I’m a fan of NBA legend Lisa Leslie. At 12, she was already six feet tall and still growing.
In a world where most kids were trying to blend in, she physically could not. Her height made her feel shy, self-conscious, and out of place. But what seemed like a burden at first would eventually become the foundation of a historic basketball career.
The Left-Handed Lesson
During her very first basketball practice, Lisa noticed she was the only left-handed player in line. She did not like feeling separated or different, so she made a decision that revealed her character early: she taught herself to play right-handed.
That choice did not weaken her left hand; it made her ambidextrous, unpredictable, and far more dangerous on the court. She turned a moment of discomfort into a competitive advantage.
Family, Discipline, and Daily Work
Lisa’s rise was not built on talent alone. Her family supported her, and she practised every day.
She learned to balance schoolwork with hours of training and scrimmaging against boys, often pushing herself beyond what people expected. That discipline became her blueprint: show up, work hard, and keep improving.
101 Points and a Hard Lesson
While playing for Morningside High School, Lisa produced one of the most famous scoring performances in basketball history: 101 points in a single half. It was a stunning display of skill and focus. But not every early lesson was a victory.
After a tough sophomore championship loss left her depressed, her mother gave her wisdom that would shape the rest of her life: how you handle adversity defines your character. From that moment on, Lisa approached challenges with grace, resilience, and relentless hard work.
A Pioneer in the WNBA and the Olympics
Lisa Leslie did not just succeed; she helped build the standard. She became a three-time WNBA MVP, a two-time WNBA champion, and a leader who helped carry Team USA to four Olympic gold medals.
She pioneered women’s basketball, proving that skill, intensity, and excellence belonged on the biggest stages.
From Star Player to Winning Coach
After her playing career, Lisa transitioned into coaching. She took over the BIG3 men’s league team Triplets and led them to a championship, earning Coach of the Year honours in 2019.
Lisa Leslie waving at the crowd
Her success in a different role showed that leadership is not limited to one chapter of life.
A Statue and a Symbol
In September 2026, Lisa Leslie was immortalised with a statue outside Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
She became the first WNBA player honoured in that way. The statue is a physical reminder of her greatness, but its deeper meaning is what it represents for young girls: femininity and fierce competitiveness can exist together.
Strength and grace can share the same space. Greatness does not require abandoning who you are.
Lisa Leslie’s story is not just about basketball. It is about refusing to shrink when the world makes you feel too tall, too different, or too much.
The story is about teaching yourself a new skill when the old one sets you apart. It is about scoring 101 points in a half, and also about learning how to lose, grow, and return stronger.
The girl who once felt out of place became a woman who made a place for everyone who followed.
Sculptors cast her statue in bronze, but the courage she passes on builds her real monument: stand tall, work hard, handle adversity with grace, and play your own game with both hands.
