Chris Brickley: What It Takes to Be a Basketball Influencer
WRITTEN BY DEDE WRIGHT-DEMARIAN, social media coordinator
He’s not simply a trainer, he’s an influencer.
Not exactly a common term, but Chris Brickley is a basketball influencer who is redefining the way we look at training, trainers, and building culture in the digital age. With his clientele of nearly 60 NBA players, several musicians, and over 800k Instagram followers, Brickley is making his mark in the basketball world — and beyond.
After graduating from Trinity High School as a top-100 player nationally, Brickley went to Northeastern University. Eventually, he transferred to Rick Pitino’s program at the University of Louisville. There, he played only 31 minutes in two seasons, but making it into the NBA wasn’t really the goal at that point. After college, Brickley broke into coaching at Ole Miss and eventually became the youngest Division I assistant coach in the United States at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
While there, Brickley reconnected with former Louisville teammate Chris Smith — brother of the New York Knicks’ J.R. Smith (who became Brickley’s first client). As he expanded his workouts with the Smith brothers, other Knicks players joined in and J. R. suggested that the Knicks hire Brickley, which got him an entry-level intern role. The following year he became a player-development coach. It was during his time with the Knicks that Brickley and star Carmelo Anthony grew close, largely due to the honest feedback he would give Carmelo after games. This became another genuine friendship that boosted Brickley’s career. He built a roster of clients, including C. J. McCollum and Kawhi Leonard, through references from Carmelo.
via Complex
His work for clients includes taking the time to look at their offensive possessions from the previous year and asking each player what they think they need to improve on — and what their team’s staff thinks they need to work on. Brickley also asks players who their favorites were growing up, then examines the games and workouts of those idols to curate a workout for his clients that reflects their heroes.
Given the amazing work he was doing, while employed by the Knicks, it was pretty crazy that he couldn’t share anything basketball-related online. Brickley’s stepping away from the Knicks allowed him to step into posting content from his workouts and pickup games via Instagram. The dark hardwood flooring and gray-padded walls of Life Time Athletic, which Carmelo helped design, are now a recognizable online brand. This includes an iconic video of LeBron James and Kevin Durant playing pickup games at his gym (these garnered over a million views). The rise of Brickley’s Black Ops Basketball workout sessions started the Hoodie Melo phenomenon, which features videos of Carmelo — sporting a hoodie — in intense and impressive workouts and games.
The Instagram visibility of Brickley’s clientele has expanded beyond just NBA players. Popular music artists, looking to up their hoop skills, have also been featured. One has been Quavo, who has done countless workouts with Brickley — always sporting a crazy outfit. One video ended up on Hypebeast, propelling Brickley’s Instagram beyond just basketball fans and into the music and fashion realms. Quavo introduced Travis Scott to Brickley and eventually Brickley went on tour with him.
via The Boardroom
Brickley’s passion for fashion has grown with his brand. When working with Rudy Gay one day, Brickley noticed his Puma basketball shoes and decided to post them on his Instagram feed and it caught traction. Soon, Puma reached out to Brickley in its efforts to expand into the hooping world. Puma sees Brickley as a multifaceted influencer in basketball culture. On his Instagram, Puma and other brands have made appearances as his gym becomes a place for players to unveil new gear and collaborations. Brickley has also created his own Color Blind brand, which focuses on social issues. He hopes that Color Blind can become as in-demand as streetwear brands like Off-White — and he hopes to collaborate with high-end designers moving forward.
Constantly working and pushing his limits, Brickley aims to please those who work with him — with the goal being that his workouts get results when it counts, during the NBA season. That means being available 24/7 for a text or call, including creating new workout plans in the middle of the night if need be. It’s all worth it when Brickley sits back, watching a game in which his clients are putting his work to work. As a trainer, his goal is to make a mark in the basketball world, knowing he has taught players and helped them get better — both in life and the game.
There is no doubt that Brickley has earned the title of a “basketball influencer” by merging different roles into his craft, changing what it means — and what it takes — to be a trainer.
via Hypebeast
“While Chris’s love for basketball goes back to his younger days as a kid in New Hampshire, his career as a private trainer began alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers’ guard J. R. Smith.
The duo met through J. R.’s brother, Chris, who was once Brickley’s teammate at Louisville.”
Via Hypebeast
Puma sees Brickley as a multifaceted influencer in basketball culture. On his Instagram, Puma and other brands have made appearances as his gym becomes a place for players to unveil new gear and collaborations.
via Vavel