Author: atrang

My First Classmate

I saw it right away. As soon as my mom pulled the car up to our house and we started making our way to the front door. It was there.

Growing up where we did in St. Louis, you know about this sort of thing, you hear about it. But I’d never seen it before.

A small piece of pink paper tacked to our door.

An eviction notice.

My mom broke down in tears as soon as she saw it. Whether it was heat being cut off, or the water, it always seemed like it was one problem after another. And she was hurting. She went to her room. I could hear her crying through her bedroom door.

I went to my room as well. I was just so upset — angry at myself for being so young, unable to help, with no control. Of course I was just a kid, only 8 or 9 years old, so I didn’t really understand the whole situation, but I knew enough to know what that pink paper meant.

Where are we going to live?

Who are we going to stay with?

Who is going to take care of us?

***

Way before high school, I’d already been to college. My mom had me when she was 19 years old. She was just a college freshman. But she was determined not to become another statistic, not to end up on welfare, not to drop out of school.

So she brought me to class with her.

From the time I was a baby until I was about eight years old, when my mom went to school, I went to school with her. I remember sitting in the back of her classes, eating snacks or immersing myself in books or video games. I kept quiet, listening in here and there — to me, most of her professors seemed boring and talked a lot. But I had my things to focus on, she had hers. It felt normal. So that’s what we did. When my mom couldn’t afford a babysitter and Grandma was working, we’d go to class together.

And by the time I got to sixth grade, my mom had gotten her bachelor’s and law degrees from St. Louis University.

I’ll never forget her law school graduation. All my cousins and grandparents showed up. When they called my mom’s name, I stood up in my button-down and slacks and screamed, “I love you! I’m proud of you!”

She did it, I told her her after the ceremony, but she corrected me. “We did it.”

I don’t think it really hit me until this past year, with Duke ahead of me this fall, how much Mom worked and how much she went through.

Those nights when she was still in school, we’d sit at the dining room table together. We were each doing our homework. She’d be walking back and forth from the kitchen, cooking dinner while I asked her questions about my math assignments. (Mom was the best with math, she always found a way to break things down in terms that I could understand.) And when it was my bedtime she’d tuck me in and then return to the dining room table, staying up for hours, studying, reading, making sure she was keeping up with her own schoolwork.

She’d often say to me, “Jay, don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t be. No matter what.”

When it became clear in middle school that basketball was becoming a bigger part of my life, her words only hit home even more.

I’ve been playing basketball since I could walk. My dad played in college and then for a few years as a pro overseas, which is why I didn’t see him much in those early years. But there are photos of me as a baby at his games. So you could say that the game has been part of me from the start. When I was only three years old, I had to play in the under-5 league at our YMCA because I was so much taller than the other boys my age.

When Mom found out that all I wanted to do was to play ball, she started to demand that I work just as hard in school. She didn’t want people to look at me and think, He’s only an athlete. All he can do is play basketball. He can’t speak well.

Suddenly there were new house rules. If my grades weren’t where she wanted them to be, then no basketball tournaments on the weekend.

“Yeah, sure — O.K., Mom,” I’d reply sarcastically. “My friends’ moms don’t have those rules.”

I was just being being a kid.

Big mistake. One day, she came home from a parent-teacher conference with my report card. She pointed at the two Cs I’d gotten.

She sat me down and delivered one of those talks — one of those long mom talks. If you know what I mean, you know what I mean.

When my basketball tournament rolled around that weekend, she didn’t mess around. She actually sat me out. No mercy. It was an eye-opener. I never underestimated my mom again. It only took one time.

From then on, we became a team just like we had been when she was taking me to school. At that time, she had been doing whatever she could — working two jobs, picking up side jobs cleaning people’s houses, getting her schoolwork done, on top of all her duties as my mom. Even when she got her degree, her hard work never ceased, so I needed to step up, too.

As I got taller and stronger, I started to mature in other ways. I tried hard to handle my schoolwork so she didn’t have to check up on me as much as she used to. I tried to be as independent as I could to lighten her burden a little bit. I started to wash and iron my clothes, find my own rides to the gym, cook my own breakfast in the morning — and if she was out working late, I tried to have food ready when she came home. (Future college roommate, you’re in luck: I make great tacos.)

