God Shammgod said basketball was the first thing his son, God Shammgod Jr., saw when he entered the world. Shammgod was a 17-year-old going into his senior year when he became a father.
“He was probably two weeks out of the hospital before he came to my first game. He’s been to every game since then, when I was in high school. Having him changed the course of my life. It made everything more important. I had more purpose,” said Shammgod.
Shammgod’s grades went from Cs to As. He took college seriously and basketball even more seriously.
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“Everything I did was for him to have a better life than I did. I wanted him to be successful as a person. I cared about something more than myself,” said Shammgod.
The NBA basketball star played professionally for one season before establishing a career overseas. He is now a player development coach for the Dallas Mavericks.
God Shammgod Jr. is an assistant coach for the Delaware Blue Coats, affiliated with the Philadelphia 76ers.
As he matured, he inherited his father’s unwavering commitment to the sport.
The show must go on campaign
At the break of dawn, the father and son would rise to engage in rigorous training sessions. Together, they would diligently hone their shooting skills, master ball handling techniques and meticulously adhere to a comprehensive post-workout routine.
This regiment encompassed stretching exercises, a gentle workout, immersion in the cold tub for rejuvenation and the use of Advil Dual Action Back Pain.
The father-son duo recently teamed up for an Advil commercial to push their “The Show Must Go On” campaign.
“I hope when people watch it they just see the comradery between me and my son,” said Shammgod.
Talking about pain and pushing through it by using the pain reliever establishes the notion of the show must go on as the main theme between the father and son in the commercial.
“I have a goal, and he is my goal. Seeing where he’s at in his career always gives me a competitive edge. I’ve seen my dad make it there, and now I just have to fight to get to that point in my career,” said Shammgod Jr.
Shammgod Jr. said he remembers watching basketball games with his father growing up. He loved the time he spent eating and hanging out with his dad.
“The quality time that you spend together, you have to cherish it. The time that you have with your children and the time you have with your father creates the lessons that are remembered the most,” said Shammgod Jr.
Contact staff writer Jade Jackson at 317-607-5792 or by email JadeJ@IndyRecorder.com. Follow her on Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON
