Interview Only Part 1: TikTok basketball influencer Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Stephen A. Smith Show – Interview with TikTok Basketball Influencer Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews (Part 1)

Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith sits down with Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews, a renowned basketball shooting coach and TikTok influencer. Released on November 17, 2024, this episode delves deep into Chris Matthews' journey, coaching philosophy, experiences working with NBA players, and his role in the basketball community. The conversation is rich with insights, practical advice, and entertaining banter between the two hosts.

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1. Origin of the "Lethal Shooter" Nickname [01:06 - 03:18]

Stephen A. Smith introduces Chris Matthews, emphasizing his respect and admiration for Chris's work in basketball shooting.

• Chris Matthews explains the origin of his nickname:

  “Growing up in DC, my dad used to call me Lethal. When I started my social media, I added Shooter to it, becoming Lethal Shooter. It represents staying locked in and teaching that giving up is never an option.” ([02:16])

He highlights the positive connotation of his nickname and how it has become synonymous with his brand focused on resilience and excellence in shooting.

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2. Coaching Philosophy and Techniques [03:18 - 07:37]

The discussion shifts to the mechanics of basketball shooting and what differentiates an ordinary shooter from an elite one.

• Stephen A. Smith asks whether shooting is merely about getting the ball in the hoop or if there are more nuanced elements involved.

• Chris Matthews responds by detailing his technical approach:

  “It's not just going to the gym and throwing up shots. I'm very technical, especially with footwork. I make necessary changes based on what each player needs.” ([03:42])

He shares his experiences working with NBA players like Grayson Allen and Grant Williams, emphasizing personalized coaching tailored to each athlete's unique style and needs.

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3. Personalized Training for Elite Shooters [07:37 - 12:14]

Stephen A. Smith probes into how Chris ensures his advice aligns with team dynamics and head coaches' strategies.

• Chris Matthews explains his collaborative approach:

  “I let the coaches sit in on the workouts. I never give advice that contradicts what the head coach wants. It’s about the team, not just me.” ([07:37])

He underscores the importance of synchronization between his training methods and the team’s overall strategy, ensuring that players can integrate new techniques seamlessly into their gameplay.

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4. Background and Achievements [09:18 - 12:14]

Stephen A. Smith requests Chris to share his basketball background, touching on his playing career and transition to coaching.

• Chris Matthews outlines his impressive journey:

  “I played elite high school basketball, coached alongside Kevin Durant, broke three-point records at St. Bonaventure, and played professionally overseas for eight years, winning seven cups and MVPs.” ([09:45])

He candidly discusses his health challenges, including a collapsed lung, and how these experiences led him to dedicate himself to coaching rather than pursuing an NBA career.

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5. Partnership with Nike and Jordan Brand [12:14 - 13:21]

Stephen A. Smith inquires about Chris's involvement with major sports brands.

• Chris Matthews reveals his roles:

  “I’m a full-time trainer for Nike and Jordan Brand, directing the Nike Academy and scouting young talent. I train top high school players and work behind the scenes to elevate their game.” ([12:16])

He highlights that much of his professional work isn’t showcased on social media, as he uses his platforms primarily for entertainment while managing high-level training commitments.

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6. Greatest Shooters in Basketball History [13:21 - 15:18]

The conversation transitions to a debate about the greatest shooters in NBA history.

• Stephen A. Smith poses a direct question:

  “Who is the best shooter that has ever played the game of basketball?” ([13:21])

• Chris Matthews confidently names Stephen Curry:

  “Steph Curry is the best shooter. His off-the-dribble shooting, step-backs, and range are unparalleled.” ([13:22])

He also acknowledges legends like Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, and Craig Hodges, crediting them for inspiring his own shooting techniques.

Stephen A. Smith adds his perspective, placing Klay Thompson in the top five and discussing Larry Bird's shooting prowess compared to modern players. They engage in a lively debate, emphasizing different eras and styles of play.

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7. Physical Conditioning and Mental Toughness [15:18 - 19:44]

The discussion deepens into the essential components that make a great shooter beyond technique.

