The Family Business

There were no summer arts and crafts camps for the McKenzie Forbes, the third-round draft pick selected by the Los Angeles Sparks, as a child. Instead, the comforting smell of her grandmother’s eggs wafted through the air to greet her in the morning for breakfast during her periodic visits. As the sounds of Los Angeles traffic blended with children’s laughter as they skipped and ran through the neighborhood, Forbes and her brothers, Marcus, Max, and Mason, found their adventures in the backyard of her grandparents’ Los Angeles home. This home is one of the many places they would often gather to play basketball, and their shared love for the sport brings them closer together.

Before the 28th pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, before the accrued March Madness acclaim, before collegiate stops at Southern California, Harvard and Berkeley, Forbes’ childhood in a Northern California suburb was marked by the enchantment of a lemon tree in her grandparents’ Southern California backyard. It wasn’t just a tree; it was a sanctuary, a haven of wonder and possibility for her and her brothers. It was under this tree and here at her grandparent’s home that Forbes’ love for basketball began to take root.

Her grandparent’s front yard boasted a manicured lawn adorned with aloe vera trees and cacti, while the long, gray driveway seemed to stretch endlessly, inviting her dreams to take flight. And there, nestled against her grandparents’ home, was a basketball hoop, silently becoming her first love and beckoning her to step onto the court.

“I think for me, it was how our family bonded and grew up every weekend,” Forbes said.

The rookie guard’s connection to basketball is not just a game; it’s a family tradition, a legacy woven into the fabric of their lives. Like her brother Mason, father, and grandfather before her, Forbes is carrying on the family business, a testament to the unbreakable bond and shared passion that unites them all.

A History of Hoopers

Sterling Forbes, Sr., cast a mighty shadow that stretched far beyond the basketball court, shaping the essence of the Forbes family legacy. A stickler for the fundamentals of the game, he was a towering figure in basketball; he etched his name into the annals of Los Angeles lore as a two-time all-city player at Jordan High School in Watts and Pepperdine University history as an All-American. He set the school’s now-broken rebounding record with hands that seemed to possess an innate magnetism for the ball (869). His talent caught the attention of the professional basketball world; Forbes, Sr. was drafted in the 11th round by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1960 draft.

Yet, it was his time with the Harlem Globetrotters that genuinely solidified his place in the hearts and minds of fans around the planet. With his trademark finesse and flair, he captivated crowds around the globe, his name becoming synonymous with the very essence of the game itself. For him, basketball was a calling, a passion that fueled him and helped him lay the foundation upon which the Forbes family would build their legacy––playing the game “the right way.”

Forbes’ memory of him is hazy, a whisper she fights to recall. As she mulls through her memories, her shoulders go back when she speaks of him; her voice softens as she sinks into the memory of a beloved fixture.

Her father, Sterling “Smooth” Forbes, Jr., a standout at Southwest Texas State, played for 10 seasons with the Globetrotters, traveling to 61 countries with stops in New Zealand, India, Italy, Spain, and Japan to perform with the basketball troupe. He would fall in love with places for various reasons: Japan for its technology, Italy for its food, and Australia for its unique and weird animals.

“It’s just a remarkable situation to have a chance to see the world through the game of basketball like I did,” Smooth said.

Through his travels, he’d learn much about the world’s troubles, like the racial castes in India and the plight of the Aborigines in Australia. He also learned countless lessons about our shared similarities and the connective power of play: that laughter is universal and that we all strive for happiness and opportunities for success–for ourselves and our children.

“The hour and a half, two hours, that you’re at a Harlem Globetrotters show, you’ll forget about whatever worries or problems you have because it’s just a lot of fun,” Smooth said.

To Smooth, basketball was more than a game; it was a well from which he would draw lessons of discipline, dedication, and the importance of passionately pursuing dreams.

But “Smooth” is more than just Forbes’ father; he was her first coach, guiding her through the early stages of her basketball journey. His teachings and support were instrumental in shaping her love for the game and her skills on the court.

“With my dad, the biggest thing I learned from him in his basketball camps was that basketball is something that brings people together,” Forbes said.

