South East Melbourne import Keifer Sykes on his remarkable journey from Chicago to the NBL
New Phoenix star Keifer Sykes became a father at 16, lost his dad at 17 and suffered as those close to him became victims of gun violence. Here’s his remarkable story.
Basketball
Don't miss out on the headlines from Basketball. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Every time he walked out the front door of his childhood home in Chicago, Keifer Sykes had to deal with the confronting reality he might not come home.
The new South East Melbourne Phoenix import says that is the frightening situation for kids growing up in one of the toughest cities in America, where only last year more than 4000 people were victims of gun violence and nearly 900 of those lost their lives.
“It is scary, but that’s the reality for people in my city,” Sykes told News Corp.
“As I’ve grown up and matured, I won’t say it got better, but, for me, my situation and my family’s situation has improved because of the game of basketball.
“For my people back home, some of my family and friends still live in that reality.
“I try to never forget about them and try to make the city and the world a better place, because I know how my city is, so I’m always just trying to help.”
Watch live coverage every week of the 2021 NBL Season with ESPN on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >
A high school basketball star at John Marshall Metropolitan, Sykes shot to fame at University of Wisconsin Green Bay, where his meteoric rise inspired Chi-Town — a documentary on his life.
The pint-sized point guard with an insane vertical leap has since suited up in the NBA Summer League and played for eight pro teams in five years, before landing in Melbourne.
The youngest of seven, life was so hard that the NBA wasn’t even a dream, let alone a possibility.
“When I was young I just played to go to school and be the first one to get an education in my family,” he said.
“I used basketball to get a free education, to get out of my neighbourhood and go to college.
“That was the goal and then I turned into a good college player so then I just worked hard to turn my passion into playing professionally.”
GROWING UP — FAST
A father at 16, Sykes lost his dad — and hero — James at 17 and that forced him to become a role model for his five younger ‘brothers and sisters’ — cousins who his family had taken in.
“My dad died, I was a teenage parent, so those things make you grow up fast,” he said.
“I became a big male figure for them. I don’t like to call it a father figure, but a big brother, someone they could look up to, that was my role in life.
“That’s just how my life transpired, I had to be more mature and more responsible than normal people my age.
“Even now, I’m playing in all these different countries, I’m getting more and more experience fast. I played on five teams in 12 months and I’m only 27.”
A man of deep faith, Sykes says basketball is the blessing that has helped him escape hardship, but carries with him a heavy burden — the dreams of his city.
“Kids from Chicago really admire being able to leave the city and play professionally,” he said.
“I take the journey to heart, going to all these places and letting these other kids in my neighbourhood know about the language barrier, the experiences, the eating, the culture.
“My main thing is being available to my city and just being an extension of my city, connect with these kids and inspire them
“People message me all the time about how they are motivated by me, motivated by my story, and that’s the best part about it.”
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Sykes had never been to Australia before, but it’s safe to say he’s already in love.
Despite a COVID scare when the team’s visit to Perth almost forced it into lockdown, he’s astounded by the work Australia has done to mitigate the pandemic.
“We had a COVID test on Monday and the results came back the next morning,” he said.
“In the states it’s hard to get a test, people don’t get tested. People here don’t have that worry. it is a different perspective for someone like me from America.
“The NBL has definitely done a great job, that’s a good feeling to be in a place where they are on top of it.
“You don’t even have to wear a mask here.
“I’m in the right place in the world at the right time.”
The USA has had more than 26 million COVID cases and over 440,000 people have lost their lives to the superbug.
Sykes says those numbers are shattering, but holds little hope things will turn quickly.
“There’s no way, in the land of the free, you’re going to tell those people not to have their freedom of movement,” he lamented.
“That’s the problem, people still move around, people try to move safer but they just don’t stop moving — they won’t be locked down or stay home.
“Even if you tell America to lock down, you’re not going to lock every body down.
“It’s a different world.”
AIN’T SEEN NOTHIN’ YET
Sykes has hit the ground running for the Phoenix, proving an uber-athletic point guard replacement for three-point maestro John Roberson.
At 183cm in height, he’s second in the NBL in assists while pouring in 19 points per game and adding nearly five boards and two steals a night.
Those are MVP-calibre numbers, but he says the best is yet to come.
“I’m very happy with the decision, it is one of the best professional clubs I’ve played on,” he said.
“I haven’t really shown everything I can do yet. I’m still figuring out my team, figuring out the offence, working to win games. I’m just priding myself on being the best I can be on both ends of the floor, playing really good defensively — I hope everyone’s been able to see that — and offensively, letting people see my will to win games.”
The Phoenix have just completed a 30-day marathon road trip with two wins and three losses, but two of those defeats were tighter than the results suggest.
“People have doubts about us, but I’m motivated to carry us over the top and get wins,” he said.
“We are in all of these games and we’re talented — we have a team that can take everything. It’s early.”
THE NBL’S AUSTIN CONNECTION
What do the NBL and the G-League’s Austin Spurs have in common?
Sykes is the fourth player from the Spurs’ 2015-16 roster to play in the NBL this season, joining Perth two-time NBL MVP Bryce Cotton, New Zealand Breakers import Lamar Patterson and new Bullet Orlando Johnson.
Back then, the four hoopers were trying to show their wares for an NBA club.
It means there is a strong support network for Sykes Down Under.
“To see all these guys in this league is a blessing,” Sykes said.
“Bryce and I went to lunch, we were there (in Perth) for five days, we played the first game and went to lunch,” he said.
“I was able to speak to him, he’s been here a long time so I asked a lot of questions about the league.
“We’re both guards, so we spent some time together.
“I know Orlando well. When they come to the hub in Melbourne, I’ll speak with them.”
*South East Melbourne faces the undefeated Hawks at the State Basketball Centre on Sunday.
Crosscourt: Phoenix mentor safe, but for how long?
South East Melbourne will stay the course with under pressure coach Mike Kelly — for now. Plus, here’s why Montrezl Harrell escaped sanction despite shoving a referee.
SuperCoach NBL fast trades, tips for Round 4
One player should be at the top of the shopping list for your SuperCoach NBL team this week. See the moves to make to get your team firing for round 4 in minutes.