• Chris Matthews stresses the importance of physical conditioning:

  “Strong legs and a strong core are vital. Without the physical foundation, shooters can’t maintain consistency under game pressure.” ([16:50])

He shares anecdotes about players like Bobby Portis and Grant Williams, explaining how tailored conditioning programs addressed their specific needs to enhance their shooting performance.

• Mental toughness is equally highlighted:

  “Shooters need the mindset of a killer. They can’t let distractions or provocations derail their focus.” ([18:44])

Stephen A. Smith and Chris Matthews discuss the mental resilience required to perform consistently, referencing Michael Jordan’s ability to stay focused despite intense pressure and physical challenges.

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8. Practical Training Insights [19:44 - 24:12]

Stephen A. Smith playfully challenges Chris to train him, leading to an entertaining exchange about age, fitness, and dedication.

• Chris Matthews emphasizes the necessity of commitment:

  “To train with me, you gotta put in the work and dedicate yourself to the craft. It takes consistency and time.” ([21:57])

Stephen A. Smith humorously contemplates the physical demands of training, highlighting the differences between his own fitness level and that of elite athletes. The friendly banter underscores the relatability and camaraderie between host and guest.

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Conclusion and Outro

As the interview wraps up, Stephen A. Smith and Chris Matthews share a moment of camaraderie, with Stephen expressing his desire to improve his shooting skills and Chris affirming his readiness to assist.

The episode concludes with promotional segments that are typical in The Stephen A. Smith Show, which have been notably excluded from this summary to maintain focus on the core content.

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Notable Quotes

• Chris Matthews on the Nickname:

  “Staying locked in and just teaching people that giving up is never an option.” ([02:56])

• Chris Matthews on His Coaching Approach:

  “I change training based on the player's body and what the coach wants. It’s not about me, it’s about the team.” ([08:16])

• Chris Matthews on Conditioning:

  “Strong legs and a strong core are vital. Without the physical foundation, shooters can’t maintain consistency under game pressure.” ([16:50])

• Chris Matthews on Mental Toughness:

  “As a shooter, you have to have the mindset of a killer. You can’t allow somebody to get to you.” ([18:44])

• Chris Matthews on Training Commitment:

  “To train with me, you gotta put in the work and dedicate yourself to the craft. It takes consistency and time.” ([21:57])

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Final Thoughts

This episode offers valuable insights into the art and science of basketball shooting, guided by Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews' extensive experience and expertise. Listeners gain a glimpse into the meticulous training processes that shape elite shooters, the importance of personalized coaching, and the synergy between physical conditioning and mental resilience. The dynamic exchange between Stephen A. Smith and Chris Matthews not only entertains but also educates aspiring basketball enthusiasts and athletes on what it takes to excel in the competitive world of basketball shooting.

Transcript

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm in a gymnasium. Now, I know I'm not dressed for the part because, Devin, I ain't here to play. I'm not here to play. That's not what I do these days, okay? I talk about folks that play. All right? But I had to talk to this next brother, and I had to come to his spot because the nickname is Lethal Shooter. That's what everybody knows him as. And the people that he's worked with, we see their numbers increasing. And he'll tell us all about that. But clearly, I had the pleasure of meeting him, got a lot of love for him, a lot of respect for the work that he's been doing for years now. And now he's all over Instagram, all over social media, dropping trick shots from 50ft away, damn near 25, 30 yards away. I don't know what the hell to say about it. All I know is that what we. What we've seen is real and he's worthy of this interview. His name is Mr. Chris Matthews, the Lethal Shooter himself. What's up, big time? How are you, man? How's everything doing?

[Chris Matthews]

Good, man. Thank you for coming here. I mean, it's a dream come true. You're one of the people that I've always wanted to, you know, to. To speak with in this type of way, so thank you for showing up, man.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Please. It's well deserved. Well deserved. I mean, when they call you Lethal Shooter, first of all, when did that nickname. When that name, that. That nickname of yours. What. When did that come about? How long ago did that take place?

[Chris Matthews]

Yeah, so I grew up in the DC area. You know, growing up in dc, we had to play at the park. We didn't really play indoors as much as our kids do now. So outside. My dad used to call me Lethal, but not Shooter. So when I started my social media, I didn't know what to name myself on ig, So I was like, man, let me just call myself Lethal Shooter. Cause my dad used to always call me Lethal. When I was at the park hooping all the old heads, you know, getting my nose bust, getting my teeth knocked out, my mouth, my daddy be like, man, you Lethal. Keep going, keep knocking down Lethal. So that's the name that stuck with me to the.

[Stephen A. Smith]

How do you like it? I mean, now that it is stuck and it's fit and whatever. What has it meant to you? Because obviously people look at you now and they don't have any problem with that nickname because they see what you do on the basketball court.

[Chris Matthews]

It means a lot, you know what I mean? To have a name that's a unique type of name as well, and especially a positive name. So at first, when I first started my brand, people tried to tie Lethal Shooter to gunplay. And then people started realizing all the posts that I do, everything I do is positive. And that's what my brand is based on being. Staying locked in and just teaching people that giving up is never an option. So for people to know who I am as Lethal Shooter, it's a blessing.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let's get into the mechanics of just basketball for a second. On this perspective. What do you. Is it really just about synergies when you look at a guy and just getting the ball in the hole? Or is there some other elements, some other ingredients that makes for somebody ultimately becoming, quote, unquote, a lethal shooter?

[Chris Matthews]

Yeah, that's a really good question. So last year I had the honor to be with Grayson Allen for the full season.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And.

[Chris Matthews]

And it's not just going to the gym, just throwing up shots. I'm very technical, especially with footwork. I'm not the type of shooting coach that try to make a lot of changes, but if a lot of changes are needed, I will make those changes. And a good example is when I was full time with Grant Williams, when he was with the Celtics. Okay, That I made a lot of changes. I changed his hand placement, I changed the Way he goes into his jump shot, I changed his footwork.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Now, this is Grant Williams before he football blocked Jason Tatum the other night, his former teammate in Boston that Grant Williams is talking about here. Go ahead.

[Chris Matthews]

Yeah, so I was with him for a full season, but that full. When he finished, I think top three in the NBA, I changed the whole shot. Okay? But Grayson Allen, when I was with him, I didn't need to change a lot. We just changed small things. So the way that I train different people is not the same. So if I train a Jalen Brown or Grayson Allen or Cortevis, Cowboy Pope or Michael Porter Jr. I don't do the same concepts because they're all different people, if that makes sense.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So how do you determine what is good for one client compared to another in terms of the shooter? Is it their technique? Is it the speed with which they get rid of the ball? You brought up footwork and what have you. It does it how much do their positioning. For example, you could be a shooting guard, you got one responsibility, A point guard, you got another small forward, power forward, you got another responsibility, et cetera, et cetera. What goes into you deciding what kind of changes you need to make with a particular athlete?

[Chris Matthews]

So I'll ask the client to show me everything that they like to work on already. I've already studied them on synergy. I understand what they need to work on as well. So once they show me, I'll do it myself. So when they're with me, I'll do it and I'll shoot out of it. So a good example, which is a really good question. A Jaylen Brown shoots different shots than a Grayson Allen. Grayson Allen has the luxury of playing with the Kevin Durant, but unfortunately Jaylen Brown on his team, he is Kevin Durant. So with Jaylen Brown, a lot of our workouts were stuff off the dribble to shoot. But last season, as you saw shooting, catch and shoots, the balance was better. You know what I'm saying? The follow through was better because those are things that we had to take into consideration to get the shooting percentage better when you have to take so many shots. So if somebody will say, oh, well, Jaylen Brown didn't shoot 42% 40 from 3 last year. But he doesn't have the luxury of a Grayson island to have two superstars with Devin Booker and Kevin Durant kicking him the ball where Grayson last year shot 46%. So I do change different ways on how I train that person to fit within that system. And another good example is like Last year, if you look at Katavius, Caldwell, Pope, and the year before that, when they won the championship, he was alongside Michael Porter. So the year they won the championship, I had Michael Porter and Ketavis Carpel the same year. But the thing that they were doing wrong was they weren't using each other and complimenting each other on the same side. They were just watching Jokic the whole time. But as a shooter, you can't do that. If you sit and just watch somebody, you'll throw yourself out of rhythm.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So what do you have to do? You need to move.