My game got better as well.

The summer before I got to high school, I was invited to an elite basketball camp in Atlanta. There were kids there who had their own YouTube highlight videos, mixtapes, the whole thing. I recognized some other players — Josh Langford, V.J. King, Bam Adebayo — as top high school recruits. I just rolled in like the new kid. Nobody knew my name or where I was from. But by the end of the weekend, I felt like a few more people knew my name. College basketball was on my radar and, just maybe, so was a scholarship.

Heading into my freshman year of high school, Mom sat me down for one of her talks. The way I looked up to Kobe and LeBron, she said, were the way young kids in St. Louis would look up to me: I was a big-name basketball player who might make it.

Whatever I was doing off the court, she said, was just as important as the numbers I was putting up on it.

In addition to homework, Mom had me get involved with volunteer work, helping out at a homeless shelter and mentoring young student-athletes in our city. I would go to their practices and games, talk to them about problems they were facing in school. Sometimes I would get to speak at their banquets or other team functions.

I wasn’t used to giving advice. What can an 18-year-old kid tell other kids?

I would always start the same way, with a story.

When I was in elementary school, my teachers would go around the classroom asking kids what they wanted to be when they grow up. Most of my classmates would say something about how they wanted to be doctors or lawyers or teachers. I would always say, “I want to be a professional basketball player.” Usually the teacher would just smile and say, “That’s inspiring, but think of something more realistic.”

Then I’d tell those student-athletes what my mom told me.

“Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t be. No matter what.”

“I’m just like you,” I would say.“ I’m from these blocks, I played in these rec leagues, my family has had its struggles the same way yours do. There’s no special secret. Just work hard and push yourself. (And if you’re lucky, you’ll have a mom who will push you even harder.)”

When scholarship offers started arriving, every letter would make Mom cry. The call from Coach K was a dream come true — a dream she had been preparing me for these last couple of years, even if I wasn’t so sure that it would ever happen myself.

I thought the lessons were over, but I was wrong. Even when I knew I was going to Duke, Mom kept pushing me.

She’d come into my room when I was watching TV, grab the remote and ask, “Jay, if a news reporter came up to you after a game and asked you, ‘What were you thinking, coming down the stretch?’ What would you say?”

At the time, I really didn’t get what she was doing. I just wanted to watch TV.

“Mommmmmmm! Nobody’s going to come up and ask me these questions.”

But she would persist, so I ended up playing along. She’d be holding the remote in her fist under my chin, like an imaginary mic.

Looking back, it’s pretty funny, but I think it helped me prepare. Now I never get nervous when I have to talk to the media.

My mom found a way to keep our house after we got that eviction notice. Just like her college degrees, just like her late nights working multiple jobs, she found a way.

The house is nothing spectacular, just a two-bedroom, one-bathroom house. But it’s home.

Sometimes my mom and I daydream about doing something to help other single mothers who are trying to get by. We talk about turning our house into a place where a mother and child could live rent-free for a year or two while they get back on their feet — so they won’t have to go through what Mom and I did, wondering if in 30 days we’d still have a home. I hope one day that our dream can come true.

Now Duke is on my horizon. And it’s only possible because of my mom, my original college classmate.

So thank you, Mom, for making sure I was fed, for making sure we had a home, for making me the person I am today.

… and for making sure I did my homework. I promise to keep you updated on my college assignments. Besides, I know you’ll check up if I don’t.

Thanks again, Mom. You did it.

My mistake. We did it.

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum Thinks Payton Pritchard is a Lock For Postseason Award

 

Six-time All-Star Boston Celtics power forward Jayson Tatum would clearly vote in Boston reserve guard Payton Pritchard for 2025 Sixth Man of the Year honors if he could.

On Thursday night, Payton starred in his role off the bench, raining triples against a porous Philadelphia 76ers defense. During the 124-104 victory, Pritchard poured in a Celtics-most 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the floor and dished out four dimes across just 31:23 of action.

The 6-foot-1 pro shot 8-of-15 from long range, marking the third time in his career he’s had eight or more made triple tries.

Speaking after the win, Tatum talked with TNT’s Allie LaForce about Pritchard deserving the Sixth Man of the Year honor.

“He’s unbelievable, what he brings to this team on a given night, especially off the bench. We’ve got a few weeks left, but he’s got to be Sixth Man of the Year,” Tatum told LaForce.

For his part, Tatum chipped in a 15-point, 11-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. All-Star Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown contributed 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field and 4-of-4 shooting from the foul line, dished out six dimes and grabbed six rebounds.

Another potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate (although he’s likely to be lapped by Pritchard in voting), former five-time All-Star big man Al Horford, scored 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field (3-of-5 from deep) and pulled down four boards. All-Defensive Second Team guard Derrick White chipped in a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double of his own, while starting center Kristaps Porzingis notched 17 points while shooting 5-of-11 from the floor (3-of-6 from long range) and 4-of-5 from the foul line.

With the win (its fourth straight), Boston improved to a 40-16 record on the season as it looks to defend its 2024 title.

As the top-scoring reserve on a major contender, Pritchard has been a prominent figure across the NBA landscape, and seems to have a very good shot at notching some end-of-year hardware beyond a Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter, Detroit Pistons swingman Malik Beasley, and last year’s winner, Minnesota Timberwolves center/power forward Naz Reid, are the other top betting favorites.

But Pritchard looks like the top contender right now.

Through 55 games, the 27-year-old Oregon product is averaging a career-best 14.1 points on .471/.415/.836 shooting splits, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 0.9 steals a night.

Steph Curry’s wife dishes on parenting their 4 kids: ‘Our relationship always comes first’

Steph and Curry have been together since their teens

Ayesha Curry stressed the importance of maintaining her relationship with her husband, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, in an interview published on Thursday.

Steph and Ayesha Curry were married in 2011 and have four children together. Ayesha talked about how they are as parents in an interview with People magazine.

“I think for us, our relationship always comes first. Then we’re parents,” she said. “And that works for us because then you have two happy people raising the kids in the house. So the family sector in our lives always comes first.

“And then honestly, it’s just surrounding ourselves with people that are smarter than us and know what they’re doing and can make the things run. And they allow us the space to be creative and they allow us the space to truly show up however we choose to. And I think that’s what’s really worked for us.”

Steph and Ayesha met when they were young teenagers but did not start dating until a few years later. The two welcomed their fourth child last May.

Ayesha Curry was still on hand rooting for the NBA star as he helped Team USA capture a gold medal over France at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Recently, Ayesha Curry had to shut down one of her Sweet July brick and mortar shops in Oakland, California, over safety concerns.

C’s React to HBO’s ‘Celtics City’ Premiere

If you’re a history buff, if you enjoy basketball, and if you’re a fan of the Boston Celtics, then HBO and Max have a treat coming for you.

On March 3, HBO will launch Episode 1 of “Celtics City,” a nine-part docuseries that takes an extreme deep-dive into the history of the winningest professional basketball franchise on Earth.

Executive producers Bill Simmons, Connor Schell, and Gabe Honig, and seven-time Emmy award-winning director Lauren Stowell pieced together the saga with more than 80 interviews with Celtics Legends and never-before-seen archival footage dating from the team’s inception all the way to its 2024 championship run.

Those 2024 champions got to have a sneak peek at the show on Friday night as part of a premiere screening at the Revere Hotel, where they watched Episode 5, which recaps the 1980s and focuses heavily on the peak of the Celtics-Lakers rivalry.

Being the history buff (and Colorado Buff) that he is, Derrick White is already hooked after watching one episode.

“It definitely dives into a deeper element about the team,” he told reporters Saturday afternoon. “You learn more about the team, more about the city, and everything that goes on. Obviously I wasn’t born in the 80s, and I haven’t seen the earlier years, so I’m looking forward to learning more about Celtics history. I’ve heard a lot, and just to get a deeper look on the Celtics’ history and how it affected Boston and kind of shaped the NBA as well.”

Looking back on that history adds to White’s motivation and pride in representing the Celtics.

“Every time I put on this jersey, I know it’s a blessing,” White said. “And just to play in the Garden in front of these great fans, it’s always good to have a nice reminder like that. It just makes me more thankful and grateful I get to play for an organization I love in a great city.”

What Joe Mazzulla loves about the show is how it doesn’t only display the team’s highs; it also covers the lows from over the years and how the team has risen back up after hitting adversity. It highlights the championships, but it also details the hardships that the organization dealt with both on and off the court. It covers conflicts within the locker room, it dives into social issues within the city, and it examines how the team handled tragedy following the deaths of Len Bias and Reggie Lewis. Ultimately, it shows how the organization overcame obstacles time and time again on its path to unparalleled success.

“Everybody always remembers when things go well, but this shows the difficult parts,” Mazzulla recapped. “I think that’s important to know that you have to take the good with the bad; you have to take the journey.”

The coach added, “It gives perspective into the responsibility that we have toward moving the organization forward. But also, if the people before us didn’t do what they did and achieve what they did, then this job isn’t what it is. It just gives great perspective into the opportunity that we have.”

Fans will have an opportunity to dive into the docuseries on March 3 at 9 p.m. on HBO, and it will also be available to stream on Max with new episodes airing weekly through April 28.

 

Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic on why he’s never eaten at Taco Bell

Jokic was the Nuggets’ second-round pick in 2014

Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic developed into a three-time NBA MVP and champion from a second-round pick out of Serbia.

The Nuggets’ selection of Jokic in the 2014 draft out of Serbia was famously announced as the ESPN broadcast showed a Taco Bell commercial. As Jokic rose to prominence in the last few years, NBA fans couldn’t believe that someone like the star center’s selection was seemingly passed over.

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic looks to pass the ball as Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura defends on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

He said in an interview with the Nuggets’ social media team he never ate at the fast-food chain ever again.

“I think I’ve never had Taco Bell just because of that,” he said.

Jokic didn’t come to the NBA until the 2015-16 season and developed into a player who could contend for the starting role. He started in 55 games in his first season and 59 games in his next season. He then started 73 out of 75 appearances in the 2017-18 season.

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic collects a loose ball as Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges defends on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The Nuggets star earned his first All-Star appearance in 2019 and his status grew from there. He was a back-to-back MVP in 2021 and 2022 and then again during the 2023-24 seasons. Denver also won the NBA title in 2023.

He’s one of the best players in the league and potentially one of the best international players the NBA has ever seen.

This year, Jokic is averaging 29.4 points, 12.7 rebounds and 10.4 assists for the Nuggets. He’ll be in contention for the NBA MVP once again.

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic argues for a call during the Los Angeles Lakers game on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Denver is 37-20 as of Sunday and third in the Western Conference.

Jaylen Brown’s One-Word Message to the Knicks Leaves Fans STUNNED!

The Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to five games after defeating the New York Knicks on Sunday. Following their win over the Knicks, the Celtics now have a 3-0 series lead against them with one game remaining during the regular season. Furthermore, the Celtics, who are the No. 3 seed in the East, are now four games ahead of the Knicks in the standings.

Despite the Knicks’ shortcomings against Boston this season, they are still a talented team. Heading into the season, many expected them to be a top-three team in the conference, especially after their busy NBA offseason.

Though their biggest transaction was landing Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Knicks also made two other notable moves by trading for Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby. The Knicks made these moves as a way to counter Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum.

After the game, Brown opened up about the Knicks making these transactions and sent the team a message. In a post-game press conference, the reigning NBA Finals MVP was asked if he felt motivated seeing New York make moves in hopes of containing himself and Tatum.

Brown only needed one word to make his feelings clear: “Absolutely.”

Against the Knicks, Brown scored 24 points on 10-for-21 shooting (only Tatum scored more in the game). Furthermore, he recorded eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals. The Georgia native made his presence felt at every level of the game and played a crucial role in Boston’s victory over the Knicks.

After winning the first title of his career last year, it is clear that Brown is aiming to reach the top once again this season.

Derrick White Silences Madison Square Garden with Clutch 3-Point Barrage to Crush Knicks’ Comeback Hopes!

 The New York Knicks were on the cusp of pulling off a wild comeback Sunday afternoon in Boston – until one of the league’s most lethal fourth-quarter shooters put them back in their place.

