have you ever thought about or stopped to think what it takes to get a hundred
to think what it takes to get a hundred
to think what it takes to get a hundred and fifteen kilograms up in the air two
and fifteen kilograms up in the air two
and fifteen kilograms up in the air two meters high
here’s a clue a lotta energy you don’t
here’s a clue a lotta energy you don’t have to know neutral physics to imagine
have to know neutral physics to imagine
have to know neutral physics to imagine putting that kind of weight up in the
putting that kind of weight up in the
putting that kind of weight up in the air and slamming the ball through a hoop
air and slamming the ball through a hoop
air and slamming the ball through a hoop requires a lot of my effort from your
requires a lot of my effort from your
requires a lot of my effort from your point of view understands or even the
point of view understands or even the
point of view understands or even the crowd
crowd
crowd you may get my figured hey all pros can
you may get my figured hey all pros can
you may get my figured hey all pros can jump it must be pretty easy
jump it must be pretty easy
jump it must be pretty easy well it isn’t but just like anything
well it isn’t but just like anything
well it isn’t but just like anything else if you’re motivated enough you can
else if you’re motivated enough you can
else if you’re motivated enough you can make it happen let’s suppose my height
make it happen let’s suppose my height
make it happen let’s suppose my height being to two meters over three helps a
being to two meters over three helps a
being to two meters over three helps a bit why do some pros go for a power dunk
bit why do some pros go for a power dunk
bit why do some pros go for a power dunk and others go for a quick layup so
and others go for a quick layup so
and others go for a quick layup so people may get their impressions Hey
people may get their impressions Hey
people may get their impressions Hey look at me I’m the big badass dunker ego
look at me I’m the big badass dunker ego
look at me I’m the big badass dunker ego trick today I like to talk to you about
trick today I like to talk to you about
trick today I like to talk to you about the sport that molded me and taught me
the sport that molded me and taught me
the sport that molded me and taught me so much about what I could be and why a
so much about what I could be and why a
so much about what I could be and why a dump represents more than two points in
dump represents more than two points in
dump represents more than two points in the game let’s go back to Detroit it’s
the game let’s go back to Detroit it’s
the game let’s go back to Detroit it’s 1992 I’m 11 years old my father are
1992 I’m 11 years old my father are
1992 I’m 11 years old my father are lucious and my mother Theresa made sure
lucious and my mother Theresa made sure
lucious and my mother Theresa made sure that I spoke both in native Nigerian
that I spoke both in native Nigerian
that I spoke both in native Nigerian tongue ebo as well as proper English I’m
tongue ebo as well as proper English I’m
tongue ebo as well as proper English I’m still working on the latter
my accent what’s a true tall tale that
my accent what’s a true tall tale that was a little different from the other
was a little different from the other
was a little different from the other kids I knew it I felt it I felt the
kids I knew it I felt it I felt the
kids I knew it I felt it I felt the outsider and what typically happens as
outsider and what typically happens as
outsider and what typically happens as an outsider not being part of the
an outsider not being part of the
an outsider not being part of the in-crowd you try your hardest to fit in
in-crowd you try your hardest to fit in
in-crowd you try your hardest to fit in even when you’re 11 years old and you’re
even when you’re 11 years old and you’re
even when you’re 11 years old and you’re standing at 172 centimeters
little did I know and that my
little did I know and that my schoolmates in had a natural
schoolmates in had a natural
schoolmates in had a natural understanding about tall in their mind
understanding about tall in their mind
understanding about tall in their mind had incremental link to basketball
had incremental link to basketball
had incremental link to basketball the hey came the question are you going
the hey came the question are you going
the hey came the question are you going to play as YB league this year what cool
to play as YB league this year what cool
to play as YB league this year what cool has we noticed but I guess I didn’t show
has we noticed but I guess I didn’t show
has we noticed but I guess I didn’t show the same I’m cool in the know because I
the same I’m cool in the know because I
the same I’m cool in the know because I had no idea what syb stood for
my mother that was picking up some type
my mother that was picking up some type of slang or some type of cuss word after
of slang or some type of cuss word after
of slang or some type of cuss word after acting around I found that the sy we
acting around I found that the sy we
acting around I found that the sy we stood for Southfield youth basketball
stood for Southfield youth basketball
stood for Southfield youth basketball league I convinced my parents to take me
league I convinced my parents to take me
league I convinced my parents to take me to the registration day there
to the registration day there
to the registration day there the coaches separated us and we did
the coaches separated us and we did
the coaches separated us and we did basketball drills shooting from the
basketball drills shooting from the
basketball drills shooting from the outside dribbling passing free throws
outside dribbling passing free throws
outside dribbling passing free throws not at this point I was just like
not at this point I was just like
