From the Colorado River Indian Reservation to center court: how a home-grown D1 player leads team and community

By Robert Bettis
The Navajo Times

PHEONIX – In the heart of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, basketball is more than a game – it’s a way of life. This passion is driving many young players to make names for themselves on the court, and now one exceptional player is dropping buckets at the D1 level for Grand Canyon University – representing his school, his teammates, and his hometown alike.

Raised in the close-knit town of Parker, Arizona, Jason Amador, who’s Mą’ii Deeshgiizhnii and born for Tó Baazhní’ázhí, has worked his way to become a team leader, representing his cultural heritage and the dreams of many who look up to him. His journey hasn’t been without its challenges, but his dedication and work ethic have taken him to heights that many players never reach.

Rooted in brotherhood

Amador’s journey in basketball is rooted in brotherhood. “Basketball was first introduced to me through a best friend named Damian, who I consider to be a brother,” he recalls. “Damian’s mother started a rez team for us, and we quickly fell in love with the sport. Unfortunately, we lost him when we were going into the sixth grade, so a kind of passion struck through me – to play not only for myself but for him because he lost that opportunity.”

Despite losing his best friend at an early age, Amador stayed focused on his dream. “I’ve had a relationship with basketball for the last fifteen years, and like any relationship, there are ups and downs,” he said.

His journey has been one of constant growth and progression. “Every basketball game is unique to itself,” Amador said. “All the way from playing in little rez tournaments, then to middle school games – AAU then high school games – NAIA, and now Division 1. I just love everything about it. All the demands that come with it, like your blood, sweat, tears, and the time that you sacrifice.”

“The game of basketball has brought me so many relationships and so many opportunities that I’m forever grateful for,” he said as he expressed his gratitude for pivotal members of his journey, like Damian’s mother, and others who helped foster his relationship with the game. “It was so much fun playing on the reservation. Just being able to play with your friends, and after I lost Damian, it instilled a passion and a little motivation behind me.”

Amador gives a lot of credit to the rez-ball style of play for crafting his game. “I took the rez ball style of play with me – shoot fast, run fast. That helped me get to where I am today – especially in college basketball. Each level of play – high school, college, and all the way up to the pros – the game gets faster,” he said.

‘Nothing is guaranteed’

Not only the style of physical play but growing up on the reservation influenced his mental game as well. He mentioned that when growing up on the reservations one quickly learns that “nothing is guaranteed.” That mindset plays an important role in his game and is a mindset that he carries through every situation in life. “Every time I go into a practice, workout, game, or classroom I feel like I have to do everything I can to be become successful.”

As Amador’s journey continues forward, he hopes for a career in coaching, “especially for kids coming off the reservation.” He has already proven to be a strong leader on the court and off. Amador was chosen to speak with the UCLA Youth Indian Conference Basketball Tournament where he shared his story and discussed Native representation in basketball.

“I want to do everything I can with the platform that I have and use my platform to help the native youth,” he said when asked about what his future holds.

Jason Amador can be contacted on Instagram @jasonamador7 and hopes to hear from anyone who has questions, needs advice, or is just looking for inspiration to keep on shooting.

---