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PODCAST: Texas forward Joyner Holmes on love and loss of basketball

By Howard Megdal

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 05: Texas (24) Joyner Holmes getting a rebound while Baylor (2) Didi Richard plays defense during the Big 12 Women's Championship on March 05, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK. (Photo by Torrey Purvey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - MARCH 05: Texas (24) Joyner Holmes getting a rebound while Baylor (2) Didi Richard plays defense during the Big 12 Women's Championship on March 05, 2018 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK. (Photo by Torrey Purvey/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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A deep dive into a fascinating player and person.

Host Howard Megdal is joined by Texas forward Joyner Holmes. The multi-talented Longhorn has been through plenty of adversity in her career already, from a semester-long suspension to an ankle injury that cost her several months this season.

The two discuss Joyner’s basketball origins, how she came to know and love the game, along with how she’s evolved into a player unlike those who came before her. Joyner looked to Kobe Bryant and Tina Thompson for inspiration, and the discussion delved into what that’s meant for her work ethic, composition of inside-outside skills and where she expects it all to take her.

Holmes is also philosophical about her suspension, her relationship with head coach Karen Aston, and provides insight on a range of topics. She explained that even during her suspension, Aston never gave up on her, while a deepened connection to her faith, and conversations with Ariel Atkins, all helped her to find a pathway forward.

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Plus, after working six months in HR, she knew she wasn’t ready to give up basketball for a day job. Not yet. She does have her eye on broadcasting, however, and she spoke about the ways she is hoping to break into the business as well.

Holmes is averaging 9.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game so far in 2018-19, during a campaign in which she still isn’t 100 percent recovered from the ankle injury that cost her time and mobility. But she’s posted a 3.5 steal percentage already, turning her ability to anticipate into possessions for the Longhorns.

Thanks to her efforts, even after losing Lashann Higgs for the season, the Longhorns are 14-3 so far this season, with an offense ranked 31st in the country in points per possession, and a defense 62nd in the same metric.

We think you’ll enjoy this one. Take a listen.

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