Tyrese Haliburton may have gotten some of his trash-talking tendencies from his trainer, Drew Hanlen.
The renowned NBA skills coach has become a trending topic over the past week after The Athletic published an article revealing some of Hanlen’s more unorthodox strategies to motivate his clients.
Hanlen would reportedly have one NBA client talk trash to another on speakerphone if the latter needed motivation. If two of his clients were set to play each other soon, Hanlen would sometimes put the two players on a text chain together and instigate beef between the two.
The method is even more intriguing when you realize his client base includes stars like Haliburton, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Tyler Herro, Tyrese Maxey, Chet Holmgren, and more recently Giannis Antetokounmpo.
One of Giannis’ former Milwaukee Bucks teammates, Brandon Jennings, isn’t a fan of Hanlen’s motivational tactics. When the Athletic piece dropped last week, Jennings slammed Hanlen, claiming the trainer was too “buddy buddy” with players. When Hanlen didn’t respond, Jennings doubled down on Tuesday.
“Why u so quiet now you groupie a– trainer, Jennings wrote on X. “Where is the group text chain now!!!! U the biggest basketball groupie trainer ever.”
Why u so quiet now you groupie ass trainer @DrewHanlen where is the group text chain now!!!! U the biggest basketball groupie trainer ever https://t.co/HL4sIyvJWJ
— Brandon Jennings (@Tuff__Crowd) June 3, 2025
After staying silent the first time, Hanlen did not take the second callout sitting down. The 35-year-old trainer showed off some of his trash-talking skills in his response to Jennings.
“I’m getting two of my clients (Haliburton & Holmgren) ready for the finals so don’t have time to waste on your dumba– takes Side note: Maybe if your trainer would talked shit to you, you wouldn’t have shot 37% from the field & 23% from 3 in the playoffs while never winning s–t”
I’m getting two of my clients (Haliburton & Holmgren) ready for the finals so don’t have time to waste on your dumbass takes
— Drew Hanlen (@DrewHanlen) June 3, 2025
Side note: Maybe if your trainer would talked shit to you, you wouldn’t have shot 37% from the field & 23% from 3 in the playoffs while never winning shit https://t.co/SOQD43xF4u
The amusing part is that Jennings may have unintentionally proven Hanlen’s tactics effective. The nine-year NBA veteran would have probably been so fired up to play Hanlen’s clients after the exchange had he not been out of the league for seven years.
Jennings had his moments as a high-level scorer early in his NBA career. He averaged 16.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists during his five seasons with the Bucks.
But like Hanlen said, Jennings did not exactly have a vaunted playoff resume. He averaged just 8.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.6 assists through 25 postseason appearances. Jennings only made it past the first round once, when he served as a backup combo guard on the 2016-17 Washington Wizards.
Jennings averaged 2.8 points off the bench for that Washington team, backing up then-Wizards All-Star Bradley Beal, who happens to be Hanlen’s first-ever major client.
