Chima Moneke has the most incredible path to the NBA that you'll ever hear. And that's not an exaggeration.

From picking up the game in Australia, and getting cut from his under 18 high school club, to signing an NBA contract with the Sacramento Kings, everything that unfolded in between is something straight out of a Disney movie, that sometimes feels too good to be true.

We recap the journey through junior college in Nebraska that eventually landed him a Division One basketball scholarship at UC Davis. The same UC Davis that produced fellow overseas standout TJ Shorts, who Moneke shared the court with as a senior.

We walk through the trials and tribulations of trying to climb the overseas ladder, that included being cut from second division France, and landing at a crossroads in the viability of achieving that coveted NBA dream.

Chima talks us through how he was able to turn that setback into a catapult that would launch him into the most prosperous days of his professional career to follow. Which eventually led him to an NBA contract with the Kings and a reunion with Team Nigeria Head Coach Mike Brown.

We cap off the podcast with the question of the hour, after a career euroleague season in Baskonia, where does the NBA lie on Chima's radar today? Could a return be looming?

Find out on the 50th episode of the WIYB podcast out now on all platforms! And remember to subscribe/follow the show so you don't miss any more episodes to follow!

"Just Keep Going" is a mantra that has become a foundational piece to everyday life for Ike Iroegbu. When you get cut from the Olympics for no other reason than politics, "Just keep going". When you receive a random phone call while sitting on your couch one morning saying you're going to be playing in your first NBA game in a few hours, "just keep going". When you decide to start a brand to highlight overlooked basketball players, there was no better phrase to sum it up than "just keep going"

This phrase is one that can be used whether you're an athlete, or a mailman in your local neighborhood trying to provide for your family. At the end of the day, you just have to keep going!

Ike joined the show to discuss some of these trials and tribulations that have come along the way during this basketball journey, that include stops with the Clippers during the NBA preseason, the NBA G League, and some of the best leagues in the world including the ACB in Spain, and the Serie A in Italy. We get into some of the politics that exist in both of these situations, and have a transparent conversation on everything you need to know to make an informed decision on both options.

We then shift our focus to the athlete empowerment era that we're currently in. An era that promotes creativity, freedom of expression, and leaning into creative outlets that can give you the fulfillment that we all seek outside of whatever our 9-5 may be.

Ike takes us inside the inception of his brand "Just Keep Going" and what it looks like to manage a brand of that scale while being a full time professional athlete.

This is one of those episodes that every hooper should tune into! A conversation that you'll leave thankful that you heard, and looking forward to your next opportunity to "just keep going!"

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Dayne Carter is the definition of what it looks like to be an artist in 2024. He's invested in his craft to the point where he's committed to releasing a single every month of 2024. However, he's also harnessing a love for sports and creativity, while working for Bleacher Report, one of the largest media platforms in the world.

We sit down with Dayne to discuss the balance between pursuing a career in music, while also maintaining a job in corporate America, and how those two things have come to benefit one another in certain situations.

Dayne shares an all time story of meeting one of his rap idols, J. Cole through an impromptu run in with Lebron James. It's a once in a lifetime story that you have to hear to believe!

Dayne takes us through his upbringing in New Jersey/New York that first made him fall in love with hip-hop, as well as how a family relationship landed him a job at a company we've all come to know as Uninterrupted & Make Springhill.

Dayne embodies everything it means to be a creative in 2024, and his insight into the industry is something you can apply no matter what field you're in! So get your notepad out, because this is one of them one's you'll have to listen to twice to get the message!

Maclaine West had no idea when she started inviting friends over to her house for dinner on Thursday evenings, that it would turn into one of the most fulfilling endeavors she'd embark on over the next few years.

The founder of Soul Supper joined the show to discuss what the journey has been like building what she describes as a "human connection brand" from inception to today where it is undoubtedly one of the fastest growing communities of collaboration that you'll find anywhere.

We discuss the importance of connection, and how supper can invite more conversations and encourage more breakthroughs than you'd ever imagine.

We also discuss how West has been able to brand Soul Supper to partner the endeavor with over 30 brands and corporations who have bought into the authenticity of the brand, and everything that it stands for. From the pitch deck, all the way to the supper table we discuss the process it takes to conduct outreach and secure brand partners at even the grassroots level.

