Each summer time, coach Chris Brickley’s star-studded BlackOps runs are the speak of the offseason. It’s a chance for basketball followers to see what their favourite participant has added to their bag and to see a few of the greatest hoopers on this planet go at it.
Brickley initially named the runs “BlackOps” as a result of he wished the exercises and open runs to be discreet. Right here, he offers us his breakdown of one other yr of BlackOps Basketball and his award picks.
The 2024 SLAM x BlackOps Awards
Breakout Season: Paolo Banchero
Picture by @kees2life
This was the fourth summer time I labored with Paolo. His vitality was laser-focused! We might go 60-75 minutes, and he did each drill at sport pace. Coming off his first All-Star season and playoff run, he wished extra. I imagine we’ll see Paolo in lots of extra All-Star Video games and lots of extra playoff runs. The Magic will probably be superb this yr.
Finest Summer season Shooter Award: Klay Thompson
Klay got here on this offseason wanting like a very completely different participant. He appeared a step faster, and he shot extremely effectively all summer time. He actually broke each capturing document this summer time. However, in CJ McCollum’s protection, Klay locked in with me in August/September, whereas CJ held many information and labored with me in Could/June.
Finest Center Schooler I Have Ever Labored With: JJ Crawford
Throughout the exercise, JJ’s father (Jamal Crawford), Jordan Clarkson and Boardroom’s Nick DePaula had been watching. Ju was hitting NBA three-pointers at a excessive proportion, choosing up the ballhandling drills I used to be giving him and getting buckets on my interns! The web at all times offers the interns a tough time, however they will actually defend. After the exercise, Jamal and I talked hoops for about an hour, and it was certainly one of my favourite conversations of the summer time. Jamal is a real scholar of the sport. I’m calling it now: JJ Crawford will probably be a top-five choose sooner or later!
Draft Day Award: Matas Buzelis and Tyler Kolek
I imagine each of those guys can have lengthy NBA careers. Matas will probably be a reputation we see on ESPN’s Prime 10 performs many instances this season. Tyler Kolek is my sleeper from this previous draft. The Knicks acquired an ideal playmaker and scorer at No. 34. I feel he’ll carry nice vitality with the second unit.
NCAA Award: lan Jackson
The most effective factor that occurred to Ian Jackson was that to start out his senior season, he dropped within the rankings. His whole exercise method modified at that second, and Ian grew to become a person on the basketball court docket. He labored out with me 5 days every week—generally twice a day—and went arduous! I put him in conditions the place he performed 1-on-1 with NBA gamers, and he greater than held his personal—he was wowing everybody within the fitness center. I can’t wait to see what he does at UNC this season.
Excessive College Award: Kiyan Anthony & Chris Cenac Jr.
I’ve seen Kiyan Anthony develop from a bit of child working round MSG to getting buckets within the NBA BlackOps runs. He’s continuously texting me, displaying his urgency to get in additional exercises and preserve enhancing. Chris Cenac performed within the Brickley Invitational and shocked me through the exercise portion. At 6-10, he can shoot the three, end across the rim, play within the mid-post and attempt to dunk on you by the rim. It’s no shock he’s skyrocketing up the rankings!
Chris Brickley Invitational Award: Tyran Stokes and Jasper Johnson
Tyran Stokes is ranked No. 1 within the Class of 2026 for a purpose—he’s a matchup nightmare. He can shoot and discover his teammates, and his motor is at all times on 100. Jasper Johnson went loopy within the sport, hitting robust shot after robust shot. He actually jogs my memory of D’Angelo Russell. Kentucky is producing high-level prospects proper now.
Mentor Award: Russell Westbrook
Folks can say what they need about Russ, however the actuality is he’s a first-ballot Corridor of Famer and one of many Prime 75 NBA gamers of all time. This was the second offseason in a row the place he took the time to mentor a youthful participant. Final summer time, it was Azzi Fudd from UConn, and this summer time it was New Jersey legend Isaiah Briscoe. Russ invited Briscoe to some of his 6 a.m. exercises and shared some gems. Russ and I’ve developed a real relationship over time, and I’m grateful to have him as a buddy.
GOAT Award: LeBron James
I used to be blessed to assist put together LeBron for his Gold medal run. His work positively paid off, as he ended up getting MVP of the Olympics at 39 years previous! Apart from his nice exercises, towards the tip of the summer time, I used to be supplied a number of NBA teaching positions, and I wanted somebody to speak to who is aware of the sport and the enterprise. I reached out to LeBron with no expectations—if he didn’t reply, I wouldn’t have been upset in any respect, understanding he has one million issues happening. However he despatched me some nice recommendation, and it was precisely what I wanted to listen to. So, because of the GOAT for taking the time to do this.
Finest Group Exercise of the Summer season: Kevin Durant and CJ McCollum
There was one thing particular in regards to the vitality at The Summit, with music blaring by way of the Bose audio system. Usually, gamers step by step work as much as game-speed actions, however this exercise was completely different. KD caught the ball within the nook, ripped by way of arduous with two dribbles and hit a phenomenal pull-up–similar to he was in a playoff sport. Then I handed the ball to CJ, and he did the identical factor. For the subsequent 65 minutes, each gamers gave it their all. That was superior.
Finest Rapper Basketball Participant: Russ
Russ determined to take basketball significantly and got here to me after coaching along with his Atlanta coach. He grew to become a knockdown shooter. The transformation in his sport was insane. He had dribble strikes, was hitting NBA threes with consistency and simply performed with confidence. I feel Russ grew to become the perfect rapper-shooter l’ve ever labored with.
Finest BlackOps Matchup: Jalen Brunson vs. Immanuel Quickley
Immanuel Quickley, contemporary off signing his $175 million take care of the Raptors, was taking part in with supreme confidence in opposition to All-Star level guard Jalen Brunson. There was positively a way of main competitors. Quickley backed up Brunson for the Knicks earlier than being traded to the Raptors, so it felt like Fast was taking part in with a chip on his shoulder. Watching these two go at it for nearly two hours was tremendous entertaining. It was like watching an ideal boxing match. They had been giving it their all and never letting up. Man, that was an ideal run!
Photographs by @nextsubject.
