Each summer time, coach Chris Brickley’s star-studded BlackOps runs are the discuss of the offseason. It’s a possibility for basketball followers to see what their favourite participant has added to their bag and to see a few of the finest 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 provides us his breakdown of one other 12 months 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 power was laser-focused! We’d go 60-75 minutes, and he did each drill at recreation pace. Coming off his first All-Star season and playoff run, he wished extra. I imagine we are going to see Paolo in lots of extra All-Star Video games and plenty of extra playoff runs. The Magic can be excellent this 12 months.
Finest Summer time Shooter Award: Klay Thompson
Klay got here on this offseason trying like a totally completely different participant. He appeared a step faster, and he shot extremely properly all summer time. He actually broke each capturing file 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 Might/June.
Finest Center Schooler I Have Ever Labored With: JJ Crawford
Through the exercise, JJ’s father (Jamal Crawford), Jordan Clarkson and Boardroom’s Nick DePaula have been watching. Ju was hitting NBA three-pointers at a excessive share, selecting up the ballhandling drills I used to be giving him and getting buckets on my interns! The web all the time provides the interns a tough time, however they’ll actually defend. After the exercise, Jamal and I talked hoops for about an hour, and it was one in all my favourite conversations of the summer time. Jamal is a real pupil of the sport. I’m calling it now: JJ Crawford can be a top-five decide at some point!
Draft Day Award: Matas Buzelis and Tyler Kolek
I imagine each of those guys can have lengthy NBA careers. Matas can be a reputation we see on ESPN’s High 10 performs many occasions this season. Tyler Kolek is my sleeper from this previous draft. The Knicks received an excellent playmaker and scorer at No. 34. I feel he’ll carry nice power with the second unit.
NCAA Award: lan Jackson
One of the best factor that occurred to Ian Jackson was that to begin his senior season, he dropped within the rankings. His total exercise strategy modified at that second, and Ian turned a person on the basketball courtroom. He labored out with me 5 days per week—generally twice a day—and went exhausting! 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 gymnasium. I can’t wait to see what he does at UNC this season.
Excessive Faculty Award: Kiyan Anthony & Chris Cenac Jr.
I’ve seen Kiyan Anthony develop from a bit child working round MSG to getting buckets within the NBA BlackOps runs. He’s consistently texting me, exhibiting his urgency to get in additional exercises and preserve bettering. Chris Cenac performed within the Brickley Invitational and shocked me in the course of 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 motive—he’s a matchup nightmare. He can shoot and discover his teammates, and his motor is all the time on 100. Jasper Johnson went loopy within the recreation, 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
Individuals can say what they need about Russ, however the actuality is he’s a first-ballot Corridor of Famer and one of many High 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 through the years, and I’m grateful to have him as a pal.
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! Except for his nice exercises, towards the top of the summer time, I used to be provided lots 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, figuring out he has one million issues occurring. 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 try this.
Finest Group Exercise of the Summer time: Kevin Durant and CJ McCollum
There was one thing particular in regards to the power at The Summit, with music blaring by means 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 means of exhausting with two dribbles and hit an attractive pull-up–similar to he was in a playoff recreation. Then I handed the ball to CJ, and he did the identical factor. For the following 65 minutes, each gamers gave it their all. That was superior.
Finest Rapper Basketball Participant: Russ
Russ determined to take basketball severely and got here to me after coaching together with his Atlanta coach. He turned a knockdown shooter. The transformation in his recreation was insane. He had dribble strikes, was hitting NBA threes with consistency and simply performed with confidence. I feel Russ turned the perfect rapper-shooter l’ve ever labored with.
Finest BlackOps Matchup: Jalen Brunson vs. Immanuel Quickley
Immanuel Quickley, recent off signing his $175 million cope with the Raptors, was enjoying 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 enjoying with a chip on his shoulder. Watching these two go at it for nearly two hours was tremendous entertaining. It was like watching an excellent boxing match. They have been giving it their all and never letting up. Man, that was an excellent run!
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