Making It Happen | Lamar Roberts
Remind our readers of Lamar Roberts and your basketball background?
Greetings, my name is Lamar Roberts, I’m 27 years old. I am the Founder and Director of Right Development Foundation (RDF) and have been playing basketball for the past 20 years.
- 3 years professional with London Lions Basketball
- Midnight Madness Winner
- Travelled to St Kitts & Paris
- Scholarship & Bursary from Sir John Cass at University of East London
- 1 year semi-professional with NASSA
- Development Pathway = Uxbridge Emperors & Newham Youngbloods
Are you still playing? How was the team doing before lockdown?
I’m a free agent at the moment. I didn’t play the 2019/20 season and last played in 2018/19 season. Delighted we won the British Basketball League (BBL) Cup and League.
How is the future of British basketball looking?
There’s alot of positives within British Basketball, more youth provision, slightly more recognition from well-known brands, and more top-tier clubs creating a base/facility to produce more opportunities.
We still have a very long way to go, but it’s been great seeing the game of basketball connect during this time, through zoom and social media, across different platforms. I hope we can all stay connected and realise that it’s important to maintain that level of connection if we are to collectively grow the sport across the entire country.
Resources, information and action is so relevant to the status and growth of basketball in the UK.
You’ve been busy with fatherhood since we last spoke right? How has it been?
Yes in Nov 2018, my wife gave birth to my son who will definitely be into basketball (lol!), he loves it and has started doing press up’s at the age of 18 months. My wife also gave birth again in January 2020. I’m a very busy man!
Are you still heavily involved in your charity work?
Yes, RDF known as Right Development Foundation takes up a great percentage of my life. I love it! Seeing young people and communities become stronger and more resilient. I’m very grateful to do what I do.
How has it evolved in the last 12 months? What will happen after lockdown? Will the charity become even more important?
The last 12 months has been breath taking, I’ll try and put it all into one paragraph.
I can’t, but we have taking some great steps and have brought to our team some incredible people to support the vision. One of my favourite projects we put on, was last Summer in partnership with Mayor of London & Regal, which saw product being supplied from NIKE, Lucozade and Casual Tees. We saw over 150 young people on a Summer morning at 8:30am ready to play basketball through the whole of August, twice a week. it was crazy – we called it MAKE IT HAPPEN, and we plan to Make It Happen after this lockdown, in more places across London! More communities, more young people taking opportunities. The documentary is coming soon.
I definitely think it’s going to be key for us all to rise up, to be more thoughtful, compassionate and grateful now and post lockdown, because many people and families will be facing loss in many aspects of life.
Why do you do what you do off the court?
The reason I’m passionate about the work I do so much, is because I could have easily continued walking down the road of depression, stuck without purpose and vision, lack of motivation etc. But I’m not, I’m here alive and well, still working hard towards the goals I’ve set out, and when you see that they’re achievable, you want more, and become determined to be a part of someone else’s journey, then I think what if I had more support, guidance and positive influence when I was younger, what choices would I have made? So the work that I’m doing now, it becomes personal, and purposeful.
My inspiration stems from my faith as a Christian, many decisions I’ve made have come from a place of prayer.
Have you and the charity coped during lockdown?
It’s not been the easiest at times, but we persevere. We was told by 16th March that all are services would be interrupted due to Covid-19, by the 23rd March, we had a week’s full schedule which we continue to do for our communities to do online via Zoom/Facebook/Instagram, from physical activity, mentoring to workshops! It’s vital that we don’t allow our mind’s to get locked down in this current crisis.
Tell us about the Anthony Nolan Trust’s work? Why is it so important to you?
The work that Anthony Nolan do, is amazing. Unfortunately I come across many people today being affected by Blood Cancer, through Anthony Nolan we have an opportunity to save someone’s life, for me the thought of saving someone’s life is incredible.
What’s next for Lamar Roberts? On and off the court?
I am going to Make It Happen – that’s the mentality, to keep going, keep pushing, doing everything I can using every skill I have. And using the sport I love to create a platform of hope for the generations that are next, to rise up.
Read more on the Right Development Foundation here https://www.rdfsports.co.uk.
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