Description
In this episode, EuroLeague player, Chima Moneke, opens up about his journey. From being a 13-year-old with a dream to a professional basketball career, Chima shares candid insights into overcoming doubt, building resilience, staying mentally strong, and preparing for life beyond basketball.
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Transcription
What's up everybody, it's Chima Moneke. I'm a basketball player for Baskonia in the EuroLeague. Let's rise up together. I like that, let's rise up together.
So today you're an athlete and obviously at one point you'll need a second career. How do you see basketball fitting in your life in the future?
I mean at 13 I made it my goal to become a basketball player so I didn't have a plan B and so I put all my eggs in that basket. Obviously, I'm not just a basketball player, but I feel like basketball is the car that'll get me to the places that I need to go, whether it's real estate, whether it's coaching, communications, whatever it is. But all of it will be because of the connections I made through basketball and just, yeah, through basketball.
A lot of people dream of having the life that you currently have, but they may have. doubts, they may face a reality today where they're not skilled enough, or, you know, things seem so far away. And they may even have doubters around them, like maybe they're not supported in their environments. What was your experience with that?
You know, I think I'm the perfect example of someone who isn't supposed to be here, just because there were so many times in my life where It would have been easy to give up or, you know, it just didn't look like it was realistic, possible or worth it. But I always remember that my belief in myself and the work that I put in was bigger than the doubts that I had, the doubts that anyone else had about me and my circumstances. So, you know, I always kept working. I kept believing. I was delusionally confident. I was irrationally, you know, confident as well. And I also got lucky. I also got lucky being in the right place at the right time, meeting the right people, you know, playing in the right games where, you know, someone was watching that could help me because, you know, I didn't do this all by myself. I did most of the work for sure, but I wouldn't have got here without several important people and several important moments. And another reason why I say lucky is I didn't get injured, you know, at the wrong time. You know, I know there's so many people who worked hard, just as hard as me or worked harder, but they were unlucky in whatever situation. So for me, work really hard, believe in yourself, meet the right people and and get lucky. The last one is out of your control, but that's how it goes.
You do a lot of things beyond playing basketball. Is that your way of getting your second career ready?
Yes, absolutely. I do a lot of things outside of basketball because I'm not just a basketball player. I have many things that I can offer to the EuroLeague community, to the world, to the people around me or to whoever's listening. And, you know, I feel like we shouldn't box ourselves in with our career and with our jobs. Some people care about our opinions just because they like how we play our jobs. So I've always believed in that. I've always known that I had the personality to do more. And that's just, it comes naturally to me. But also, yeah, preparing for life after basketball is very important. A lot of athletes, a lot of basketball players, they struggle with that. And they don't know what to do. You know, the games, they stop playing the game, but they keep. eating as if they're working out every day. They keep spending money as if they're working out every day. And then they don't know that they're hurting themselves and their mental health and all of that. So I'm thankful that I've seen a lot of people make mistakes. I've seen a lot of people's struggles. I've learned from a lot of people that I know what not to do. And obviously, I've learned from people who are successful. And I'm taking notes. I'm never afraid to ask questions. And yeah, when I'm done playing, I want to still be involved in the game somehow.
You travel a lot for work, whether it's for games or when you're changing clubs. Do you ever feel lonely or just, you know, disconnected from a social life because you're moving all the time?
For me, honestly, no. I'm used to traveling. I grew up traveling. I grew up a lot of times away from. certain people in my family or all of my family so i think now it's it's it's more weird being with my family because i'm so used to being away and in a different country and yeah you know for the people that don't know i i haven't seen i've seen my parents two times in the last 15 years and like that's just unheard of um and most of it was because you know i was chasing my dream of playing basketball and i had to go to america where i didn't see anyone in my family for four years straight um while i was chasing the dream and yeah you know a lot of those there were several days in there that you know i felt like why am i doing this and all of that but for me it's it's it's normal and Why it's normal is because of my parents, you know, they were diplomats. And, you know, so I grew up traveling and I thought that was a normal lifestyle. I didn't know how unique my childhood was until I was 17 in Nebraska. Yeah.
Everyone has a rise story, a moment where you had to rise above some challenges that, you know, you were experiencing. What is one rise story you want to share with us?
I'd say the first one that got everything started was when I was 15 in 2011. I was two years into playing basketball, so I was very raw. And obviously, I definitely wasn't that good back then. But in my state, I was one of the 10 best players in my state easily. And I was the last one to get cut. And the coach told me that I was a good athlete. for that level, but I couldn't think the game. And I remember that was the first time where I was hurt by someone else's words. And I was crying for days and I was in disbelief. And then a switch just flipped. And I remember saying, excuse my French, but F everybody. I don't really care what anyone else has to say about me. So I became like a villain in my city because I just didn't care. I didn't care what anyone else had to say. I wasn't going to let other people's doubts about themselves project onto me. And I knew that my goals would be achieved whether they liked it or not. Whether it took a year or two years or three years longer than I wanted it to take, I just knew that I would get it done. So yeah, that was like the first. rise up moment, rise up story in my life and probably the most important.
Any other rise story you want to share with us?
