COVER STORY: ALLAN HOUSTON

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF LIFE

NBA All-Star and Olympic Gold Medalist, Allan Houston, to deliver keynote address

By Nikki Puckett, Marketing Director, Sports Licensing and Tailgate Show

ALLAN HOUSTON’S BASKETBALL CAREER SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. He is best known for

his years as shooting guard for the New York Knicks, (1996 – 2005). Touted as one of the “purest shooters” in the NBA, Allan finished his career as one of the NBA’s all-time greatest long-range shooters (#11 in three pointers made) and one of the all-time leading scorers in Knicks history (#2 in three pointers, #4 in total points, and #8 in scoring average). Allan is a two-time NBA All-Star, and in his last healthy season (2002-03) finished as the 10th leading scorer in the league. But for all his accomplishments he is especially proud of being named one of the “Good Guys in Sports” four times by The Sporting News and helping Team USA bring home the gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics games in Sydney, Australia.

While he may be best-known for his years in the NBA, Allan Houston started learning about “The Fundamentals of Life” long before that. He grew up in the west end of Louisville, Kentucky, two doors down from Muhammed Ali. His father, Wade Houston, was the first Black scholarship basketball player at the University of Louisville. He later became the first Black assistant coach at the University of Louisville and then became the first Black head coach at the University of Tennessee. So, from a young age, Allan was surrounded by a high standard of excellence, leadership, performance and social impact.

“That was the ‘soil.’ As people, as athletes, we all have a gift and a talent, but it’s the ‘soil’ that’s in us that makes it flourish. That’s what FISLL is about.”

Faith, integrity, sacrifice, leadership and legacy. These “fundamentals of life” are the pillars on which FISLL was built. And when it comes to these values, Allan really walks the walk. He lives his life with the determination to apply his success as a professional athlete to help others.

“My parents always taught me that your impact is not just what you do as a performer, but what you do to help other people excel and advance. So being able to have a brand that can help people live a better life and still equip them to have sustainability from a health perspective and a financial perspective is really what drives me.”

The FISLL brand is comprised of three components that are intended to bring the FISLL Fundamentals to life. Since its creation in 2001, the Allan Houston Legacy Foundation (AHLF) has served thousands of participants across the country through programs that promote youth mentoring, responsible fatherhood, and entrepreneurship. FISLL Media includes a digital learning platform, publications, podcasts, virtual events and the Team FISLL mobile app, all designed to further the reach of the core values. Finally, FISLL Merchandising, led by FISLL NBA, produces officially licensed NBA apparel. Allan refers to FISLL as a “human performance brand.” “We like to outfit human performance,” he said. “With Covid and all of the social issues, it is about our wellness, our performance, our perspective – our overall impact. The five principles of FISLL really speak to that.”

Youth and community involvement are highly important to Allan and to FISLL. Noticing that college students and young adults right now have a desire to not only be educated but also to make a difference, FISLL is activating and engaging these young people to help them apply the FISLL fundamentals in life. “Everything that’s going on has escalated and accelerated what was already needed – mental health, social responsibility, financial sustainability. Covid has made it possible to highlight the FISLL mission even more.”

“Legacy” is more than a word to Allan and his wife Tamara. They have been married for 25 years and have 7 children. “When one of your pillars of your brand is integrity, you’ve got to walk it. If you don’t establish some values, you’re only going to go so far. But even if you establish them, how are you going to live by them so that your kids and grandkids have something to hold onto?”

The Industry Breakfast and Keynote takes place Wednesday, January 19 at 7:30 am. All registered attendees and exhibitors are welcome. Hot breakfast will be served.