[Chris Matthews]

You need to move. And when you're moving, what it does is it keeps you in sync with your teammates. And as a shooter, you need to always be alert, because as a shooter, when you're not alert, you're not receptive to the game. So I was telling these guys, let's complement each other. You get what I'm saying? So kcp, if you catch it and Michael Porter is open and you know you have a wide open shot, still kick it to him, and then when he hits the shot, congratulate him. Michael Porter, if you're. If you drive and kick and you might have a layup or something, and you see KCP open, kick it to him. Because what it does is it builds a good energy as shooters when you're connected to your teammate.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I don't disagree with what you're saying.

[Chris Matthews]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm wondering, however, how challenging is it for you to give that kind of advice when you're their shooting coach but you ain't their head coach? Right. That kind of dictates and influences what kind of. What kind of paper they get. You see? So if I'm my Mike Malone and Lethal Shooter is giving KCP a piece of advice that I might disagree with, how does that work out? If I'm Doc Rivers in Milwaukee and Lethal Shooter is giving somebody like a Damian Lillard or Chris Middleton, assuming he's healthy enough to be on the damn court? Don't get me started with him. If you're giving him some kind of advice like that, how do you make sure that what you're advising doesn't conflict with what kind of guidance or advice they're receiving from the actual coach who determines their playing time?

[Chris Matthews]

That's a really good question. So 9.9 out of 10, when I'm training a client, I let the coaches sit in on the workouts. So last year, when I had Jalen Brown, Tony Dobbins was in on the workouts. Just a few days ago, one of the teams I just helped, the shooting coach was there. So what I do is I'm not just going in there. If you're. The Bucs is a good example because when I had Bobby Portis, he was top three in the NBA, I was with him for a full season. I would never go in and tell him something differently than what the coach does because the coach is going to sit and see the workout. So I'll ask them, hey, is it okay for Bobby Porter to shoot a mid range jump shot? Yes. Because there are some teams that tell elite shooters we don't want any mid range jump shots. And to me, especially if you're playing.

[Stephen A. Smith]

For a guy like Mike D'Antoni, yeah, they wanted a three point shot or a layup and it would actually bench you if you shot a two point shot.

[Chris Matthews]

And that's a good example because I've had clients where their team said, if you have a mid range jump shot, do not take it, either shoot a three or go all the way to the rim. So what I'll do is I'll ask the player, hey, is it possible that you can talk to your coaches and let them know that if you get a rhythm inside the mid range, it can help on the outside? So I've had players, I'm not going to say their names, but they went to the coaches and said, hey, I know you want me to take the three, but when I'm pump faking, the guy's running off, I need to take a rhythm dribble to make an easier shot. And if you look at the elites, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, what do they master? The mid range jump shot. So to me, when I'm training a client and all he has to do is sling up threes, it's hard to be an efficient three point shooter that way. Same with Grayson island. Last year, the reason why he led the NBA three point percentage, because he was knocking down the mid range shot. So what I'll do is I'll talk to the coaching staff, I'll have my player talk to the coaching staff. So we're all on the same page because it's not about me, it's about the team. So if the coach does say, hey, we don't want him to take the mid range, cool. We have to make the training based on what the coach wants.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Educate my viewers and my listeners about your background, your basketball background and what have you. I know you played college ball, I know you played high school ball. I don't give A damn that you did play pro ball. I see plenty of people that. I mean, we've got coaches and general managers and presidents of basketball operations that never played a lick of basketball. Nobody's complaining about them. So I'm certainly not throwing any shade your way. But I want you to educate the audience about your background and that led to you being who you are today.