This recent one, I would say getting cut while I was in the NBA and then going to Monaco where I was making the most money in my career and then I wasn't happy at all basketball wise. It was like a Jekyll and Hyde situation of, yeah, financially, I'm really good. But basketball-wise, my job, my career, I'm not happy. And then having a guaranteed contract being cut and having to find myself in another situation where I was doubted again. And I just had to prove myself again by going to Baskonia. Most people not expecting too much from me. And then, you know, having the year that I had last season. So I would say that's definitely the most recent thrive story for me.
So you're an athlete, but you're also human. And those experiences that you described must be really testing your self-confidence, your self-esteem, your inner wellness, your mental health. And on the other side, there's also the media and, you know. people online making negative comments in such situations how do you not let that get in the way and how do you find your center in the middle of that oh it's not it's it's definitely not easy um it's definitely not easy no one no
athlete will tell you that it's easy just dealing with that whether they're on social media whether they're you know just dealing with you know a coach that doesn't like them or coming back from an injury and they're not the same player. Whatever the situation is, it's just not easy. But for me, I just, I guess with the social media thing, people like to make comments and, you know, the internet is like a place for people to project their insecurities without, you know, consequences, without, you know, repercussions. And negativity sells negativity. It's popular. People like to make jokes at other people's expense. It doesn't mean it's true. It doesn't mean it's a fact. It's just, it is what it is. I've never had... a negative experience in person. No fan, no person has ever come up to me and said anything similar to what people say on the internet. That's what I remember. Whenever I read a comment, I think, whenever I read a negative comment, I think to myself, would this person say that if they saw me in person? No. They may probably ask for a photo. Um, so I, I think of it like that. Genuinely, I think of it like that. Um, confidence wise, self-esteem wise, I remember who I am and I'm him. And I feel like everyone should remember that if you're him or her, you are her, you are him. And as long as you believe that you're him, whether it makes other people uncomfortable reminding them that you're him or her. It doesn't really matter. Just never forget it yourself.
So the thing with basketball players is that you're recognized at a glance. It's very easy to spot you on the street. But you're also one of the most charismatic EuroLeague players. And that must get you a lot of attention. When people come to you in your social life, forget basketball. Think friendships. just hanging out on the street, even dating. Do you ever wonder if those people would speak to you if you were not a professional basketball player? Like, do you ever question people's intentions and genuine interest for who you are?
Yeah, speaking to people, I have no problem, you know, being recognizable and walking the streets, you know. Obviously, I'm not like Ronaldo levels of fame where it's like everywhere you go, you're just harassed. And I think that's when that would be uncomfortable. I know there's some times after a game or in certain cities more than others where people know me more. And I'm trying to just watch a basketball game and I'm taking hundreds of photos. Obviously, in those moments, it's like I just want to watch a game and be a normal person. I would say 98% of the time, 99% of the time, the amount of attention I get on the streets in Europe is reasonable enough to know that I'm still a normal person that people happen to know and care about. I think the problem is in the dating aspect. I think it's a huge problem for us and it's a huge problem for people that haven't met their significant, that didn't meet their significant others. you know, before they became famous or before they became a professional. You know, I'm jealous of everyone who met their significant other in high school or in college. That wasn't me. I'm 28. I'm going to be 29. I'm getting old and I'm still single. And yeah, I'm looking for something genuine and it's hard. I'm also very picky and I also have my faults as well. And because I'm used to living by myself, there's certain things that, you know. I've learned about myself that it's hard to deal with, but my career comes first. Whoever comes into my life has to understand that and has to sacrifice for me and my career until I'm done. Then it will be my turn to sacrifice. But obviously, every now and then you meet people that are obviously just trying to hang around me because of who I am or trying to date me because of who I am. I do a good job of weeding those people out and not giving them too much attention.
This makes me think of all the young athletes who get paid to play in college or who get drafted really young and then their lives change from one day to the next. And that represents its own sets of challenges beyond just playing at a high level, right? What was your experience?
Yeah, for me, it was easy because I didn't walk into fame early. I didn't walk into money early. I did five years of college and I didn't get paid to go to college like some kids. Like most kids in college are getting paid now. Like you have millionaires in college, which is unheard of. I was, I never had more than $2,000 in my account in my whole five years of college. So, you know, money was, I was always hungry for that. I didn't do one year of college and then go pro. I did five. I redshirted a year where I didn't play at all. And then after five years of college, I didn't go to the NBA or I didn't go to a EuroLeague team. I went to a second division team. So like I had I had a lot of time to like process and a lot of time to figure out what would I do when I get money? What would I do when I'm starting to be recognized? And honestly, like in those days, those years, I spent a lot of time like doing interviews to myself. I envision getting drafted or getting signed by an NBA team years before I did. And I asked myself those questions. When it finally happened, it was like deja vu because I'm like, yo, I've done this before.
I love this. I have one last question for you, and it's around sleep. I know that sleep is a big problem among sports people, not just athletes, but coaches as well, with difficulty sleeping either the night before a big game or often at night. after a big game or after a game in general what's your experience with sleep and do you have any tips i normally this is something i need to change this year but like before the game i normally like stay up later than i would recommend to other people um
so that i can take a good nap and you know you know be ready for the game that day but i want to just start sleeping at a reasonable hour at all times now you But after the game, I struggle to sleep no matter what, whether it's a really good game or a horrible game and we lost. I just struggle to sleep. But before the games, I need to figure out a better sleeping schedule because, yeah, I don't recommend what I do sometimes. I can't lie.
