How Waters’ Indigenous pride fuels his incredible NBA journey

How Waters’ homegrown pride fuels his incredible NBA journey originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO – Although undiscovered in much of America, Lindy Waters III is a welcome discovery for the Warriors and a rising hero for a marginalized nation of millions.

When Golden State acquired Waters in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder in June, it was because they valued his deep shooting ability. This is his ticket to the NBA. The 6-foot-6 winger shot 43.5 percent from deep in limited action with the Thunder last season and posted a 57.9 percent shooting percentage in four preseason games.

“I would say we have 13 players that look like rotation players to me, including Lindy,” coach Steve Kerr said.

Waters’ early play with the Warriors puts him in a position to strengthen his platform. The more known he becomes to the average fan, the more Americans he can influence.

For Waters, 27, Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday is particularly meaningful. He’s a rare breed, an Indigenous NBA player. He was born in Colorado and grew up mostly in Oklahoma. He is a citizen of the Kiowa Nation and a descendant of proud Cherokees. He’s exploring the Bay Area’s connection to the indigenous community, he said after Monday’s workout, which coincided with Indigenous Peoples Day.

“There’s a lot to explore,” Waters said. “I hear a lot of stories about Alcatraz and the surrounding tribes and look forward to learning more about them. But today is Indigenous Peoples Day, so I can celebrate it with my people.”

Indigenous Peoples Day is a relatively new American holiday that is slowly replacing Columbus Day and being recognized as a rightful, original American.

More than five million Americans identify as Indigenous, but only Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving (part Lakota), Milwaukee Bucks forward MarJon Beauchamp (Mission, Luiseño) and Waters share the ancestry and identify with the culture .

“Me, MarJon and Kyrie are the three main players in the NBA that really carry that legacy with us,” Waters said. “And we take on the responsibility of being there for our community, so it’s great to be able to celebrate that with everyone around us.”

Waters was not always comfortable with his connection to the Native American community; his father Lindy Jr. and other descendants were closer to the tribal culture. Young Lindy’s awakening came later, in high school, and he now embraces all that comes with being Indigenous.

Shortly after accepting a scholarship to play basketball at Oklahoma State, Waters mentored Native American children and led basketball clinics specifically designed for a group that can feel isolated by reservation life.

He has since been named “Indian of the Year” by the American Indian Exposition. He founded the Lindy Waters III Foundation, whose mission is to “advance and support Native American youth and indigenous communities through sports, health and wellness, and leadership programs.”

Despite playing sparingly for the Thunder last season, Waters was one of five finalists for the NBA’s Social Justice Champion Award, named for Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

And now, after leaving Oklahoma and becoming a member of the star-studded Warriors, Waters hopes to make the most of his exposure to local and global culture.

“I was excited that I was ready to leave Oklahoma and just explore and become myself,” Waters said. “To learn more about myself off the field, to meet new people and new players. I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to get here. It’s been great since I’ve been here.”

If he continues to shoot at anything close to his early production, he will continue to get minutes with the Warriors and become a part of their new identity. They shoot a lot of three-pointers, which goes well with Waters’ family nickname: “Trey.”

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