(Ep094) Dr. Ramsey Nijem: From the Sacramento Kings to Winning an NCAA Title with the Kansas Jayhawks
Ramsey Nijem’s mom worked multiple jobs to put food on the table for her family and give them the opportunity to excel. So it’s no surprise that he worked so hard in college that he finished his master’s and doctorate in half the normal time and ended up working as an assistant strength coach for the Sacramento Kings just a few short years later.
It took years for the Kings to lay the foundation for their recent return to the NBA playoffs and Ramsey was on site pouring concrete and laying bricks every day, often for 15+ hours. He was one of the first strength and conditioning coaches to integrate data-driven decision-making, but always pursued a person-first, athlete-second model. He could’ve stayed at the Kings or in the league for his whole career, but when Bill Self came calling, he moved on to KU. That very next season, Jayhawks like Christian Braun – now an NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets – led the team to a national title.
In this episode, Ramsey shares:
How his dog and a gold chain changed the course of his life
What he sacrificed to accelerate his education and professional development in elite performance
How he implemented sports science thoughtfully with the Kings
Why most people think about NBA load management wrong
What powered KU basketball to the 2021 NCAA Final Four and a national title
Why he embraced life in Lawrence
Why Bill Self is such a great coach
Keep up with Ramsey on Instagram @dr.ramsey.nijem and check out his 8-week course and certification for up-and-coming strength & performance professionals at https://www.appliedperformancecoach.com/
