Point Guard is a production of I Heart Radio and The Pick and Roll. You have to be able to score in multiple ways, to be a threat in multiple ways in order to do what it is that I want to do, which is get my teammate open anyways. Right, But it's like, if I couldn't hit a mid range pull up off a pick and roll, what was I going to be able to accomplish. Ladies and gentlemen, we're back. It's your boy baby. Hey k hey boom, hey k hey being diddy and you are listening to the Point God podcast show on I Heart Radio. Shout out to Slick for putting this on. Ladies, shut them, boys, girls, people, my people. Guess what you know when you hear a long pause, you know it's something special. This is the last episode of the Point God podcast and the Point Goud Podcast Unravels goes into the minds of some of the most incredible leaders creators, the one of ones, the point Guards, who are initiators orchestrators, going back to their past. How did they do it? How did they get there? How did they become the people that they are. Ladies and gentlemen, This one it's for the women and for the men to pay homage coming from sciosin New York City. Orchestrator, a demonstrator, activists, a protester, all that, a yo yo, the yo Yo master, the controller of tempo. The two steps would pace the vision of an iron eagle never been seen before, the heart of a pride of any wild animal, an initiator, a point uh package officia NATO savant attended the legendary Christ the King in New York City. Then she got a scholarship to you Can, the prestigious Yukon. She put you Can on the map, guided them to a record of a hundred and forty four winds and four losses. A shark amongst sharks, drafted by the Seattle Storm, a four time w NBA Champion, eight wealth time w NBA All Star, a five time euro League champion, a five time Russian League champion, named to the w Team. One of the greatest basketball players. You hear me, one of the greatest point gods that has been blessed and have given us part intelligence, leadership, spirit. Everyone, Let's give our roses to none other than see Brow. I get up five on. I know we usually had that. I know, I know we've gotta we're gonna lock that in. We've got to make sure the crowd, the crowd calmed down. The crowd just keeps going, can you hear him? They just like the road because they're just being thrown in the arena. That was the best intro I've ever gotten. Thank you. That was like, no, I'm not joking either, that's like emotional. It is all the truth, right, it is all the truth. Like you have you have revolutionized the game in so many ways, right you have. You have done it in a way that you have also like done it on the court. Right. Um. My first question is like as a kid, right, what was early Suerberg? Like what were you like? And then like when did it hit you that, like, oh this is what my gift is? Good question? So I was classic conboy, like could not keep me away from sports, away from I don't know, my bike, trees, climbing like you name it, from as early as probably four or five years old, just out and about. Um. So that was me as a kid. So it was really no surprise that I ended up playing all kinds of sports, not just in the park but then eventually on teams. And I think the moment actually was like really early. I joined UM an a U team based out of Christ the King. So we were called the Liberty Bells and it was like grade I got picked up as a game. I'm from Long Island. You almost hit it, by the way you did? Okay, yeah you did? All right, you almost got it? Know who doesn't? Yeah, my goodness. But tell me about what was saiost like? So si Asset is just like a suburb of New York City on Long Island. We're about, I don't know, thirty forty five minute drive from Manhattan. Um so yeah, Like I said, I grew up just playing all kinds of sports. Soccer was my my other one. But I think it was like yeah, fit Like going into sixth grade, somebody like came up to my dad and was like, hey, we're starting an A U team on Long Island, Like does your daughter want to try out? And I was like sure, And I actually remember like vividly this try out. It was almost like did you ever have to do I'm going way back now, did you ever do like those presidential fitness tests? We're like everyone in the school like you had to jump? How high can you drimp? How far can you drink. Yeah, that's what it felt like. It felt like a presidential fitness test with a basketball, like they were just testing all these things. Anyways, made that team and then we played in the tournament, lost to the Liberty Bells, the team out of Christ the King, and they were like, hey, do you want to be a guest player? And that was kind of the moment I think that I didn't like change my life, but I think it like set me in a path because now I'm playing on like a real deal AU team. I'm getting real deal coaching, my first coach, and this is kind of the moment my first coach um just got in my ass about not shooting. I'd be like wide open, but I'd be passing it and he would get on me that I needed to shoot it. But at the same time, I was kind of like, but this is clearly what I'm good at, right, Like I'm clearly good at like facilitating setting my teammates up, and so like, really early it was it was just who I was was to do that part of it. Obviously, I realized you have to be able to score in order to stay on the court, so that part came. But that's kind of when I started to realize, like, no, this is actually who I am, and that and that coach like you know, because it's always a coach, just like there's more in you, right and whether you feel like you know, I believe that that is. That also describes like the humbleness right to your game, like your your you can you're so talented that you know you enjoy making other people better? Right, Where does that come from? God? I think that's just like part of my personality. I think I'm like that off the court too. It's just kind of part of it. Um, And I feel really thankful and grateful because I was able to like evaluate myself differently. I never really and like don't like I feel like this