not at this point I was just like anybody else in the stands I thought it
anybody else in the stands I thought it
anybody else in the stands I thought it would be easy it’ll be real easy I was
would be easy it’ll be real easy I was
would be easy it’ll be real easy I was just happy to be part of a crowd be part
just happy to be part of a crowd be part
just happy to be part of a crowd be part of a group they didn’t think twice how
of a group they didn’t think twice how
of a group they didn’t think twice how well I was doing well to put it bluntly
well I was doing well to put it bluntly
well I was doing well to put it bluntly I sucked I really sucked I was just this
I sucked I really sucked I was just this
I sucked I really sucked I was just this link ly 11 year old kid who was
link ly 11 year old kid who was
link ly 11 year old kid who was blissfully ignorant to his incapacity to
blissfully ignorant to his incapacity to
blissfully ignorant to his incapacity to do the simplest basketball drill then
do the simplest basketball drill then
do the simplest basketball drill then came the moment when the coaches had to
came the moment when the coaches had to
came the moment when the coaches had to separate the teams and comprise their
separate the teams and comprise their
separate the teams and comprise their own team yes my first draft experience
own team yes my first draft experience
own team yes my first draft experience they lighted us up from the shortest of
they lighted us up from the shortest of
they lighted us up from the shortest of the tallest and we waited many kids
the tallest and we waited many kids
the tallest and we waited many kids names was caught many kids broke from
names was caught many kids broke from
names was caught many kids broke from the line but not mine at one point I
the line but not mine at one point I
the line but not mine at one point I started to think yeah maybe they were
started to think yeah maybe they were
started to think yeah maybe they were calling it means from reverse
calling it means from reverse
calling it means from reverse alphabetically order yeah that would
alphabetically order yeah that would
alphabetically order yeah that would play noises at the end but it was
play noises at the end but it was
play noises at the end but it was because of my name but my stellar
because of my name but my stellar
because of my name but my stellar performance that morning they had me
performance that morning they had me
performance that morning they had me caught dead last among a hundred kids
caught dead last among a hundred kids
caught dead last among a hundred kids you know you know how lousy had to be to
you know you know how lousy had to be to
you know you know how lousy had to be to be caught dead less
be caught dead less
be caught dead less I’m the other two held the ball above
I’m the other two held the ball above
I’m the other two held the ball above any other other kids on opposing team
any other other kids on opposing team
any other other kids on opposing team and they couldn’t reach it
they were like grasshoppers jumping on
they were like grasshoppers jumping on the side of a 5-4 building that year I
the side of a 5-4 building that year I
the side of a 5-4 building that year I was hooked
was hooked
was hooked basketball became my world I had a place
basketball became my world I had a place
basketball became my world I had a place to be and a reason to be I learned a lot
to be and a reason to be I learned a lot
to be and a reason to be I learned a lot about myself that year just because you
about myself that year just because you
about myself that year just because you have what looks like the attributes for
have what looks like the attributes for
have what looks like the attributes for something doesn’t mean it’s going to
something doesn’t mean it’s going to
something doesn’t mean it’s going to come easy in basketball nothing is a
come easy in basketball nothing is a
come easy in basketball nothing is a short nothing is guaranteed and nothing
short nothing is guaranteed and nothing
short nothing is guaranteed and nothing comes easy you have to put in the hard
comes easy you have to put in the hard
comes easy you have to put in the hard work and keep the determination to get
work and keep the determination to get
work and keep the determination to get where you want to be being tall
where you want to be being tall
where you want to be being tall it’s not a free pass there’s no
it’s not a free pass there’s no
it’s not a free pass there’s no shortcuts are little known secrets let
shortcuts are little known secrets let
shortcuts are little known secrets let me tell you about my first team I was
me tell you about my first team I was
me tell you about my first team I was part of our colors is blue and white and
part of our colors is blue and white and
part of our colors is blue and white and that name was the Saints now we could
that name was the Saints now we could
that name was the Saints now we could have called apostles because we could
have called apostles because we could
have called apostles because we could have spread the good word of basketball
have spread the good word of basketball
have spread the good word of basketball we’re sure but sure as heck couldn’t win
we’re sure but sure as heck couldn’t win
we’re sure but sure as heck couldn’t win a game for life depend on banner now I
a game for life depend on banner now I
a game for life depend on banner now I would love to be standing up here and
would love to be standing up here and
would love to be standing up here and told you that that year we won a game
told you that that year we won a game
told you that that year we won a game but that would be a lie
but that would be a lie
but that would be a lie because we lost each and every one of
because we lost each and every one of
because we lost each and every one of the games we play last picked on the