We end the episode with perhaps one of the most powerful conversations we've had here on the platform, where our host gets put in the hot seat, which leads to a deep dive into realizing the beauty of your surroundings and being where your feet are.

This is one of those episodes you'll want to watch over and over again once you finish it, so make sure you follow the show so you don't miss a single second!

Victoria Mazzeo has worked with some of the largest brands in the world. Brands such as Adidas, Gatorade & Google. She's also had the opportunity to work with A-List clients such as Michael Rubin, Jeanie Buss, Allen Iverson, & Tracy McGrady to name a few.

But how did a former division two athlete turn a basketball career into a business career today that allows her to travel all over the world, while crossing paths with some of the most influential people in the industry?

She sat down on the podcast to share her incredible journey, from rebounding in a small gym in Philadelphia for Jameer Nelson & upstart NBA trainer Drew Hanlen, to sitting courtside at every Sixers game in that same city, but now, for work! We discuss how to use the game of basketball to propel you into doors and opportunities your mind could never imagine!

So get your notepad out for this one, because it's full of gems that could change the course of your basketball career, and your post basketball life!

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Merix Alexander has become one of the most well known NBA photographers and videographers by bringing a unique editing style that combines the art of basketball with the art of music and rhythm to produce a piece that encapsulates everything modern about today's game.

Merix joined the show to discuss his unique style that we all have come to love, as well as the new era of basketball content where R&B music and slow jams go together with basketball highlights like we've never seen before.

We discuss the privilege of shooting all-time greats like Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic, and how that has impacted the way Merix approaches shooting a game.

We also recap NBA All Star weekend, dive into an impromptu run in with Larry June & Currency that has turned into a relationship that has paid dividends for Merix, and reflect on the impact "sight seeing" has had on Merix's creative lens.

This is an episode you don't want to miss! So Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any of the conversation!

Clifford Taylor IV has become the blueprint for what it looks like to be an Athlete creator. From playing football at the University of Florida alongside the likes of Kyle Pitts, Kadarius Toney, and more, Taylor quickly realized he had a talent for story telling, which has allowed him to amass over 1.6 Million followers across Tik Tok, Instagram, and Youtube.

We caught up with Taylor to discuss his journey from the playing field, to the creator economy that has allowed him to work with some of the largest brands in the world and alongside some of the biggest athletes & creators in the industry.

We touched on his time working in the corporate space winning a Super Bowl with Odell Beckham Jr. and the Rams, as well as working for the NBA and having the opportunity to cover the NBA finals, a childhood dream manifested.

Clifford then shared the reasoning behind his departure from the coorporate world, and into the current era of his life as a one man media platform that is responsible for two of the most viral memes on social media over the last few years.

We get to the bottom of the inspiration behind the "A win in a win" sound, as well as the "Lakers need a Center" which still is making its rounds on the internet today! We then get to the fun stuff, and discuss some of the reasons why content creation is one of the fastest growing industries today. Due to the amount of money brands are pouring into campaigns and influencer budgets, we talk some financials that will have you with a new found respect for some of your favorite creators!

All in all this was an insightful conversation that will change the way you look at the modern day athlete forever! Don't forget to subscribe to the show, and leave a comment if you enjoy this conversation!

KJ Wright, also known as Kelcey Wright Johnson, has become one of the faces of the NBA media scene due to her work as the Memphis Grizzlies sideline reporter and host. Getting the opportunity to cover the upstart Grizzlies and superstars such as Ja Morant is a dream job for most, and one that causes KJ to pinch herself still to this day.

However, with a large platform, comes a large amount of people who decide to say nasty things over the internet, with the veil of social media to hide behind. We caught up with KJ to discuss how she dealt with her most recent social media battle, after someone made a nasty comment after a picture surfaced of her interviewing Ja Morant during a game this season.

KJ opens up about the struggles that came along with dealing with being panted in that light for the world to see, and how she chooses to deal with people who choose to be negative over the internet.

A very candid conversation was had, and wright shared many tips on how to stay true to who you are, as well as how she's been able to make a name for herself in this NBA space after departing from Canada almost five years ago.

If you're an NBA fan, someone who aspires to work in the media, or just a sports fan who enjoys hearing new perspectives on the industry, then this conversation is a MUST WATCH!

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