isn't to say that I don't enjoy hitting a big shot or you know, like scoring at different times, because you do have to be what I learned later, different coach, different times. I'm sure we'll get to it. What I and later was you have to be a little selfish. That's actually being unselfish, So that that came later, but um, I think it was just like I think it's like part of just my personality. Like I have a little bit of a shy personality. I don't necessarily want to be like in the in the forefront all the time, and so that just kind of led me to being like more of a like wanting to set other people up, wanting to like sharing that. I think I'm like a collaborator in that way. I found that I've seen that in my life recently kind of show up, and I really think it's just it wasn't something somebody told me. It just happened. Yo, yo yo, we gotta tapp in real quick. Let's hear a quick wear from our sponsor. That's dope. I mean, that's that's almost like it's almost like you born with it right kind of. I want to ask a question like what is your family think of you? Probably not that? And how are you as a kid? How are you as a kid? I think that was pretty very o bilionated. I am. Now, yeah, I know, I'm like maybe my family maybe like I take all that other stuff out on my family, you know, not literally I was chill as a kid. I'm not. I'm not. I have an older sister, I'm the second one of two, but there's definitely something. I actually have two little nieces that are eight and well nine and seven now, and I see it in I kind of see it in their personalities to like the second kid. I don't want to make like some crazy generalization because I'm not a parent, but it seems like the second kid like just seems to be a little chiller. Yeah, like they're not They're just kind of there. And I think that's how I was, Like I was just a chill kind of did my thing. Um. I think what my family would say is is not that different from what you would say as a basketball player in terms of like like generous of you know, with time, with energy, that kind of thing, like wanting to be part of their lives. Um, trying to always show up that kind of vibe. But yeah, obviously your family is going to get other parts of you that you might not show. I'm sure my mom probably be like, oh, she's a little shit. That's what my mom always remind me every day. You know. My dad, My dad used to call me, um, cinder Susie like Cinderella because like I like was not feeling the chores. It was like Sinder Susie, Sinder Susie very long, you know, like I am not I am not geared of to be doing chores. It was thinking about the game. That's yeah, that's when the cinder Susie would come out and I hated it. Talk about you know, uh as a female growing up in New York, you know, being a point guard. You know, like who who are the people that inspired you? Like? Who was that person you know that you saw? I was like, oh, okay, now you know what I mean. Now I got I got somebody to like go off of or or or got a guiding light. Yeah. Um, so obviously the choices for for women, for girls was limited, right like growing up. I actually just heard Don Staley talk about this, Like growing up, I saw the Final Four, like the championship game, and then I saw like the Olympic gold medal game, and that was it. You know. Luckily though, Luckily though, like my dad, like when Hoop Dreams came out, my dad was like, we're going to see this, you know when christ the King before I was there, I was in I was in like late middle school, maybe my freshman year of high school, and he was like, let's go to a game. So I was really lucky. My dad like exposed me and I remember the point guard of Christy King at the time was Christina Alexander and she ended up going to George Mason. I think she's in coaching now. Our games are not similar at all, but I was like the first time where I was like, oh, this is like this is an elite point guard, like this is who like, this is what it is. And she was fast as fuck, like quick as ship could finish. I'm telling you, our games could not be different, Like she's more of like a driver slasher that kind of thing. But I just understood in watching her play, and she played like her error of Christy King basketball was Shumique Hold squad. They were like the duo, so everybody was showing up to see to see Meek, which I was too. She dumped in warm ups hype as hell, but but low key. I was like, what about that point guard over there? I was like, and she wears number ten too. We're friends now, I was like what about I'm like, she she got number ten Jersey on, Like what about her? Yeah, So I was like that's to me, Like that's and then later on I actually ended up watching Jena Z in person, and that was kind that's like, that's what I say, is my c a b a moment, Like when I saw her with the national team, I was like, oh, that could be like we look alike, Like this could be me. Yeah, for sure, there's there's like always like that that one person that she's seeing. You're like, Okay, you may not be like similar to like what I am, but you I like you. Yeah, it's like something about like how you get down, how I don't get down. Probably never play like that, but it's just like, oh my god, like I'm obsessed with like you know, it's almost like the Yin and the yang, right, And there's so much to learn from, you know when you think about you know, when you're saying like collaboration, I think or a point guard, it's like also like being a mass scientist, right, so what do you when you look at Jennifer As, it's like what is where? Where is Sue in that? Right? Where is Sue in? What Christina has? Who's playing with Shamik? Were like, you know, can you talk about like coming up in high school? Right, like like how did you mold yourself right as a point guard to be able to you know, have this vision and and and the kind of you know, think about like maximizing your talent. Yeah, I mean some of it is like you kind of steal from people in like the most complimentary way, right, And I remember, um, I played AU with this AU team, so I just joined it. I mean like this is