"Sly Fox" played alongside Michael Jordan on one of the best teams ever. On this episode, I go 1-on-1 with Orangetheory Fitness Franchisee/Partner Abdul Fox to talk about lessons learned through basketball, motivation to get in the gym as we kick off this New Year, his coaching, and much more.

Hope you subscribe to the Run The Race podcast. I start this one with an interesting history of basketball, including some of my fondest memories of my favorite sport including meeting MJ.

(6:43) My conversation with Coach Abdul Fox starts with the former basketball star's connections to Michael Jordan, as he was invited to Chicago Bulls camp decades ago, and his locker as an NBA rookie was next to MJ, who even gave Fox all his #45 gear, when he went back to #23. (11:18) In the "Fast 4" rapid fire questions, we learn about his coaching, fitness routine, how he helps #addvalue, and being a kid at heart as he turns 50 years old.

As we are at the beginning of a New Year, (14:03) this former pro athlete has advice for you on goals for 2021, starting small, not procrastinating, having support - having fun with workouts and moving for 30 minutes, even if it's dancing.

(17:07) Fox started playing basketball at age 14 on the streets of Queens NY, playing at a boarding school, then in college and transferring to Rhode Island. His team got wins in the NIT and NCAA Tournaments, losing in March Madness to the eventual champs the UNC Tar Heels.

(22:35) The death of his father - suddenly at a park - was a big turning point, testing his faith, but also leading him to inner peace as he embraced the culture of Taiwan when he was balling there. In coping with the loss, Fox stopped chasing the NBA and focused on fitness to help prevent heart health issues like his dad's.

(27:35) As for his pro and short NBA career, he got invited to camp with the Chicago Bulls, the team that went 72-10. Fox eventually went to play basketball all over Europe, then took a year off, his bball career ending at age 31 - not wanting the sport to define him. (30:41) The coach also offers lessons learned about mental strength, which he says is more than music to pump you up.

He explains how fitness sessions with heart rate monitors work (32:37) at OrangeTheory Fitness, a company that he started with a decade ago when there were 2 studios, and now there's 1200+. How is it different than traditional big box gyms? It's a passion for Fox, who's been told his coaching has helped save lives. He also has recommendations for how often you should do a workout, plus cleaning protocols for gyms after we get through the COVID-19 pandemic,

(39:05) Basketball players and other athletes, ages 5-18, also get mentored by Fox through Redline Athletics. He talks about effectiveness of different coaching styles: being tough vs. guiding, directing, adjusting to this generation - along with what he learned from playing under NBA legendary Zen master coach Phil Jackson.

In our final segments of this 51st episode of Run The Race, (45:17) our "Parting Gift" inspiration is from Michael Jordan, also "Food for Thought" with news about basketball creator James Naismith being an evangelist and actor Adam Sandler's connections to the sport. We close in prayer.

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