May 12, 2026 • 27 mins
Breanna Stewart is joined by viral volleyball star Jordan Lucas for a conversation about sports, identity, and handling life in the spotlight.
Jordan opens up about growing up in a basketball family, his rapid rise as the biggest star in men’s college volleyball, and what it’s been like navigating viral fame. The two also talk about Jordan attending a New York Liberty game, and Jordan’s experience being embraced as an openly LGBTQ+ athlete.
Plus, Jordan teaches Stewie how to celebrate her next big moment on the court, and reveals that he’ll be returning to college volleyball next season... though he still isn’t sure where he’ll be playing.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm not even gonna tell my wife Martin I'm gonna
do it. I'm just wait for her to be surprised,
and she's just gonna be like, what is what happened
to you? I'd be like, well, my new friend Jordan
gave me some tips on how I should be celebrating
and celebrating myself. Welcome to Game Recognized Game. I'm Brina
(00:24):
Stewart and today I'm joined by a very special guest.
He may know him from his viral videos. He's a
star outside hitter from cal State Northridge volleyball team. Welcome
Jordan Lucas to Game Recognized Game.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Hi, Stunie, thank you so much for having me absolutely.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
How are you? How's everything?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I'm doing well? Yeah, life has been pretty good. You know.
Obviously the virality and kind of surrealness of it all
has been a little overwhelming, but the outpour of support
has been amazing. How are you doing?
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm doing good. Our WBA season is about to start,
so really just kind of gearing up for what's to come.
But it's you're it's off season now, right? Your season
is over now? Right?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yes, our season was over about a week and a
half ago.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, and how did it go?
Speaker 2 (01:11):
It went all right. We didn't have the best season,
probably a couple of matches that we lost barely by
two or three points and the fifth that that you know,
we would really want to go our way, But overall
it was really good. I mean, like the team wise,
we're a young team. I was like our oldest guy,
so yeah, it's kind of like a a younger more younger. Yeah,
(01:34):
I just ther team.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Okay, well there's there's always next year. But let's not
get into that yet because I have questions about that.
One of the things we do here, Jordan is we
we say this podcast is called Game Recognized Game, and
Miles isn't here my co host, so I'm just like
holding down the ford a little bit. But what does
game Recognized Game mean to you?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
To me, it means that your opponent has respect for
you and what you do for whatever sport it is, basketball, volleyball, football,
But there's also that kind of tenacity that you both have,
or that both parties have for each other, that you know,
we respect you, but when we're on the court, you know,
(02:16):
it's we're not friends, We're not cool. That's what it
means to me. Gaber's game period.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I love that. And you had one hundred and forty
nine kills this season. When was the specific moment that
you realize like, oh I got this, like I have game?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
It was, well, I'm saying, I feel like I've always
had game. But there's one specific moment. I would say
it was probably our match against USC. Being from southern California,
I've always loved playing against USC, and I actually had
never lost to them up until that match, and I
(02:54):
did everything that I could. Am I top you shit, Ye,
I did everything that I could in my volleyball talent
to beat them. But yeah, that was probably when I
had thirty kills at USC. Was probably like the moment
where I was like, okay, like I can really I
can really be doing my shit.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
I love that. Okay, just a random side note question
because I want to know, like, what's your vertical.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
I can jump? I think max is probably forty two,
but right now I'm usually around the thirty nine forty
ish range. That's probably where like my average is at
thirty nine to forty.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
So can you dunk?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I actually have not tried to dunk ever. I come
from a really big basketball family, but I just I'm
not I'm not really into the basket. I don't think
the last time I shot a basketball was probably like
maybe two or three years ago.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Yeah, you could dunk a volleyball, Like, let's try it.