[Chris Matthews]

Yeah. So I've been blessed to play elite high school basketball my whole life. In high school, I played for National Christian Academy, where I played with Kevin Durant for two years. We won the championship. I was a McDonald All American nominee, Jordan nominee. I went to play prep school at Lutheran, which we were number one in the entire nation. I was the number one shooting guard at prep school. I went to go play at Washington State, as you know, for Tony Bennett, one of the best coaches I ever had. We went to the Sweet 16. I didn't play as much. But what a lot of people don't understand is it's not about always playing a lot of minutes in those type of systems. It's about soaking up the journey and learning. And from there I went to St. Bonaventure, where I broke all the records at St. Bonaventure, all the three point records. I was number one in the conference and three pointers made, number one in field goal percentage. I was top five in the nation and three pointers made. And these are things that people know about me. And I actually did play pro for eight years overseas. These are things. I won like seven Cups overseas. I've won MVPs. But the NBA isn't for everybody. I was injury prone. My body is not really good with endurance. So what happened was when I was in South America, my lung collapsed. Yeah. So I almost died. I was shut down for like five months. And still to this day, even when I'm doing content for like, not to put brands out there, when I'm doing insane content, I have to take a break because my lungs and everything isn't the same. So that's what people have to understand about me. Not saying I didn't make it to the NBA because I had poly edema, but my lungs did collapse and my lungs aren't the same. That's why I don't play in certain type of games and do stuff to push myself. But from there I was blessed to just understand that God put me on earth to be a shooting coach. You know what I mean? I'm really big on not chasing things where you're just being redundant. I'm not gonna be a 35 year old man still thinking I'm about to go to the NBA, if that makes sense. So I said I'm gonna change my life to be a coach.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, listen, guess what, man. I tried to play College brawl. It wasn't successful. I only dreamed about playing ball. It didn't get that close. I don't give a damn what any of y'all say. You gotta learn to kiss your ass.

[Chris Matthews]

That's all you have to do, right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Are you doing well now? I'm doing well now. So what? We ain't play. Get over it. Okay, but let me ask you this. With all of that being said, you're also doing work for Nike now, right?

[Chris Matthews]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Tell everybody about that real quick.

[Chris Matthews]

Yeah, so I'm blessed with a lot of people don't know because when people see my content, you know, I know you know, I want to tell them kiss my ass online. Sometimes I do because somebody's faults get on my nerves.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It's very cathartic. That feels good though.

[Chris Matthews]

That felt good. That felt good. I didn't know we could say that on it. But I do be needing that sometimes because I think sometimes online people think I'm just a content creator, but I'm actually a full time trainer for Nike and Jordan Brand. So I'm blessed to be.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And how long has that been the case?

[Chris Matthews]

Five years.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay.

[Chris Matthews]

But what people see online, they see, you know, my insane content, but they don't know, you know, I'm the director of Nike Academy, which is the number one camp in the world. You know what I mean? I'm the scout for Nike where I go around and watch all of our young talent. You know, in the last month I've trained Brandon McCoroy Baba, which is number one. And it's a blessing to be able to help these type of players to reach the next level. But this is what people don't know about me. You know, on Friday for Jordan Brand, I'm training one of the top high schools and I'm flying to New York, then I'm flying to Chicago. I'm doing all these things, but everything isn't posted. This is what people don't know about me, if that makes sense. Like it's. The only thing is I use social media for what it's for, to entertain, if that makes sense. So. But I do sometimes show people the back end of my life. So I, I wish people really knew what I really did on the back end. I need to show.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They're gonna know now. They gonna know now. You know, listen, before we get into anything else, I gotta ask you this question. With that being said, you know shooters. Yeah. You're shooting coach. Yep, the shooting coach. The elite shooting coach in the country right now, if not the world, as far as I'm concerned, who's the best shooter that has ever played the game of basketball?

[Chris Matthews]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Who is that person, Chris?

[Chris Matthews]

Well, I want to say myself. You know, in life you always want to say yourself. You know, I mean, that's like, okay.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But I'm talking about NBA players.

[Chris Matthews]

Right, right, right. I was about to get to that one.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Go ahead.

