Veteran shooting coach Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews is renowned for training top NBA athletes, including Jaylen Brown and Anthony Davis. Since 2016, the former collegiate star has taught current and future basketball players how to elevate their game by mastering muscle memory, footwork, and basketball IQ.
Throughout his career, Matthews has seen how the discipline and precision he teaches on the court translate into success off the court — particularly when it comes to financial literacy.
Cashback courts
Recently, Matthews teamed up with Chase Freedom for the brand’s Cashback Courts activation at ComplexCon 2025.
During the high-energy weekend, cardholders and fans participated in hoop challenges, all competing for the title of C.O.A.T. — the Greatest Cashbacker of All Time. Three-time WNBA champion A’ja Wilson joined the fun, helping crown the C.O.A.T. and even going head-to-head with Matthews in a shootout showdown.
While the Cashback Courts activation brought the excitement, Matthews’ deeper purpose in this partnership is rooted in empowerment.
“If you look at everything that Chase Freedom does, it’s about helping and empowering,” he told Blavity in an interview.
The legendary coach explained that while fun activations, such as Cashback Courts and events during NBA All-Star Weekend, “are awesome,” the partnership is important because of financial education.
“They’re here to help you learn,” he said. “It’s an honor to partner with them because they’re not just using the basketball player or using the creator. They educate you on how as an adult, you can continue to have generational wealth,” Matthews said of the brand.
Reflecting on his upbringing and the experiences he has witnessed throughout his career, Matthews shared why this mission resonates so deeply with him.
“Growing up in Washington, D.C., a lot of male athletes that I know who made a lot of money don’t have money today. They don’t know what to do once they get their money, then you look up and they’re broke,” he revealed.
For Matthews, helping others, especially within the Black community, build lasting wealth is a personal endeavor.
“To be a part of something that’s helping people understand how to keep money, how to make money, and how to generate wealth for yourself so you can have generational wealth…that’s very important, especially in the Black community,” Matthews said, emphasizing how financial education is vital for Black people. “I feel like, especially with us, as soon as we get money, we try to help people so fast. Then we look up and we don’t have the money anymore. We need this more in our communities,” Matthews said.
He also shared key lessons he has learned, from avoiding unnecessary purchases to making smarter investments and building a financial foundation for his family, rather than “keeping up with the Joneses.”