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Net Work: Training the NBA's Best and Finding the Keys to Greatness
Rob McClanaghan, the NBA’s most sought-after trainer, shares a behind-the-scenes look at how superstars like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, and Kevin Love work to excel at the game.
When Rob McClanaghan failed to make the Syracuse basketball team as a walk-on freshman, he asked the coaches what he needed to do to achieve his goal the following year. They all agreed: get stronger. So that’s what he did. For months, Rob traded fraternity parties and hanging out with buddies for hours in the gym lifting weights and shooting baskets. He was single-minded; the only thing that mattered was defying the odds. He returned to Syracuse for his sophomore year thirty pounds heavier and caught the coach’s eye.
In Net Work, McClanaghan—referred to by many as “RobMac”—brings to the page what he brings to each of his training sessions: the same grit and spirit that got him into the college game. He calls it “the grind,” and he knows that without it, even the most talented players will come up short. McClanaghan pushes his clients hard; he does whatever he can to drive his players to the edge and to simulate fourth quarter, at-the-buzzer adrenaline and fatigue.
An all-access pass to the practice courts of the NBA, Net Work combines McClanaghan’s hard-earned wisdom—both on and off the court—with rare glimpses into the dues-paying life of professional athletes determined to stay at the top. McClanaghan shares stories of working one-on-one with some of basketball’s greatest names, explaining how each athlete works to shore up his offensive and defensive weaknesses; perfect his nutrition; treat injuries; build mental toughness; and find occasional refuge from the glare of the spotlight. This book is life inside the NBA as you’ve never seen it, where players differentiate themselves by their willingness to put in relentless “net work.”
When Rob McClanaghan failed to make the Syracuse basketball team as a walk-on freshman, he asked the coaches what he needed to do to achieve his goal the following year. They all agreed: get stronger. So that’s what he did. For months, Rob traded fraternity parties and hanging out with buddies for hours in the gym lifting weights and shooting baskets. He was single-minded; the only thing that mattered was defying the odds. He returned to Syracuse for his sophomore year thirty pounds heavier and caught the coach’s eye.
In Net Work, McClanaghan—referred to by many as “RobMac”—brings to the page what he brings to each of his training sessions: the same grit and spirit that got him into the college game. He calls it “the grind,” and he knows that without it, even the most talented players will come up short. McClanaghan pushes his clients hard; he does whatever he can to drive his players to the edge and to simulate fourth quarter, at-the-buzzer adrenaline and fatigue.
An all-access pass to the practice courts of the NBA, Net Work combines McClanaghan’s hard-earned wisdom—both on and off the court—with rare glimpses into the dues-paying life of professional athletes determined to stay at the top. McClanaghan shares stories of working one-on-one with some of basketball’s greatest names, explaining how each athlete works to shore up his offensive and defensive weaknesses; perfect his nutrition; treat injuries; build mental toughness; and find occasional refuge from the glare of the spotlight. This book is life inside the NBA as you’ve never seen it, where players differentiate themselves by their willingness to put in relentless “net work.”
- GenresSportsBasketball
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 30, 2019
Rob McClangahan is not a name that basketball fans may recognize, but some of the players who have hired him as a trainer certainly are – players like Derrick Rose, Kevin Love, Kevin Durant, and Stephan Curry have all hired him to help them work on their games through short (one hour) but very intense work outs. In this book, McClangahan provides a fascinating look at not only these players, but life inside the NBA and why these players took their games to higher levels than most other NBA players.
It isn’t inaccurate to call this book a memoir, as McClangahan does talk about his early love for basketball and his story of being a walk-on player at Syracuse for three years while never getting a scholarship is inspiring. Especially because of his work ethic – he always put in the extra work required to not only make the team, but also to ensure he could get some playing time.
Knowing that he wouldn’t be an NBA player, McClangahan decided to take his basketball passion to help others. He didn’t start out by training NBA players right away – he would be found at the workouts that draft prospects would show their skills for the league’s teams. From there, he would work out players who believed they needed extra help to ensure they would be selected or who wanted to improve their draft position. His first star client from the NBA was Derrick Rose, who took his “net work” (McClangahan’s term for the extra work players put in to improve themselves – it is used frequently throughout the book) to the MVP award.
