Jewell Loyd Discusses His Journey to Becoming a GOLD MAMBA

If Jewell Loyd retires tomorrow, he should be a first ballot Hall of Famer. He has put together a basketball book that is more impressive than most. And believe it or not, Loyd may have a solid 10-12 years to build on; he is only 30 years old and in his prime. Whether we look at his high school career, college career or his time at the W, he has been a model of consistency…i consensus model.

SLAM 252 featuring Jewell Loyd is available now.

Before Jewell fell in love with basketball, her world revolved around tennis. He was exposed to basketball because his older brother, Jarryd, played, but tennis was his thing, and he was destined to be a champion. In his early years growing up in Lincolnwood, IL, a suburb of Chicago, he played tennis “every day, six hours a day,” he said. And chances are, if she had stuck with tennis over basketball, she would probably be competing in the same US Open match she would watch after shooting her SLAM cover in our office on a cool, sunny September morning.

But one day in the park changed his opinion forever.

Lloyd played in the park all the time as a small child. “Yeah, after my homework,” he'll surely add. But on this particular day, when he was about 7 years old, two older boys did not allow him to play on the basketball court. Jarryd, who was about 15 years old at the time, saw what was happening and offered a solution: We will play the court for you. So, it was a game. Two-two. The first to 10 points wins. It was the first time Jewell and Jarryd met together.

With the game on the line, the boys double-played Jewell, who was inches away from making changes. In doing so, they left Jarryd wide open near the basket. Throw it, throw it away! Jewell remembers his brother saying.

Amazingly, he tossed the ball back over his head and to the rim, and Jarryd grabbed it to win the game. “Jarryd was just flying in the air, and it's the first time [had] I once saw my brother dancing. We won, and at that moment,” Jewell said, “I knew basketball was something I wanted to be a part of.”

He spent the next few years making a name for himself in parks around the neighborhood. In many ways, this is what shaped his approach to the game.

“You started at Drake Park, that's where you play 21, a knockout—kind of a beginner's field. Then go to Columbia Park and play three-three. And then, once you get the squad, you go to Proesel Park and you're going to represent and play five-on-five. So, you have to work your way up.

“Growing up in Lincolnwood was a privilege,” he continues. “Being in a place like that allowed me to be myself, and it challenged me in a lot of ways because I was one of four or five girls playing with boys, and that was a great experience for me.”

During his time in high school, Loyd developed into one of the top players in the country. He was a four-year starter at Niles West High School in Skokie and actually broke every school record, averaging 24.8 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, 3.2 steals and 2.2 blocks in his career. his.

While in high school, he had the opportunity to become a practice player for the Chicago Sky. Jewell says this experience is what tapped into his untapped potential. He had a front row seat to see what it takes to play at the highest level. “Seeing their practices and lifestyles and games up close opened my eyes to be like, Wow, I think I can really do this,” he said.

He committed to play for Notre Dame and joined an already loaded roster led by All-American guard Skylar Diggins. It didn't take long for Jewell to get used to high hoops; he was ready to jump. He understood that he wasn't going to be the newest and strongest player, so he focused on what he could control.

“A lot of your body is still growing and growing. I knew I wouldn't be strong right away, so I focused on fixing the situation,” she said. “When I got to college, I made sure I was in the best possible shape, and that's been with me since I left college and went to the pros.

At Notre Dame, Loyd wrote his name in the history books as one of the best players in program history. He was a two-time All-American, two-time All-ACC selection, two-time ACC All-Defense selection, two-time NCAA All-Tournament selection and the 2015 ACC Player of the Year. For good measure, let's not forget that he also has the 2013 Big East Freshman of the Year under his belt (before Notre Dame moved to the ACC his sophomore year).

She did all of this in just three years, and in a less popular move in women's basketball, she decided to forgo her senior year and enter the 2015 WNBA Draft. And not surprisingly, the Seattle Storm drafted him with the No. 1 pick.

Loyd came to the W with high expectations, not only because of his dominance since his high school years, but also because he was given the nickname “Gold Mamba” by the late Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant. Now, that's a lot to live up to. But if anyone was built to carry that weight, it was Loyd. He accepts high hopes directly. It's very difficult for a No. 1 draft pick to meet expectations; he has passed them.

“To all of them [my rookie] year, it was about understanding who I am, the belief that I can do something, the belief that I can stay in the League and be a part of this League and grow the League. I thought I could do that,” he said.

“And I'm the type of person where, if I really believe I can do something, maybe it will happen. I've been that person since I was little. I have never been afraid to say what I want to do, believe it and write it down. And I don't dream of being small. I always dream big, and that's something no one can take away from me.”

The Gold Mamba is cut from the same cloth as its surname. He is naturally gifted, has a great work ethic and is simply willing to do the wrong thing. But the similarities run deeper than that. Like Kobe, Jewell has a never-ending thirst for learning.

“It's great as a professional athlete that you're still learning and building your game. For me, the best thing about this game is that I'm still learning a lot about it,” he said. “That's the best part of life in general—you're always learning and building, and you don't know until you make mistakes and you can learn from those mistakes. Many people go to the next level, afraid to make mistakes. But you need them; you need a lot of information to help you grow and get better.”

Now, it's Lloyd's turn to pay it forward. Determined to continue to learn and appreciate those who have paved the way for him, he understands the importance of training and is now in a position to help guide the next generation of howlers. He has been seen working with USC star Juju Watkins; has been a big supporter of Seattle Storm rookie Nika Mühl and the special class of 2024; and makes himself available to any of his younger peers who seek wisdom or advice.

“I understand that I am here because people helped me. I didn't come here alone,” he said. “If it wasn't for my family, if it wasn't for the people I'm with, I don't know if I would have been able to go to the next level.”

Accolades abound: two-time WNBA champion, six-time All-Star (and 2023 All-Star Game MVP), three-time All-WNBA selection, 2015 Rookie of the Year and gold medalist -Two-time Olympian, he just arrived this past month in August at the Paris Games. And by the looks of things, all of these awards, except Rookie of the Year, of course, should qualify as “counting.”

The 2023 WNBA season was Loyd's contract year, and she played like it, averaging a career-best 24.7 ppg (a League-best that season) and 4.7 rpg. However, the Seattle Storm struggled as a team and finished with a dismal 11-29 record.

Instead of jumping ship to meet other All-Stars, he signed a contract extension with the Storm in the offseason, and made a bet that other players would be interested in joining him in Seattle and building a championship contender. It looked like Seattle was about to rebuild until the elites, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith came on board.

As we go to press, Loyd average 20.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg and 1.5 spg. More importantly, the Seattle Storm have made the playoffs and are looking to make a deep run. And although they may not be the favorite of the odds on, trust us when we say that no one is eager to be like them.

Loyd doesn't have an in-your-face kind of personality but rather a certain kind of confidence that is felt by his mere presence above his words. He doesn't ask for more attention, even though his game demands it. He is not the loudest person in the room, but when he speaks, he wants to listen. He has a wealth of knowledge and insight and is one of the most articulate and thoughtful people—not to mention the most athletic—you can find.

As a freshman in high school, Loyd says he's been asked about the legacy he wants to leave, and he says his answer changes all the time. However, this time, his answer has nothing to do with the sport he loves, which has defined his life for the past 23 years, since that day on the playground with his brother.

“I just want my legacy to be that I'm a really, really good person,” she said. “I came here to worship. That's what I want people to understand about me. Just as I receive you in the world, I will give it back. And you don't have to take it, but I'm here to let you guys know that it's all love here.”

Photos by Luke Schlaifer.