Lethal Shooter, the 'hooper' from Instagram: "I always had the dream of playing in the NBA"

Chris Matthews, better known as Lethal Shooter, has around 4 million followers on Instagram. He is followed by a large number of NBA superstars and is more widely known than many players. In the past few hours, he granted an interview for HoopsHype in which he discussed various aspects of his life.

His current role in the NBA Creators Cup as part of the NBA family
It's a blessing. I always dreamt of playing in the NBA. I played overseas for seven years and in the G League for one year, but I never made it to the NBA. Many people ask me, "Why aren't you in the NBA?" and I always tell them, "I may not be playing in the NBA, but I am signed with the NBA." The NBA has provided me with opportunities that I wouldn't have had otherwise. Being able to travel around the world – to Africa, Abu Dhabi, Paris, Las Vegas, and Washington, DC – on behalf of the NBA is a dream come true.

Moreover, creating the Creator Cup and giving us the chance to showcase what we do is incredible. I am the Nike Academy director, a Nike and Jordan master coach. Being able to coach in the name of the NBA in front of so many people is something I can't even explain.

The highlights of his career and how they shaped his path
In high school, I played for the National Christian Academy. We were always ranked among the top 25 in our area, and I was ranked as number 1 or 2 in all of Maryland. Many people don't know, but I was one of the best shooters in the state.

In my junior year, with Kevin Durant, we had a record of 27-3. Then, in my prep school year, I played for Lutheran Christian Academy, which was ranked as number 1 nationally. All of my team ended up playing Division 1. Many people only see "Lethal Shooter" on YouTube, but they don't know that I actually played basketball.

His experience playing under Tony Bennett and Dick Bennett
It was a dream to play for Tony Bennett. But what many don't know is that I played first for his father, Dick Bennett. During my second year, Tony took over, and we were ranked as high as number 12 nationally.

Tony told me to be patient, that the team would be mine in my senior year. But I wasn't patient and transferred to St. Bonaventure. There, I led my conference in three-pointers made and three-point percentage and was number 7 in the country for three-pointers made. It wasn't a failure, but I always wonder what would have happened if I had stayed in the Pac-10.

How playing internationally shaped his perspective and his decision to leave competitive basketball
I played in Russia, China, France, and South America. There was never a cultural clash because I always felt honored to be there. Learning new cultures, trying new food, and seeing new things was a blessing.

I stopped playing because in South America, I had a collapsed lung. It was something called pulmonary edema. I couldn't move my legs for two weeks and lost all muscle mass in my thighs. If my teammate hadn't found me, I don't know what would have happened. It was a very tough experience.

His name "Lethal Shooter" and what it means to him now
My father always called me "Lethal." When I created my username on Instagram, I decided to use "Lethal Shooter" because no one had taken it. Now, the whole world knows me as Lethal Shooter. It's a blessing.

How he developed his shooting ability
I always knew I could shoot well, but I never imagined I would come this far. It bothers me when people think I'm just an "Instagram shooter." They don't know I led my conference in threes and three-point percentage, or that I was nominated for the McDonald's All-American Game.

People ask me, "If you're so good, why don't you play more?" Because now I'm a coach. I can't risk an injury because my family depends on me.

What sets him apart as a shooting coach and how his experience contributes to his methods
I'm such a good coach because I can shoot. To teach something, you have to know how to do it. That's why my clients, like Grayson Allen, KCP, and Jaylen Brown, play well.

How he balances his roles as a shooting coach, content creator, and family man
I am the Nike Academy director, and many people don't understand that I coach while creating content. I work all day, spend time with my family, and in the evening, I train or record content. People think I'm just a content creator, but I'm a hardworking coach who takes care of his family.

His motivation and balance while traveling for commitments
I have fun. My life is so serious that I enjoy these moments. Recently, in three days, I went from Los Angeles to New York and Chicago. My motivation is to show people that even if you don't make it to the NBA or NFL, you can impact the world in other roles.

The biggest issue with shooting in young players today
Many are not putting in the right work. They want to skip steps. From age 9 to 30, I was taking 500 shots a day. Youngsters need to understand the importance of technique and not rush into shooting from deep too soon.

His favorite childhood players
I always wanted to be like Craig Hodges, one of the greatest shooters in history, and Ray Allen. Craig was my coach for two years and taught me the importance of footwork. Looking back and thinking that someone I admired ended up being my coach is surreal.

His advice for young athletes with big dreams and realistic goals
They should have dreams and aspirations, but also be realistic. They need to understand that everything requires work and patience.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Lethal Shooter, el "hooper" de Instagram: "Siempre tuve el sueño de jugar en la NBA"