Chris Brickley Builds on His Empire Legacy with Third PUMA Release
When we talk about New York City’s legacy, we’re looking back at the lasting impact this city has had on not just each of us individually but all of us together. No matter who you are or where you come from, the five boroughs of NYC have had a profound impact on you, even if you’ve never been there before. Wall Street sets the tone in the finance world, Broadway tells timeless stories, and the countless basketball courts around the city, from Rucker Park to The Summit, make or break the basketball stars of tomorrow.
They say “if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere” but that doesn’t tell the whole story, because nobody can make it alone in the Big Apple. You need a community, you need to work your ass off, and you need a little bit of luck. At least, that’s the way Chris Brickley tells it.
The former Louisville guard, who played under legendary coach Rick Pitino, worked tirelessly for his chance to earn a spot on the Cardinal as a walk-on in 2008. As some of his teammates got to chase their dream of becoming an NBA player, Chris knew it wasn’t his path. But the game wasn’t done with him and he was far from reaching The Summit of his basketball destiny.
Chris had the innate ability to make players around him better, and there was no better way to tap into that talent than as a coach. Brickley climbed the ranks, coaching in college for little to no money and paying his dues until he got a real shot. This wasn’t new to him, and he knew the grind would pay off. Brickley eventually landed on the Knicks staff, and on J.R. Smith’s couch, as the young coach was only making $300 a week and needed a place to crash. He told The Breakfast Club Smith was the first NBA player to believe in his training abilities, and allowed the new coach to stay at his place the whole season while he found his footing in New York.
That time was formative, allowing the young coach to learn from another legend in Phil Jackson while also getting the opportunity to train superstars like Carmelo Anthony. Now, all these years later, CB is getting Melo’s son Kiyan ready for his eventual jump from Syracuse to the NBA.
Brickley ventured out on his own to start BlackOps Training, trusting in his coaching and entrepreneurial skills, and betting on himself. It’s paid off. Brickley is the go-to trainer for the game’s elite, working with Lebron, Durant, and a who’s who of All-NBA talent to level-up their game and maximize their skills. You’ve probably seen clips of everyone from Jaylen Brown to Drake working with CB on their shot. He’s been working with Donovan Mitchell since the NBA superstar was a junior in high school.
I had the opportunity to visit Chris at his home gym, The Summit, to weartest CB’s brand new PUMA sneaker and experience one of his world class training sessions. You’ve surely seen The Summit, we all have. I guess I just didn’t realize the Instagram-famous court was literally in a luxury apartment building. Apparently, Chris just rolls out of bed and walks down the hallway to give your favorite player some pointers. So, after the doorman let me in, I walked up to the front desk and the nice older gentleman asked me my name. I said, “Kevin Love” and he gestured toward the elevator, definitely judging my conditioning this close to the season.
When I reached The Summit, the PUMA team handed me a beautiful box emblazoned with the New York City skyline set against a beautiful sunset. CB’s inspiration for the PUMA All-Pro NITRO 2 Empire Legacy is his love of this city, not just on the court but in all aspects of its culture. His view of the Empire State Building from his apartment is the photo featured in the box. The menu from the deli he visited every day while beginning his coaching career can be found on the insole. Iconic street signs around the city on the sole. CB’s motto “Keep Going, Keep Growing” on the suede tongue.
"The shoe represents everything I've worked for,” Brickley said. “The players who trust me with their craft, the city that I have grown to be a man in, and the NYC grind that shaped me. Empire Legacy is my way of celebrating anyone out there who has used NYC to build a legacy.”
After giving us a rundown of all the shoe’s technical achievements and design features, it was time to hoop. Chris split us up into three groups and ran us through drills like he would his NBA clients, or at least that’s what I kept telling myself. I’m sure he was going easy on us. But one guy in my group didn’t miss from anywhere. Absolute money from any spot on the court. As the casual drills shifted to a tournament-style competition, all of us on Team 3 were really grateful he was on our squad. When I introduced myself as not NBA legend Kevin Love but instead Drew London, out-of-shape blogger who hasn’t hooped in years, he laughed and said, “I’m Tyler… Kolek. Of the Knicks.”
He carried us throughout all the drills but I didn’t want to hold us back, I wanted to contribute and help my team win. The last drill was floaters. Catch a pass in the corner, dribble step twice, and let the floater fly. Now, I don’t know if anything I’ve said previously would lead you to believe I have a floater in my bag, but I surely do not. My nerves were building and I was getting anxious. I don’t want to be the one who lets my team down. But then, I remembered who I am and where I was at. I’m teamed up with a Knicks player, hooping in one of the most prestigious gyms in the world, dripped out in unreleased PUMA heat that gives me untold powers on the court and off. The floater floated. My team cheered. The Knicks player congratulated me. Was I dreaming? No, I was building my Empire Legacy. And I looked good doing it.
For his third shoe with PUMA, Brickley wanted to focus on designing a sneaker that worked well in the game and looked good on the street. Mission accomplished. The tumbled leather and luscious suede give the shoe an ultra-premium feel in-hand, paired with PUMA's NITRO SQD foam for explosive bounce and ultimate comfort. It celebrates the past while embracing the future, adding to Chris Brickley’s legacy and making us all wonder what he has up his shooting sleeve next. So, I asked him.
Chris Brickley's third PE, the PUMA All-Pro NITRO 2 Empire Legacy is available now. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to find a pair, plus stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
Drew oversees content at Sole Retriever and hates writing in the 3rd person soooo I'm going to stop. I've written for countless blogs and magazines, from Complex to XXL and everywhere in between. Spent a long time in LA, running content and working on branded collabs at The Hundreds. Now, I'm back home on the East Coast freezing my ass off. Email me at drew@soleretriever.com with scoops, story ideas, and size 13 heat.
