My Journey as an Athlete

I didn’t make it to the NBA because I was the most naturally gifted guy on the court—I made it because I outworked people. My journey as a professional athlete has always been about perseverance, discipline, and the decision to keep showing up, even when it was hard.

I came from humble beginnings, and every step of the way—from neighborhood courts to the big stage of the NBA—was earned through grit and relentless effort. I spent hours in the gym when no one was watching, pushing myself not just to improve, but to grow. That mindset carried me through a career that took me to teams like the Lakers, the SuperSonics, and the Trail Blazers.

The NBA taught me a lot—about performance, pressure, and how to handle both wins and losses with grace. But more than that, it taught me how to lead, how to be a part of something bigger than myself, and how to keep going when things didn’t go my way. I learned to listen, to adjust, and to compete not just with my body, but with my heart and mind.

Basketball gave me a platform, but the real gift was the values it instilled in me: discipline, humility, and the drive to keep learning. Those lessons are still with me, and they’ve shaped everything I do now—as a speaker, coach, entrepreneur, and mentor.

For me, being an athlete was never just about the stats or the spotlight. It was about becoming the kind of person who never stops growing. And that’s the mindset I carry into everything I do today—because success isn’t built in one moment. It’s built one decision, one habit, one brick at a time.