Karl-Anthony Towns hit a 3-pointer over Derrick White’s outstretched hand on New York’s first possession of the final frame, cutting what had been a 27-point deficit down to four. But White punched right back with consecutive 3-pointers to seize back the momentum and set the stage for a 118-105 Celtics win.

White made all three of his 3-point attempts during the fourth quarter, giving him 45 fourth-quarter threes on the season, good for fifth in the NBA. It brought his average up to 1.0 3-point makes per fourth quarter on the season, tying him for the second-most threes per fourth in the league behind Stephen Curry.

White probably wouldn’t be the first Celtic you’d guess to be a part of that list, but as Kristaps Porzingis pointed out after the game, “He’s just a silent killer.”

Boston’s “silent killer” quietly put up a near-triple-double against New York, logging 19 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists while shooting 7-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from 3-point range. And he is quietly in the midst of some of his best basketball of the season.

White has now scored at least 13 points in 11 straight games. During that monthlong stretch, he has averaged 17.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while shooting 49.6 percent from the field, including 44.6 percent from deep.

Prior to that, White had gone through a nine-game cold spell where he produced five single-digit scoring efforts and shot just 32.6 percent from the field, including 23.9 percent from long range. He admitted during that stretch that he wasn’t experiencing the typical joy that basketball brings him. But he told himself to “knock it off,” and so he snapped right out of it.

“I think that’s just when I’m at my best is when I’m having fun and my energy is high,” White said. “Just trying to have that right energy, right mindset, and I think I’ve been better since then.”

A stretch like that is rare for White, who has been one of Boston’s most reliable contributors since joining the team in 2022. However, Joe Mazzulla noted how it’s only a natural part of White’s growth.

“I think as you become a better player, which he’s done since he’s gotten here and with the success that he’s had, the expectations rise, and when the expectations rise, it’s easy for the joy to be robbed,” Mazzulla said. “That’s just kind of the natural ebbs and flows of a career, and I think there are moments where you have to fight for that.”

White has fought his way free from those struggles, and Mazzulla is happy to see his point guard playing loose and with a smile on his face.

“When he’s at his best, he plays carefree, he makes big shots like he did today, and he just defends at a super high level,” Mazzulla said. “But you have to go through those (tough stretches). I’m glad he went through it. It was important for his growth. It was important for us to see him struggle because it shows how much we need him, and it was important for him to fight for that confidence because he’s one of the best point guards in the league. And when he plays like that, we’re a different team.”

There’s no question about that last point. The Celtics were 4-5 during White’s rough patch in January. In his 11 games since, they have gone 10-1, including five straight double-digit wins.

He Tried Everything! Jimmy Butler and His Secret Obsession with Seducing Jennifer Lopez

Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin(L), Megan Briggs(R); (inset): Photo by Christopher Polk

 

Jennifer Lopez is once again at the center of a new swirl of romance rumors. After her recent split from actor Ben Affleck , the superstar has been linked with Miami Heat’s NBA star , Jimmy Butler. The gossip started heating up when fans noticed some playful exchanges between Lopez and Butler on social media, igniting speculation about a potential new romance. Lopez, known for her high-profile relationships, has always attracted attention to her love life. Following months of rumors, her recent split from Affleck has left fans curious about her next move. And now, with Butler entering the conversation, that curiosity has only intensified.

🚨 J.Lo and Ben Affleck File for Divorce

Ben Affleck bought a $20.5M LA mansion as divorce rumors swirled.

J.Lo sold her NYC penthouse, signaling trouble in paradise.

Sources said their relationship has "been over for months."

Source: TMZ pic.twitter.com/lfcPsMEY8g

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 31, 2024

As per Marca , the flirtation between Lopez and Butler became public when the singer posted a demure clip on Instagram with the caption. “Very demure… very mindful.” While the clip was stunning, it was the comment section under Lopez’s post, nudging the singer to address an earlier private conversation they had. He wrote, “Would it be too modest of you to respond to my DM?” Lopez, known for her sharp wit, responded in kind, asking,  “Do you have a ring?” While it remains unclear if Lopez was referring to an NBA Championship ring or something more personal, the exchange certainly gave fans more to speculate about.