early, like six seventh grade, and I play with Nishab So some people know her name, some people don't. It's like, yeah, in women's basketball, there's a couple of names I could throw at you. That's like, actually, nicoleks Marski would be one. She went to c L as you probably know Nicole kaz Marski. Like there's these players that like, we're fucking amazing growing up and like, for whatever reason, their careers didn't pan out the way you might have thought. And Nisha is one of those players. She ended up going to Georgia Tech, had a great career, but that was like my early teammate. And her pull up jump shot, I mean the best pull up jump shot. It was just like legit, and we're talking sixth grade, like this is early, and she's just got an on the dime pull up. And I think, when if I were to describe my game, that's been like a huge part of my game, the pull up jump shot. I know, people don't like the mid range anymore or whatever, um, but the pull up j is like my thing. And I even like sometimes I'll like kick my legs up a little bit when I do it, and that's just because I was copying her, like legit, that's it's like that is where I got my pull up jump shot without doubt Fromnischa. But another another like twelve year old. Yeah, and talk about like you know, uh when you said the mid range, like, talk about the mid range because you know, threes are great, right, but if you can get shots in the mid range, right, that means you can get shots anywhere on the floor. Like the art of the mid range has was the loss. But I think now a lot of the you know, like I think older elite players are playing, you know, all basketball is starting to come back to the mid range because that's that's when in basketball, and you know you're your record, you know, reflects that. So just talk about, you know, why the mid range was important to you. I mean, first of all, I just think it came naturally to me, So like I think all of us as basketball players, there's things that just come nat really and you don't really know how to explain it. Like when I watched when I watch you know, player X do a euro step, and I'm like, dang, it's like that just came naturally to them, and it didn't come naturally to me. Right, It's just like sometimes it's just like what you're dealt. But then it's like as I got older, it's like it became so valuable because my game is big, like is predicated on the pick and roll, Like that's where I thrive, right, Um, And so in the pick and roll, you have to be able to score multiple ways, to be a threat in multiple ways in order to do what it is that I want to do, which is get my teammate open anyways. Right, But it's like if I couldn't hit a mid range pull up off a pick and roll, what was I going to be able to accomplish, Like, no one's gonna guard me in that way. They're going to play me for a three, play me for a drive. It's like you had to be able to incorporate that. And I think incorporate that and I think that's like for me, that's why the mid range is so important. That Plus, like I love pulling up in transition from the mid range. I love it. I don't know if other I don't know if other people love it. I love it. Yo, you know what time it is. You know this show wouldn't be where it is if it went for our sponsors. Let him have it. But that that's what makes you so dangerous because uh what Shoan Phillips was on here and he was saying, like, uh, like a four four level score, right, it's somebody who can shoot, you know, beyond the three, shoot the three, shoot the mid range, get to the line, get to all whatever. He's like a math scientist. Um, and I think you are. I think you. I definitely know that. I feel like you play at a certain pace right, and you know I want to like I want us to like see in your eyes like what what are you seeing? And like what like? Okay, so here's a question, what are the artists right that you If there were three artists right that that made up suber, who would those artists be? Right? Because I need to get inside of like the vision, the vision like mute google musical artists. I feel like I have a better chance any artists. Okay, you know interesting? Um God, this is hard, So I like things to make sense Okay, So when I'm working out, I get real grumpy when I'm doing when a coach has me do something that I'm like, this is not realistic. But both like if it's too hard or too easy, I'm just I get or if it's like this will never happen, like what are we doing? So I feel like like lyrically, I mean, there's just so there's so many I'm from New York, so I'm going to stay I'm gonna stay in New York. But it's like when you listen to Biggie jay Z, It's like it just all makes sense right, Like they're gonna say something like honestly, someone another like artist comedian Dave Chappelle, everything he says like he always brings it back around. There's always it's always gonna make sense. So there's like something there that that that I really appreciate. Um So that to me is like a big part. So when I'm out there and I'm in a game, and obviously i know like games have so many unknowns and people are gonna be throwing different things at you, I'm just always trying to make it make sense in my head and then I can pick it apart so once I go ahead, I'm sorry, no, no, I was gonna say so once, like I see maybe I've watched film and I saw something, or you see something in the game. And this is obviously where experience help so much. It's like you've seen it once, you've seen a thousand and then the minute I know, I can make it make sense and I'm like, and this is what we're doing, guys. You know, and it's and it's and it's and it's Biggie. That is like the rhythm to your your pace. Yeah, Pace, yeah, Pace, I'm like, you're asking me at forty one? Are you asking me at You're a big Biggie fan. I am a big bigan you know the lyrics. So yeah, while you're out there hooping, you just you know, you're busting sometimes, you know what warm ups. That's how it is. Yeah, my my pace has changed through the years. But now I'm just like, who would be I'd have to think about this from an artist