It’s God, then Mom—or at least that’s the running order of most acceptance speeches. After the man upstairs, Kevin Durant thanked his mother when receiving his MVP award in 2014, a powerful moment that, naturally, later evolved into an internet meme. Ditto Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had tears in his eyes when he paid tribute to his mom at the NBA awards show in 2019, while Mrs. Antetokounmpo, seated in the gallery, brushed away a few of her own. Jayson Tatum isn’t an MVP (yet) but if (when) that day comes, God’s likely to get second billing.
Who knows where Brandy Cole would be if 22 years ago her world didn’t change forever?