[Chris Matthews]

But I got to give it to Steph Curry. You know what Steph Curry does off the dribble? What? He does going left, going right, step back, left, step back, right off one leg. I've never seen anybody in my life shoot the basketball the way he's shooting the basketball. And I tell you this, I look up to Ray Allen, I look up to Reggie Miller, I look up to Craig Hodges, because I tell you one thing, I wouldn't be the shooter I am if I didn't grow up watching them type of shooters. But what Steph Curry is doing off the dribble as a shooter and how far he can shoot, I don't think in my life I've ever seen anybody do this in my life. So I have to give it to Steph Curry.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Am I wrong in surmising that I think Klay Thompson is a top five shooter of all time?

[Chris Matthews]

I think so, but I think the power of social media. He has one bad game and not saying it was just one bad game, but it was a bad game. He went 0, 10 in probably one of the biggest games maybe in his career. But the thing about social media is monkey see, monkey do. When everybody keeps saying over 10, over 10, people keep it going, people keep it going. But to me, Klay Thompson is top five of all time.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I think he's top five as well. What about Larry Bird? Where would you put him?

[Chris Matthews]

So Larry Bird, to me wasn't just a shooter. I feel like he was an overall basketball player.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He was.

[Chris Matthews]

But. But if we was just a shooter.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You think I'm just asking? No, no, I say he was a. He was overall all around basketball player. The only reason I asked that is because some of the old hats always come up to me. Bird, Bird, like Mad Dog, Russo, Bird, Larry Bird, all of this stuff mentioning Larry Bird. And I, and I, I used to say this when people used to bring up LeBron and would. Because LeBron obviously is small for 6, 8, 2, 6. As versatile as he is, but primarily, if you would listen to him as anything, it wouldn't be a point guard and off guard to be a small forward. I would say. I would always say, give me LeBron James all day, any day, for 46 minutes. Yeah, give me Larry Bird for the last two. That's how I felt because of his ability to shoot on the perimeter.

[Chris Matthews]

Unreal.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And free throws.

[Chris Matthews]

Unreal.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Those two categories is what I would have given him over LeBron James. But there's no way I'm taking him over LeBron James. And the same applies with KD, by the way. I think about KD that way as well. Give me again, but KD, I wouldn't even need Larry Bird for the last two minutes because I think KD could do that, too. But what do you think about Larry Bird as a shooter?

[Chris Matthews]

I gotta say, at least top eight. If his only job was to shoot, I don't think kids understand what he was able to do. You get what I'm saying? And I respect Klay Thompson. I'm gonna get it messed up. But he wasn't doing what Larry Bird was doing. But if Larry Bird came in today's world and all he had to do was just be a shooter, he'd be higher than 8. You get where I'm coming from. But he had to do everything. The kids don't realize that the load that he was taking is the same as LeBron. And it was worse because they was hitting him more than they hit LeBron these days. But if Larry Bird was just a shooter, I would say top eight.

[Stephen A. Smith]

A lot of people say, particularly the old school players, as great and undeniably great as Steph Curry has been, if he had played in an earlier era, I've had Hall of Famer say to me, he wouldn't have averaged 20 a game, they said, because we would have beat him up. We would have hit his elbows, we would have hit his wrist, we would have hit his shoulder, we would have tripped him up. We didn't need them. We'd have took away some of the legs, et cetera, et cetera. Physically speaking, I'm not even talking about shooting right now, per se. Physically speaking. What do you believe one has to have in order to be a great shooter? Is it great conditioning? Is it strong legs? Is it having. Just being in sync with what your rhythm is, what your spots are? What is it that makes for a great shooter in that regard?

[Chris Matthews]

Man, that's a really good question. So let's go to somebody like Bobby Portis. When I was with him for that year full time, when I first moved to Arkansas with him, his thighs wasn't as strong as they needed to be. He's big and strong, but the body wasn't cut the way it wanted. So I told him, could we speak to the weight coach to get his thigh strong and to build up his. His core? Because as an elite shooter, you have to have strong legs and you have to have a strong core. Because what happens is over time, what happens in the game, the people who aren't in shape, they're shooting short, they can't get the ball on the ground, they can't do certain things and their brain goes dead. But the people who are in the best shape, the people who get up the most reps, game reps. I see a lot of people that take shots. And you know when people want to post for the gram, the NBA guys in the summer to show they working out some of the shots they're shooting.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It'S like, damn, bro, that was that damn Ben Simmons. That's what he used to. You ain't naming names, but I'm gonna name names that damn Ben Simmons used to go out there. Pretty boy, I caught them. Zoolander, the male model, you know what I'm saying? You could see him on the basketball court. He looked the part. He looked real good. You understand? And you going like this. What the hell is he really, really doing to work on his game? That's what. Go ahead. I'm sorry, that just popped in my head. I just couldn't let that go. But go ahead.

[Chris Matthews]

Well, you said the name.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Damn right.

[Chris Matthews]

I wasn't saying not you, I don't. But to be an elite shooter, every workout that you shoot, you have to shoot the shots that you're going to shoot in the game. And another good example is with Grant Williams. When I met Grant Williams, respectfully, he was such a hard tank. And I said, bro, I love that your body's nice and strong, but some of this stuff we have to take down just a little bit because, well, you can't be a cock diesel shooter, if that makes sense.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Now, how long ago was this? You said this to Grant Hill? Grant Williams.

[Chris Matthews]

Grant Williams. I was with him full time for the Celtics when he was top three in the NBA.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay. The reason I'm asking that is. Cause that ain't the damn play I'm seeing right now. When's the last time he worked with you?

[Chris Matthews]

About two and a half, three years.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Man, get your ass back with Chris Graham. What matter with you? Graham Williams, get your ass back here because you running people over. This ain't the NFL, this the NBA. Get your ass back in this gym. I'm sorry, I got.

[Chris Matthews]

Go ahead, go ahead. But that is huge. If anybody out there wants to be an elite shooter, your condition is important, your thighs are important, your core is important, but most importantly, your mind. If you want to be an elite shooter, you have to have the mindset of a killer. You can't allow somebody to get to you. And a good example, if somebody tap your elbow, are you going to complain to the ref or are you going to focus on the next shot? If somebody talks about your mom or tries to disrespect you, are you going to focus on them or are you going to focus on the next shot? And I'm going to give you a good example. I don't think he was top tier like Klay Thompson shooting the three. But when Michael Jordan started taking more jump shots to evolve as he got older, people were doing stuff to him, but you couldn't bother him, if that makes sense. And that's what it takes to be an elite shooter. But in today's basketball, I feel like a lot of people that I watch, NBA wise, they can be great shooters, but they get bothered too fast. And when I say bothered, they're always complaining to the refs, they're always complaining to the coaches. They're always complaining. If somebody taps them as they're running back on the court, they're talking to the defender. You gotta be dialed in, you gotta be focused, you gotta stay locked in if you want to be elite.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm gonna challenge you on something because you just said something that I think I gotta make sure. I gotta, I gotta get clarity on this. Did you just say that somebody people used to try to bother? Michael Jordan. Did Jordan tell you that? No, because let me tell you something that's not true. They were scared to death of him. They were scared. If anything, they were trying to be nice to him. So he would have dropped 50 on them, right? I mean, I, you, the Wizards. Look, bro, even when he came to the Wizards, remember that preseason game where he dropped 45 and everybody was going crazy like old man dropping in his 40s, dropping 45. What the hell? He scared the living hell out of them. They were scared, man. He scared them so much, they still walk around scared about it. I'm dead serious. But I digress. Let me get back to this. So conditioning?

[Chris Matthews]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Leg strength?

[Chris Matthews]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Core strength?

[Chris Matthews]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What about Shoulders. What about the arms? How you squared up to the basket?

[Chris Matthews]

All of that stuff. Yeah. So everybody's different. So with a grace and I. I would love for him to be squared up all the time For Jaylen Brown when he's wide open, I would love for him to be squared up. But it's some people like Bobby Portis, how big his thighs are, it's hard for him to square all the way up to the basket. So I was figuring out different angles that he's turned a certain way that it's still lined up with the shot. Because at first when he was playing with the Knicks, before I started training him, he was turned too slanted and that's why his ball kept going left, if that makes sense. So. So it's not really something special on, you know, everybody needs to be square, everybody needs to shoot a certain way. I changed the training to the person's body. And a good example is when I had Danny Green. I was his coach for the corner three. He led the NBA that year for the corner three.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes, he did.

[Chris Matthews]

So but the thing with people know about Danny Green, respectfully, he's a little boat legged.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes, he is.

[Chris Matthews]

So the one thing watch him on.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Sports, he's on Sports center now. He's very bow legged. You're being quite nice, but go ahead.

[Chris Matthews]

So the one thing I was noticing was when he was catching the ball in the corner, his rhythm was off because of how his legs was. So I gave him a certain type of rhythm before he caught the basketball. So not to be funny, so his legs won't affect the corner shot. And it worked. It worked. It worked.

[Stephen A. Smith]

How the hell do you see all of this? I mean, I mean you're watching film, you're spending time instead of watching the movies, you're watching these guys in film. And so how do you figure all of this out and how long does it take you to do that?

[Chris Matthews]

I could do it really fast to see what the problem is. I can't change a person's shot really fast. It takes time, it takes consistency. Consistency. And that's why I don't train everybody. So I'm not one of those trainers. If you really get to know me where you see online where if you just come in town, I train you one time and I say I'm your trainer. The only way you train with me, you gotta put in the work. You gotta train for an entire summer. You gotta be dedicated to your craft. And it takes the entire summer for me to really get the muscle memory a certain type of way.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You know, folks, I have to admit to you, Chris, man, I'm kinda lucky, you know, because, you know, I'm 57 years old. I just turned 57. I think I look pretty damn good for be 57, but I'm 57. Okay. But, you know, I got a nephew, I got, you know, some of his friends. I got other people, you know, talking shit, you know, and make me want to go on the court and bust their ass, excuse my language, you know, And I'm the kind of person that I would do that. Yeah. So. But I get on the court and here's the problem. I might bust him up for 30 minutes and I got to sit down for 30 days.

[Chris Matthews]

Right, right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That brother ready to go 30 minutes, right? That's the thing. That's when, you know, age and attrition has kicked in. But I showed up and I saw you All Star Weekend.

[Chris Matthews]

You was knocking it down like this.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I knock, knocking some of them down, but, you know, I just feel like, you know, I need to get back. I mean, my knees still ain't great, but I need to get back in the gym, Chris and I, you know, I've never had anyone work on my shop before. Do you think you could help me be a better shooter?

[Chris Matthews]

Well, I think I'm the, I'm one of the best in the world. And if you're willing to work out right now, I mean, I'm just saying.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That for certain people, there's no hope. I mean, certain people are just so awful, you understand? There's no hope for them whatsoever. There's no hope for everybody.

[Chris Matthews]

You in good hands.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm in good hands.

[Chris Matthews]

You in good hands. If you're serious about working on your game, right? I mean, you got suit on. I don't know. But if you're, I, I, I brought some sweat, bro. I mean, let's do, let's do this.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But here's the whole point before we do this though, okay? You going to run me into the ground, you know, you going to have me out there gasping for air in two minutes or something like that? You going to give a brother a break? You got any Gatorade and water around and stuff like that? You going to help a brother out?

[Chris Matthews]

I, I don't think I'm going to give you no breaks. We going to push you. We going to push you if you, if you want to be the best. That's why you're here. I didn't know you wanted to train, though. You told me. We was just doing it but if you want to train, I can train you. But we ain't taking no breaks.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Just talking about going through, you know, working on the form to show you.

[Chris Matthews]

Said we gotta go with your nephew. We gotta go with the young guys. We gotta get you right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

In my sleep. I could be your nephew in my sleep. I'm not even worried about that. It's just that I'm just saying I wanna. I wanna work on my shot in a way where it ain't gonna leave me once I leave this gym.

[Chris Matthews]

All right, you in good hands. Let's do this.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let's do this. Let's do this.

[Chris Matthews]

Let's do. Shoot.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He about to make me. You about to make me.

[Chris Matthews]

Look, I'm serious. Let's do it. I didn't know we was gonna train, but let's do this.

[Stephen A. Smith]

This.

[Chris Matthews]

I'll try. I'll try.

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101 free agents, we'll have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

It Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.