standpoint, but now I'm like selective, So like God, I'm thinking, like drums, maybe we can go like the Roots or something where it's like they're selective with how they hit you look like with like their their pace, their beats, their their cadence. It's the cadence. So as an older player, you just get real smart and selective with when you're gonna go faster, when you can slow down, and you kind of understand that. I like that because it's like, you know, when you're young, you aren't like it is biggie, you know what I mean, Like you got the energy, you know what I mean. It's like there's so much there's so much in those lyrics, and there's so much in those vibes, right and that energy. And then as you get older, as like as an older player, then it's like the roots. It's more so like we're gonna live, like I know, when the game is you know, yeah, moved to my my drum patterns exactly. Let's talk a little bit about your decision because I know people are people love to hear about decisions like so New York City, point going art and then you make this decision to go to you can You could have went anywhere in the world, Why you can? And where else where are you thinking about going? So my final like five, I guess we're Yukon, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Duke, Notre Dame those were like the five Duken Notre Dame kind of fell off pretty quick. I actually only visited those other three, so Yukon, Stanford, Vanderbilt, and I don't know. It was really you come from the start and it was just like a feeling, um it's not so far from home. That actually didn't play as much as of a role. I wasn't scared to leave. It wasn't that ended up being like a nice like, oh my family and friends are right there and go home. You know, it ended up being nice, But it wasn't. I would have been cool leaving. Um, it was probably if I had to pick like one thing, it was probably the coach staff that was that that was the big draw. Um, the fact that they sold out. It was a big draw. And then when I got there. You know, it's funny. I was actually thinking about this the other day random. I don't even know why. I was like, how crazy because now in my life, choosing a team in the w n B A staying on a team, it's so predicated on the players, like you want to go like all we hear about in free agency is like a super team or you're gonna go be the man You're gonna go. It's all about an in college. I don't even think I thought that. I don't think it had anything to do with my teammates. It was like in school the coaches. Isn't that so weird? It's crazy that you know you felt like it was like the decision of your life. You know, it's like what it was. But it was like we did not have the freedom to like have options. We come in there, we came in the area were there there were no options. It was like, hey, make a decision. I'll just make a decision by this date and we're not telling you anything else. That is kind of what it was like. That's how it was in my even in my early professional career, there wasn't a lot of decisions or options. I should say. It was like so different. But yeah, it's like I didn't even pick. It's crazy, like I didn't even I was like, Okay, I guess I'll play with these people. The only thing was that there was like a moment. So Yukon was the place they were always the place. They had a commitment from another point guard and it was cool. It was like, we want two point guards in this class because we don't have any in the in the rest and like there was a point guard graduating, so it was gonna be us two for four years. Cool. And then another one committed, So now two had committed and I was the third, and I was like, wait, what's going on? And in that moment, it was really the only moment where I was like, well should I be like looking at these other schools, like a little more seriously. One those point guards ended up going somewhere else and ended up working out. But other than that, it wasn't about like the team and my teammates. They were great when I met him on the visit, so you know, they were great. It's not that, but like I waited all these other things. I don't remember thinking like oh that post players good and picking rolls, which is like, yeah, that's what I'm thinking about now, you know absolutely. And then but like your freshman year, you tear your a c O M resiliency, Yeah, oh yeah, big time, especially at at eighteen years old. That's all my c O year. So it's like we got a lot of a lot of comment started starting things off right for us, Oh my goodness, and like but talk about that like you know, being you know, uh a lead in your class, come into college and like ready to rock out. And then at the time and a c L surgery was career ending, the end of the world. You're done, You're never coming back. Who you heard that? What was it? You know what I mean? What was it as I do or who was it you know that helped you, you know, kind of get through that moment or what was it inside you to help you get through that moment? You know? Yeah, I was lucky my my teammates Shay Ralph, she had torn her a cel a couple of times already. She was only um a sophomore at the time, like a red shirt sophomore, And I was just really lucky that I had her to like fall back on questions. And the cool thing was she could see it in me, like if I was having a bad day, she would be the first one to check in. Um. She kept me like really included, because you know, when you're the injured player, this is any level you can kind of end up just like being outside the circle. Yeah, you got to like stay connected. So she was the one that went over where I didn't realize in the moment. It just was like, oh, she's being really nice looking back, it's like that that got me through it. She like definitely pulled me through the hole and really gave me a lot of heads ups that even if I come across a player that's having knee surgery, I'm giving literally the same advice she gave me, you know, So that that's the one person that helped me get through. Point Guard is a production of I heart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Point