By Steven Hughes
Sun Correspondent
Native Americans are transforming American basketball by showing their “warrior spirit” as some are establishing new teams dedicated to encouraging a healthier lifestyle and bringing the sport to reservations beyond schools.
“I see the talent out there,” Warlance Foster, owner and head coach of the Navajo Nation Monster Slayers, said. “If you don’t support that talent, it’s difficult to nurture and grow it.”
Foster, with a massive résumé in professional basketball from Gallup to Europe, is living his dream of ensuring his communities find ways to maintain their culture and health. His story of opportunities for the sport and Native Americans touched Joe Newman, the American Basketball Association CEO, and the league.
The Monster Slayers team, composed of a handful of players so far, formed via invite-only for a tryout. Foster said he hopes to have 12 players, especially when they travel.
MAKING THE TEAM
Myles Begay, #5 for the Monster Slayers, said the tryout was intimidating.
Begay’s feeling of intimidation was fair as Clifford Andersen, general manager and #33 for the team, explained the invitational tryout saw approximately 30 players participate.
The tryouts took place in October. The players were split into teams and played against each other as Foster and Andersen watched. A week later, Andersen texted Begay to play as a Monster Slayer.
“[Begay] is someone to look up to,” Andersen said. “Yeah, he’s tall, but you can look up to him as being a wonderful person, a great leader, and someone who can talk. If you ever meet him in person, hang out with him.”
The Monster Slayers have an overall performance of two wins and 13 losses. Regardless, Foster said the team is improving each game and practice.
The story of the Monster Slayers started before the coronavirus pandemic was at its peak. Although it was an era of poor physical and mental health, Foster saw the bigger picture of Native Americans’ relationships with these health aspects.
“We want to utilize basketball to offset diabetes and obesity amongst the Indigenous people because our diets have changed,” Foster said. “There’s a lot to it: self-esteem, self-identity, and self-confidence. This is just giving our people opportunities as some tribal colleges have few natives on their team.”
Thankfully for Foster, his dream is coming true as Begay said he’s in the best health he’s ever been standing in as 6’8” at 32 years old. Begay explained he changed his diet and works harder at the gym.
A GROWING SPORT
According to the NCAA, the association saw an over 50% increase in Native player participation at approximately 2,000 student athletes this past season compared to a decade ago. Of course, Foster hopes more Native American men and women take risks and join collegiate and professional leagues regardless of limitations.
Foster said folks’ lack of confidence is a problem for the somewhat new professional ABA team, especially when the shorter Native players fight against 6-foot players. He said individuals are cutting themselves.
“They have to convince themselves that they can play at this level,” Foster said. “It’s them not showing up. That’s what I’m running into as far as a barrier in that confidence.”
Begay feels this lack of motivation and participation too as he is seen as an honorary captain for the team, saying that he’s often picked to speak with referees when they are explaining rules at the center of the court.
“When I was first asked, I felt like it was a huge privilege because one of the main roles of being the captain in that moment is to show strength and we are respectful,” Begay said.
He added that he’s ensuring hype and determination within the team, especially when games aren’t going in the Monster Slayer’s favor.
Andersen said some younger players have been “bad apples” who weren’t prepared for the expectations of being in a professional basketball team, such as some not sticking to their defensive roles or arguing with their head coach. That led to some being removed from the team.
Even though the team is transforming itself every day, Foster feels that everything is a learning process, from navigating the Monster Slayers as a small business to getting a space for the team to practice.
“This year has been a big learning curve,” Andersen said. “We’re figuring things out because we didn’t know what to expect. For next season, we’re going to be better.”
GAINING SUPPORT
Foster loves knowing people are interested in his idea, from making sales through merchandise to people even trying to join a professional basketball team. The team is garnering some star power in the Native communities.
Begay said one time, when wearing the team’s sweater that shows the team’s name and their league, he got stopped by a fan who gushed over the Monster Slayers and asked questions. He noted that this has become a semi-frequent occurrence.
“I didn’t think we’re getting out there too much, but it just felt good knowing our names are out there,” Begay said.
Not only has the Monster Slayers garnered public support, Andersen and Begay achieved honorable mentions in the All-ABA, a recognition by the league for players’ performances during a season.
The Monster Slayers will play against the San Carlos Apache Raiders at 6 pm on March 8 at the Burdette Hall in San Carlos, Ariz.
Anyone interested in joining the team can contact Foster at (480) 628-0710 or by email at
warlance_foster@yahoo.com.