As per OK Magazine , the flirtatious interaction comes shortly after Lopez’s recent divorce from Affleck, with whom she shared a whirlwind romance and two-year marriage. An insider revealed, “He’s where he wants to be: close to his kids and in a neighborhood that he loves. He enjoys working too, and is very focused on the positives.” A source close to Lopez revealed her situation and noted, “She’s surrounded by family, friends, and her kids. She always manages to have a positive outlook. The divorce is difficult for her, but she always finds a way to move forward.”

The couple also parted ways with their extravagant $68 million mansion , marking a clear end to their relationship. An insider noted, “The $68 million mansion was Ben’s idea and a major compromise for her. She agreed to it because of its spacious layout, accommodating both their families, a gym and a pickleball court, office space, plus it has two private entrances… She loves the romantic, Spanish, European vibe.” However, another source revealed, “His life’s in Brentwood. His kids live there. It was such a pain and time-consuming for Ben to navigate traffic from their house. He never liked it.”

Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Edward Berthelot
Talking about the challenges one source spilled the beans and said Lopez was tired of waiting and there is a symbolism behind the date she took the major step. The source remarked, “She tried really hard to make things work and is heartbroken. The kids are a top priority, as they always have been.” They further added, “The move gives her control of the process. It’s good that she did it.”

 

Millie Bobby Brown & Jake Bongiovi’s SAG Awards 2025 Moment Has Fans Swooning—Did You Catch It?

Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown shared a special moment with husband Jake Bongiovi Feb. 23 while on the red carpet of the 2025 SAG Awards, hosted by Kristen Bell.

There’s nothing strange about Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi’s cute date night.

The couple—who tied the knot in two separate ceremonies in 2024—attended the 2025 SAG Awards Feb. 23 and shared a special moment on the red carpet.

In video obtained by E! News, the Stranger Things star walked toward her husband—the son of Bon Jovi frontman Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea Hurley—after posing for pictures on the red carpet and the pair grabbed each other’s hands before leaning in for a warm embrace. As Millie wrapped her arm around Jake’s back, he returned the favor by draping his arm around her waist.

The Enola Holmes star and model also posed together as they arrived in their chic fashion. For her part, Millie donned a champagne orange halter dress with a short train with her newly blonde hair tied up in a bun. She complemented the look with a Chopard ring and earrings.

Jake sported a black tux and tie over a white button down shirt with his hair slicked back. (Click here to see all of the 2025 SAG Awards red carpet fashion.)

While the couple’s date night featured cute displays of affection, the pair are no strangers to outwardly sharing their love for each other.

Four days before the SAG Awards—hosted by Kristen Bell—Jake celebrated Millie’s 21st birthday with a touching tribute.

Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images

“Happy 21st baby,” he wrote to Instagram Feb. 19 alongside a mirror selfie of the pair. “I love you so much.”

A week before, Millie gushed about her husband and shared a never-before-seen picture from their wedding day while celebrating Valentine’s Day.

“Happy Valentine’s Day to the most handsome husband that’s ever lived,” she wrote in an Instagram post Feb. 14. “I love you more than anything.”

Read on to see other stars who walked the red carpet of the 2025 SAG Awards.

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Ariana Grande

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

Timothee Chalamet

Amy Sussman / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Selena Gomez

David Fisher/Shutterstock for SAG

Cynthia Erivo

Neilson Barnard / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Leighton Meester

Emma McIntyre / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Adam Brody

Kevin Mazur / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES

Zoe Saldaña

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Keke Palmer

Amy Sussman / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Kieran Culkin

Kevin Mazur / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES

Millie Bobby Brown

Neilson Barnard / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Demi Moore

Neilson Barnard / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Colman Domingo

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Jeremy Allen White

David Fisher/Shutterstock for SAG

Ebon Moss-Bachrach

Neilson Barnard / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Daniel Craig

David Fisher/Shutterstock for SAG

Ralph Fiennes

David Fisher/Shutterstock for SAG

Brett Goldstein

Frazer Harrison / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Kumail Nanjiani

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Colin Farrell

Neilson Barnard / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Adrien Brody

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Keri Russell

David Fisher/Shutterstock for SAG

Michelle Yeoh

Neilson Barnard / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Georgina Chapman

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Jane Fonda

ROBYN BECK / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES

Jodie Foster

David Fisher/Shutterstock for SAG

Gillian Anderson

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Monica Barbaro

FREDERIC J. BROWN / Contributor / GETTY IMAGES

Lily Gladstone

David Fisher/Shutterstock for SAG

Mikey Madison

Neilson Barnard / Staff / GETTY IMAGES

Mary Steenburgen

“Angel Reese Embraces Her ‘Girly Girl’ Side While Unleashing Her ‘Dog Mentality’ on the Court!”

