An Interview with Elite Basketball Trainer Ganon Baker
By Dr. James Gels, From the Coach’s Clipboard Basketball Playbook"Helping coaches coach better..."
Ganon Baker is a high-performance, elite basketball trainer who runs basketball camps and has trained over 15,000 players each year with clients and contacts in over 15 countries and 44 states. He has worked closely with Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Vince Carter, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Deron Williams at each of their Skill Academies and has trained multiple NBA stars such as Chris Paul, Jerryd Bayless, Kevin Durant and Amare Stoudemire to name a few.
Specializing in Individual and Team Training, Camps and Instructional DVDs, annually, Ganon Baker and the Pro Trainers of Ganon Baker Basketball, host camps and clinics throughout the world and have authored nearly 50 Instructional Basketball DVDs and counting... Coach Gels.
Coach's Clipboard: You have made quite some name for yourself providing top notch basketball skill training DVDs, clinics and services. For all those coaches and players that have not heard from you: Who is Ganon Baker?
Ganon Baker: I am a former HS, College and Professional player. I played at Hampton HS, Duquesne / UNC Wilmington, and played professionally in Iceland and had an invitation to the Denver Nuggets training camp. I now run my own basketball skill development business and I do camps, clinics, workouts with HS players all the way up to pro-players like Amar'e Stoudemire.
Coach's Clipboard: You motivate and inspire a lot of coaches and players world-wide. We would like to know who is inspiring and motivating you?
Ganon Baker: First and foremost God, I am a Christian and the Holy Spirit which is a spiritual force gives me energy and wisdom every day. My parents inspire me because they gave me the best thing that anyone could give me and that is my name, I don't want to do anything to mess that up. The third person the inspires me is my mentor, a guy that I look up to, Kevin Eastman (Assistant Coach for Boston Celtics).
Coach's Clipboard: Ganon, when I watch your DVDs it seem to me that you are ready to play in the NBA. Why are you not in the NBA?
Ganon Baker: Honestly I am not good enough to play in the NBA. In 2002 I tried out for the Denver Nuggets and I shattered my pinkie finger and they said I was not good enough to be put on injured reserve list, so they cut me. There is no question that I am skilled enough and know the game enough to be in the NBA. I am tough enough, but dag on it I am just not good enough, I do not have the talent.
Coach's Clipboard: Ganon, you have just launched a new website www.ganonbakerbasketball.com. What is the website about?
Ganon Baker: The website has everything you need to develop your game as a player and a coach.
Coach's Clipboard: How can Coaches and Players benefit from the new website.
Ganon Baker: We have instructional and informational blogs and articles. We have a video membership on skills and drills. We have a store that sells almost every offensive video you can think of. We have our trainers schedule, so you can be aware when and where we train.
Coach's Clipboard: What kind of advice/motivation can you give to players and coaches that really want to improve themselves?
Ganon Baker: Best advice I can give is, never turn down an opportunity to learn, whether it is going to a clinic, watching a practice, observing a camp, or watching film, make sure you are prepared to learn. Have an open heart and an open mind and take physical notes, bring a notebook.
Coach's Clipboard: Finally, you have just released Point Guard Series DVDs. Tell us more about the DVDs?
Ganon Baker: The PG DVDs have everything a PG needs to be successful at their position. It is a DVD with skills and drills like you have never seen. Very dynamic and fun cutting edge techniques. You can order our DVDs from the website https://www.coachesclipboard.net.
