Former Badger Nigel Hayes-Davis, who plays for Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, helped his team win its second-ever Euro League Championship. He did it with 23 points, nine rebounds, hustle, and heart to take home the top honor in the international league. He was the best player on the floor and the best player on his team, and because of that, he won the Euro League Final Four MVP.
In the post-game interview, while still wearing his "Champions" hat, he was asked about this moment. He talked for about two minutes about the chip on his shoulder from being under-ranked and slept-on his whole career, from high school through college to getting undrafted in the NBA, but that he kept working the whole time. In that speech, he created a hilarious moment that Wisconsin fans laughed at and shared virally.
Nigel Hayes-Davis creates a viral moment in the way he shouts out the University of Wisconsin
Nigel Hayes-Davis creates a viral moment when he talks about his work ethic. He starts by saying that as a kid, he would work so hard on his basketball game even when it wasn't convenient. In high school, he would do the same, working sun up and sun down. In college, even though he was at the "No. 1 party school in the country," he was still working. That's the moment that caused Badger fans to nod and laugh.
That's certainly one way to shout out your alma mater, calling it the best party school in the country. However, to Nigel's point, he continued to work in the face of opposition. Not just the opposition of wanting to party at Wisconsin, but also when he didn't win his high school championship and even how they came up with one win short of the 2015 National Championship with the Badgers.
Those moments continue to propel him to win a championship, and at the end of the interview, you can tell he's relieved to be finally holding a championship trophy when he's come up second so many times. Watch the full 2minute clip below: