Every so often, a new chapter is written in the long, and difficult history of sports. It’s the familiar story of those who have to prove their worth in a system that wasn’t built for them. It’s the moment when talent meets a truth that it shouldn’t have to: that passion, skill and dedication are not enough if the opportunity isn’t there to meet them.

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Lack of opportunity in the land of opportunity? I faced this reality, and lived it for two decades. So in the year 2008 I packed my bags to leave the United States. I wouldn’t quite call it a crossroads, but my career was at a critical turning point. As a Paralympic wheelchair basketball player, I had dedicated my life to a sport that had no professional league at home. If I wanted to continue competing at an elite level, I had to go overseas. Without hesitation, that is exactly what I did. Did I find what I was searching for? Absolutely, and then some! I found more than a league. I discovered a culture that valued Para Athletes and provided elite level competition. This was quite literally a golden opportunity to earn a living, and work towards a legacy. This quickly became my livelihood. It was in that environment that my career truly blossomed, ultimately leading to two Paralympic Gold Medals representing team USA.

This is the great paradox of my life as a professional Wheelchair Basketball player: I was able to live my dream! I am profoundly grateful for the experiences I had and the worldly perspective I gained. Although, the ice cold truth is that the opportunities that I relentlessly pursued were not a choice; they were an ultimatum.

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So professional wheelchair basketball huh? Why isn’t this a possibility in the States? The answer is rooted in a fundamental lack of respect. We are still begging people to pronounce “Paralympics” correctly and, as a wheelchair basketball community, we have become so undervalued that we are satisfied with token levels of support. We celebrate fleeting moments, like watching an NBA star take a few shots from a wheelchair, as if that’s some kind of win. It is not. We must set higher standards. We must stop seeing wheelchair basketball in America as just a rehabilitation tool or a recreational outlet. There are those of us who live to compete, push ourselves to elite levels, and have the talent and skill to play the game while entertaining thousands of fans. I’ve seen it firsthand…just not here.

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I mentioned my departure was in 2008. It is now 2025 and the stagnation that exists is a failure. It’s a failure to recognize our own value, a failure of vision to see more for the sport and its community, and it’s a betrayal to our next generation of ballers that deserve a greater path. We have accepted the refusal to reach higher, and that should infuriate you. It should light a fire in the core of every athlete that wants more for a sport that has proven it can thrive in other countries. Why not ours?

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Who has the authority to speak on this? I do. My experiences give me a unique vantage point. I lived this reality. I’ve seen what is possible overseas and what is still missing at home. I reached the pinnacle of the sport, and feel uniquely positioned to call out this lack of progress. I’m not writing this to simply call it out though. I am here to change it.

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In 2023, I was passed the torch to continue the DK3 3x3 wheelchair basketball tournament. I took it to the streets of Venice Beach, ran it entirely through my organization, Fly Without Limits, built a strong bridge of collaboration with the Venice Streetball league and the world famous Hoopbus, then began forming partnerships with some of the world’s most recognized brands including Google Pixel, Celsius, Gatorade, and Muscle Milk. In just two years we have awarded over $50,000 in prize money directly to the athletes.

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Who else is doing that? Where else can you find that opportunity in America, but the DK3? Ask that question loudly. As the leader of Fly Without Limits I made a firm and non negotiable decision to invest directly into the athletes, treating them how I believe elite athletes should be treated. For those that don’t know the DK3 is a legacy tournament originated, by the great David Kiley. It’s an athlete forward event – it’s bold, it’s unapologetic, and its invite only for a reason. Being selective about who represents this movement is how you set a standard. It is a form of quality control that demonstrates the level of professionalism and elite talent our sport demands. Our goal is to raise the respect and appreciation for wheelchair basketball and build its reputation, because let’s be honest with ourselves, it’s not about awareness anymore. People are already aware. We just haven’t capitalized on our potential.

 

I’m not politely requesting; I’m challenging you. I want you to feel strongly about this so you can’t be silent. Share this piece widely. Talk about it. Stir up a discussion. We have to stop waiting for others to raise the bar for our sport in America. We have to stop desperately waiting for more popular leagues to acknowledge our existence. We have to start building towards progress ourselves. The future of wheelchair basketball in America as a pro sport depends on us. Demand the respect our sport deserves. To the American sports fan, with LA2028 on the horizon, adaptive sports is preparing for a huge moment. America, I challenge you to be a leader, as we often are in cultural shifts around the world. Examine how you currently view disability, because that will undoubtedly help shape how you view adaptive sports. Talk about it. Normalize having conversations about disability. Engagement breeds relevance.

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There are leagues all across Europe that prove our sport is a viable, respected, and marketable product. I believe America has the capability to create the most electrifying and revered professional wheelchair basketball league on the planet. All we need is the vision to build it and the courage to invest in our own.