Rose’s story is probably the most gut-wrenching of all the players featured in the book because of his injury history. It was very heartbreaking to read about his hard work to come back after missing the entire 2011-12 season, only to suffer another season-ending injury in the first month back in November 2012. Don’t feel sorry for Derrick, however – he still worked his way back to be a serviceable player. The chapter on Rose starts off with a great story – when he scored 50 points while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018. It was a moment in which the entire league was congratulating him because of his dedication to make sure he kept his skills sharp.
While not as inspiring, the chapters on some of McClangahan’s other clients like Kevin Love and Kevin Durant are just as well-written and they provide the reader with an excellent insight into the life of an NBA player – at least as well as one can state without actually BEING a player. McClangahan has been invited to join many of his clients on trips, charity events and of course, their workouts, including those he hasn’t led. The reader will also see that he enjoys this lifestyle and is grateful that he can have such a successful career in the professional game without having ever played in the NBA.
Basketball fans, no matter what level of interest they have in the professional game, will want to read this book as it provides a very unique look into the game written by a man who has much inside knowledge of the best players in the game.
I wish to thank Scribner for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
It isn’t inaccurate to call this book a memoir, as McClangahan does talk about his early love for basketball and his story of being a walk-on player at Syracuse for three years while never getting a scholarship is inspiring. Especially because of his work ethic – he always put in the extra work required to not only make the team, but also to ensure he could get some playing time.
Knowing that he wouldn’t be an NBA player, McClangahan decided to take his basketball passion to help others. He didn’t start out by training NBA players right away – he would be found at the workouts that draft prospects would show their skills for the league’s teams. From there, he would work out players who believed they needed extra help to ensure they would be selected or who wanted to improve their draft position. His first star client from the NBA was Derrick Rose, who took his “net work” (McClangahan’s term for the extra work players put in to improve themselves – it is used frequently throughout the book) to the MVP award.
Rose’s story is probably the most gut-wrenching of all the players featured in the book because of his injury history. It was very heartbreaking to read about his hard work to come back after missing the entire 2011-12 season, only to suffer another season-ending injury in the first month back in November 2012. Don’t feel sorry for Derrick, however – he still worked his way back to be a serviceable player. The chapter on Rose starts off with a great story – when he scored 50 points while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018. It was a moment in which the entire league was congratulating him because of his dedication to make sure he kept his skills sharp.
While not as inspiring, the chapters on some of McClangahan’s other clients like Kevin Love and Kevin Durant are just as well-written and they provide the reader with an excellent insight into the life of an NBA player – at least as well as one can state without actually BEING a player. McClangahan has been invited to join many of his clients on trips, charity events and of course, their workouts, including those he hasn’t led. The reader will also see that he enjoys this lifestyle and is grateful that he can have such a successful career in the professional game without having ever played in the NBA.
Basketball fans, no matter what level of interest they have in the professional game, will want to read this book as it provides a very unique look into the game written by a man who has much inside knowledge of the best players in the game.
I wish to thank Scribner for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
December 12, 2019
Book was ok..not real insight into training or the life of the trainer. A poor mans version of the hoop whisperer. Tells the story of his journey to training the best in the world but it wasnt a remarkable journey. A little of just knowing the right people and keeping it simple.
Some entertaining stories and opinions on the current state of the game and the NBA. Let this was a really drawn out blog post.
Alot of Meh? reactions after completing book.
Some entertaining stories and opinions on the current state of the game and the NBA. Let this was a really drawn out blog post.
Alot of Meh? reactions after completing book.
January 23, 2020
This is such a great book! If you're a diehard fan of basketball you'll love some of the anecdotes about some of the games greatest players, but this is definitely for those basketball trainers and/or high school ballers who are looking to get better at their craft. Rob outlines the secret to his success as well as the secret to the successes of those he's worked with. Players like Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love and many more identify Rob as a key ingredient to their individual growth as basketball players. They are also quick to call him a friend. This, to me, highlights a big theme of the book from a trainers standpoint. You have to really work to develop a relationship with the person you're working with so that they know you care and are great at what you do. I annotated all over this book so I'm just going to share some of my favorites:
"The great ones find joy in the grind." - 5
"Practice shooting when players are tired and make sure every shooting drill is something they would do in a game." - 6
"Player development isn't just about skills and footwork. It's about attitude, approach, intensity, purpose, efficiency - all those things." - 24
"If you're my client and you love the game as much as I do, we're going to go hard. There's no short-changing anyone when it comes to net work." - 29
"Send video clips to point out what players are doing right/wrong."
