In the world of basketball, where dreams often collide with reality, the story of Nkwain Kennedy stands out as a testament to passion, perseverance, and the power of social media. Hailing from Bamenda, Cameroon, Kennedy's journey is one of relentless dedication amidst challenges, capturing the attention of NBA stars and fans alike.
On the morning of June 10, as basketball enthusiasts geared up for Game 3 of the 2022 NBA Finals, Nkwain Kennedy reached for his phone. Catching the game tipping off halfway across the globe is a ritual for him. As he scrolled through his notifications, one stood out: Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors had become a follower.
“At first I thought it was a fake account. I had to cross-check it over and over and over,” Kennedy said. Curry, followed by almost 46 million accounts, while only following 990 himself, had noticed something special about Kennedy.
Unorthodox Training in Humble Settings
Kennedy is best known online for his intense workouts and their humble settings - often a faded, clay court, or the inside of a dirt-floored room - and makeshift nature - pushing rusted tires and leg-pressing stones. In his videos, local kids act as human resistance bands, pulling him back as he dribbles up and down the court. Friends join in for drills, using sticks to try and poke the ball out from under Kennedy’s gloved hands.
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While Curry is the most notable of Kennedy’s supporters, others include Coach Phil Handy of the Los Angeles Lakers and Johnny “Dribble2much” Stephene, Chris Paul’s ball-handling coach.
Challenges in Cameroon
For the last five years, the Anglophone parts of Cameroon (where Kennedy is from) have rebelled against the French-speaking government. Some of the fighting takes place near Kennedy’s hometown, and next to the court where he trains is a military base: “Parents don’t even allow their kids to come there. There can be [military] confrontations.” In one video he sent me, Kennedy shoots hoops one minute but ducks from gunfire the next.
Kennedy prefers to focus on basketball. He emulates several league All-Stars, breaking down their strongest contributions to the game. “I watch Ja Morant and I love the athleticism he brings. Westbrook: quickness. Kyrie: good handles. Steph: shooting. LeBron: IQ. Chris Paul: Point God.”
Learning from the Best
While watching game film, which he does daily, Kennedy identifies certain aspects of the game that he can learn to include in his own. “You may be 7-foot, but I’ll still steal something from what you do,” said Kennedy, who is 6-foot-1. “My main question is not how to do the exact move. I want to know what [the player] did to reach that level - so I look at who the NBA or FIBA coaches that he’s worked with are. Then I try to follow every breakdown, bit by bit, on their Instagrams,” he continued.
Kennedy highlights the toughness of Jimmy Butler’s life story, who was kicked out of the house at age 13 and went to a junior college before earning a chance in D1 basketball. After helping his parents with household chores, he leaves for the 25-minute journey to the recognizable clay court from his videos. There, he’ll train for three to four hours a day, and often asks passersby to film the videos that he’ll upload onto social media. Later, he heads to a makeshift gym for about 1.5 hours of weight work, and finishes the day with dinner, replying to DMs, and of course, game film.
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Family and Future Aspirations
“At first, they never approved. Parents in Africa want their kids to go to school and become a doctor or nurse or engineer,” he says about his parents' thoughts on his hoop dreams. And their thoughts on his social media fame? “They don’t know anything about that. I’m just keeping it low-key. I just want everything to be a surprise to them.”
One of the more difficult parts of Kennedy’s climb, he told me, is the lack of a coach who can provide clear direction. “I’m looking for that bold, next step. Everything I have done to this point is all on my own. No person is built like that in basketball. The best players always look for coaches.”
While followers from around the world often message him with tips and corrections on his training, visualizing the next step is tricky without a mentor’s guidance. “For the people who want to become a doctor, the future is clear. You can get there. But with basketball, there’s less of an obvious future because there are no scouts coming,” he said.
However, that is starting to change as basketball’s popularity continues to rise in Africa. In 2017, the NBA launched NBA Academy Africa to develop young talent from the continent. Two years later, the Basketball Africa League (BAL) was co-founded by the NBA and FIBA, with NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, acting as an investor.
Kennedy hopes that kids from all over Africa who watch his videos may have still learned something. “I don’t want a kid to look at what I’m doing and be excited to play basketball. I just want them to see my consistency and passion, and put it into whatever dream they’re pursuing.”
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He sees a chance to prove his worth not as a matter of “if”, but rather “when”. He said, “For me, it’s not about waiting. If someone calls me from Europe tomorrow, how prepared am I going to be when that shot comes? That’s one thing I keep in the back of my mind every day.”
For Kennedy, whose videos date back years, Curry’s noticing offered a sense of validation to all the work he’s put in.
NBA players make up the top 0.00167% of all basketball players in America.
“Since the beginning of the crisis in my country…I started training because I wanted my dream to come true.
“It’s a full-time commitment to be the best you need to work the hardest.
“Quitting is not an option. Nkwain is right. Not everyone will understand your journey.
“Positive thinking isn’t ignoring your problems.
Lamar Odom's Generosity
Former Los Angeles Lakers champion Lamar Odom has shown some generosity toward an African basketball lover over the weekend. According to TMZ, the reality TV star sent a care package to a basketball player in Africa who posted videos on his Instagram account showing himself working out in unorthodox ways. TMZ reported that a representative for Odom stated that he caught a video clip of Lamiress and was inspired to send him some things that may help him in his journey.
Through social media, Odom contacted Lamiress directly and reached out to him to find out his sneaker size and address. After obtaining the information, the former NBA player sent him a package via FedEx. The package allegedly included two Wilson basketballs and two pairs of sneakers; one of them was former NBA player Allen Iverson’s signature shoe from Reebok, and the other pair was from the Nike signature collection of Giannis Antetokounmpo who currently plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. He was also gifted some Nike socks and a handwritten note.
On a card included in the package, Odom wrote, “To Nkwain. Love the hustle. God bless.” One side of the card says, “When you’re so tired, you can’t see straight, know that I see you.” Inside, it states, “You’re amazing.
According to Opoyi, Lamiress is an amateur basketball player in Bamenda, Cameroon. He has amassed over half a million followers on his Instagram account, which shows him training in his village.
Kennedy Brown
#42Kennedy Brown is USA basketball player born on October 30 2000 in Derby, KS. She is a 6'3'' power forward / center who most recently played at Heilongjiang Dragons Daqing in Chinese WCBA. Brown graduated Duke University in 2024. She is represented by agency. Brown has played in Armenia, China, Poland and USA.
Here is a table summarizing Kennedy Brown's basketball profile:
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | October 30, 2000 |
| Birth Place | Derby, KS |
| Position | Power Forward / Center |
| Height | 190cm / 6'3'' |
| College | Duke '2024 |
| Nationality | USA |
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tags: #Cameroon
