Why I‘m Not in the NBA: My Unexpected Journey to YouTube Stardom
I still remember the day I decided I was going to make it to the NBA. I was just 19 years old, barely 5‘9, and hadn‘t received a single college offer. But I‘d been playing streetball since I was a kid, earning the nickname "The Professor" for my unexpected ball handling skills. And I just knew deep down that I had what it took to go pro.
So I set out on a mission to achieve my hoop dream, no matter the obstacles in my way. That road wasn‘t easy though…
Taking My Streetball Skills Mainstream
Even without a Division 1 college roster spot, I found a gateway into mainstream audiences when the famous AND1 Mixtape Tour streetball squad rolled through my city for an open tryout. Out of hundreds, I stood out enough with my slick crossovers and no-look dimes to earn a contract on the tour that very night.
What followed was a whirlwind of AND1 games across the country showcasing my signature style to sold out crowds everywhere we went. My mixtapes racked up endless replays on the tour‘s compilation DVDs, mesmerizing fans with creative dribbling displays set to hip hop beats.
Based on merch sales data, my ball tricks even ranked among AND1’s top 10 most purchased video clips league-wide multiple years. Seeing those mainstream hype moments gave me hope I really could overcome doubters and make it all the way to the NBA.
Trying to Go Pro, Despite the Odds
My big chance came in 2006 after standing out for two full AND1 Mixtape tours. I earned a roster spot playing for the Salem Stampede, a semi-pro team in Oregon.
Our win-loss record was brutal at just 6-26. But individually, I made my mark by leading the entire league in assists at 7.5 per game – fully elevating teammates despite our team‘s struggle. For me, it was still great reps competing against high level players instead of just showcasing street tricks.
Feeling confident, I set my sights on the Continental Basketball Association, essentially the minor league pipeline to call-ups for NBA teams. In my first season, I put up 10 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds a night – exceptional numbers for a 5‘9 point guard matching up against former DI giants and sharpshooting pros.
But an NBA call-up still proved just out of reach as I learned firsthand how the talent jump is astronomical trying to break into the game’s peak level. Playing in hostile pro ball environments showed me just how far my game had to grow, well beyond my AND1 exploits. Even with my standoutmetrics, NBA workouts and training camps still never came calling.
NCAA Eligibility Shuts the Door
Just one NBA tryout was all I needed though. Or so I thought.
But there was one major obstacle standing in my way now – the NCAA. You see, signing those AND1 streetball contracts made me permanently ineligible to return to college basketball. Their strict no pay-for-play rules shut the door on any NCAA plans, no matter how much my game improved later on.
As a 5‘9 point guard lacking high-level college film, that NCAA exposure was essential to getting the NBA looks I desperately needed. Scouts told me point blank – without proving my game against top college defenses, they couldn’t take the risk no matter how well I produced in streetball highlight reels.
I learned the hard truth – it takes far more than sporadic moments of brilliance to make it as a pro. Turns out grit and non-stop effort isn‘t always enough. Raw talents tands out instantly at lower levels of competition where my tight handles thrived. But converting to a real NBA game speed brought major struggles I just couldn’t overcome.
Of course I was devastated at first when I realized basketball might not actually become my lifelong career after hitting this NCAA eligibility wall. But looking back now, getting barred from college games was one of the best turns of fate I ever encountered…
Blowing Up on YouTube and Finding My True Path
Even if I couldn‘t play college ball, my streetball profile was growing rapidly touring with AND1 thanks to fan favorite mixtapes of my play. I became a featured player in our global tours and merchandise – a bonafide star within streetball culture.
Then in 2006, I decided to create a YouTube channel showcasing my AND1 highlights to take my personal brand mainstream online. After compiling my most viral mixtape plays, that initial channel upload racked up 500,000 views in just a few months!
Seeing that appetite for my play outside the streetball scene convinced me to keep creating. Suddenly I wasn’t just an AND1 guy – fans were connecting with ME as a personality too.
From there I started experimenting with sponsored series doing elaborate ball tricks in wacky costumes, pulling millions more curious viewers into my world. Folks couldn‘t get enough of this short dude oozing with handle skills and confidence challenging giants.
My subscriber base jumped 300% within a year as I built an entire video formula around my flashy play style. But no one expected the tipping point fame explosion still to come…
Filming a pick-up streetball game inside San Quentin State Prison was my zaniest video concept yet. The maximum security yard was an INSANE spot I had to negotiate special access for with the warden directly. He only agreed once I offered to donate a portion of revenue to prisoner education programs.
But taking streetball into the literal streets ended up a genius move earning over 60 MILLION views almost overnight! Cupping and saucing up against prison guards looked straight out of a movie.
I realized YouTube could give me the platform and fanbase I’d been seeking through pro basketball itself. Each new viral concept was a slam dunk play, with over a billion lifetime views and 10 million subscribers today.
Sure I missed my shot at playing for NBA teams directly after grinding for years in pursuit of that isolated goal. But blowing up on YouTube brought way more fans, influence and income than any 5’9 pro point guard would likely ever achieve.
Looking back now, it feels destined unexpected obstacles pushed me towards building my personal hoop dream as an influencer and media icon instead.
The Viral Channel Became My Dream Come True
They say life takes unexpected turns to put you on the right path meant for you. That’s exactly what happened when NCAA rules and pro league competition shut the door on my singular NBA focus.
Instead I ended up building a YouTube empire entertaining millions with creative videos showcasing my signature ball handling skills – while still playing for AND1 at events worldwide.
Today my empire sits at over 10 million YouTube subscribers strong and expanding. Compare that to averages of just 210,000 followers for current NBA player channels and 290,000 for recently retired guys.
Financially I bring home high 6 figures yearly just from YouTube and Instagram brand deals alone – comparable income levels to solid NBA pros with way less loss of creative freedom. Sponsors and gear companies love partnering with digital influencers delivering strong windfalls compared to licensing team jersey rights in the far more competitive pro basketball economy.
Most importantly, I absolutely love what I do now, connecting with fans globally on my own terms. I have more direct impact than I likely would have stuck chasing NBA glory just hoping to maybe crack a roster for 10 mediocre bench minutes a game.
Turns out going viral on social media aligned perfectly with my strengths…I just didn’t fully see the opportunity years ago when hyperfocused on NBA tunnel vision.
Sure I’m not actually balling inside NBA arenas now like my teenage hoop dreams envisioned. But through YouTube, I’m still living an enriched version of that dream and inspiring young athletes every day.
This internet-driven path ended up being my destiny after all. Crazy how life reroutes you in unexpected ways towards what makes you truly happy!
Overcoming Bias and Finding Peace With My Path
I’d be lying if I said giving up on the NBA dream was easy though. psychologists call it ego depletion when we overly attach to a single goal or career pathway – unable to see alternatives even if better options exist.
I realized I had fallen into the common trap of bias towards my goal when NCAA eligibility issues derailed me initially. Be it celebrity, wealth or pro baller status, ego can cling to desired images of prestige blinding you from what actually fulfills purpose day-to-day.
But exploring new directions luckily helped me discover what genuine success looks like for my talents. I still found chances to showcase my game with AND1 tours while realizing media fame brought me closer to fans than any NBA contract likely could.
Other athletes have shared similar stories breaking from perceived “correct” paths into alternative sports careers unexpectedly…
So don‘t let obstacles or setbacks stop you from dreaming big too. You never know what incredible journeys life might reroute you towards instead. If an unlikely 5‘9 streetballer like me could achieve all this, trust me – your next big dream could be just one unexpected twist of fate away!