the games we play last picked on the
the games we play last picked on the last-place team but surprisingly coast
last-place team but surprisingly coast
last-place team but surprisingly coast around Walker he never got mad he never
around Walker he never got mad he never
around Walker he never got mad he never complained he just he just demanded that
complained he just he just demanded that
complained he just he just demanded that we worked hard each and every game and
we worked hard each and every game and
we worked hard each and every game and each and every practice that we gave all
each and every practice that we gave all
each and every practice that we gave all we can to the basics we played hard we
we can to the basics we played hard we
we can to the basics we played hard we had fun but we were awful we sucked the
had fun but we were awful we sucked the
had fun but we were awful we sucked the following season who changed our name
following season who changed our name
following season who changed our name and our colors and our colors was black
and our colors and our colors was black
and our colors and our colors was black and gold now and the name was a family
and gold now and the name was a family
and gold now and the name was a family with addition of a few players we were
with addition of a few players we were
with addition of a few players we were essentially the same team was it going
essentially the same team was it going
essentially the same team was it going to be another losing season for the
to be another losing season for the
to be another losing season for the Saints now known as the family or have
Saints now known as the family or have
Saints now known as the family or have they learned how to play better than the
they learned how to play better than the
they learned how to play better than the previous season stay tuned
previous season stay tuned
previous season stay tuned to our surprise we won our first game I
to our surprise we won our first game I
to our surprise we won our first game I like to knowing nothing but losses I
like to knowing nothing but losses I
like to knowing nothing but losses I can’t tell you how what a high we were
can’t tell you how what a high we were
can’t tell you how what a high we were maybe the fact that coach Walker had us
maybe the fact that coach Walker had us
maybe the fact that coach Walker had us concentrate on the basics instead of
concentrate on the basics instead of
concentrate on the basics instead of trying to be winners paid off the second
trying to be winners paid off the second
trying to be winners paid off the second game came and we were searching the high
game came and we were searching the high
game came and we were searching the high from the first game in the first win we
from the first game in the first win we
from the first game in the first win we took control the second game and we went
took control the second game and we went
took control the second game and we went on to and oh now I would love to be
on to and oh now I would love to be
on to and oh now I would love to be standing up here and tell that telling
standing up here and tell that telling
standing up here and tell that telling you that we love some games that year
you that we love some games that year
you that we love some games that year but we did it we end up winning each and
but we did it we end up winning each and
but we did it we end up winning each and every game we played including the
every game we played including the
every game we played including the championship game instead of dreaming
championship game instead of dreaming
championship game instead of dreaming about sort of dream about being a winner
about sort of dream about being a winner
about sort of dream about being a winner dream by how how well you can be how
dream by how how well you can be how
dream by how how well you can be how better you can be in the previous day
better you can be in the previous day
better you can be in the previous day that’s still one of my guiding
that’s still one of my guiding
that’s still one of my guiding principles to this day that means how
principles to this day that means how
principles to this day that means how better can I be for my team you all are
better can I be for my team you all are
better can I be for my team you all are responsible for yourselves yes but what
responsible for yourselves yes but what
responsible for yourselves yes but what about your responsibility to others I
about your responsibility to others I
about your responsibility to others I can tell you how gratifying it is to to
can tell you how gratifying it is to to
can tell you how gratifying it is to to see my team jump from their bench and
see my team jump from their bench and
see my team jump from their bench and pump their fists into the air that’s
pump their fists into the air that’s
pump their fists into the air that’s what my energy goes it goes to my team
yeah I don’t adjust to points by so much
yeah I don’t adjust to points by so much more when we give ourselves not for our
more when we give ourselves not for our
more when we give ourselves not for our own glory but to uplift others that
own glory but to uplift others that
own glory but to uplift others that Joy’s enormous and it’s funny how those
Joy’s enormous and it’s funny how those
Joy’s enormous and it’s funny how those long ago lessons lead me to where I am
long ago lessons lead me to where I am
long ago lessons lead me to where I am today
recently a team from Avril France
recently a team from Avril France approached me to play on their team now
approached me to play on their team now
approached me to play on their team now I love to be paying to tell you that it
I love to be paying to tell you that it
I love to be paying to tell you that it will pro show me because of my great
will pro show me because of my great
will pro show me because of my great basketball skills but no
basketball skills but no
basketball skills but no what they wanted from me was take the
what they wanted from me was take the
what they wanted from me was take the idea of team corporation energy and a
idea of team corporation energy and a
idea of team corporation energy and a winning attitude and infused it into the
winning attitude and infused it into the
winning attitude and infused it into the team and I set it and I’ve been doing
team and I set it and I’ve been doing
team and I set it and I’ve been doing the daily talk of dedication hard work
the daily talk of dedication hard work
the daily talk of dedication hard work and determination with the team you all
and determination with the team you all
and determination with the team you all are part of our team be a department at
are part of our team be a department at
are part of our team be a department at work or be it your family or small group
work or be it your family or small group
work or be it your family or small group of friends get up make your dunk and see
of friends get up make your dunk and see
of friends get up make your dunk and see how it energize those around you your
how it energize those around you your
how it energize those around you your impact and go further than you think
impact and go further than you think
impact and go further than you think if as a basketball player you play for
if as a basketball player you play for
if as a basketball player you play for yourself you may win a game but if you
yourself you may win a game but if you
yourself you may win a game but if you play for a team you can win a sham ship
recently we did a three-day camp in
recently we did a three-day camp in Paris we work very hard but for a month
Paris we work very hard but for a month
Paris we work very hard but for a month and a half send out invitations by your
and a half send out invitations by your
and a half send out invitations by your Facebook email and many people was
Facebook email and many people was
Facebook email and many people was always energized by it they and many
always energized by it they and many
always energized by it they and many people were registered on the day of the
people were registered on the day of the
people were registered on the day of the camp we head it off for the we headed
camp we head it off for the we headed
camp we head it off for the we headed off with teachers on one hand and juices
off with teachers on one hand and juices
off with teachers on one hand and juices on the everything that you might need
on the everything that you might need
on the everything that you might need for a camp we got there we saw small
for a camp we got there we saw small
for a camp we got there we saw small group of kids we quickly shook heads or
group of kids we quickly shook heads or
group of kids we quickly shook heads or high-five but then I realized they were
high-five but then I realized they were
high-five but then I realized they were there for another camp
there for another camp
there for another camp ah football so we waited eight o’clock
ah football so we waited eight o’clock
ah football so we waited eight o’clock became nine nine became ten and one kid
became nine nine became ten and one kid
became nine nine became ten and one kid showed up after ten o’clock one kid
showed up after ten o’clock one kid
showed up after ten o’clock one kid showed up the whole day and we worked
showed up the whole day and we worked
showed up the whole day and we worked with that one kid and the end of that
with that one kid and the end of that
with that one kid and the end of that day we asked and we decided to continue
day we asked and we decided to continue
day we asked and we decided to continue what I count and we asked him to come
what I count and we asked him to come
what I count and we asked him to come back on the second day eight kids showed
back on the second day eight kids showed
back on the second day eight kids showed up we complete that day and the third
up we complete that day and the third
up we complete that day and the third and final day ten kids showed up and we
and final day ten kids showed up and we
and final day ten kids showed up and we completed our camp program the lessons I
completed our camp program the lessons I
completed our camp program the lessons I learned from this was it is important to
learned from this was it is important to
learned from this was it is important to make a difference to even one child
make a difference to even one child
make a difference to even one child because he or she will affect the lives
because he or she will affect the lives
because he or she will affect the lives of others
of others
of others no Buddha said thousands of candles can
no Buddha said thousands of candles can
no Buddha said thousands of candles can be lit by one candle and the life of
be lit by one candle and the life of
be lit by one candle and the life of that one candle will not be shortened
that one candle will not be shortened
that one candle will not be shortened happiness never decreased by being
happiness never decreased by being
happiness never decreased by being shared so what am i doing today I am
shared so what am i doing today I am
shared so what am i doing today I am dunking for my community the joy I see
dunking for my community the joy I see
dunking for my community the joy I see is far greater than watching my
is far greater than watching my
is far greater than watching my teammates jump from their bench and pump
teammates jump from their bench and pump
teammates jump from their bench and pump their fists in the air recently with
their fists in the air recently with
their fists in the air recently with that was the excitement in Morocco when
that was the excitement in Morocco when
that was the excitement in Morocco when a few friends and I did a seven-day camp
