The Architecture of Obsession: Inside Basketball’s Most Extreme Training Videos

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
These are NBA training videos you didn't see on TV. And first, Dwight Howard ended his training session from full court.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:12)
Did you get that on film?

**LeBron James** (0:14)
Why you want that?

**SPEAKER_1** (0:15)
Made that look easier than free throws, but Monte Ellis took the circus shots at practice to the max.

**SPEAKER_4** (0:25)
That's why I'm married with Tutor.

**SPEAKER_1** (0:37)
That was unbelievable, and Lebron got in on the action too. See, he was at practice when he tossed one through the net like a football. Ron made the craziest shots on the floor, but imagine dunking on the most dominant player of all time. Because 5'9, Nate Robinson knew that practice was the only time he could catch Shaq lacking. And after getting posterized, Shaq made sure he whooped Nate's ass, literally. Shaq had Nate bent over, but he didn't have to take the embarrassment like John Wall. Look, Wall was one of the best point guards in the league, but that didn't matter when he met Sheldon McClellan. Yeah, you never heard that name in your life, and that's cuz dude was in the G-league. And when they went one on one after training, Wall was supposed to make him look like target practice, but this nobody left his ass cooked.
And when it was time for Sheldon to call game, he made sure John Wall put some respect on his name.
Yeah, you never know what you might see behind closed doors, but Kevin Durant was training in front of everyone. See, KD was so focused on basketball, he was working on his jumper while he was partying. Ball is really life for that dude, but the clip went viral quick, so KD had some explaining to do.

**Kevin Durant** (2:24)
My shoulder was a little tight, so I was in the club, like, just doing this, you know what I'm saying? And then my boy was like, yo, I lock you up, like, you can't score on me. When he told me that, I was like, I was just trying to show him what I would do once we get on the court. Like, you know, shadow boxing. I was shadow boxing, and I was just giving him my moves. So he was like, you couldn't see him in the video. He was across the intersection. I was like on the dance floor, and he was like screaming at me that he can guard me, so I had to show him what I was gonna do to him.

**SPEAKER_1** (2:49)
Kevin was practicing in the wildest place ever, but nobody had a practice environment like Michael Jordan in the Bulls. See, at practice, Jordan was a straight bully, and somehow a bench player named Scott Burl became MJ's favorite punching bag. Scott, I brought you to guard somebody else, like Judd.

**SPEAKER_4** (3:19)
You can't even guard Judd.

**SPEAKER_1** (3:20)
Who guards you?

**SPEAKER_4** (3:21)
You don't want to do this. If you can go up to the 290-something top.

**SPEAKER_1** (3:27)
Yeah, Jordan was a straight psycho in training, and so was Luka Donchich. See, when Luka was training, he made the most insane shots ever witnessed. Just watch him pouring buckets with soccer moves. And that's not all, because he hits shots from every way imaginable.
Damn, Luca might be better in practice, but imagine being perfect. See, Steph has created some of the greatest shooting performances ever seen. But what if I told you that in practice, he was even more insane? Because this dude stayed in one spot and didn't miss. Yeah, do knock down 105 threes in a row like it was nothing. But even though Steph is that good, he was no match for his coach. See, Steph and Marc Jackson went toe to toe from the three point line after practice, and coach showed him how it's done. Now, when Steph had a chance to prove his greatness, bro must have forgot how to shoot.
Steph lost some aura points that day, but nobody had a shooting mishap like Yana's aunties to Kumpo. Look, Yannis was working on his free throws after the game until Matrez wasn't having that on his court. So he straight up snatched a ball and started practicing on his own, like he owned the place. I ain't gon take his ball, they got two balls. They got two balls.

**SPEAKER_4** (5:15)
Give Yannis one ball, dawg.

**SPEAKER_1** (5:17)
Now Yannis kept his cool and grabbed another ball. And by the time he returned to the court, the stadium staff was shutting things down. And with all that disrespect bubbling up, Yannis snapped. Yannis reached his breaking point, but Kobe took his disrespect to his teammates. It was 2014, the twilight of Kobe's legendary career. So Bro was barely at practice every day. But when he showed up, Kobe left his team insulted.