00:00
00:10
01:15
02:52
04:21
05:46
08:28
14:15
15:40
Description
In this episode, EuroLeague player, Chima Moneke, opens up about his journey. From being a 13-year-old with a dream to a professional basketball career, Chima shares candid insights into overcoming doubt, building resilience, staying mentally strong, and preparing for life beyond basketball.
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Transcription
What's up everybody, it's Chima Moneke. I'm a basketball player for Baskonia in the EuroLeague. Let's rise up together. I like that, let's rise up together.
So today you're an athlete and obviously at one point you'll need a second career. How do you see basketball fitting in your life in the future?
I mean at 13 I made it my goal to become a basketball player so I didn't have a plan B and so I put all my eggs in that basket. Obviously, I'm not just a basketball player, but I feel like basketball is the car that'll get me to the places that I need to go, whether it's real estate, whether it's coaching, communications, whatever it is. But all of it will be because of the connections I made through basketball and just, yeah, through basketball.
A lot of people dream of having the life that you currently have, but they may have. doubts, they may face a reality today where they're not skilled enough, or, you know, things seem so far away. And they may even have doubters around them, like maybe they're not supported in their environments. What was your experience with that?
You know, I think I'm the perfect example of someone who isn't supposed to be here, just because there were so many times in my life where It would have been easy to give up or, you know, it just didn't look like it was realistic, possible or worth it. But I always remember that my belief in myself and the work that I put in was bigger than the doubts that I had, the doubts that anyone else had about me and my circumstances. So, you know, I always kept working. I kept believing. I was delusionally confident. I was irrationally, you know, confident as well. And I also got lucky. I also got lucky being in the right place at the right time, meeting the right people, you know, playing in the right games where, you know, someone was watching that could help me because, you know, I didn't do this all by myself. I did most of the work for sure, but I wouldn't have got here without several important people and several important moments. And another reason why I say lucky is I didn't get injured, you know, at the wrong time. You know, I know there's so many people who worked hard, just as hard as me or worked harder, but they were unlucky in whatever situation. So for me, work really hard, believe in yourself, meet the right people and and get lucky. The last one is out of your control, but that's how it goes.
You do a lot of things beyond playing basketball. Is that your way of getting your second career ready?
Yes, absolutely. I do a lot of things outside of basketball because I'm not just a basketball player. I have many things that I can offer to the EuroLeague community, to the world, to the people around me or to whoever's listening. And, you know, I feel like we shouldn't box ourselves in with our career and with our jobs. Some people care about our opinions just because they like how we play our jobs. So I've always believed in that. I've always known that I had the personality to do more. And that's just, it comes naturally to me. But also, yeah, preparing for life after basketball is very important. A lot of athletes, a lot of basketball players, they struggle with that. And they don't know what to do. You know, the games, they stop playing the game, but they keep. eating as if they're working out every day. They keep spending money as if they're working out every day. And then they don't know that they're hurting themselves and their mental health and all of that. So I'm thankful that I've seen a lot of people make mistakes. I've seen a lot of people's struggles. I've learned from a lot of people that I know what not to do. And obviously, I've learned from people who are successful. And I'm taking notes. I'm never afraid to ask questions. And yeah, when I'm done playing, I want to still be involved in the game somehow.
You travel a lot for work, whether it's for games or when you're changing clubs. Do you ever feel lonely or just, you know, disconnected from a social life because you're moving all the time?
For me, honestly, no. I'm used to traveling. I grew up traveling. I grew up a lot of times away from. certain people in my family or all of my family so i think now it's it's it's more weird being with my family because i'm so used to being away and in a different country and yeah you know for the people that don't know i i haven't seen i've seen my parents two times in the last 15 years and like that's just unheard of um and most of it was because you know i was chasing my dream of playing basketball and i had to go to america where i didn't see anyone in my family for four years straight um while i was chasing the dream and yeah you know a lot of those there were several days in there that you know i felt like why am i doing this and all of that but for me it's it's it's normal and Why it's normal is because of my parents, you know, they were diplomats. And, you know, so I grew up traveling and I thought that was a normal lifestyle. I didn't know how unique my childhood was until I was 17 in Nebraska. Yeah.
Everyone has a rise story, a moment where you had to rise above some challenges that, you know, you were experiencing. What is one rise story you want to share with us?
I'd say the first one that got everything started was when I was 15 in 2011. I was two years into playing basketball, so I was very raw. And obviously, I definitely wasn't that good back then. But in my state, I was one of the 10 best players in my state easily. And I was the last one to get cut. And the coach told me that I was a good athlete. for that level, but I couldn't think the game. And I remember that was the first time where I was hurt by someone else's words. And I was crying for days and I was in disbelief. And then a switch just flipped. And I remember saying, excuse my French, but F everybody. I don't really care what anyone else has to say about me. So I became like a villain in my city because I just didn't care. I didn't care what anyone else had to say. I wasn't going to let other people's doubts about themselves project onto me. And I knew that my goals would be achieved whether they liked it or not. Whether it took a year or two years or three years longer than I wanted it to take, I just knew that I would get it done. So yeah, that was like the first. rise up moment, rise up story in my life and probably the most important.
Any other rise story you want to share with us?