Guard is a production of I Heart Radio and The Pick and Roll. You have to be able to score in multiple ways, to be a threat in multiple ways in order to do what it is that I want to do, which is get my teammate open anyways. Right, But it's like, if I couldn't hit a mid range pull up off a pick and roll, what was I going to be able to accomplish. Ladies and gentlemen, we're back. It's your boy baby. Hey k hey boom, hey k hey being diddy and you are listening to the Point God podcast show on I Heart Radio. Shout out to Slick for putting this on. Ladies, shut them, boys, girls, people, my people. Guess what you know when you hear a long pause, you know it's something special. This is the last episode of the Point God podcast and the Point Goud Podcast Unravels goes into the minds of some of the most incredible leaders creators, the one of ones, the point Guards, who are initiators orchestrators, going back to their past. How did they do it? How did they get there? How did they become the people that they are. Ladies and gentlemen, This one it's for the women and for the men to pay homage coming from sciosin New York City. Orchestrator, a demonstrator, activists, a protester, all that, a yo yo, the yo Yo master, the controller of tempo. The two steps would pace the vision of an iron eagle never been seen before, the heart of a pride of any wild animal, an initiator, a point uh package officia NATO savant attended the legendary Christ the King in New York City. Then she got a scholarship to you Can, the prestigious Yukon. She put you Can on the map, guided them to a record of a hundred and forty four winds and four losses. A shark amongst sharks, drafted by the Seattle Storm, a four time w NBA Champion, eight wealth time w NBA All Star, a five time euro League champion, a five time Russian League champion, named to the w Team. One of the greatest basketball players. You hear me, one of the greatest point gods that has been blessed and have given us part intelligence, leadership, spirit. Everyone, Let's give our roses to none other than see Brow. I get up five on. I know we usually had that. I know, I know we've gotta we're gonna lock that in. We've got to make sure the crowd, the crowd calmed down. The crowd just keeps going, can you hear him? They just like the road because they're just being thrown in the arena. That was the best intro I've ever gotten. Thank you. That was like, no, I'm not joking either, that's like emotional. It is all the truth, right, it is all the truth. Like you have you have revolutionized the game in so many ways, right you have. You have done it in a way that you have also like done it on the court. Right. Um. My first question is like as a kid, right, what was early Suerberg? Like what were you like? And then like when did it hit you that, like, oh this is what my gift is? Good question? So I was classic conboy, like could not keep me away from sports, away from I don't know, my bike, trees, climbing like you name it, from as early as probably four or five years old, just out and about. Um. So that was me as a kid. So it was really no surprise that I ended up playing all kinds of sports, not just in the park but then eventually on teams. And I think the moment actually was like really early. I joined UM an a U team based out of Christ the King. So we were called the Liberty Bells and it was like grade I got picked up as a game. I'm from Long Island. You almost hit it, by the way you did? Okay, yeah you did? All right, you almost got it? Know who doesn't? Yeah, my goodness. But tell me about what was saiost like? So si Asset is just like a suburb of New York City on Long Island. We're about, I don't know, thirty forty five minute drive from Manhattan. Um so yeah, Like I said, I grew up just playing all kinds of sports. Soccer was my my other one. But I think it was like yeah, fit Like going into sixth grade, somebody like came up to my dad and was like, hey, we're starting an A U team on Long Island, Like does your daughter want to try out? And I was like sure, And I actually remember like vividly this try out. It was almost like did you ever have to do I'm going way back now, did you ever do like those presidential fitness tests? We're like everyone in the school like you had to jump? How high can you drimp? How far can you drink. Yeah, that's what it felt like. It felt like a presidential fitness test with a basketball, like they were just testing all these things. Anyways, made that team and then we played in the tournament, lost to the Liberty Bells, the team out of Christ the King, and they were like, hey, do you want to be a guest player? And that was kind of the moment I think that I didn't like change my life, but I think it like set me in a path because now I'm playing on like a real deal AU team. I'm getting real deal coaching, my first coach, and this is kind of the moment my first coach um just got in my ass about not shooting. I'd be like wide open, but I'd be passing it and he would get on me that I needed to shoot it. But at the same time, I was kind of like, but this is clearly what I'm good at, right, Like I'm clearly good at like facilitating setting my teammates up, and so like, really early it was it was just who I was was to do that part of it. Obviously, I realized you have to be able to score in order to stay on the court, so that part came. But that's kind of when I started to realize, like, no, this is actually who I am, and that and that coach like you know, because it's always a coach, just like there's more in you, right and whether you feel like you know, I believe that that is. That also describes like the humbleness right to your game, like your your you can you're so talented that you know you enjoy making other people better? Right, Where does that come from? God? I think that's just like part of my personality. I think I'm like that off the court too. It's just kind of part of it. Um, And I feel really thankful and grateful because I was able to like evaluate myself differently. I never really and like don't like