Brendon Lavender

We are proud to introduce you to our Brand Ambassadors. The people that embody what we are all about. Everyday people working hard to be better each day. We believe in hard work, it's one of our core values. Sometimes it's difficult to find motivation and inspiration to keep going. Our interviews will share a little bit about how these real people balance life. “Balance” looks and feels different for everyone. Although we each define it differently, we can all attest to the benefits of a balanced life.

Meet Brendon Lavender

I'm 28 years old, born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. I currently live in Central Phoenix, and own a basketball training business in Scottsdale, Arizona. Basketball kind of naturally came to me. It was something that I enjoyed as a little kid. I would try to dribble the ball around, didn’t really know what I was doing but it just was something that I found joy and excitement in. I think my dad brought up the idea of putting me on a team so I could learn and play the game. My mom signed me up for the YMCA Jr Suns when I was 7, and that’s where it all began. I was fortunate enough to win some HS State Championships, play for the University of Arizona, and get a shot at the NBA. When I’m not in the gym working, I love to hang out with my son Legend. We just have fun. He’s my everything. We like to go to parks, jungle gyms, movies, eat, all that. All I do is work and focus on him. How do you ensure that you stay healthy, balanced, and at the top of your game? Having a consistent daily routine. It goes something like this, wake up and get my son ready for school. He’s a cereal type of kid in the morning so I’ll hook him up with his favorite cereal. Me on the other hand, I will eat egg whites and turkey slices with a protein meal replacement shake. I’ll take Legend to school (Pre K) and then head to my workout at Explosive Athletes Institute. After workout I’ll go pick Legend up from school, take him home and then we’ll eat lunch. Lunch is chicken, brown rice, and vegetables. We’ll hangout for a bit, have some fun and relax before his babysitter (my Step Mother Sabrina) picks him up. Then I’ll go to work from 3-8pm. My business partner Vaughn Compton and I run a basketball skills development program called Ventura Basketball(VBA). We’re based in Scottsdale, AZ, and work with all levels of athletes, from kids to Professionals. After training I pick up my son up from Step Mother and head home. We’ll have dinner (some kind of protein, brown rice, and vegetables) and maybe a little dessert! I’ll get him showered and ready for bed. I’ll take care of myself and some unfinished business and then call it day! That’s pretty much how I stay balanced and on top of my game.

Who inspires you?

There are a lot of people who inspire me. Some of them I know personally, some of them I don’t know at all. I get inspired everyday very easily because I feel like everyone is filled with greatness.

Why do you get up each day and do what you do?

I want to try and help people out as much as I can because I know what it feels like to need help. Being a student athlete and a professional athlete I know exactly what it feels like to go through those struggles and adversity. There’s a huge category of players who need help with the mental side of the game: adversity, confidence, and IQ. A lot of players are written off because of their lack of ability to deal with adversity, ultimately hurting that player’s skill development, but more importantly their mental growth development. I’ve figured out several key components that will help these athletes become better players and people. Some advice for someone who’s looking to get into basketball skill development:

1. You need to genuinely have a passion for helping players get better no matter what level they’re at.
2. You need to have a good quality team to make it all work.

What was the most challenging moment in your life and how did you work through it?

The most challenging thing in my life is separating from a 10-year relationship with the Mother of my child recently. What I have learned from this is that it’s okay to be hurt and depressed. It’s okay to fall down or fold. But no matter what I (we) will always get back up and continue to be great.

Any advice?

Find someone you can talk to and vent to without being judged. Try to find anything positive in your life and give it all the energy you have because it will bring positive value back into your life. We all have so much value, we just have to keep going. Find your purpose, then thrive.

I stay balanced by:

Spending time with my son, my team (select several people I have around me), physically working out on my body, working on my mental growth, and VBA (work).

Why do you choose to incorporate Alkaline88 into your life?

My favorite part about Alkaline88 water is the way it tastes. It literally tastes so good! Especially when it’s cold. With my job, workouts, and schedule I need to stay hydrated. It keeps me hydrated, but gives me a different feeling compared to regular water. It’s more of an enhancing or powerful feeling. I also love that Alkaline88 gives you several different types of bottle options. It’s amazing and super convenient. It’s the best priced quality water as well!

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

At this moment in my life, another profession I would like to attempt is to work as a Nike actor or model. Commercials, videos, promo, influencer, etc. I’ve always loved Nike and the brand since I was a young kid, and was fortunate to be sponsored by them from HS to Pros.

Knowing what you know now, what would you tell your younger self to do or not do?

Start thinking about your purpose. Make a plan, write it down, and then act on it everyday. It’s okay to not to know exactly what you want to do in life, but stay the course and be patient. Always try to do the right thing, because whatever you do in the dark will always come to light. It’s inevitable, it’s just how the universe works. Take pride in your relationships and always be upfront and honest. Find who you are, and love yourself. Love others.