WATCH: Drew Hanlen Reveals A Day In The Life Of NBA Players During Offseason Workouts and a Few Familiar Faces Showed Up

Drew Hanlen has been a popular name on Sixers Twitter this summer. He’s a shooting instructor, averaging looking white guy, and God amongst men if he can figure out Markelle Futlz’ jump shot woes. Today, Hanlen release a mini-documentary of a day in his life as a trainer. The NBA offseason is what he calls his “in-season’. The 9-minute video details his hourly workouts with a slew of NBA talent beginning at 7am and not finishing until midnight. During the day in some random ass gym, a few familiar faces showed up. See for yourself:

8:00 am: Semi Ojeyele:

I would just like to go on the record and say I can see Ojeyele becoming a Philly killer. I want to hate him before it is a cool thing to hate him. During the footage of their workout, Hanlen is working with Ojeyele on his hand placement to give him a more consistent shooting stroke. There is some cruel irony in the fact that Markelle Fultz may be cured by the gift of Drew Hanlen allowing the Sixers to no longer be doomed by his shooting yips but in turn being doomed by Hanlen’s shooting work with Ojeyele. Jayson Tatum will always haunt us but Ojeyele seems like one of those guys who could bloom into a Philly killer. I also loved this exchange between the two guys:

Drew Hanlen to a shirtless Semi Ojeleye: “Do you think if I actually ate my body would look like yours?”

Semi Ojeleye: “Probably not.”

As an average looking white guy, I felt that on so many levels.

10:00 am: Mo Bamba, Joel Embiid, and Jayson Tatum play ones:

Favorite workout in the entire clip for so many reasons. This is Joel Embiid at his finest; not only dominating the competition, but trash talking them too.

https://twitter.com/HoopsReference/status/1016767282972905474

 

I love the friendly slander between Embiid and Tatum. Our center is 7’2 and making behind-the-back side step moves with a dunk finish against small forwards. The “Walking GOAT” is right. I would actually pay money to just sit in that gym and watch those guys play ones.

12:30 pm: Markelle Fultz comes in for his first workout of the day:

The way they set up this video footage as if Markelle Fultz shooting a basketball is like seeing the Loch Ness Monster is hilarious. You pretty much see the entirety of the workout, except for Fultz’ full shooting motion. Mike Levin of The Rights to Ricky Sanchez podcast had the most accurate description of what Fultz’ workout looked like:

Well said?

2:30 pm: Markelle and Drew change gyms for a skills workout: 

The footage of the skills workout for Fultz is exactly why I am not ready to give up on him yet. I know that solo workouts in an empty gym need to be taken with a grain of salt but c’mon. Guards with that type of athleticism, bounce and change of pace don’t grow on trees. The comparison between Markelle and Nelson Agholor has been a million times but it is so spot on. Agholor always showed flashes but couldn’t get out of his own way. The same coming out party Agholor had is coming for Fultz as well.

11:00 pm: Markelle comes back in for his third workout of the day: 

https://twitter.com/dmay706/status/1016779774398685185

THREE. WORKOUTS. IN. ONE. DAY.

There’s endless cases of athletes being busts because the effort level did not match the talent level. This just isn’t one of those cases. This kid gets it. His mind may be absolutely whacked but his talent is undeniable and his drive is clearly there. I am not giving up on this kid. And I am not dangling him as a trade chip for a guy who refuses to play basketball unless he gets his way, like a toddler who didn’t get the gift they wanted on Christmas. I may die on Markelle Fultz Island but it is going to be an honorable death.

Loved getting this behind the curtain look at what workouts are like for NBA players in the offseason! Maybe next time I can see what Markelle’s shot looks like!

By Aidan Powers | July 10, 2018