a few friends and I did a seven-day camp
a few friends and I did a seven-day camp in la rage Morocco we play special
in la rage Morocco we play special
in la rage Morocco we play special attention to the girls basketball teams
attention to the girls basketball teams
attention to the girls basketball teams there we did a one day camp in the UK an
there we did a one day camp in the UK an
there we did a one day camp in the UK an energy that we put into it came back ten
energy that we put into it came back ten
energy that we put into it came back ten times and folds not just from the kids
times and folds not just from the kids
times and folds not just from the kids but from their parents and other
but from their parents and other
but from their parents and other community members the focus of these
community members the focus of these
community members the focus of these camps are to develop their physical
camps are to develop their physical
camps are to develop their physical mental and interactive capacities this
mental and interactive capacities this
mental and interactive capacities this is necessary to equip them to develop
is necessary to equip them to develop
is necessary to equip them to develop their self-esteem their knowledge and
their self-esteem their knowledge and
their self-esteem their knowledge and the leadership skills needed to
the leadership skills needed to
the leadership skills needed to facilitate and maintain a positive
facilitate and maintain a positive
facilitate and maintain a positive impact on their community
impact on their community
impact on their community if as a basketball player you play for
if as a basketball player you play for
if as a basketball player you play for yourself you can win a game but if you
yourself you can win a game but if you
yourself you can win a game but if you play for a team you can win a champ
play for a team you can win a champ
play for a team you can win a champ and if you play for a community you can
and if you play for a community you can
and if you play for a community you can make an impact today I’ve been talking a
make an impact today I’ve been talking a
make an impact today I’ve been talking a lot about myself but really I’ve been
lot about myself but really I’ve been
lot about myself but really I’ve been talking about you I want you to picture
talking about you I want you to picture
talking about you I want you to picture you going for your dunk only you know
you going for your dunk only you know
you going for your dunk only you know what that don’t really is it’s going to
what that don’t really is it’s going to
what that don’t really is it’s going to take a lot of energy to make that leap
take a lot of energy to make that leap
take a lot of energy to make that leap prehaps leap into the unknown but when
prehaps leap into the unknown but when
prehaps leap into the unknown but when that ball goes through the hoop you will
that ball goes through the hoop you will
that ball goes through the hoop you will release the energy to those around you
release the energy to those around you
release the energy to those around you and then we’ll jump out their seats and
and then we’ll jump out their seats and
and then we’ll jump out their seats and then we inspire to take on more
then we inspire to take on more
then we inspire to take on more responsibility for themselves and that’s
responsibility for themselves and that’s
responsibility for themselves and that’s another level to affect the crowd the
another level to affect the crowd the
another level to affect the crowd the crowd gets involved as well it becomes a
crowd gets involved as well it becomes a
crowd gets involved as well it becomes a ripple effect and the crowd in other
ripple effect and the crowd in other
ripple effect and the crowd in other words the community sees this energy and
words the community sees this energy and
words the community sees this energy and a nice enthusiasm in them and make what
a nice enthusiasm in them and make what
a nice enthusiasm in them and make what them want to respond well the energy
them want to respond well the energy
them want to respond well the energy comes back to you what you started by
comes back to you what you started by
comes back to you what you started by giving the most that you could comes
giving the most that you could comes
giving the most that you could comes back to you in the end
back to you in the end
back to you in the end does that dunk your dunk is not for you
but as you are responsible to your team
but as you are responsible to your team it is to energize them and let that
it is to energize them and let that
it is to energize them and let that energy ripple out to the community you
energy ripple out to the community you
energy ripple out to the community you see that dunk is so much more than two
see that dunk is so much more than two
see that dunk is so much more than two points now I encourage you to go out and
points now I encourage you to go out and
points now I encourage you to go out and make your dunk and give your energy to
make your dunk and give your energy to
make your dunk and give your energy to your team and your community coach
your team and your community coach
your team and your community coach Walker gave us skinny eleven old kids
Walker gave us skinny eleven old kids
Walker gave us skinny eleven old kids something that changed his life I have
something that changed his life I have
something that changed his life I have the responsibility to give that energy
the responsibility to give that energy
the responsibility to give that energy back go out
back go out
back go out make your duck and see its richness in
make your duck and see its richness in
make your duck and see its richness in this return thank you
this return thank you
this return thank you [Applause]
”
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