My basketball career has played out in smaller cities, so I can’t compare my experience to pro ball in bigger markets. But I can definitely say that smaller communities bring familiar fan faces and community bonds that build fast and last a long time. No matter what your business is, close relationships mean fewer assumptions and reduced prejudices. In the case of professional sports, when fans can interact often with athletes, they tend to show more support. Small town fans are there for teams through the ups and downs because they see us as more than just athletes. If you play in a small city, you are a person that the fans know.

Communities like Niagara, where I play, have more empathy for the sacrifices that come with being a professional athlete. As pro athletes, we may be "living our best life" because we are fulfilling our childhood dreams, but it comes with a cost.  Being far away from home, family, friends and loved ones is never easy. But where I have played, I have been lucky enough to feel the fans’ understanding and deep bonds with our team. I have seen and experienced people going out of their way to make me and my teammates feel as ‘’homey” and comfortable as possible.