I still remember staring at my phone in disbelief.
Snapchat had just accepted me into their NIL athlete partner program.
I had zero followers. Never posted a single piece of content in my life.
But here I was, given a shot.
For the longest time, I wanted to be a content creator. But fear held me back.
I was scared I’d fail, scared people would make fun of me.
I spent so much time scrolling, watching everyone else live their dreams online, while I just sat on the sidelines.
That Snapchat opportunity changed everything.
To get paid, you had to post.
So I did.
And I haven’t stopped since.
All Things Basketball
I started my content journey in June of 2022. Fast forward three years, and I’ve grown to over 1.7 million followers across all platforms.
That still feels surreal to say.
Initially, I posted basketball videos. Honestly? They were bad. At the time, I couldn’t figure out why they weren’t getting views. Now I look back and laugh—they just weren’t good.
But I kept going.
For months, I barely got any traction. My follower count barely moved. But I stuck with it.
Slowly, things started to click. My content got better. My confidence grew. And the views started rolling in.
Since then, I’ve traveled the country for basketball content. NBA All-Star, Women’s Final Four, WNBA Finals.
I’ve met incredible people, experienced once-in-a-lifetime moments—all because I took that first step.
A Moment I’ll Never Forget
The most defining moment of my journey came at NBA All-Star 2025 in San Francisco.
A few days before All-Star Saturday night, I was asked to participate in the rehearsals for the big contests. I got to fill in as Tyler Herro in the Three-Point Contest and Donovan Mitchell in the Skills Challenge.
Being on that NBA court, surrounded by lights, cameras, and the full production team—it was unreal.
This was the same event I grew up watching religiously. As a kid, I’d sit on the couch an hour before it started just to make sure I didn’t miss a thing.
And now? I was part of it.
When I got the call that I was invited, I cried. That’s how much it meant.
Then, during the actual NBA All-Star weekend, I played in the Creator Cup—a game featuring the top basketball creators in the world.
Over 1,000 fans were in the stands. Kids were screaming my name, asking for pictures, autographs.
That’s something I’ll never forget.
In that moment, I knew my hard work was paying off.
Why You Should Start Today
The best advice I can offer to any athlete considering content creation?
Start today.
As in, right now.
Don’t wait for the perfect time or the perfect video. It doesn’t exist.
Post your content, even if it’s terrible.
You learn by doing.
I was scared of what people would say. Scared of classmates making fun of me.
And, yes, some did. I later found out that some people were talking about me behind my back.
But guess what?
I haven’t seen most of them since graduation.
You can’t let that fear control you.
Additionally, it’s essential to stay consistent.
Most people don’t see results right away. That’s normal.
But if you push through those quiet months, the growth will come.
A Dream Come True
My favorite NIL deal? Easy.
Nike.
I got a text one day saying they wanted to work with me. I joined their NIL athlete program, helped drive traffic to their website, and ultimately became the top-performing athlete in the program.
That was a dream come true.
Another special one was with HeyDude—my dad’s favorite shoe brand.
I partnered with them and gifted my dad a bunch of shoes. He was so grateful.
My dad has done so much for me. Being able to give back to him through content?
That meant everything.
Chasing What’s Next
Looking ahead, I want to keep growing.
My brand started with basketball, but it’s evolving.
I’ve always loved traveling and trying new foods, and now I’m leaning into that passion.
The ultimate goal? Become one of the top food and travel creators in the world.
Because at the end of the day, I’m just a regular guy who decided to try.
I used to think content creation and NIL deals were for someone else. For people with huge followings. But we all start from zero.
So take that risk.
Lock in. Stay committed. Stay confident.
And never give up.
------