"The most important muscle is in between the ears."
"The game requires lateral movement, quick-twitch muscles, jumping off one or two legs, and lots and lots of explosive bursts." - 64
"To be a great basketball player, you have to have burst - and that must be deployed at the exact right time to be effective. In other words, slow is quick."- 64 *STAYING IN CONTROL IS MORE IMPORTANT!*
Check out SYNERGY - "An analytics website that offers great video capabilities."
"Working in small groups allows you to set up little games - Ex: We're gonna take five three point shots from these four spots. That's twenty shots. Whoever gets the most wins." - 96
"The only assets that really count are your skills and reputation." 98
"...eat right and feel light..." 120
*Great drill to remember and try - "50" = The idea is that you shoot from five different spots around the three-point line. The first three shots at each spot are freebies. After that, you keep shooting until you miss. Once you do, you move onto the next spot. The object is to make fifty shots by the time you're done at the fifth spot." -126
"Everything you do in workouts should resemble a game."
"Technique is important, but the most important factor when it comes to that area of the game is feel. (When referencing Steph Curry)...Once that feel is ingrained, it's just a matter of getting perfect reps to build muscle memory." - 139
"People always worried about being ruined by failure, but it's more important to never be ruined by success." - 142
"You can't overcoach, and you can't get on them too badly for missing shots." - 145
How will you train my son? - "The same way I train the pros." Obviously, the performance level will be different, but the essence of working hard to get better remains the same. It's all about effort, fundamentals, details, persistence, and getting those perfect reps."-164
"There's a difference between teaching and coaching. I'd like to see more teaching and less coaching in high school and younger." 165
RULES for becoming a baller - 170-180 (This is great to share with kids that I train)
1 - Don't Shoot
2 - Keep BEEF (Balance, Elbows, Eyes, Follow Through) in your Diet
3 - Don't have a position
4 - Work on your Strengths
5 - Move Forward
6 - Be Respectful
7 - Pick the right system
8 - Study the Game
9 - Sacrifice
10 - Be a leader
11- Value Winning Above All Else
12 - Have Fun
"Shooting starts from the ground up...keep body low when moving without the ball."
"Doing the network with the kids you train involves more than just being a "glorified passer". You have to get in and mix it up with them. Put some pressure on them...- 194
"Just like life, the game of basketball will reward you for what you put into it - but if you want the best results, you have to commit, totally and completely. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what court you're on. What matters is that you put in the work." - 199
"The great ones find joy in the grind." - 5
"Practice shooting when players are tired and make sure every shooting drill is something they would do in a game." - 6
"Player development isn't just about skills and footwork. It's about attitude, approach, intensity, purpose, efficiency - all those things." - 24
"If you're my client and you love the game as much as I do, we're going to go hard. There's no short-changing anyone when it comes to net work." - 29
"Send video clips to point out what players are doing right/wrong."
"The most important muscle is in between the ears."
"The game requires lateral movement, quick-twitch muscles, jumping off one or two legs, and lots and lots of explosive bursts." - 64
"To be a great basketball player, you have to have burst - and that must be deployed at the exact right time to be effective. In other words, slow is quick."- 64 *STAYING IN CONTROL IS MORE IMPORTANT!*
Check out SYNERGY - "An analytics website that offers great video capabilities."
"Working in small groups allows you to set up little games - Ex: We're gonna take five three point shots from these four spots. That's twenty shots. Whoever gets the most wins." - 96
"The only assets that really count are your skills and reputation." 98
"...eat right and feel light..." 120
*Great drill to remember and try - "50" = The idea is that you shoot from five different spots around the three-point line. The first three shots at each spot are freebies. After that, you keep shooting until you miss. Once you do, you move onto the next spot. The object is to make fifty shots by the time you're done at the fifth spot." -126
"Everything you do in workouts should resemble a game."
