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Learning at the School of Arnie Kander

Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News goes through one of Arnie Kander's infamous workouts. Needless to say, he doesn't sound eager to do it twice:

To call Kander's methods unconventional is not only an understatement, but the ultimate compliment. The workouts feel like something track and field athletes would do, not basketball players.

"It's a triathlon, a decathlon, all while putting a ball through a hoop," Kander said of NBA games.

[...] There's no such thing as wasted energy or motion when it comes to Kander. He evaluates every movement, subtle or otherwise, tells you why you're moving that way, and if you should change it. Most of all, he explains why.

After the final drill, the most conventional of all -- sliding around in a defensive position -- Kander said players go through the usual two-hour practice before tackling the worst chore of all: talking to the media.

"After going through this, I wouldn't want to talk to me, either," I said.

It's a good read, and the video that accompanies it is worth your time, as well. Goodwill is clearly gassed at the end, but I'm not sure I would have lasted 10 minutes in Kander's clutches.