This recent one, I would say getting cut while I was in the NBA and then going to Monaco where I was making the most money in my career and then I wasn't happy at all basketball wise. It was like a Jekyll and Hyde situation of, yeah, financially, I'm really good. But basketball-wise, my job, my career, I'm not happy. And then having a guaranteed contract being cut and having to find myself in another situation where I was doubted again. And I just had to prove myself again by going to Baskonia. Most people not expecting too much from me. And then, you know, having the year that I had last season. So I would say that's definitely the most recent thrive story for me.
So you're an athlete, but you're also human. And those experiences that you described must be really testing your self-confidence, your self-esteem, your inner wellness, your mental health. And on the other side, there's also the media and, you know. people online making negative comments in such situations how do you not let that get in the way and how do you find your center in the middle of that oh it's not it's it's definitely not easy um it's definitely not easy no one no
athlete will tell you that it's easy just dealing with that whether they're on social media whether they're you know just dealing with you know a coach that doesn't like them or coming back from an injury and they're not the same player. Whatever the situation is, it's just not easy. But for me, I just, I guess with the social media thing, people like to make comments and, you know, the internet is like a place for people to project their insecurities without, you know, consequences, without, you know, repercussions. And negativity sells negativity. It's popular. People like to make jokes at other people's expense. It doesn't mean it's true. It doesn't mean it's a fact. It's just, it is what it is. I've never had... a negative experience in person. No fan, no person has ever come up to me and said anything similar to what people say on the internet. That's what I remember. Whenever I read a comment, I think, whenever I read a negative comment, I think to myself, would this person say that if they saw me in person? No. They may probably ask for a photo. Um, so I, I think of it like that. Genuinely, I think of it like that. Um, confidence wise, self-esteem wise, I remember who I am and I'm him. And I feel like everyone should remember that if you're him or her, you are her, you are him. And as long as you believe that you're him, whether it makes other people uncomfortable reminding them that you're him or her. It doesn't really matter. Just never forget it yourself.
So the thing with basketball players is that you're recognized at a glance. It's very easy to spot you on the street. But you're also one of the most charismatic EuroLeague players. And that must get you a lot of attention. When people come to you in your social life, forget basketball. Think friendships. just hanging out on the street, even dating. Do you ever wonder if those people would speak to you if you were not a professional basketball player? Like, do you ever question people's intentions and genuine interest for who you are?
Yeah, speaking to people, I have no problem, you know, being recognizable and walking the streets, you know. Obviously, I'm not like Ronaldo levels of fame where it's like everywhere you go, you're just harassed. And I think that's when that would be uncomfortable. I know there's some times after a game or in certain cities more than others where people know me more. And I'm trying to just watch a basketball game and I'm taking hundreds of photos. Obviously, in those moments, it's like I just want to watch a game and be a normal person. I would say 98% of the time, 99% of the time, the amount of attention I get on the streets in Europe is reasonable enough to know that I'm still a normal person that people happen to know and care about. I think the problem is in the dating aspect. I think it's a huge problem for us and it's a huge problem for people that haven't met their significant, that didn't meet their significant others. you know, before they became famous or before they became a professional. You know, I'm jealous of everyone who met their significant other in high school or in college. That wasn't me. I'm 28. I'm going to be 29. I'm getting old and I'm still single. And yeah, I'm looking for something genuine and it's hard. I'm also very picky and I also have my faults as well. And because I'm used to living by myself, there's certain things that, you know. I've learned about myself that it's hard to deal with, but my career comes first. Whoever comes into my life has to understand that and has to sacrifice for me and my career until I'm done. Then it will be my turn to sacrifice. But obviously, every now and then you meet people that are obviously just trying to hang around me because of who I am or trying to date me because of who I am. I do a good job of weeding those people out and not giving them too much attention.
This makes me think of all the young athletes who get paid to play in college or who get drafted really young and then their lives change from one day to the next. And that represents its own sets of challenges beyond just playing at a high level, right? What was your experience?
Yeah, for me, it was easy because I didn't walk into fame early. I didn't walk into money early. I did five years of college and I didn't get paid to go to college like some kids. Like most kids in college are getting paid now. Like you have millionaires in college, which is unheard of. I was, I never had more than $2,000 in my account in my whole five years of college. So, you know, money was, I was always hungry for that. I didn't do one year of college and then go pro. I did five. I redshirted a year where I didn't play at all. And then after five years of college, I didn't go to the NBA or I didn't go to a EuroLeague team. I went to a second division team. So like I had I had a lot of time to like process and a lot of time to figure out what would I do when I get money? What would I do when I'm starting to be recognized? And honestly, like in those days, those years, I spent a lot of time like doing interviews to myself. I envision getting drafted or getting signed by an NBA team years before I did. And I asked myself those questions. When it finally happened, it was like deja vu because I'm like, yo, I've done this before.
I love this. I have one last question for you, and it's around sleep. I know that sleep is a big problem among sports people, not just athletes, but coaches as well, with difficulty sleeping either the night before a big game or often at night. after a big game or after a game in general what's your experience with sleep and do you have any tips i normally this is something i need to change this year but like before the game i normally like stay up later than i would recommend to other people um
so that i can take a good nap and you know you know be ready for the game that day but i want to just start sleeping at a reasonable hour at all times now you But after the game, I struggle to sleep no matter what, whether it's a really good game or a horrible game and we lost. I just struggle to sleep. But before the games, I need to figure out a better sleeping schedule because, yeah, I don't recommend what I do sometimes. I can't lie.
