"Can never have a bad day when you're around KK": Paige Bueckers celebrates UConn teammate Kamorea Arnold's friendship with a special message
Kamorea Arnold and Paige Bueckers' friendship while being UConn Huskies teammates has a fan base of its own. They have been friends ever since Arnold landed with the program in 2023 and bonded over their commonalities. On the court, the two guards are constantly competing and hyping each other up. Off the court, they entertain fans with their workouts, pranks and timely TikTok collaborations.
So, when Bueckers was asked about her bond with Arnold by NBA's Future Starts Now, the star guard shed light on her traits and likable personality.
"She's definitely like a little sister to me," Bueckers said. "She keeps me young as much as I feel old. She just has a great sense of humor. Just an amazing person to be around. Can never have a bad day when you're around KK. I think we just relate to a lot of things. We just talk, kick it and hang out, but definitely like a little sister to me."
The NBA’s Future Starts Now initiative aims to bring rising basketball talents from youth leagues, high school and college levels to a bigger spotlight.
Starting last year, the program gives fans exclusive insights into players’ professional and personal lives through live streams, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage and other collaborations.
Future Starts Now increases the reach and hype around potential NBA/WNBA players while narrowing the big league’s gap to the grassroots level of basketball.
Kamorea Arnold sees Paige Bueckers as a sisterly mentor
Due to similarities in their playing position and their games, there is plenty that Kamorea Arnold can learn from Paige Bueckers. Arnold realizes the potential of her growth under Bueckers. However, it's only one of the factors in her sisterly bond with the star.
Appearing on the "Listen Up" podcast in October, Arnold shared that her bond with Bueckers grew naturally as the star guard helped her get acclimatized and adjusted to UConn during her initial days.
"Coming in like you know I wasn't expecting, of course, like this big relationship," Arnold said (Timestamp: 6:40). "I thought it was gonna take me, like, a few weeks. Whatever it took, but I just gravitated towards her, like, right away. She became, like, a big sister."
The No. 2 Huskies, determined to lift the NCAA title this season, have opened their season with a 5-0 record. They face No. 18 Ole Miss (4-1) on Wednesday for the Baha Mar Women's Championship game in Nassau.