Court-side moms

The day is finally here and basketball is back in Toronto! We're celebrating the NBA's 75th birthday and Wendy's first trip to a Raptor's game not as a visitor but as a Raptor mom. Wendy is joined by Tidal League's CEO & Founder Kurt Benson to discuss it all.

We also tease what we will be doing in Toronto as we record a very special Toronto Raptor's episode at the OVO Athletic Centre.

Go Raptors!

Dwyane Wade 3x NBA Champion, 13-time NBA All-Star, 8-time member of the All-NBA Team, and Olympic Gold Medalist - the list of accolades is endless. Widely considered as one of the best guards to ever play the game, he is a future Hall of Famer.

Jolinda give us a completely different perspective of who Dwyane is from "moms" eyes. The man he's become and how proud she is of him. Words from Dwyane that stuck with Jolinda "we don't live in a perfect world, but we can create perfect moments." to this day he is constantly amazing Jolinda. 

Welcome Michelle Reed! We hear about Paul’s early beginnings from the onset, all Paul knew was basketball from the earliest memories of him at 3 years old watching his dad practice. His first organized basketball experiences he dominated as if he was a man amongst boys.

The costs associated with sports and the investment a parent makes both time and financial. College recruitment and the ultimate deciding factor with DePaul in the Big East and the time spent working on his craft to prepare him for the next level and hearing his name called in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Rookie year impacted by covid, signing a 2-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers and the work Paul put in to sign his first NBA standard NBA Contract. Paul’s story is about resiliency and his fight to push the boundaries, his story is just getting started.

Diamond DeShields of the Chicago Sky was competitive from birth and had her older brother pushing her to excel. Coming from an athletic family she was naturally gifted with skill and passion. From her early love of baseball and tennis she moved to basketball at the age of 10 and excelled right from the jump. Diamond’s goal and vision is to make a real impact for the next generation of young girls. We hear what it was like raising two professional athletes and the challenges that came along the way as well as get the inside scoop on Diamond being a WNBA All-Star who is now competing for a championship alongside Candace Parker.

Fun facts with Melissa Pritchard we hear about Payton's favourite meal and more.

Melissa Pritchard talks about the amazing journey with her son, Boston Celtic Guard, Payton. From NBA Draft Night to learning from Kemba Walker and the entire Celtics organization; to his rituals, including his personal journal, we get an inside look into the life of the young rookie. We hear why his dad can't watch him shoot free throws and learn what the road ahead has in store.

With the script flipped we hear from our very own Court-side mom today in this special episode. Wendy talks us through the moment she knew Khem was signing with the Toronto Raptors to the events that followed. All the emotions, feeling, and support that she has felt. Officially dubbed the Raptor Mom from Raptor nation and having the torch passed from Kyle Lowry's mom Marie Hollaway. Wendy then answers the questions from the fans and gives us some insight of what to expect in the future.

WNBA star Megan Walker, picked up a basketball at the age of 5 and her mom Johnetta knew in that moment, basketball was her game. She enrolled Megan in a peewee league where she quickly outplayed both the boys and the other girls. Starting in 7th grade, Megan was in demand by college recruiters. Johnetta speaks on how she and the family looked at how decisions should be made and handling the stress along the way. Johnetta talks about the players who mentored Megan throughout the years, and what it was like playing at basketball powerhouse UConn. We hear about her choice to declare early for the WNBA draft and the lead up to draft night where she was chosen 9th overall by the New York Liberty.

In today’s episode of Court-Side Moms, we welcome Tanya Powell-May, mother of Memphis Grizzlies forward Xavier Tillman! She tells us about his early beginnings as an athlete, what eventually led him to play for Tom Izzo at Michigan State, and all of his experiences playing college ball in his home state.

She walks us through their COVID-19 NBA Draft experience, how basketball helped shape Xavier as a father and husband, and how proud she is of his progress as a man in overcoming adversity along his journey.

We hear about his time with the Grizzlies, what it’s been like watching him play in the NBA, and everything else that comes along with being a Court-Side Mom!

In today’s episode of Court-Side Moms, we welcome Rochelle Johnson, mother of Team USA Olympian & San Antonio Spurs wing Keldon Johnson! She tells us all about the early days of Keldon’s basketball career, from the first time he picked up a ball, to his time at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, and the stressful recruiting period that brought him to the Kentucky Wildcats.

She walks us through Keldon’s decision to leave Kentucky after one year, the emotions she had leading up to the NBA Draft, and why getting taken by the Spurs made for a perfect start to his career.

We hear about Keldon’s time at the Olympics with Team USA, how she dealt with him having COVID-19, and everything else that comes with being an NBA mom!