Chris Brickley was just like everyone else growing up—he aspired to achieve great success in the sports world. He did, but things didn’t go exactly the way he envisioned.
In January 2008, the 38-year-old basketball coach remained at the University of Louisville in an effort to become a professional player. But when Brickley realized playing football wasn’t for his long-term future, he began coaching, becoming a graduate assistant at Ole Miss (“It was tough,” the Manchester, N.H., native said) and then Fairley ·Assistant to Fairleigh Dickinson.
Afterward, Brickley said he couldn’t even get a high school coaching job in New Jersey, but “out of the blue” he landed an internship with the New York Knicks.
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Chris Brickley says LeBron James has been training with him for at least five years. (Chris Brickley)
However, while at MSG, he got the promotion of a lifetime – despite neglecting the dressing room where he worked.
Brickley said Carmelo Anthony missed the game-winning shot during the preseason and was told not to talk to him after the game.
But he bucked the trend and said it “changed my life.”
“I play basketball and I know what it feels like to miss the ball, so I just told him how I felt,” Brickley said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital. “The next day, he walked into the office and said ‘I want him to be my coach.'”
“It happened so fast,” Brickley said, “but I think that’s the power of franchise players.”
Brickley said he owed Anthony “everything” — “Without him… I don’t know what would have happened.” He also owed Phil Jackson a lot. Brickley said he was the only person who wasn’t fired when he joined the company. Jackson later named him the team’s director of player personnel.
Now, nearly a decade later, Brickley has more than 3 million followers on Instagram and has developed friendships with some of the best people in gaming.
LeBron James and Kevin Durant are just among the All-Stars working out at the gym at the Summit apartment complex in Manhattan this offseason. The building was also home to the celebrity game that went viral a few years ago, including Justin Bieber, Drake, and Quavo, so it’s not just the Brickley’s that’s popular to visit in Midtown. Just NBA stars.
Kevin Durant works out at Chris Brickley’s gym. (Chris Brickley)
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Brickley is a partner with BODY ARMOR and said he shares similar values with the hydration drink company, which is how he’s been able to maintain relationships with some of the best basketball players of all time.
“Everything is real. Real ingredients, real flavor, that all goes back to my brand. Just being myself, real, real, and my brand is aligned with BODY ARMOR,” Brickley said. “Ever since I started training and competing, my goal has always been to be at the top, and I think BODY ARMOR’s goal is to be at the top as well. Both of our brands are aligned. When I first signed with them, they were aligned, And they remain consistent.
His hometown celebrated “Chris Brickley Day” over the weekend, with a new stadium built and plenty of giveaways including Puma sneakers and headphones.
That’s not exactly how Brickley planned his basketball future, but it’s a nice consolation prize.
“My goal was to be LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, etc. I couldn’t do it, but never in my wildest dreams did I think the reality of my life would happen, “He said. “But, day in and day out, keep working hard and you’ll hope for the best.”
Brickley said he sits down and reflects on his journey “more often than you might think.” But the break-in is not yet complete.
LeBron James goes to Chris Brickley’s gym. (Chris Brickley)
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His social media presence is huge, but Brickley plans to one day return to where it all began.
“I’m very hungry and very motivated. Eventually, 100 percent, I will get back into coaching and maybe even be an executive and start an NBA team, which I think would be super exciting…” Brickley said.
“I get job offers every summer, but right now, there’s nothing better than having a great partner like BODY ARMOR and being able to control my day, my narrative, and the people I work with. It’s The best feeling in the world.
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