"Technique is important, but the most important factor when it comes to that area of the game is feel. (When referencing Steph Curry)...Once that feel is ingrained, it's just a matter of getting perfect reps to build muscle memory." - 139
"People always worried about being ruined by failure, but it's more important to never be ruined by success." - 142
"You can't overcoach, and you can't get on them too badly for missing shots." - 145
How will you train my son? - "The same way I train the pros." Obviously, the performance level will be different, but the essence of working hard to get better remains the same. It's all about effort, fundamentals, details, persistence, and getting those perfect reps."-164
"There's a difference between teaching and coaching. I'd like to see more teaching and less coaching in high school and younger." 165
RULES for becoming a baller - 170-180 (This is great to share with kids that I train)
1 - Don't Shoot
2 - Keep BEEF (Balance, Elbows, Eyes, Follow Through) in your Diet
3 - Don't have a position
4 - Work on your Strengths
5 - Move Forward
6 - Be Respectful
7 - Pick the right system
8 - Study the Game
9 - Sacrifice
10 - Be a leader
11- Value Winning Above All Else
12 - Have Fun
"Shooting starts from the ground up...keep body low when moving without the ball."
"Doing the network with the kids you train involves more than just being a "glorified passer". You have to get in and mix it up with them. Put some pressure on them...- 194
"Just like life, the game of basketball will reward you for what you put into it - but if you want the best results, you have to commit, totally and completely. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what court you're on. What matters is that you put in the work." - 199
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2020
A thin but interesting book about the life of an NBA trainer and some insight into NBA players' lives.
The experience of Rob's NBA trainer job shares many commonalities with a people manager in an internet company. Fading hierachical structure is a trend in corporate companies, it's especially true in the internet companies where employees are mostly young tech gurus, the equivalent of 3-point shooters, and view the company as a flatland.
In such flat structured organizations, first line and mid-level people managers need to get into the team members' head, find out what motivate them and provide tools, along with opportunities, for them to grow. The net work, a terminology Rob uses throughout this book to describe the intense training the players receive, is a strength magnifier for the players. I believe this concept also can be applied to the internet company's daily mentoring and coaching, it's just a matter to define what activities should be viewed as "net work" in the tech gurus' context.
Rob's candidness is another quite pleasant ingredient of this book. The way he describes the NBA players' fame and perks, and the concern for the post-NBA life are something fresh to read about.
The experience of Rob's NBA trainer job shares many commonalities with a people manager in an internet company. Fading hierachical structure is a trend in corporate companies, it's especially true in the internet companies where employees are mostly young tech gurus, the equivalent of 3-point shooters, and view the company as a flatland.
In such flat structured organizations, first line and mid-level people managers need to get into the team members' head, find out what motivate them and provide tools, along with opportunities, for them to grow. The net work, a terminology Rob uses throughout this book to describe the intense training the players receive, is a strength magnifier for the players. I believe this concept also can be applied to the internet company's daily mentoring and coaching, it's just a matter to define what activities should be viewed as "net work" in the tech gurus' context.
Rob's candidness is another quite pleasant ingredient of this book. The way he describes the NBA players' fame and perks, and the concern for the post-NBA life are something fresh to read about.
November 25, 2022
Was interesting to read the perspective of an individual trainer having already had the perspective of the team side of things. There wasn't a lot that surprised me or was new information to me, though. It was mostly a shallow dive across a lot of different NBA-related topics. I give it about 2.5 stars, but I rounded up to 3 mostly because of the section of quick hitters on different guys he worked with in the NBA. Brandon Knight and Brandon Jennings were my only crossovers with Rob, but he pretty much confirmed my experience with Brandon Knight, so bonus points for that.
August 2, 2020
Interesting inside look at the NBA
Rob has worked hard in his time spent to become a trainer and deserves tremendous respect. The stories he tells are intriguing and his philosophy on basketball fits the grassroots in which he grew. I only wish Rob had shared more about his workouts and his process, although he claims that he rarely keeps track of the workouts. A good read for the basketball fan who wants a deeper look into how NBA caliber players put in some Net Work.
Rob has worked hard in his time spent to become a trainer and deserves tremendous respect. The stories he tells are intriguing and his philosophy on basketball fits the grassroots in which he grew. I only wish Rob had shared more about his workouts and his process, although he claims that he rarely keeps track of the workouts. A good read for the basketball fan who wants a deeper look into how NBA caliber players put in some Net Work.
October 4, 2021
Very cool insight into the NBA life. Offers great stories about some of the NBA's top athletes. Shows the true meaning of hard work and dedication to his craft.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews