They say "Pressure makes diamonds," so the life story of Taylor Statham should be titled "My life under pressure."
His game? He's like the Dirk Nowitzki of Asia right now, tearing up the Pro Thailand league like few others, averaging 22 ppg, 9 rpg. He's that dope a shooter and slasher as a 6-6, 220 lb guard for the Madgoats, yeah, I said Madgoats. Check him out in the link:
But you must know Taylor's story. He inspires beyond resiliency because he overcame cancer at the age 18 and that adversity only happens to the few. What would you think if you were diagnosed with cancer at 18?
It's more than T-Statham's game, which makes him a cold piece of work because he has found countless ways to inspire many.
"Humble." That word describes Taylor, he's that mellow guy who could double for a young Ben Afflect. Statham was raised in Santa Clarita, not always known as a hotbed of hoops. So you might want to say this guy must be soft?
Wrong, this cat has grit like he was raised in South LA, Brooklyn, or the CPT. Those streets pump the blood through his heart, Taylor balls out like Amy Winehouse sang: with his soul on ice. Doubt this? Hit YouTube, watch.
Believe......if you dare. Hate......if you like. "Hated on", from pressure.....just makes Taylor want it more. Watch him hold his own in the world famous Drew League. Taylor’s game is "nasty" with a capital " N."
LA legendary baller and trainer supreme Keion Kindred loves Statham, "Taylor understands his own game. As a player Taylor gives teams problems and can hurt you in multiple ways. He has some athletic bounce to him.
“When we invited Taylor to go tour in China with our Drew League Select Team, I'd have him on the bench bouncing ideas off him. He was like a second coach because his basketball IQ is so high.
“Many things about him as a player impress, but he has overcome much. He's a winner on the court, and in life."
Whoa, when a legend like K-Kindred puts it down like that......."drop the mic time."
Statham is more than a baller, he's a 24 man. Imbued with kindness and wisdom like an "old soul," this dude Taylor has superhuman energy. How many of us could run 5 projects and perfectly coordinate them at all times?
Lets see, he has his Taylor Statham Academy.
That’s where he mentors and trains kids. He also helps the AAU girls' Storm team that cranks out D1 prospects and he's the co-founder of Ballout which does elite training. But this isn't half of his projects. Taylor does all this, to reminds kids to live life, it can taken away, as cancer almost took him.
To understand Taylor, you must know his appreciation of his heritage. He's 1/4 Filipino. Statham could've played in a French pro league but he decided that playing in the Philippines was for him.
Ask Taylor's dad Derek what he respects about his boy and you hear a dad's true admiration for his son, "Our boy was playing overseas for Cafe France in the Philippines and all he could talk about was the 'heart of the people' there, their extreme passion for hoops, how Taylor wished he could give all the struggling kids of the islands shoes.
“He was so touched that kids were barefoot but still balling on concrete in the middle of the street on baskets made of brooms and milk crates. He wanted to buy them all shoes. We're all so proud of Taylor, he represents the best of us because he cares with all his heart."
Statham is projected to be the No 1 pick in the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) once his dual citizenship comes through in 2017. He's one with the Philippines and is so loved in the islands.
Ever since he was a college kid balling at Cal St. San Bernardino, Filipino fans of his would hit him up in Facebook by the hundreds, pleading with him to join their favorite team. Kids there call him “Kuya”, a native term of respect for older relatives or other admired persons.
Listen to T-Statham's words on how he views himself on his life mission: "I always knew what I wanted to be growing up and the more doubt, hate and challenges I faced, the more fuel it was for me. Everybody is so content with being average, or just good enough.
“I just want to show all these kids it's not what you’re born with or the speed bumps in the road that define what you'll achieve, it's that toughness and will inside you that determines what you do. I tell my guys all the time the best thing about me is my willingness to do anything to win. There's a million better shooters, better athletes.
“I've been overlooked my whole life. High school, college, and even as a pro. But when I get my chance to play the guys ranked ahead of me or hyped up to be way better.....I try to dominate them every time, that's my spirit for competition."
What else can I say about Taylor? He looked cancer in the face and cancer said, I WANT TO TAKE YOUR LIFE.
But Taylor told cancer to go " F...-off” , I'm Taylor. I'm going to live....to run training programs.....be a pro.....raise a family.
Taylor showed that indomitable will to survive. Taylor Statham is like what German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once said, "To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering."
