DHJ Quick Take: The Elite Standard
- The Top Tier: Chris Brickley’s endorsement of Paige Bueckers having “that mentality that the greats have” puts her in rare air. By training alongside the same minds that sharpen Kevin Durant and LeBron James, Bueckers is refining the “99th-percentile” skill set that made her the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 200 points, 50 rebounds, and 50 assists.
- Refining the Shooting: While Bueckers averaged 19.2 PPG as a rookie, her .331 mark from three left room for the growth Brickley is known to unlock. Given she once made 29 consecutive 3-pointers in a drill for him at UConn, this partnership is about translating that “gym shooting” into the high-volume perimeter threat the Wings need to pair with Azzi Fudd.
- No Sophmore Slump: Most rookies take time to decompress after their first 36-game grind; Paige was in NYC putting in work just days after the draft. This “relentless” approach is the engine behind her 20.3 efficiency rating—the highest of any guard in the league last season.
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers is not wasting any time away from the court.
Elite NBA skills trainer Chris Brickley posted a workout reel to Instagram on Wednesday featuring Bueckers putting in work in New York City, offering a brief but pointed caption alongside the footage.
“No long caption needed!! @paigebueckers one of them ones!!!” Brickley wrote. “I’ve been blessed to work with some of the greatest to do it both in the men’s and women’s game and Paige got that mentality that the greats have!! Keep grinding & keep growing‼️”
The co-sign carries weight. Brickley‘s client list reads as a who’s-who of basketball royalty — LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, Klay Thompson, and Donovan Mitchell among them. He also trained Cooper Flagg before Flagg had suited up for a single game at Duke. For Brickley to place Bueckers in that tier of competitors speaks to the reputation she has built both on the court and in the gym.
The relationship between Bueckers and Brickley is not new. The two have worked together for years, dating back to Bueckers‘ time at UConn. During a 2023 offseason session, Brickley singled her out as the best shooter he had seen all summer after she connected on 29 consecutive 3-pointers during a drill.
Bueckers, 23, is coming off a standout rookie campaign with Dallas in which she averaged 19.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists across 36 games, earning WNBA Rookie of the Year honors and an All-Star selection. The continued investment in her craft this offseason signals she has no interest in taking a step back.
Brickley operates out of New York City and has become one of the most recognizable figures in basketball training, with over 3.8 million Instagram followers and a presence in NBA 2K25.
More Wings Coverage on Dallas Hoops Journal
- Dallas Wings Sign Kyla Oldacre And Grace Sullivan To Training Camp Contracts
- ‘We’ve Known For A Little While’: Greg Bibb On Why Azzi Fudd Was The Only Choice For Dallas
- ‘She Was The Right Fit’: Jose Fernandez And Curt Miller Detail Drafting Azzi Fudd, Dallas Wings’ Free Agency Moves
- ‘Nothing I Could Have Imagined’: Azzi Fudd Reacts To Dallas Wings Selection And Paige Bueckers Reunion
- ‘Ecstatic To Add Her’: Curt Miller Breaks Down Azzi Fudd As No. 1 Pick For Dallas Wings
- Dallas Wings Select Azzi Fudd No. 1 Overall, Reuniting Her With Paige Bueckers
- Rebecca Lobo On Azzi Fudd Going No. 1 To Dallas Wings: ‘She Has WNBA All-Star Potential As A Rookie’
- ‘Our Top Target’: Dallas Wings Sign Reigning WNBA Co-Defensive Player Of The Year Alanna Smith To Three-Year Max Deal