Let's just see. You got a forty in forty two
inch version. You can definitely dunk, Like.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
For sure, that's something I'll get into. I think I
think I can. I mean before practice, like you know,
the guys shoot hoops before, like at north Ridge and
stuff like. Ilway was like, okay, maybe, but I mean
I might have to take you up on that. I
might have to take you up on that.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
You talked about it a little bit. Your family, big
basketball family. You didn't like to to kind of you
didn't ever take that serious. But like what made you
find volleyball? Like how did you know volleyball was your sport?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
But it kind of stems from my parents. Once I
told them I wanted to be done with basketball, my
dad and my mom were like, hey, well you're not
just gonna do nothing, And so I was already kind
of in volleyball a little bit. My dad is the
high school basketball coach at our local high school and
the volleyball team would practice before them, so I would
always be in the gym and the coach was like, hey,
do you want to, you know, just hit the ball around,
(04:40):
you know, maybe jumping at practice. And that's kind of
where I fell in love with it, which then has
transpired to kind of me right now. Like so probably
around age eleven or twelve is kind of when I
first started really getting into it, and then fourteen is
kind of when I started really picking up and be like,
oh wow, I can actually play this sport at a
high level.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
That's awesome. I mean, I like, side note for a second.
I I played volleyball in high school for a little bit,
and I wish I would have stuck with it because
I think I could have been like all right, but
like my forearms were always hurting from the like this
part of it, you know what I mean, Yeah, the
(05:19):
past I'm like, I couldn't figure that out, but like
I really enjoyed. I really wish I would have stuck
with it once I like figured out how to use
my whole body in my frame a little bit. So
maybe like later in life we can be beach volleyball partners.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah, you could be a blocker and I'll be a defender,
I mean, or we'll do both.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I mean, yeah, I'm for serve it to you and
you just go for that, all right, yep, Okay, I
want to get into a little bit of your like
viral videos, which I love. By the way, So you're
you're obviously at Northridge now, I know you were at
(06:04):
GCU before this. Did you always play with extra flair
in your celebrations? Like was it always at that level
that it is now, or like did you get more
comfortable with it?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I would say that I have always been the same
player since I've been thirteen or fourteen. I feel like
a lot of people in the volleyball community can't attest
to that that I've always drawn people in not just
because of my play, but just because of the theatrics
and the quote unquote antics that I just it's just
self expression. For me, it's self expression, and you know,
(06:38):
we see it in male dominant sports, you know, beating chess,
greening through the net, stuff like that, where I just
do it in a more i would say, fun way
and where people actually can enjoy it and it isn't
so you know, overbearing in ways. So yeah, I would
say that my my my celebrations that people either love
it or hate it, but I mean I love doing it.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
I love it too, So you just keep going because
I think it's it's incredible. But have your teammates and coaches, like,
have they always been supportive of it? Or have there
has there been moments where they're like, all right, what
are you doing?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Never at cal State Northridge did I ever have to
really deal with that. The coaches very very supportive and
they love all of kind of what I bring to
the table. Teammates too. It was at my prior school
at GCU, where you know, I received some flak mostly
my freshman year, you know, getting used to it. I
was eighteen, nineteen years old, you know, stepping into Division
(07:35):
one athletics, and they were like what are you doing?
But then as the year progressed and probably halfway through,
they kind of really respected me just for the craft
of all the ball that I play, just kind of
like the talent that I had, and they're like, oh,
you know that was actually kind of funny. You know
you Jordan, you hit a great ball and then you
twirl and I'm like, yeah, yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Love that, So like, yeah, you obviously became very viral
as of late, like within these past month few months,
And were you expecting that, Like, what was the craziest
thing that came about from from just like blowing up?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
No, I tell almost everyone who asked me that that
I was just playing volleyball, Like that's just always been
my style of volleyball. That's always just who I've been.
