Angel McCoughtry

I can't wait another year. I'm almost 40. Do I still have it? Yes. Is my body still in shape? Yes. If I get picked up this year, I have three years left. If I don't, I'm going to call it because I can't wait another year to get in the league. So I'm going to call it. And that's going to be it.

I can't wait another year. I'm almost 40. Do I still have it? Yes. Is my body still in shape? Yes. If I get picked up this year, I have three years left. If I don't, I'm going to call it because I can't wait another year to get in the league. So I'm going to call it. And that's going to be it.

I am. Do you have closure around that? I didn't for a long time. I was really depressed for like three years. I've been depressed. Like I didn't leave the house. I couldn't watch the game. I had lost my identity. But I think now I've learned your identity is more than basketball. You can't shut yourself down because of a game. And now you see I'm getting out more. I'm starting to go to games more.

I am. Do you have closure around that? I didn't for a long time. I was really depressed for like three years. I've been depressed. Like I didn't leave the house. I couldn't watch the game. I had lost my identity. But I think now I've learned your identity is more than basketball. You can't shut yourself down because of a game. And now you see I'm getting out more. I'm starting to go to games more.

I've healed a little bit. I do want to finish on the court. But if not, I'm starting to get that closure like it's okay. It's going to be all right. You can move on to the next thing knowing that you did give your all every game. I never played for money. I made $44,000 as a number one pick. So we're not playing for money. I work my butt off as if I made a million. And I'm very proud of that.

I've healed a little bit. I do want to finish on the court. But if not, I'm starting to get that closure like it's okay. It's going to be all right. You can move on to the next thing knowing that you did give your all every game. I never played for money. I made $44,000 as a number one pick. So we're not playing for money. I work my butt off as if I made a million. And I'm very proud of that.

Yeah, I'm so proud of you.

Yeah, I'm so proud of you.

And I had never been injured ever in my career. I thought I was strong and I was invincible. Nobody can guard me. That's what you think when you're young. Girl runs into my leg. I fall and I'm like, dang, this hurts. And then I get up and I walk away. I'm like, I'm gonna be out for two weeks. I have a sprain. That's what I'm thinking. Because I've seen people tear their ACL. I've seen it in person.

And I had never been injured ever in my career. I thought I was strong and I was invincible. Nobody can guard me. That's what you think when you're young. Girl runs into my leg. I fall and I'm like, dang, this hurts. And then I get up and I walk away. I'm like, I'm gonna be out for two weeks. I have a sprain. That's what I'm thinking. Because I've seen people tear their ACL. I've seen it in person.

People are not getting up. They're in pain. They heard a pop. I didn't hear a pop. They don't get up and walk off. I did. Go to the doctor next day. I'm like, yeah, I got a sprained doc. Just let me know. Well, let's still get the scan. He gets the scan and he's like, oh, you have damage. I'm like, what damage? Your ACL is torn. I'm like, no, it's not. I told him, no, it's not.

People are not getting up. They're in pain. They heard a pop. I didn't hear a pop. They don't get up and walk off. I did. Go to the doctor next day. I'm like, yeah, I got a sprained doc. Just let me know. Well, let's still get the scan. He gets the scan and he's like, oh, you have damage. I'm like, what damage? Your ACL is torn. I'm like, no, it's not. I told him, no, it's not.

I go see another doctor. He's like, you have ACL damage. I'm like, no, it's not. You're not accepting this. Went to the third doctor. He was like, your ACL is torn. Then I had to believe it. Three doctors. Crying, bawling. Had my biggest contract overseas during that time. I'm making over a million. We don't make that in the W.A. So to make over a million overseas for my first time. Oh my God.

I go see another doctor. He's like, you have ACL damage. I'm like, no, it's not. You're not accepting this. Went to the third doctor. He was like, your ACL is torn. Then I had to believe it. Three doctors. Crying, bawling. Had my biggest contract overseas during that time. I'm making over a million. We don't make that in the W.A. So to make over a million overseas for my first time. Oh my God.

And it's a shutdown. It's done. It's done. I'm at home. Not making money. Can't play. Can't have walk. Can't do things I'm used to doing that you take for granted. Who am I? That's when it started. Who the hell am I? What can I do after basketball? That's how I started to learn. I have to find what I'm gonna do after the game. I like music. I like being creative. That's how it started.

And it's a shutdown. It's done. It's done. I'm at home. Not making money. Can't play. Can't have walk. Can't do things I'm used to doing that you take for granted. Who am I? That's when it started. Who the hell am I? What can I do after basketball? That's how I started to learn. I have to find what I'm gonna do after the game. I like music. I like being creative. That's how it started.

Honestly, if I didn't tear my ACL, I wouldn't have stopped. And I wouldn't know what I can do after the game. Things happen for a reason.

Honestly, if I didn't tear my ACL, I wouldn't have stopped. And I wouldn't know what I can do after the game. Things happen for a reason.

So who are you? Who are you outside of basketball? I am a creator. When people ask, what are you gonna do after basketball? I create. Anything creative, I do. I love it. I love creating something that didn't exist and now it's something. Whether it's music, a movie, and I'm in a space where I really truly love. Are you gonna get into coaching, Angel? I'll coach the kids, no problem.

So who are you? Who are you outside of basketball? I am a creator. When people ask, what are you gonna do after basketball? I create. Anything creative, I do. I love it. I love creating something that didn't exist and now it's something. Whether it's music, a movie, and I'm in a space where I really truly love. Are you gonna get into coaching, Angel? I'll coach the kids, no problem.