“Kenzie” recalls it all–picking up her first basketball at age three, her mother, Sasha, teaching her how to dribble, and attending her brothers’ practices, where she would intently watch the game’s nuances.

She remembers being in second grade, donning her brother Max’s AAU team’s jersey, and sitting on the bench–hoping the team would get up by 40 so her father and head coach would put her in the game. During the games, Forbes would veer onto the court, getting up shots during timeouts and halftimes, impressing onlookers with her quickly developing skills and passion.

“She was just excited to be there, and then whenever she had a chance to step on the court at halftime, she’d shoot jumpers and threes and work on her ball handling. She was always a student of the game and always wanted to be good,” Smooth said.

A year later, at eight years old, Forbes joined her brother, Mason, as the only girl on the Folsom Force, where she frequently gave the opposing boys fits and buckets.

“Kenzie played on boys’ teams at an early age before she started playing with girls’ teams, and it made a big difference in her play and style of play,” Smooth said.

A Backbone through Backboards

Family is the foundation of Forbes’ world. It’s the brick in every chapter of her life, bound to the mortar of her experiences of love and support. Growing up in a bustling household with four athletes, her parents were the ultimate MVPs, orchestrating the intricate dance of schedules and practices with precision.

When her parents were unavailable, her maternal grandmother, Diane Stokes, and aunt, Shannon Forbes, stepped in, always ready to lend a helping hand. They braved long drives to AAU practices that seemed to stretch on forever. Despite the distance and the time spent on the road, they never once missed a beat, ensuring that their “Kenzie” was never alone in the fulness of the gymnasium.

These moments, these acts of unwavering support and dedication, shaped Forbes’ journey and instilled in her resilience and determination. Amid the chaos of logistical challenges, a sense of togetherness and support always existed, a reminder that no matter what, her family had her back, their support a constant source of strength.

For Forbes, family wasn’t just about blood, but the bond forged through shared experiences and unwavering commitment. The voices of her aunt and grandmother thundered through a roaring crowd, the hugs they gave lingered a little longer after a challenging game, and the quiet moments of encouragement spoke volumes.

As she reflects on her journey, Forbes knows that she wouldn’t be where she is today without the love and support of her family. They were her anchor, guiding light, and biggest cheerleaders every step of the way, and she is eternally grateful for that.

“Whenever I accomplish a goal that I set out, or have a career-type defining moment, I always think back to them,” Forbes said. “They’re definitely my backbone. None of this would be possible if it weren’t for them.”

Bouncing to her Own Ball

Through basketball, Forbes didn’t just find a sport; she discovered herself. She learned ways to serve others and build community. At Harvard, she and her brother, Mason, started giving out clothes and raising awareness for the unhoused in the grueling winters in the Boston area––a project that athletes continue to do today.

In a world often constrained by societal norms, basketball offered her a unique freedom—a space where she could authentically be who she is––unapologetically aggressive, vocal, and confident. Surrounded by other women who celebrated diverse styles, Forbes felt empowered to define her identity and carve her path through basketball, a journey that continues to inspire and motivate her.

“I think I’m a more masculine-presenting woman, and basketball is one of the places where that identity is celebrated,” Forbes, the self-proclaimed tomboy, said. “While the other girls at recess were picking daises, I wanted to be on the court and play. I don’t know, I just always loved it.”

Basketball has helped the uber-competitive rookie with her self-confidence, leadership skills, and ability to work with others. For Forbes, hoops is Heaven.

“It was a space for me to kind of grow personally, and it helped my self-confidence a lot,” Forbes said.

Although she failed to make the Sparks roster, Smooth is confident that Forbes will continue playing.

“We’re excited, and we’re blessed to have the opportunity for her to play in the WNBA. It’s been a dream of ours since she was a little kid. It’s tough––12 teams, 144 jobs. It’s tough to make a roster, but when you do, if she does, it’ll be a blessing for our family,” Smooth said.

Forbes is still determining how, but she considers how she will honor her grandfather’s legacy when she makes a team. Regardless, she is assured that her family will support her because, like her father and grandfather, Forbes now runs the family business.

Follow Eric on X @elambsquared and Instagram @elamb5quared.