How to carve your own path in basketball? Just ‘shoot your shot,’ says ‘The Professor’

While many dream of becoming professional basketball players, the reality is that not everyone makes it to the big leagues.

Some, however, carve their own paths, just like Grayson Boucher, also known as “The Professor”.

Boucher, 41, is a professional streetball player and content creator who rose to fame through the AND1 Mixtape Tour, a showcase of streetball skills that captivated fans in the early 2000s.

Over the weekend, “The Professor” visited Manila for a series of events with shoe brand Anta. During his stop, he interacted with local players and shared stories about his basketball journey—how he got into streetball, how he rose to fame, and how he found success outside of traditional paths.

READ MORE | Want to be a better basketball player? Take it to the streets, says ‘The Professor’

According to Boucher, he initially pursued college basketball with the hopes of making the NBA, but the universe had other plans.

“I thought I was going to the NBA, even when I had no playing time in college,” he said at a press conference last Friday. “Like, in my head, somehow it was going to work out. I was gonna make the NBA.”

“But then streetball came along, and it went a whole different route, which probably was better.”

He added, “I mean, the NBA route is a tough play. Even if I made it, I might never have been a starter or gotten much playing time. So yeah, I encourage everybody: shoot your shot. Just shoot your shot.”

Boucher also encouraged those who want to stay in the sport even if things don’t go according to plan.

“I feel like generally in life, you kind of like reap what you sow. And so like even same with basketball, it kind of gives you back what you give it. Not to a perfect cookie-cutter, right? Like not everyone [is] going to make the NBA [even] if they dedicate their life to the game. But it can be great in a lot of ways, whether you're working in media [or] around the game."

“Now you can be an influencer. You might play in college. You could make the NBA. Or maybe work in media around the game.”

So what are his tips for young hoopers?

“When I talk to young kids, I encourage them to think big, live their dream, go hard. You never know what could happen.”

—JMB, GMA Integrated News