So much had changed in the half a lifetime Festus had been away (“First of all, everybody was shorter than I remember,” he quips). Ezeli finished high school in Nigeria, graduating at a … They ate together and hung out, catching up in between bites of Eba, pounded yam, fufu, jollof and an assortment of other rice dishes and soups. - Anfernee Simons I can do this in traffic? “I can’t even imagine how it’s been for him. The gift from the unknown donor truly touched him. @fezzyfel #EzeliCloseUp #CU360 #Global : @fezzyfel and @schmidtydreams, A post shared by CloseUp360 (@closeup360) on Dec 24, 2019 at 9:15am PST. The hospitals are very tight-lipped on information about their patients. Ezeli played in all but four regular-season games as a rookie but missed the entire 2013-14 season after right knee surgery. He had envisioned that moment and all that would follow, over and over again, for 15 years. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about center Festus Ezeli on ESPN. All Rights Reserved. After his first day at the camp, Festus and his dad went to a local market to restock on wristbands, both for himself and his brothers back in California. He helped the Warriors win an NBA Championship in 2015. There was also a sense of urgency on Festus’ part. At 90, all but stuck in her bed, she was no longer that person. “I just want to say thank you for you being here and giving to all us kids. Always Side by side ❤️ @ike_ezed #HappyBirthday, A post shared by Ifeanyi Festus Ezeli (@fezzyfel) on May 1, 2018 at 12:52pm PDT. More disappointment for Atiku. The coach there, Doug Cornelius, worked with Festus on his skills before and after class, and eventually convinced the. Shortly after graduation, he became the last pick of the first round (No. The package featured prideful phrases in Nigerian Pidgin English. Festus has attacked his rehab with a renewed fervor and a focus on competing again in the new year. Why do you want to redshirt?” I responded “I’ve never played organized basketball before. In truth, everyone Festus spoke to at the camp was just as attentive. You're an inspiration to me.”. You know, it was a serious thing for them because they took this that seriously,” he says. Throughout that journey, Festus found ways to give back. “I just felt like a little kid when I went and embraced my grandma because I hadn't seen her since I was 13,” Festus tells CloseUp360. They got in too late to visit with anyone, so they opted to go straight to the hotel, to rest up for the family-filled finale of Festus’ big trip. I went to rehab this morning and they said, ‘Man, you’re pumped up today. In the fall of 2005, he continued his hoops education as a part-time student at Yuba College, where he took actual classes in basketball. He had to check with his physical therapist to make sure he would be fine to travel overseas on his knee. “Hey,” she said, “I have something for you. Portland Trail Blazers center Festus Ezeli (31) poses during media day at the Moda Center. After 15 years in America, Festus returned to Nigeria a changed man, far from the towering teenaged boy who went to live with his uncle in Yuba City. Formerly with the Golden State Warriors and Portland Trailblazers. 5 years later i was graduating and going into the NBA as our TEAM’s CAPTAIN, an SEC CHAMP and Vanderbilt’s Leading ShotBlocker (stupid @dameology broke my record ) ⚓️⬇️ . It reminded me of the things that made me who I am, and the things that inspire and motivate me to be a good person, because these kids are watching me.”, Eventually, Festus’ cousins arrived at the hotel. “I've always thought about the greater good.”. Three years later, after more battles with his body, Festus became an NBA champion with the Warriors. “Your grandson, Ifeanyi.”, “Ifeanyi,” Mercy answers, racking her brain. I dont even know what it’s like to be on a team. It reminded me of the things that made me who I am, and the things that inspire and motivate me to be a good person, because these kids are watching me.”. He could keep up with his cousins through WhatsApp, but had to decline yearly invitations to coach at camps back home while his knee remained in limbo. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information/Your California Privacy Rights/Do Not Sell My Info/Children's Online Privacy Policy are applicable to you. He had heard that his 90-year-old grandmother was sick and losing her memory and her eyesight. Festus Ezeli, who underwent a procedure on his left knee in August, is still not close to a return. “I can see the light,” he says. The one on whom she hadn’t lain eyes since he was a young teenager, long before he was nearly seven feet tall, let alone a known quantity in the basketball world. The Blazers announced March 4 that Ezeli was to have season-ending left knee surgery that took place three days later. The 6-foot-11, 265-pounder has not been told who the donor was, but through his doctor he can give a letter to the family, who can then decide whether they want to meet him. The children and grandchildren who surround her seem to know who he is. In Golden State, he started hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas meals for families in need. Another shot. “Get Ifeanyi to come play,” they would shout at one another, whenever they needed a fifth person on the basketball court. RT @grantriller97: It was a honor to get to speak to OR nurse Will Guinhawa who’s on the coronavirus frontline at the UCLA Medical Cen… https://t.co/Y4tyCPy8LT, The parents of NBA rookies Grant Riller (Hornets) and Lamar Stevens (Cavaliers) are in the medical field. Summer trips to Africa were tricky, too, since he was usually busy either working on his game during an offseason shortened by a long playoff run or recovering from an injury. What? Terms and Policy. He sees education and providing material assistance to the country’s neediest as the best ways to reduce the radicalization that has gripped Nigeria in recent years. He appeared in 46 regular-season games in each of the past two seasons for Golden State. Blazers coach Terry Stotts was excited about what he saw during a scrimmage. Ezeli said he “felt good” entering training camp and believed he could give the Blazers a much-needed rim protector, rebounder and post scorer. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Festus also returned with a feel for both the potential and the pitfalls facing the Basketball Africa League (BAL), the NBA’s first full-fledged league outside of North America. He still had a family reunion to attend on Sunday in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city. Thanks for all your support and Happy, Christian Wood: from undrafted to the Houston Rock, #NotFromHere Because you could've just came and sat and maybe said a couple words, but you were out here with us. “I'm fumbling the ball all over the place,” Festus says, “but I'm learning as I'm failing.”. I just want to say thank you thank you thank you!!! The Warriors selected the former Vanderbilt star with the 30th overall pick of the 2012 draft. The knee injury that kept him out of the league had necessitated multiple procedures—including one in which doctors at The Steadman Clinic in Colorado transferred cartilage from a cadaver—that led to a slow, arduous rehab. “I grew up knowing that you're given so you can give, right?” he says. So Festus slept on it. Together, they whisked him away to the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, where he was scheduled to spend Wednesday getting acclimated and recovering from jet lag. Atiku wasn’t particularly big or strong for his age. He is using crutches and his travel is limited, which is why he isn’t attending the Blazers-Warriors series. “First of all, deciding whether to have the procedure or not was a difficult decision. His dad was there to greet him, as were members of the NBA’s security detail. I want to learn how to be a [good] teammate” This conversation was shortly before i signed my Letter of Intent to play at Vanderbilt University. Ezeli said he was placed on the donor list in December 2016. Because it meant so much to me and wanted to share this beautiful Part of my life. in the AAU circuit.” College coaches from across the country wondered where he’d come from and how he’d flown under their respective radars. I GOT CUT ✂️ from my High School team before this picture. Ezeli has been dreaming about what it would be like when he returns to the NBA. Then, Atiku handed him a gift: a Fan Milk vanilla-flavored ice cream bar in its wrapper, the kind Festus used to eat when he was a kid growing up in Nigeria. Festus didn’t venture far from his hotel during that first day back. But his indifference didn’t stop his friends from trying to involve him. #RebuildingtheBeast #OneStepataTime #Relentless #Patience #KeepFaith #fromTheAshes #weWillRise #GodisinControl #DoyourPart #Work! There wasn’t time for a full stroll down Memory Lane, or even for Festus to get a tour of his family’s new house in town. His high school was located on Benin City, Nigeria. After about an hour, Festus finished and Atiku was still there. In 2004, Chuk enrolled his nephew at Jesuit High School, a hoops powerhouse in the Sacramento suburb of Carmichael. Despite the cosmic confluence of factors and his own desire to go, Festus heading home was no slam dunk. And I would really love to put a Blazers jersey on, and be able to be in the playoffs with my team. “This decision was not a decision to just stop,” Ezeli said. He’d graduated from a prestigious university, become a first-round NBA draft pick, lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy, made millions of dollars from a sport he picked up at the age of 15, and extended a helping hand to the communities in which he competed. Atiku wasn’t particularly big or strong for his age. “I think that the infrastructure is what everybody's working on,” he says. At that moment, Ifeanyi resolved not to return to Nigeria empty-handed. behind an aspiring pro from Australia named A.J. Be better. I’m an energy guy. Over his final two collegiate seasons, he averaged 11.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while helping the Commodores extend their streak of NCAA tournament appearances to three under then-head coach Kevin Stallings. lt means so much When big organizations come together to support a kid like me and show me that I can make a bit of a difference in somebody’s day, somebody’s life. “I go to sleep and I wake up. “I'm there for them and I want them to enjoy, and I want to leave an impression on these kids, so they know how to treat other people when they're in the same position.”. Wait. By the third day of practice, Ezeli said he felt debilitating pain in his left knee. Patricia Ezeli takes her son to rehabilitation that is projected to last one year. I’ve been pretty lucky in the teammate department not gonna lie. Man! In our case, put one foot in front of the other and soon we’ll reach our destination. The Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert is coming to the playoffs, Steph Curry talks playoffs, the end of his MVP run and keeping in touch with Obama, Nene is the perfect complement to James Harden as Rockets put Thunder on brink, Russell Westbrook's record performance means little to him after losing, Clippers' Chris Paul aims to leave lasting imprint, Draymond [Green] getting kicked out [for Game 5]. Always getting in trouble together and me getting the whooping (cuz I’m older) Even when we’re celebrating and having fun it’s still together. And stretches out her arms for me to come to her I was so excited that i broke down on my grandma, crying on her shoulder For a sec I almost forgot how big i was, and how sick and frail she was, as i leaned on her. Just WOW!❤️❤️❤️ I wish i could use my words to explain the significance of this to you all but I am way too emotional right now to give give a proper reflection. He had to check with his physical therapist to make sure he would be fine to travel overseas on his knee. “Walking after that was tough. They scrambled for selfies, sought shout-outs to his basketball friends back in the States—even clamored for the bands he had around his powerful wrists. 16years old. “That's really cool. It had to be a big person, about my weight and size, so that I could handle my weight as I play basketball. That makes him really sad,” Patricia Ezeli said. “But I don't want you to waste your pain. .• You get out of it what you put into it. They do all they can to fit a decade and a half apart into the 30 minutes they have together. © 2021 ESPN Internet Ventures. 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