“I am who I am and I accept who I am. People are going to either love it or hate it,” Reese tells PEOPLE. “I think that separates you from whoever else”

Angel Reese. Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty

Angel Reese defines girl power.

Ahead of her first community event in her new home city in Illinois, the Chicago Sky rookie spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about her undeniable confidence and inspiring young girls to find empowerment within themselves.

Reese made a surprise appearance at the South Side YMCA in Chicago on June 28 for an educational event focused on basketball and all things self-care. “Hopefully they can look at me as a sister,” Reese told PEOPLE of what she hope the young girls will gain from the interactive day.

“I remember when I was that little girl, wanting to look up to someone and be where I am right now,” the star athlete recalls. “Hopefully I can give them some confidence that you can do whatever you put your mind to,” she says.

Angel Reese.Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty

Since she was selected by the Chicago Sky at the 2024 WNBA Draft in April, the former LSU star has had a record-breaking season to date. The first-year standout became the first rookie in league history to rack up a triple-douple, plus set a WNBA record for most consecutive double-doubles (a streak that ended at 15 on July 13).

Reese’s athleticism on the court is complimented by the confidence that she exudes, a personality trait the 22-year-old hooper says she’s possessed her whole life. “I think I was always confident,” the former LSU star says.

“I think it started when I was always the tallest in the class. I had to be confident because I was towering over everybody,” she explains. “So it started at a young age.”

Just as Reese strived to boost the young girls’ confidence at the YMCA — in addition to all females who look up to her around the world — she credits her grandmother for being that motivation for her when she was a kid, herself.

Angel Reese and her mom Angel Webb Reese.Angel Reese X

“My grandma used to always tell me, ‘You stand out for a reason.’ And now understand why I stand out for a reason,” Reese tells PEOPLE. She also notes that her mom, a former basketball player herself, was also “super confident” and “always told [her] to stand tall.”

Now, Reese demonstrates just that — and does so with fierceness and style. “My nails and hair and stuff are always done,” she says. “I’m being the girly girl on the court but still having that dog mentality and being able to go out there and compete too.”

But still, after all that she’s accomplished in her life and career to date, there are a few things Reese said she’d like to tell her younger self now, like, “Be who you are and not care what anybody else thinks.”

Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky celebrates the win against the Las Vegas Aces in July 2024.David Becker/NBAE/Getty

“Everybody’s always going to have an opinion — if you’re the greatest or the worst,” Reese continued. “I am who I am and I accept who I am. People are going to either love it or hate it,” she says. “I think that separates you from whoever else.”

Reese acknowledged the adversity and challenges she’s had to overcome to get to where she is now, and stressed the importance of believing in yourself to achieve your end goal.

“I haven’t had the perfect journey, I haven’t had the perfect life,” admits Reese. “I want them to know that and understand that you can start anywhere and be where you want to be.” She adds, “I think that separates you from whoever else.”

Angel Reese attends the 2024 Met Gala.John Shearer/WireImage

Reese demonstrates her confidence — and style — both on and off the court, between her fashion-forward tunnel walks ahead of games and getting glam for red carpet appearances at high-profiled events. This year, the basketball star made her Met Gala debut in May.

“I live, I guess, a double life,” Reese says. “Off the court I model, I take pictures, I like to dress up and have fun — and then on the court, I’m about my business.” She makes known, “I love to work hard, I love to win. I’m a winner, so whatever it takes to win.”

Reese wants young girls to know that “it’s okay to do both,” she says, “and know that women don’t have to be put into a box where they have to do one specific thing.”

She concludes: “You guys can be cute on and off the court. But when you get within the lines, just have that mentality to do your job out there.”