I feel like this isn't to say that I don't enjoy hitting a big shot or you know, like scoring at different times, because you do have to be what I learned later, different coach, different times. I'm sure we'll get to it. What I and later was you have to be a little selfish. That's actually being unselfish, So that that came later, but um, I think it was just like I think it's like part of just my personality. Like I have a little bit of a shy personality. I don't necessarily want to be like in the in the forefront all the time, and so that just kind of led me to being like more of a like wanting to set other people up, wanting to like sharing that. I think I'm like a collaborator in that way. I found that I've seen that in my life recently kind of show up, and I really think it's just it wasn't something somebody told me. It just happened. Yo, yo yo, we gotta tapp in real quick. Let's hear a quick wear from our sponsor. That's dope. I mean, that's that's almost like it's almost like you born with it right kind of. I want to ask a question like what is your family think of you? Probably not that? And how are you as a kid? How are you as a kid? I think that was pretty very o bilionated. I am. Now, yeah, I know, I'm like maybe my family maybe like I take all that other stuff out on my family, you know, not literally I was chill as a kid. I'm not. I'm not. I have an older sister, I'm the second one of two, but there's definitely something. I actually have two little nieces that are eight and well nine and seven now, and I see it in I kind of see it in their personalities to like the second kid. I don't want to make like some crazy generalization because I'm not a parent, but it seems like the second kid like just seems to be a little chiller. Yeah, like they're not They're just kind of there. And I think that's how I was, Like I was just a chill kind of did my thing. Um. I think what my family would say is is not that different from what you would say as a basketball player in terms of like like generous of you know, with time, with energy, that kind of thing, like wanting to be part of their lives. Um, trying to always show up that kind of vibe. But yeah, obviously your family is going to get other parts of you that you might not show. I'm sure my mom probably be like, oh, she's a little shit. That's what my mom always remind me every day. You know. My dad, My dad used to call me, um, cinder Susie like Cinderella because like I like was not feeling the chores. It was like Sinder Susie, Sinder Susie very long, you know, like I am not I am not geared of to be doing chores. It was thinking about the game. That's yeah, that's when the cinder Susie would come out and I hated it. Talk about you know, uh as a female growing up in New York, you know, being a point guard. You know, like who who are the people that inspired you? Like? Who was that person you know that you saw? I was like, oh, okay, now you know what I mean. Now I got I got somebody to like go off of or or or got a guiding light. Yeah. Um, so obviously the choices for for women, for girls was limited, right like growing up. I actually just heard Don Staley talk about this, Like growing up, I saw the Final Four, like the championship game, and then I saw like the Olympic gold medal game, and that was it. You know. Luckily though, Luckily though, like my dad, like when Hoop Dreams came out, my dad was like, we're going to see this, you know when christ the King before I was there, I was in I was in like late middle school, maybe my freshman year of high school, and he was like, let's go to a game. So I was really lucky. My dad like exposed me and I remember the point guard of Christy King at the time was Christina Alexander and she ended up going to George Mason. I think she's in coaching now. Our games are not similar at all, but I was like the first time where I was like, oh, this is like this is an elite point guard, like this is who like, this is what it is. And she was fast as fuck, like quick as ship could finish. I'm telling you, our games could not be different, Like she's more of like a driver slasher that kind of thing. But I just understood in watching her play, and she played like her error of Christy King basketball was Shumique Hold squad. They were like the duo, so everybody was showing up to see to see Meek, which I was too. She dumped in warm ups hype as hell, but but low key. I was like, what about that point guard over there? I was like, and she wears number ten too. We're friends now, I was like what about I'm like, she she got number ten Jersey on, Like what about her? Yeah, So I was like that's to me, Like that's and then later on I actually ended up watching Jena Z in person, and that was kind that's like, that's what I say, is my c a b a moment, Like when I saw her with the national team, I was like, oh, that could be like we look alike, Like this could be me. Yeah, for sure, there's there's like always like that that one person that she's seeing. You're like, Okay, you may not be like similar to like what I am, but you I like you. Yeah, it's like something about like how you get down, how I don't get down. Probably never play like that, but it's just like, oh my god, like I'm obsessed with like you know, it's almost like the Yin and the yang, right, And there's so much to learn from, you know when you think about you know, when you're saying like collaboration, I think or a point guard, it's like also like being a mass scientist, right, so what do you when you look at Jennifer As, it's like what is where? Where is Sue in that? Right? Where is Sue in? What Christina has? Who's playing with Shamik? Were like, you know, can you talk about like coming up in high school? Right, like like how did you mold yourself right as a point guard to be able to you know, have this vision and and and the kind of you know, think about like maximizing your talent. Yeah, I mean some of it is like you kind of steal from people in like the most complimentary way, right, And I remember, um, I played AU with this AU team, so I just joined it. I