KJ McDaniels usually wears a headband whenever he plays, but the one he wore on Saturday was special.
The former NBA cager sported a white headband with a number 32 embroidered on the side. Asked about the accessory, McDaniels said that the said number means so much to him.
“That’s the number I’ve been wearing ever since I was little. I wore it at school; I got picked at that number,” said the Clemson product, the 32nd overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014.
“So that’s why I wear it. Just to remind myself why I’m here, what I fight for, who am I doing it for.”
And that headband — which he said he got from a team he had played for — seems to be his lucky charm.
McDaniels unloaded 51 big points alongside 10 rebounds and four blocks, powering the TNT KaTropa’s 116-113 come-from-behind victory over sister team Meralco Bolts.
“It’s not something I do normally but I feel like the headband’s [brought us] good luck,” he quipped.
“I feel like when I wear the headband and my hair the way it was tonight, we end up getting the win and I end up scoring high,” added the 6-foot-5 cager from Birmingham, Alabama with a chuckle.
But more than anything, McDaniels is proud of the whole KaTropa. They are now 6-0 in the conference following the win, and have become the first team to book a spot in the quarterfinals.
“I’m proud of my teammates. They’re the reason why we’re here — we’re a whole team,” said the 26-year-old.
“We just have to capitalize, stay positive, go to the film, and watch what we need to do better. Keep rolling from there. I’m just happy for my team. They pick me up when I’m down.”
