Jaden Ivey's NBA career began with tears dripping onto her face.
After being captured by Detroit Pistons in the 2022 NBA Draft on Thursday night, Ivey burst into tears and hugged her mother, former WNBA star and Notre Dame head coach Niele Ivey. rice field.
The 20-year-old Purdue productdidn't last long, but was able to configure itself when he joined commissioner Adam Silver on stage. He was suffocated again when ESPN played to him a surprising congratulatory message from Arikeo Gunboire, a former player of the University of Notre Dame's mother.
"I would like to congratulate you on being drafted in the first round," Ogunbowale said in a pre-recorded video. "I'm saying it's crazy. Just being this little boy, growing up and always wanting to go to the gym, is working on his game every day to become this young guy, a superstar athlete.
"You're crazy about the league. I firmly believe that you really are about to take over this lease. I love you, I'm proud of you I think, it's time you're crazy. I'm always in your corner. "
WNBA stars such as Ogunbowale and Skylar Diggins-Smith played a role in nurturing young people Ivytraveled with his mother. He became head coach after serving as an assistant coach for Muffet McGraw's Irish program in 2007-19.
At that moment, a new piston reached out to the tissue and thanked his mother.
"Oh, that's all," he toldESPNthat his voice was swaying and drafted. "I worked every day to reach this level. I wouldn't be here without her. I'm very happy."
Grizzlies star Ja Morant was also charged. Neil, sitting next to his son, was able to put it together at the moment of ESPN and grinned widely.
"I'm almost speechless, this is his dream come true," she said. "Because we are in Detroit, [we] have so many roots in Detroit. To be able to walk that stage ... I'm very happy, I'm very happy with him ... just that Incorporate all of them. "