mean like this is early, like six seventh grade, and I play with Nishab So some people know her name, some people don't. It's like, yeah, in women's basketball, there's a couple of names I could throw at you. That's like, actually, nicoleks Marski would be one. She went to c L as you probably know Nicole kaz Marski. Like there's these players that like, we're fucking amazing growing up and like, for whatever reason, their careers didn't pan out the way you might have thought. And Nisha is one of those players. She ended up going to Georgia Tech, had a great career, but that was like my early teammate. And her pull up jump shot, I mean the best pull up jump shot. It was just like legit, and we're talking sixth grade, like this is early, and she's just got an on the dime pull up. And I think, when if I were to describe my game, that's been like a huge part of my game, the pull up jump shot. I know, people don't like the mid range anymore or whatever, um, but the pull up j is like my thing. And I even like sometimes I'll like kick my legs up a little bit when I do it, and that's just because I was copying her, like legit, that's it's like that is where I got my pull up jump shot without doubt Fromnischa. But another another like twelve year old. Yeah, and talk about like you know, uh when you said the mid range, like, talk about the mid range because you know, threes are great, right, but if you can get shots in the mid range, right, that means you can get shots anywhere on the floor. Like the art of the mid range has was the loss. But I think now a lot of the you know, like I think older elite players are playing, you know, all basketball is starting to come back to the mid range because that's that's when in basketball, and you know you're your record, you know, reflects that. So just talk about, you know, why the mid range was important to you. I mean, first of all, I just think it came naturally to me, So like I think all of us as basketball players, there's things that just come nat really and you don't really know how to explain it. Like when I watched when I watch you know, player X do a euro step, and I'm like, dang, it's like that just came naturally to them, and it didn't come naturally to me. Right, It's just like sometimes it's just like what you're dealt. But then it's like as I got older, it's like it became so valuable because my game is big, like is predicated on the pick and roll, Like that's where I thrive, right, Um, And so in the pick and roll, you have to be able to score multiple ways, to be a threat in multiple ways in order to do what it is that I want to do, which is get my teammate open anyways. Right, But it's like if I couldn't hit a mid range pull up off a pick and roll, what was I going to be able to accomplish, Like, no one's gonna guard me in that way. They're going to play me for a three, play me for a drive. It's like you had to be able to incorporate that. And I think incorporate that and I think that's like for me, that's why the mid range is so important. That Plus, like I love pulling up in transition from the mid range. I love it. I don't know if other I don't know if other people love it. I love it. Yo, you know what time it is. You know this show wouldn't be where it is if it went for our sponsors. Let him have it. But that that's what makes you so dangerous because uh what Shoan Phillips was on here and he was saying, like, uh, like a four four level score, right, it's somebody who can shoot, you know, beyond the three, shoot the three, shoot the mid range, get to the line, get to all whatever. He's like a math scientist. Um, and I think you are. I think you. I definitely know that. I feel like you play at a certain pace right, and you know I want to like I want us to like see in your eyes like what what are you seeing? And like what like? Okay, so here's a question, what are the artists right that you If there were three artists right that that made up suber, who would those artists be? Right? Because I need to get inside of like the vision, the vision like mute google musical artists. I feel like I have a better chance any artists. Okay, you know interesting? Um God, this is hard, So I like things to make sense Okay, So when I'm working out, I get real grumpy when I'm doing when a coach has me do something that I'm like, this is not realistic. But both like if it's too hard or too easy, I'm just I get or if it's like this will never happen, like what are we doing? So I feel like like lyrically, I mean, there's just so there's so many I'm from New York, so I'm going to stay I'm gonna stay in New York. But it's like when you listen to Biggie jay Z, It's like it just all makes sense right, Like they're gonna say something like honestly, someone another like artist comedian Dave Chappelle, everything he says like he always brings it back around. There's always it's always gonna make sense. So there's like something there that that that I really appreciate. Um So that to me is like a big part. So when I'm out there and I'm in a game, and obviously i know like games have so many unknowns and people are gonna be throwing different things at you, I'm just always trying to make it make sense in my head and then I can pick it apart so once I go ahead, I'm sorry, no, no, I was gonna say so once, like I see maybe I've watched film and I saw something, or you see something in the game. And this is obviously where experience help so much. It's like you've seen it once, you've seen a thousand and then the minute I know, I can make it make sense and I'm like, and this is what we're doing, guys. You know, and it's and it's and it's and it's Biggie. That is like the rhythm to your your pace. Yeah, Pace, yeah, Pace, I'm like, you're asking me at forty one? Are you asking me at You're a big Biggie fan. I am a big bigan you know the lyrics. So yeah, while you're out there hooping, you just you know, you're busting sometimes, you know what warm ups. That's how it is. Yeah, my my pace has changed through the years. But now I'm just like, who would be I'd have to think about this