Chuck Ellis Workouts
If you’re in tune with the game of basketball in the Philadelphia area then you should be familiar with the name Ellis Gindraw aka Chuck Ellis. The Strawberry Mansion High School (PA) graduate came from humble beginnings and worked hard to be where he is at today. Ellis is a basketball trainer who currently trains professional athletes in the NBA. His list of clientele includes Dion Waiters, Wayne Ellington, Lou Williams, and the Morris twins. His road to training at the professional level came from nothing short of hard work and dedication. Getting his start from helping friend, Dionte Christmas prepare for NBA training camp, Ellis never looked back.
Ellis with some of his NBA clients, Wayne Ellington, Marcus Morris and Thomas Robinson. Photo courtesy of @Chuck_Ellis Instagram.
Ellis is a product of North Philly, where things don’t naturally come easy. Ellis worked tirelessly to find a niche in order to make it out of those circumstances. He started training about five years ago and has been striving to get better every day. Ellis studies the game of basketball like a true student. Watching countless games, zeroing in on defensive schemes and shot percentages, he soaks all this information in to improve at his craft. Ellis credits Philly legend John Hardnett for providing the foundation for what he is doing today. He is not only advancing the basketball culture in Philadelphia, he has inspired young people to work hard and pray hard. What makes Ellis a great trainer is his attention to detail and relentlessness into teaching other things outside of putting the ball in the basket.
I met Ellis sometime last year at a basketball tournament in Philadelphia. Without knowing who we was or what he did for a living, I approached him, introduced myself and told him what I was doing with All Things Hoops. I witnessed countless people of all ages come and shake his hand while we were conversing. I knew at that time he was more than just a spectator of the game we came to watch. He was a staple in the Philadelphia basketball scene and gets a lot of love in this city. Most of what Ellis said during our interview can translate directly into real life situations off of the basketball court. There are millions of people who want to be in his place right now. The past few years I’ve noticed a spike in the number of people creating training businesses. With so many people training and teaching the game of basketball, it’s essential to be unique at your approach and stand out in the crowd. For those trainers striving to reach the professional level one day he spoke nothing but facts. He spoke about how respect will take people a long way. Being willing to network and being respectful will be sure to open up a few doors. Be sure to listen to the All Things Hoops exclusive interview on the SoundCloud link above. Ellis tells a story about the first time he met Philadelphia 76er CEO Scott O’Neil, you don’t want to miss that!
The NBA is giving away millions of dollars to do other things than score… so find your niche and be the best at what you do!
If you’re a basketball junkie, like myself, you submerge yourself into everything that moves the culture. There are so many individuals who work hard behind the scenes that need to be recognized. The goal of the Basketball Entrepreneurship Series is to highlight these people and shine a spotlight on the work they are doing. A huge Thank You goes out to Chuck Ellis Workouts for the support! Follow him on Instagram @Chuck_Ellis (and on Twitter @Chuck_Ellis) and watch his journey training some of your favorite NBA players. Salute ?.