NICOLE Seekamp has thanked the basketball community for their support since announcing she is stepping away from the game indefinitely after losing her drive for the sport.
The Adelaide Lightning star made the announcement recently via the club’s Facebook page, with members of the basketball community from across the country, including the Riverland, reaching out to show support.
The gun point guard said she has “had a lot of great support” since making the announcement.
“I’m really happy with how everyone has gotten behind me and they understand,” Seekamp said.
“I feel extremely blessed to have such a great fan base and they are like a second family.
“I did get a bit emotional reading everyone’s messages, because I think it sunk in then that I am taking a break and I have never done that before, so that made it feel a little bit real.
“It was emotional, but I think it is for the best.”
Seekamp, who took part in the Dallas Wings’ WNBA training camp last year, said she began thinking of a possible break from the game following the 2019/20 WNBL season.
“I was thinking about what was going to happen next and I love basketball, but I wasn’t enjoying it as much as I had been,” she said.
“So, I had to really reassess everything and that was the moment when I thought maybe I should take a break and then gave it some more thought from there.”
The 28-year-old said she spoke to those closest to her before deciding.
“I spoke to my family because obviously they are my biggest supporters and they have always been there and been my biggest pushers as well,” Seekamp said.
“I spoke to them about it a few times and at the start they were a bit hesitant as well because I have been doing it for so long and they can see that I’ve got a few more years in me still and I can see that as well.
“I think after listening to my reasoning and my thoughts, they could see where I was coming from and they understood. And being family they are supportive of me no matter what and they chose to support me in my decision.”
Seekamp said she also spoke to Lightning coach Chris Lucas about a possible break from the sport.
“I had been thinking about it and I didn’t want to make a rash decision, because it is big move, even if it is a short-term break, because I have never done that before,” she said.
“I think when I had to go have my meeting with my Adelaide coach, talking to him just helped me feel a bit more clarity, because I had his support and he could see what I could see.
“As disappointed as he was that I wasn’t going to be playing the next season, I think he understood where I was coming from and I think if anything, if I do come back, it will make me a better player, because I will be mentally refreshed and ready to go.”
The Riverland product said she informed those closest to her before announcing her final decision to the public.
“I told my family and my partner and then Chris, because I was supposed to play for Adelaide, so he was my next point of call,” Seekamp said.
“From there it was just telling the Adelaide Lightning general manager and then we had to figure out how and when we wanted to get it out to the community.”
Seekamp, who won a gold medal with the Australian Opals at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, said she would have pushed to be part of the Tokyo Olympics if they had gone ahead this year.
“It was the last thing on my bucket list and I really wanted to go there and experience it,” she said.
“I would have focussed until that point and then given myself that break after that.”
Seekamp said it was important to put herself first as she looks to recapture her motivation for basketball.
“I have grown up not necessarily doing what everyone wants all the time, but you kind of feel that you are expected to do a certain thing,” she said.
“I think this is the first time when I have really thought they expect me to play, but I need to take a break for me.
“I would encourage anyone if they are feeling unmotivated or not committed to do something to take that break, because it will help them in the long run.
“I don’t think you can give your best if you’re not mentally 100 per cent, so I think it is important to take that break if need be.”
Seekamp, who has captained the Adelaide Lightning the past two seasons, said she will be following the 2020/21 WNBL season closely.
“I will definitely be following the girls,” she said.
“Some of them are my best friends and I will definitely be going out to a few games and supporting them no doubt.”
Seekamp said she has no concrete plans or a timeline for a possible return to basketball.
“I’m just taking it day by day,” she said.
“I think everyone probably saw that when I spoke to Sandy (Brondello), and said I would reassess in December and I will do that.
“But I will take it day by day and if I wake up tomorrow and want to go play again then I probably will do that, but we will take it day by day and keep seeing how I’m feeling and go from there.”
For now, Seekamp is diving into life on the farm, with her partner Ross in rural New South Wales.
“My partner is in the goat industry, so that’s how it happened,” she said.
“I was out here when all of the coronavirus stuff first hit.
“I’m just out here picking up new things and we are enjoying being here and I’m enjoying something new.
“It is completely left-field, but it is interesting to learn something completely new and I never thought about goats before this and now I’m a big fan.”