and go far in life. And that’s really it.
I’m super thankful for PUMA believing in me over the years, and I hope the next five years are going to be even better than the last five years.
Chris Brickley, PUMA Ambassador, NBA Trainer & Influencer
Chris Brickley, PUMA Ambassador, NBA Trainer & Influencer
Thank you so much for taking the time, Chris and all the best for your FOREVER. FASTER. future!
🏀 Name: Chris Brickley
🏀 Birthday: June 11, 1987
🏀 Hometown: Manchester, New Hampshire
🏀 Position: Guard
🏀 University: University of Louisville
Chris’ journey from a passionate college player to a renowned NBA skills trainer and influencer:
🏀 2008 – 2010: Chris played College Basketball as a Guard for the University of Louisville
🏀 2010 – 2013: He became an Assistant Coach at the University of Louisville and Fairleigh Dickinson University.
🏀 2013: Chris started as an NBA Intern and transitioned into a player development coordinator for the New York Knicks.
🏀 Today: Chris is one of the most sought after NBA Skills Trainer at Life Time Athletic in New York, where he trains NBA and WNBA stars, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Breanna Stewart and Carmelo Anthony, thanks to his innovative training methods and personal approach.
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