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00:10
01:15
02:52
04:21
05:46
08:28
14:15
15:40
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Description
In this episode, EuroLeague player, Chima Moneke, opens up about his journey. From being a 13-year-old with a dream to a professional basketball career, Chima shares candid insights into overcoming doubt, building resilience, staying mentally strong, and preparing for life beyond basketball.
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Transcription
What's up everybody, it's Chima Moneke. I'm a basketball player for Baskonia in the EuroLeague. Let's rise up together. I like that, let's rise up together.
So today you're an athlete and obviously at one point you'll need a second career. How do you see basketball fitting in your life in the future?
I mean at 13 I made it my goal to become a basketball player so I didn't have a plan B and so I put all my eggs in that basket. Obviously, I'm not just a basketball player, but I feel like basketball is the car that'll get me to the places that I need to go, whether it's real estate, whether it's coaching, communications, whatever it is. But all of it will be because of the connections I made through basketball and just, yeah, through basketball.
A lot of people dream of having the life that you currently have, but they may have. doubts, they may face a reality today where they're not skilled enough, or, you know, things seem so far away. And they may even have doubters around them, like maybe they're not supported in their environments. What was your experience with that?
You know, I think I'm the perfect example of someone who isn't supposed to be here, just because there were so many times in my life where It would have been easy to give up or, you know, it just didn't look like it was realistic, possible or worth it. But I always remember that my belief in myself and the work that I put in was bigger than the doubts that I had, the doubts that anyone else had about me and my circumstances. So, you know, I always kept working. I kept believing. I was delusionally confident. I was irrationally, you know, confident as well. And I also got lucky. I also got lucky being in the right place at the right time, meeting the right people, you know, playing in the right games where, you know, someone was watching that could help me because, you know, I didn't do this all by myself. I did most of the work for sure, but I wouldn't have got here without several important people and several important moments. And another reason why I say lucky is I didn't get injured, you know, at the wrong time. You know, I know there's so many people who worked hard, just as hard as me or worked harder, but they were unlucky in whatever situation. So for me, work really hard, believe in yourself, meet the right people and and get lucky. The last one is out of your control, but that's how it goes.
You do a lot of things beyond playing basketball. Is that your way of getting your second career ready?
Yes, absolutely. I do a lot of things outside of basketball because I'm not just a basketball player. I have many things that I can offer to the EuroLeague community, to the world, to the people around me or to whoever's listening. And, you know, I feel like we shouldn't box ourselves in with our career and with our jobs. Some people care about our opinions just because they like how we play our jobs. So I've always believed in that. I've always known that I had the personality to do more. And that's just, it comes naturally to me. But also, yeah, preparing for life after basketball is very important. A lot of athletes, a lot of basketball players, they struggle with that. And they don't know what to do. You know, the games, they stop playing the game, but they keep. eating as if they're working out every day. They keep spending money as if they're working out every day. And then they don't know that they're hurting themselves and their mental health and all of that. So I'm thankful that I've seen a lot of people make mistakes. I've seen a lot of people's struggles. I've learned from a lot of people that I know what not to do. And obviously, I've learned from people who are successful. And I'm taking notes. I'm never afraid to ask questions. And yeah, when I'm done playing, I want to still be involved in the game somehow.
You travel a lot for work, whether it's for games or when you're changing clubs. Do you ever feel lonely or just, you know, disconnected from a social life because you're moving all the time?
For me, honestly, no. I'm used to traveling. I grew up traveling. I grew up a lot of times away from. certain people in my family or all of my family so i think now it's it's it's more weird being with my family because i'm so used to being away and in a different country and yeah you know for the people that don't know i i haven't seen i've seen my parents two times in the last 15 years and like that's just unheard of um and most of it was because you know i was chasing my dream of playing basketball and i had to go to america where i didn't see anyone in my family for four years straight um while i was chasing the dream and yeah you know a lot of those there were several days in there that you know i felt like why am i doing this and all of that but for me it's it's it's normal and Why it's normal is because of my parents, you know, they were diplomats. And, you know, so I grew up traveling and I thought that was a normal lifestyle. I didn't know how unique my childhood was until I was 17 in Nebraska. Yeah.
Everyone has a rise story, a moment where you had to rise above some challenges that, you know, you were experiencing. What is one rise story you want to share with us?
I'd say the first one that got everything started was when I was 15 in 2011. I was two years into playing basketball, so I was very raw. And obviously, I definitely wasn't that good back then. But in my state, I was one of the 10 best players in my state easily. And I was the last one to get cut. And the coach told me that I was a good athlete. for that level, but I couldn't think the game. And I remember that was the first time where I was hurt by someone else's words. And I was crying for days and I was in disbelief. And then a switch just flipped. And I remember saying, excuse my French, but F everybody. I don't really care what anyone else has to say about me. So I became like a villain in my city because I just didn't care. I didn't care what anyone else had to say. I wasn't going to let other people's doubts about themselves project onto me. And I knew that my goals would be achieved whether they liked it or not. Whether it took a year or two years or three years longer than I wanted it to take, I just knew that I would get it done. So yeah, that was like the first. rise up moment, rise up story in my life and probably the most important.
Any other rise story you want to share with us?
