Milwaukee Bucks: MarJon Beauchamp Hosts Historic All-Native Basketball Tournament
While Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is well-known for his inspiring journey from selling watches on the streets of Athens, Greece to becoming a two-time NBA MVP, NBA Champion, and one of the highest-paid players in the league, another Bucks player, MarJon Beauchamp, has also overcome significant hardships to make it to the NBA.
MarJon Beauchamp’s Challenging Journey
MarJon Beauchamp, now in his third year with the Milwaukee Bucks, faced numerous obstacles on his path to professional basketball. His journey included moving between multiple high schools to chase his NBA dream and experiencing homelessness as a teenager.
Beauchamp gained recognition at Dream City Christian School in Arizona and later graduated from Eisenhower High School in Washington state. He declined several Division I scholarships to join a program aimed at preparing players for the NBA, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to the program’s cancellation. Instead, Beauchamp attended Yakima Valley College, where he averaged 30.7 points and 11.5 rebounds per game, and subsequently played for the G League Ignite before being drafted by the Bucks in the first round of the 2022 NBA Draft.
Making History with an All-Native Basketball Tournament
On December 21, 2023, the Seattle Times reported that Beauchamp, who is Native American, became the first NBA player to host an All-Native basketball tournament. The tournament featured teams from various states in the U.S. and Canada. Beauchamp, a descendant of the Mission Indians and La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians from Southern California, required that all participants be Native American.
“It’s just bigger than basketball,” Beauchamp expressed. “I believe I’m on this earth to inspire others; I just feel that in my heart. I remember when I was a kid, I didn’t have the hope and faith in myself, and I never thought I’d ever be in this position. I just want to be that hope for these kids, give them the resources I have. I just want to make them believe.”
Beauchamp emphasized the importance of representing the Native American community in the NBA, where there are very few Native American players. His commitment to raising awareness and providing support to Native American youth reflects his dedication to his heritage and community.
In his two seasons with the Bucks, Beauchamp has averaged 4.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. Milwaukee anticipates significant progress from him in the 2024-25 season, which would further help him advocate for the Native American community and bring attention to their needs.
