Today we’d like to introduce you to Noah Mancini Brown.
Noah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Many kids who bounce a ball have a desire to play on the big stage. I like to call “the show” (NBA.) Although the dream requires a lot of stars to align, my struggle was beyond comprehensive due to the fact… I never played AAU basketball, I grew up in a town of only one stop light and 5,000 people, played at a school that had 31 kids in my graduation class, and most statistically discouraging – no one in the history of the school ever went on to play Division 1 basketball let alone, professionally. If that wasn’t enough to reconsider my thoughts of playing professionally, by the age of 20, I had a severe car wreck that left me speechless once two doctors told my parents and I, my left hand needed to be amputated after arriving in the ambulance at the hospital.
However, the price of being young, hungry, and determined usually costs a lot of sacrifices, but for ways, we may not understand, the author of The Alchemist, said it best, “The world conspires for us to fulfill our purpose.” I didn’t know the quote or the author at the beginning of my conviction, but I knew I was put on Earth to entertain crowds by running back and forth, coming off screens, cutting back door, shooting the long ball and making pinpoint passes.
Miraculously, by the Grace of God, I prevailed, my hand was saved, and ultimately my gift allowed me to play all over the world on a collegiate and professional level. With that being said… I learned it was vital for me to help be a solution to the challenges most basketball players, if not all high-level athletes encounter and due to my focus on basketball and my challenging environment as a child myself, like many, lacked exposure beyond a few professions.
Most, if not all athletes struggle to find the second chapter of life once they retire from their sport; I wanted to help basketball players create an “ah-ha” moment and spark interest along with opportunities – tapping into their other talents while they were in pursuit of their athletic dream, not after. For those like me, I realized there was a shortage of relationships outside of the court and a lack of guidance to help navigate other attributes beyond making a jump shot. I wanted to help orchestrate players to a fruitful second chapter and considering the sentiment of today’s society, with all the divisiveness; I truly believe basketball, utilized properly, can break down barriers of discrimination or prejudices and create intimacy beyond external differences. With all these factors bubbling in my mind, I decided to create NoBro.
We provide an academy style basketball development/career exposure/mentoring system that consists of weekly Food for Thought Newsletters, reading book materials and reviews monthly, financial literacy courses, clothing line, high-intensity exercise training and skill expansion along with industry executives educating players about their company and field. Through my relationships and understanding of how systems work, I am able to provide a platform helping players earn a scholarship, play professionally, but more importantly, give them closure with their dream and inspiration to their “next chapter.”
Has it been a smooth road?
Life is disruptive, but for the most part, it’s been rather simple considering I am constructing from my own experiences and I was once a young player looking to max out my basketball potential. The challenge of not assassinating a players dream, but still making an assessment from a place of truthful – compassion is something I have continued to mature at; along with conveying the importance of learning life skills outside of shooting, dribbling and passing, but also watering the message consistently and sparking passions in other vocations. Getting players to trust a process that may make them uncomfortable and honest with themselves is something that can put up roadblocks. Lastly, it’s been a struggle to find affordable housing for players who come from out of state.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with NoBro – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
NoBro is an academy style basketball development/career exposure/mentoring system that consists of weekly Food for Thought Newsletters, reading book materials and reviews monthly, financial literacy courses, clothing line, high-intensity functional training and skill expansion along with industry executives educating players about their company and field.
In the beginning, I wore all hats from training to teaching to building the system. Now I find talent, build the brand, write a lot of content, connect with community persons of qualified experiences to teach their particular industry/field to the players while working side by side with a staff of independent contractors. If I had to say what I am mostly known for is helping the underdog get to a contract and play professionally. The players that end up calling me are ones that have been overlooked countless times and need a system to get to their dream.
I would say two things I am most proud of: exposing players to other walks of life. It’s so important to get to know others beyond the external differences and also to give players closure with their dream so they do not spend a lot of their youth running in place. What sets us apart is simple; I was once a player. I made a living with my legs and shooting a jump shot. I know what they are going through. Because of basketball, I was able to meet a guy named Sean Kilmartin, who in return, taught me the industry Wall Street (I am a fully licensed investment advisor). I am only trying to do what Sean did for me by providing players other avenues to make a living in fields they may not have exposure to.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
There are multiple opportunities to find a lane or niche. What you look for you will find; if not, a great place to create.
Traffic.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Nobro.net
- Phone: 817-933-7718
- Email: Info@nobro.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nobro.usa
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nobro.usa
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/nobrousa
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_-VXVXrFbESv-Fz6gJHq5Q
Image Credit:
Link Kabadyundi – Photographer
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