I am from…..

A big house on a silent street on a massive hill 

A small room filled with mini hoop basketballs, SLAM magazine, and posters and photos hung on the wall

An old  brick road with towering Eucalyptus trees behind my house

Beautiful sunrises and hanging out with chickens

Great views of the city and sutro tower

Cole valley and delicious bacon bacon sandwiches 

Free gold watch, Bite me, and Luke’s Local

This is where I am from

I am from…..

Orange leather balls

Musty gyms 

The grind and dreams to make it to the N.B.A.

Hard work 

Running up stairs

Watching Ball Is Life and Overtime while jumping rope

Deep game and new shoes

Basketball podcasts

N.B.A. Players autobiographies and the Mamba Mentality 

Trash talking like The Answer and shooting like the Chef

This is where I am from 

I am from…..

J. Cole and Kacey Musgraves on family road trips 

Proposition chicken salads and LaTaq burritos

Rounds of Tarot with cheese and crackers and quadrupling recipes

Cooking thanksgiving food together and latkes on christmas 

Late nights watching the N.B.A. Finals

This is where I am from 

I am from…..

A country I love and hate

Racism, COVID-19, and Virtual school

This is where I am from 

I am from….. 

No days off 

This is where I am from