NBA champion Jason Kidd and WNBA legend Lauren Jackson brought decades of basketball experience closer to Filipino fans during a vivo x NBA meet-and-greet at the vivo Concept Store in SM Megamall.
Held on August 28, the intimate gathering gave 30 selected fans the opportunity to hear directly from the two Hall of Famers, who discussed pressure, failure, leadership, and the importance of enjoying the game beyond its competitive side.
Jason Kidd on failure, growth, and enjoying the journey
Kidd, whose career includes an NBA championship, 10 All-Star selections, an Olympic gold medal and a Hall of Fame induction, emphasized the importance of appreciating each stage of a career.
“Enjoy it,” Kidd said, reflecting on how competitiveness can sometimes make athletes overlook the experience itself.
He also shared a straightforward perspective on failure, drawing from his own experiences as a player and coach.
“It’s alright to fail,” Kidd said. “We’ve all missed the shots, we’ve all turned the ball over, we’ve all made mistakes, but you learn from those mistakes and own those mistakes.”
That message resonated with Jervey Limjoco of Mandaluyong, who described himself as Kidd’s No. 1 fan in the Philippines.
For Limjoco, Kidd’s leadership and ability to make his teammates better were among the defining qualities of his career, particularly his passing and understanding of how one play could create another opportunity.
Lauren Jackson reflects on her return to basketball
Jackson brought a different perspective to the conversation, having built her own decorated career as a three-time WNBA MVP, two-time WNBA champion, Olympic medalist and Hall of Famer.
The Australian basketball icon also discussed returning to the sport after an eight-year break, a journey that reinforced the importance of maintaining a genuine connection with the game.
Her advice to young athletes was simple: create room to play and enjoy basketball.
“Create a space for them to exist and enjoy and love it,” Jackson said.
For both legends, the conversation went beyond championships and individual accolades. Their stories centered on the experiences, mistakes, relationships and personal growth that come with a long career in basketball.
Filipino fans get up close with two basketball icons
The Q&A session eventually gave way to the main attraction as selected fans met Kidd and Jackson personally.
Fans received exclusive posters and had their photos taken with the two basketball legends, turning what would normally be distant NBA and WNBA memories into a much more personal experience.
For Filipino fans who had followed Kidd and Jackson throughout their careers, the meet-and-greet offered a rare opportunity to interact with athletes they had previously only seen on screens.
vivo X300 Ultra captures the basketball moments
The event also explored how smartphone cameras have changed the way fans document sports and stay connected with important moments.
When asked what they would have wanted to capture during their playing days if today’s smartphone cameras were available, Kidd highlighted the ability to stay connected with family and friends.
Jackson, meanwhile, pointed to how smartphones can make events happening thousands of miles away feel much closer.
“You could be playing miles and miles away but it could be right here, right on your phone,” Jackson said.
The technology became part of the event itself, with the vivo X300 Ultra used to capture Kidd and Jackson alongside Filipino fans and livestream portions of the gathering.
vivo’s flagship smartphone features Triple ZEISS Master Lenses and telephoto capabilities reaching up to 400mm with ZEISS Telephoto Extenders, giving users additional reach when photographing distant subjects.
The vivo X300 Ultra is available in the Philippines for ₱109,999 through vivo Concept Stores nationwide and the vivo e-store.
Ultimately, the event brought together two sides of modern basketball fandom: the stories and lessons passed down by legends, and the technology that allows today’s fans to capture and preserve those moments as they happen.