This recent one, I would say getting cut while I was in the NBA and then going to Monaco where I was making the most money in my career and then I wasn't happy at all basketball wise. It was like a Jekyll and Hyde situation of, yeah, financially, I'm really good. But basketball-wise, my job, my career, I'm not happy. And then having a guaranteed contract being cut and having to find myself in another situation where I was doubted again. And I just had to prove myself again by going to Baskonia. Most people not expecting too much from me. And then, you know, having the year that I had last season. So I would say that's definitely the most recent thrive story for me.
So you're an athlete, but you're also human. And those experiences that you described must be really testing your self-confidence, your self-esteem, your inner wellness, your mental health. And on the other side, there's also the media and, you know. people online making negative comments in such situations how do you not let that get in the way and how do you find your center in the middle of that oh it's not it's it's definitely not easy um it's definitely not easy no one no
athlete will tell you that it's easy just dealing with that whether they're on social media whether they're you know just dealing with you know a coach that doesn't like them or coming back from an injury and they're not the same player. Whatever the situation is, it's just not easy. But for me, I just, I guess with the social media thing, people like to make comments and, you know, the internet is like a place for people to project their insecurities without, you know, consequences, without, you know, repercussions. And negativity sells negativity. It's popular. People like to make jokes at other people's expense. It doesn't mean it's true. It doesn't mean it's a fact. It's just, it is what it is. I've never had... a negative experience in person. No fan, no person has ever come up to me and said anything similar to what people say on the internet. That's what I remember. Whenever I read a comment, I think, whenever I read a negative comment, I think to myself, would this person say that if they saw me in person? No. They may probably ask for a photo. Um, so I, I think of it like that. Genuinely, I think of it like that. Um, confidence wise, self-esteem wise, I remember who I am and I'm him. And I feel like everyone should remember that if you're him or her, you are her, you are him. And as long as you believe that you're him, whether it makes other people uncomfortable reminding them that you're him or her. It doesn't really matter. Just never forget it yourself.
So the thing with basketball players is that you're recognized at a glance. It's very easy to spot you on the street. But you're also one of the most charismatic EuroLeague players. And that must get you a lot of attention. When people come to you in your social life, forget basketball. Think friendships. just hanging out on the street, even dating. Do you ever wonder if those people would speak to you if you were not a professional basketball player? Like, do you ever question people's intentions and genuine interest for who you are?
Yeah, speaking to people, I have no problem, you know, being recognizable and walking the streets, you know. Obviously, I'm not like Ronaldo levels of fame where it's like everywhere you go, you're just harassed. And I think that's when that would be uncomfortable. I know there's some times after a game or in certain cities more than others where people know me more. And I'm trying to just watch a basketball game and I'm taking hundreds of photos. Obviously, in those moments, it's like I just want to watch a game and be a normal person. I would say 98% of the time, 99% of the time, the amount of attention I get on the streets in Europe is reasonable enough to know that I'm still a normal person that people happen to know and care about. I think the problem is in the dating aspect. I think it's a huge problem for us and it's a huge problem for people that haven't met their significant, that didn't meet their significant others. you know, before they became famous or before they became a professional. You know, I'm jealous of everyone who met their significant other in high school or in college. That wasn't me. I'm 28. I'm going to be 29. I'm getting old and I'm still single. And yeah, I'm looking for something genuine and it's hard. I'm also very picky and I also have my faults as well. And because I'm used to living by myself, there's certain things that, you know. I've learned about myself that it's hard to deal with, but my career comes first. Whoever comes into my life has to understand that and has to sacrifice for me and my career until I'm done. Then it will be my turn to sacrifice. But obviously, every now and then you meet people that are obviously just trying to hang around me because of who I am or trying to date me because of who I am. I do a good job of weeding those people out and not giving them too much attention.
This makes me think of all the young athletes who get paid to play in college or who get drafted really young and then their lives change from one day to the next. And that represents its own sets of challenges beyond just playing at a high level, right? What was your experience?
Yeah, for me, it was easy because I didn't walk into fame early. I didn't walk into money early. I did five years of college and I didn't get paid to go to college like some kids. Like most kids in college are getting paid now. Like you have millionaires in college, which is unheard of. I was, I never had more than $2,000 in my account in my whole five years of college. So, you know, money was, I was always hungry for that. I didn't do one year of college and then go pro. I did five. I redshirted a year where I didn't play at all. And then after five years of college, I didn't go to the NBA or I didn't go to a EuroLeague team. I went to a second division team. So like I had I had a lot of time to like process and a lot of time to figure out what would I do when I get money? What would I do when I'm starting to be recognized? And honestly, like in those days, those years, I spent a lot of time like doing interviews to myself. I envision getting drafted or getting signed by an NBA team years before I did. And I asked myself those questions. When it finally happened, it was like deja vu because I'm like, yo, I've done this before.
I love this. I have one last question for you, and it's around sleep. I know that sleep is a big problem among sports people, not just athletes, but coaches as well, with difficulty sleeping either the night before a big game or often at night. after a big game or after a game in general what's your experience with sleep and do you have any tips i normally this is something i need to change this year but like before the game i normally like stay up later than i would recommend to other people um
so that i can take a good nap and you know you know be ready for the game that day but i want to just start sleeping at a reasonable hour at all times now you But after the game, I struggle to sleep no matter what, whether it's a really good game or a horrible game and we lost. I just struggle to sleep. But before the games, I need to figure out a better sleeping schedule because, yeah, I don't recommend what I do sometimes. I can't lie.
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Description
In this episode, EuroLeague player, Chima Moneke, opens up about his journey. From being a 13-year-old with a dream to a professional basketball career, Chima shares candid insights into overcoming doubt, building resilience, staying mentally strong, and preparing for life beyond basketball.
Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.
Transcription
What's up everybody, it's Chima Moneke. I'm a basketball player for Baskonia in the EuroLeague. Let's rise up together. I like that, let's rise up together.
So today you're an athlete and obviously at one point you'll need a second career. How do you see basketball fitting in your life in the future?
I mean at 13 I made it my goal to become a basketball player so I didn't have a plan B and so I put all my eggs in that basket. Obviously, I'm not just a basketball player, but I feel like basketball is the car that'll get me to the places that I need to go, whether it's real estate, whether it's coaching, communications, whatever it is. But all of it will be because of the connections I made through basketball and just, yeah, through basketball.
A lot of people dream of having the life that you currently have, but they may have. doubts, they may face a reality today where they're not skilled enough, or, you know, things seem so far away. And they may even have doubters around them, like maybe they're not supported in their environments. What was your experience with that?
You know, I think I'm the perfect example of someone who isn't supposed to be here, just because there were so many times in my life where It would have been easy to give up or, you know, it just didn't look like it was realistic, possible or worth it. But I always remember that my belief in myself and the work that I put in was bigger than the doubts that I had, the doubts that anyone else had about me and my circumstances. So, you know, I always kept working. I kept believing. I was delusionally confident. I was irrationally, you know, confident as well. And I also got lucky. I also got lucky being in the right place at the right time, meeting the right people, you know, playing in the right games where, you know, someone was watching that could help me because, you know, I didn't do this all by myself. I did most of the work for sure, but I wouldn't have got here without several important people and several important moments. And another reason why I say lucky is I didn't get injured, you know, at the wrong time. You know, I know there's so many people who worked hard, just as hard as me or worked harder, but they were unlucky in whatever situation. So for me, work really hard, believe in yourself, meet the right people and and get lucky. The last one is out of your control, but that's how it goes.
You do a lot of things beyond playing basketball. Is that your way of getting your second career ready?
Yes, absolutely. I do a lot of things outside of basketball because I'm not just a basketball player. I have many things that I can offer to the EuroLeague community, to the world, to the people around me or to whoever's listening. And, you know, I feel like we shouldn't box ourselves in with our career and with our jobs. Some people care about our opinions just because they like how we play our jobs. So I've always believed in that. I've always known that I had the personality to do more. And that's just, it comes naturally to me. But also, yeah, preparing for life after basketball is very important. A lot of athletes, a lot of basketball players, they struggle with that. And they don't know what to do. You know, the games, they stop playing the game, but they keep. eating as if they're working out every day. They keep spending money as if they're working out every day. And then they don't know that they're hurting themselves and their mental health and all of that. So I'm thankful that I've seen a lot of people make mistakes. I've seen a lot of people's struggles. I've learned from a lot of people that I know what not to do. And obviously, I've learned from people who are successful. And I'm taking notes. I'm never afraid to ask questions. And yeah, when I'm done playing, I want to still be involved in the game somehow.
You travel a lot for work, whether it's for games or when you're changing clubs. Do you ever feel lonely or just, you know, disconnected from a social life because you're moving all the time?
For me, honestly, no. I'm used to traveling. I grew up traveling. I grew up a lot of times away from. certain people in my family or all of my family so i think now it's it's it's more weird being with my family because i'm so used to being away and in a different country and yeah you know for the people that don't know i i haven't seen i've seen my parents two times in the last 15 years and like that's just unheard of um and most of it was because you know i was chasing my dream of playing basketball and i had to go to america where i didn't see anyone in my family for four years straight um while i was chasing the dream and yeah you know a lot of those there were several days in there that you know i felt like why am i doing this and all of that but for me it's it's it's normal and Why it's normal is because of my parents, you know, they were diplomats. And, you know, so I grew up traveling and I thought that was a normal lifestyle. I didn't know how unique my childhood was until I was 17 in Nebraska. Yeah.
Everyone has a rise story, a moment where you had to rise above some challenges that, you know, you were experiencing. What is one rise story you want to share with us?
I'd say the first one that got everything started was when I was 15 in 2011. I was two years into playing basketball, so I was very raw. And obviously, I definitely wasn't that good back then. But in my state, I was one of the 10 best players in my state easily. And I was the last one to get cut. And the coach told me that I was a good athlete. for that level, but I couldn't think the game. And I remember that was the first time where I was hurt by someone else's words. And I was crying for days and I was in disbelief. And then a switch just flipped. And I remember saying, excuse my French, but F everybody. I don't really care what anyone else has to say about me. So I became like a villain in my city because I just didn't care. I didn't care what anyone else had to say. I wasn't going to let other people's doubts about themselves project onto me. And I knew that my goals would be achieved whether they liked it or not. Whether it took a year or two years or three years longer than I wanted it to take, I just knew that I would get it done. So yeah, that was like the first. rise up moment, rise up story in my life and probably the most important.
Any other rise story you want to share with us?
This recent one, I would say getting cut while I was in the NBA and then going to Monaco where I was making the most money in my career and then I wasn't happy at all basketball wise. It was like a Jekyll and Hyde situation of, yeah, financially, I'm really good. But basketball-wise, my job, my career, I'm not happy. And then having a guaranteed contract being cut and having to find myself in another situation where I was doubted again. And I just had to prove myself again by going to Baskonia. Most people not expecting too much from me. And then, you know, having the year that I had last season. So I would say that's definitely the most recent thrive story for me.
So you're an athlete, but you're also human. And those experiences that you described must be really testing your self-confidence, your self-esteem, your inner wellness, your mental health. And on the other side, there's also the media and, you know. people online making negative comments in such situations how do you not let that get in the way and how do you find your center in the middle of that oh it's not it's it's definitely not easy um it's definitely not easy no one no
athlete will tell you that it's easy just dealing with that whether they're on social media whether they're you know just dealing with you know a coach that doesn't like them or coming back from an injury and they're not the same player. Whatever the situation is, it's just not easy. But for me, I just, I guess with the social media thing, people like to make comments and, you know, the internet is like a place for people to project their insecurities without, you know, consequences, without, you know, repercussions. And negativity sells negativity. It's popular. People like to make jokes at other people's expense. It doesn't mean it's true. It doesn't mean it's a fact. It's just, it is what it is. I've never had... a negative experience in person. No fan, no person has ever come up to me and said anything similar to what people say on the internet. That's what I remember. Whenever I read a comment, I think, whenever I read a negative comment, I think to myself, would this person say that if they saw me in person? No. They may probably ask for a photo. Um, so I, I think of it like that. Genuinely, I think of it like that. Um, confidence wise, self-esteem wise, I remember who I am and I'm him. And I feel like everyone should remember that if you're him or her, you are her, you are him. And as long as you believe that you're him, whether it makes other people uncomfortable reminding them that you're him or her. It doesn't really matter. Just never forget it yourself.
So the thing with basketball players is that you're recognized at a glance. It's very easy to spot you on the street. But you're also one of the most charismatic EuroLeague players. And that must get you a lot of attention. When people come to you in your social life, forget basketball. Think friendships. just hanging out on the street, even dating. Do you ever wonder if those people would speak to you if you were not a professional basketball player? Like, do you ever question people's intentions and genuine interest for who you are?
Yeah, speaking to people, I have no problem, you know, being recognizable and walking the streets, you know. Obviously, I'm not like Ronaldo levels of fame where it's like everywhere you go, you're just harassed. And I think that's when that would be uncomfortable. I know there's some times after a game or in certain cities more than others where people know me more. And I'm trying to just watch a basketball game and I'm taking hundreds of photos. Obviously, in those moments, it's like I just want to watch a game and be a normal person. I would say 98% of the time, 99% of the time, the amount of attention I get on the streets in Europe is reasonable enough to know that I'm still a normal person that people happen to know and care about. I think the problem is in the dating aspect. I think it's a huge problem for us and it's a huge problem for people that haven't met their significant, that didn't meet their significant others. you know, before they became famous or before they became a professional. You know, I'm jealous of everyone who met their significant other in high school or in college. That wasn't me. I'm 28. I'm going to be 29. I'm getting old and I'm still single. And yeah, I'm looking for something genuine and it's hard. I'm also very picky and I also have my faults as well. And because I'm used to living by myself, there's certain things that, you know. I've learned about myself that it's hard to deal with, but my career comes first. Whoever comes into my life has to understand that and has to sacrifice for me and my career until I'm done. Then it will be my turn to sacrifice. But obviously, every now and then you meet people that are obviously just trying to hang around me because of who I am or trying to date me because of who I am. I do a good job of weeding those people out and not giving them too much attention.
This makes me think of all the young athletes who get paid to play in college or who get drafted really young and then their lives change from one day to the next. And that represents its own sets of challenges beyond just playing at a high level, right? What was your experience?
Yeah, for me, it was easy because I didn't walk into fame early. I didn't walk into money early. I did five years of college and I didn't get paid to go to college like some kids. Like most kids in college are getting paid now. Like you have millionaires in college, which is unheard of. I was, I never had more than $2,000 in my account in my whole five years of college. So, you know, money was, I was always hungry for that. I didn't do one year of college and then go pro. I did five. I redshirted a year where I didn't play at all. And then after five years of college, I didn't go to the NBA or I didn't go to a EuroLeague team. I went to a second division team. So like I had I had a lot of time to like process and a lot of time to figure out what would I do when I get money? What would I do when I'm starting to be recognized? And honestly, like in those days, those years, I spent a lot of time like doing interviews to myself. I envision getting drafted or getting signed by an NBA team years before I did. And I asked myself those questions. When it finally happened, it was like deja vu because I'm like, yo, I've done this before.
I love this. I have one last question for you, and it's around sleep. I know that sleep is a big problem among sports people, not just athletes, but coaches as well, with difficulty sleeping either the night before a big game or often at night. after a big game or after a game in general what's your experience with sleep and do you have any tips i normally this is something i need to change this year but like before the game i normally like stay up later than i would recommend to other people um
so that i can take a good nap and you know you know be ready for the game that day but i want to just start sleeping at a reasonable hour at all times now you But after the game, I struggle to sleep no matter what, whether it's a really good game or a horrible game and we lost. I just struggle to sleep. But before the games, I need to figure out a better sleeping schedule because, yeah, I don't recommend what I do sometimes. I can't lie.
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