from an artist standpoint, but now I'm like selective, So like God, I'm thinking, like drums, maybe we can go like the Roots or something where it's like they're selective with how they hit you look like with like their their pace, their beats, their their cadence. It's the cadence. So as an older player, you just get real smart and selective with when you're gonna go faster, when you can slow down, and you kind of understand that. I like that because it's like, you know, when you're young, you aren't like it is biggie, you know what I mean, Like you got the energy, you know what I mean. It's like there's so much there's so much in those lyrics, and there's so much in those vibes, right and that energy. And then as you get older, as like as an older player, then it's like the roots. It's more so like we're gonna live, like I know, when the game is you know, yeah, moved to my my drum patterns exactly. Let's talk a little bit about your decision because I know people are people love to hear about decisions like so New York City, point going art and then you make this decision to go to you can You could have went anywhere in the world, Why you can? And where else where are you thinking about going? So my final like five, I guess we're Yukon, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Duke, Notre Dame those were like the five Duken Notre Dame kind of fell off pretty quick. I actually only visited those other three, so Yukon, Stanford, Vanderbilt, and I don't know. It was really you come from the start and it was just like a feeling, um it's not so far from home. That actually didn't play as much as of a role. I wasn't scared to leave. It wasn't that ended up being like a nice like, oh my family and friends are right there and go home. You know, it ended up being nice, But it wasn't. I would have been cool leaving. Um, it was probably if I had to pick like one thing, it was probably the coach staff that was that that was the big draw. Um, the fact that they sold out. It was a big draw. And then when I got there. You know, it's funny. I was actually thinking about this the other day random. I don't even know why. I was like, how crazy because now in my life, choosing a team in the w n B A staying on a team, it's so predicated on the players, like you want to go like all we hear about in free agency is like a super team or you're gonna go be the man You're gonna go. It's all about an in college. I don't even think I thought that. I don't think it had anything to do with my teammates. It was like in school the coaches. Isn't that so weird? It's crazy that you know you felt like it was like the decision of your life. You know, it's like what it was. But it was like we did not have the freedom to like have options. We come in there, we came in the area were there there were no options. It was like, hey, make a decision. I'll just make a decision by this date and we're not telling you anything else. That is kind of what it was like. That's how it was in my even in my early professional career, there wasn't a lot of decisions or options. I should say. It was like so different. But yeah, it's like I didn't even pick. It's crazy, like I didn't even I was like, Okay, I guess I'll play with these people. The only thing was that there was like a moment. So Yukon was the place they were always the place. They had a commitment from another point guard and it was cool. It was like, we want two point guards in this class because we don't have any in the in the rest and like there was a point guard graduating, so it was gonna be us two for four years. Cool. And then another one committed, So now two had committed and I was the third, and I was like, wait, what's going on? And in that moment, it was really the only moment where I was like, well should I be like looking at these other schools, like a little more seriously. One those point guards ended up going somewhere else and ended up working out. But other than that, it wasn't about like the team and my teammates. They were great when I met him on the visit, so you know, they were great. It's not that, but like I waited all these other things. I don't remember thinking like oh that post players good and picking rolls, which is like, yeah, that's what I'm thinking about now, you know absolutely. And then but like your freshman year, you tear your a c O M resiliency, Yeah, oh yeah, big time, especially at at eighteen years old. That's all my c O year. So it's like we got a lot of a lot of comment started starting things off right for us, Oh my goodness, and like but talk about that like you know, being you know, uh a lead in your class, come into college and like ready to rock out. And then at the time and a c L surgery was career ending, the end of the world. You're done, You're never coming back. Who you heard that? What was it? You know what I mean? What was it as I do or who was it you know that helped you, you know, kind of get through that moment or what was it inside you to help you get through that moment? You know? Yeah, I was lucky my my teammates Shay Ralph, she had torn her a cel a couple of times already. She was only um a sophomore at the time, like a red shirt sophomore, And I was just really lucky that I had her to like fall back on questions. And the cool thing was she could see it in me, like if I was having a bad day, she would be the first one to check in. Um. She kept me like really included, because you know, when you're the injured player, this is any level you can kind of end up just like being outside the circle. Yeah, you got to like stay connected. So she was the one that went over where I didn't realize in the moment. It just was like, oh, she's being really nice looking back, it's like that that got me through it. She like definitely pulled me through the hole and really gave me a lot of heads ups that even if I come across a player that's having knee surgery, I'm giving literally the same advice she gave me, you know, So that that's the one person that helped me get through. 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