The first flip
I was 16, in South Central Los Angeles, a few minutes from downtown. If you grew up where I did, you know the culture isn’t something you study — it’s the air. Basketball on the court, Jordans on your feet, fits that said something before you opened your mouth. I collected basketball shoes. I wore them, cleaned them, traded them, knew every release date by heart.
Then I noticed something simple: pairs that sold out at retail were worth more the next day. So I started getting them. I’d cop the pair, hold it, and sell it to someone who wanted it more. It was a side hustle to put money in my pocket — but it was the first time my obsession paid me back.
The business side of me saw a lane. The sneakerhead in me already knew the shoes.
