“What does that mean?”
“Manager hat still on, okay? I think they mean off the court you’re more stoic and not…perky. So they aren’t convinced your video advertisements will be effective.”
“Mom.” I’m stunned, pissed, and confused at the same time.
“I know, I know. And the frustrating part is we know how funny you can be.”
“Sarcastic funny, maybe.” I’m so irritated. “Not ‘perky’ funny.”
She sighs again. “They still want to do the deal, just make the scope, and the money, less.”
“Why didn’t this come up with my NIL deals?”
“Those were targeted arrangements, and you were the best in your year in the NCAA game. Now we’re talking global endorsement deals with hundreds of top professional athletes across dozens of sports for these companies to pick from.”
I need to think. I never imagined anything but my play impacting my sponsorships, as long as I didn’t get in trouble off court.
“Let me chew on this, Mom. I don’t—I don’t know which direction I want to go yet.”
“I get it, sweetheart. Call me back if you want to talk more. Dad and I will be watching the game today!”
It takes me five minutes to recenter myself. And then I realize there’s someone I should talk to about this.
My big brother Dylan.
He picks up on the second ring, probably at home with Hazel, his four-year-old. While he has a nanny, he tries to spend as much time with her as he can when he doesn’t have basketball duties.
My brother’s a straight-up boss with everyone in his life—except Hazel. He’d be the first to admitsheownshim.
She wasn’t planned, and is the result of a one-night stand Dylan had in college. I don’t know the full backstory, but her mom is largely out of the picture, having decided to give my brother full custody.
“Hey, Aves. How’s it going?”
“Basketball is going great. Everything else, not so much.”
“Sounds familiar.”
“How’s my niece?”
“She’s a perfect angel as always.” He chuckles. I swear he only laughs when talking about Hazel. “She starts preschool in the fall, so I’m trying to stay present for the offseason.”
“Nice.”
“I’ll bring her to one of your games soon. Maybe with Remy or Wells when they’re visiting this summer.” Wells is our cousin, the same age as Remy and a sophomore at Duke.
“I’d love that.”
“You gelling with your team? Adjusting to the pros okay?”
“So far so good. But I do need your advice on something.”
I explain to him everything that’s happened between Kayla’s message and the SkyHigh deal.
“Shit, Aves.” I can tell he’s digesting.
“Do I just swallow it? Take what I can get? Because I’m not capable of faking who I am, you know that.”
He clicks his tongue before replying. “I’m struggling to believe there aren’t more options here. I mean, image matters in this world, sure. But it seems off that a company couldn’t come up with a compelling campaign for the number one WNBA draft pick.”