And you know, you know, the rality of it all
I think is really cool, but just something I wasn't
looking for just or seeking out. But you know, if
I can, quote unquote right now be the face of
men's volleyball, I'm happy to be it because we have
(08:36):
such a niche sport and such a small sport within
America that luckily that we're getting some recognition and also
some more new eyes to the sport, which you know,
can only help further the sport of men's volleyball.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Yeah, I think. And also you're just becoming like a
real role model to kind of athletes of all sports,
to just show that there's there's many different ways to
kind of and be yourself, but also celebrate the way
that you do things and enjoy it, you know what
I mean?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, totally, And I think that's That's something that right
now the world needs, is you know a little bit
more representation and a little bit more like just lightheartedness
within sports and athletics as a whole. I feel like,
you know, a lot of people take it super serious,
and you know, obviously there is that serious side, but
you have to kind of distinct you know, you're the athlete,
but then also the person that there is and I
(09:30):
try and mix them in between.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
No, I love it. I am wherever.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Once.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
I'm going to ask you a question about, like what's
your plan for next year? Because I know you have
one more year of eligibility left, so whenever we figure
that out, I would like to come to a game,
but you have to come to one of my games
as well, Like that's let's just swamp.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
What do you think, Oh, we'll do a trade off. Totally, Yeah, totally,
I'm down. I think that I think I went to
one WNBA game the Sparks. I went to one of
the Sparks games I think two years.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Well, I want you to come to New York come
to a game at Barclays.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Yeah, for the Liberty. I know you played for the Liberty.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
The games here are incredible and I know I'm biased,
but like I want you to come and give me
your honest opinion. You got to meet Ellie. You gotta
do the whole thing. We got the Timeless Torches, which
are like these dancers that are like over the age
of sixty five and they're just like crushing it to
these songs like in between the timeout. So we have
(10:29):
a good vibe here and you definitely gotta come.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Okay, totally, totally. I would be super down for that
to watch, to watch you ball out, but then also
watch the team and the environment. That sounds so fun.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Perfect time for a quick break. Next up, we get
into more of Jordan's impact in the LGBTQ plus community.
Please rate, review, and subscribe to Game Recognized Game. Let's
do you in miles wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome
(11:06):
back to Game Recognized Game and I'm Brienna Stewart Today
I'm joined by Jordan Lucas and Jordan's as an LGBTQ
athlete like myself. What has the reaction been from inside
your community from all the positive and maybe also negative
outpour of your viral moments.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
It's been phenomenal. I mean I feel like people within
the LGBTQ community, Like everyone's been through hardships and deal
with you know, negativity and stuff. But I feel like
that's what makes our community so great is that we
have so much love and unionization with each other and
they've I mean a lot of my friends are part
of the LGBTQ community and I have you know, I
(11:50):
go to West Hollywood a lot, so you know, the
love has just been immense and something that has been
super cool just to see people that you know from
all walks of life. You know, older LGBTQ people, younger
LGBTQU people, middle aged people that just like are so
supportive and trying to really like, hey, you're really changing
how people view us within sports. So I think that's
(12:12):
super cool. I love it.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
I mean, like I said, you're literally like kind of
paving the way and really being an inspiration. I think
not only for like kids who are in college now
trying to express themselves, because I know for me, it
took me a second to be comfortable in my own
skin and understand who I liked and what I liked
and what I wanted to be, but also for those
(12:36):
that are that are older, you know, just just realizing
that like they don't have to to kind of shy
away from having a little bit of an extra flair
to them if if that's.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
What makes them happy, totally totally.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
So what do you hope for with other LGBTQ plus
athletes now that you have this platform, like not only
for you, but like what would be the next step
for all athletes of the community going forward.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I hope they feel inspired in a way, but then
also that kind of like that freedom now to express
themselves within volleyball or within sports or with just in
life in general, that you know, it gives a glimmer
of hope that you know, you can be who you
want to be and you're still be accepted and be
(13:30):
able to flourish within athletics.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
And like, has there been has there been moments where
someone at a game you know, has reached out to
you or like a sign that has really impacted you. Obviously,
I'm sure you get tons of stuff from social media,
but what's like one message or one story that really
kind of hit close to home and was like made
(13:54):
you realize, like this is why I do it.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
It was probably when we played at the University of
Hawaii about three weeks ago. And this is right after
the entire incident happened at UC Irvine and everything. And
I have some family ties to Hawaii and they're fans
who are known for being pretty brutal or just not brutal,
but they really support their own team, not really the
(14:17):
other team, and a lot of their fans were very
supportive and came up to me after the match and
we're just telling, you know, how much appreciation they have
for me, and you know, just that they hope that
I'm doing okay and they love me, and that one
of the signs actually was a phrase that I use
sometimes on social media. It's called a trust the Duchess.
And one of the signs was that by a fan
(14:39):
and they ended up gifting that to me, and so
that was that was really cool to see because it's
a niche remark that I make sometimes and just that
someone was able to catch on to that and end
up making a sign for me, it was super cool
and super surreal to see.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
I think, you know that support just just really probably
goes a long way, and maybe you don't need reassuring
on who you are, but still like just the fact
that you have people that you don't know in your
corner has got to like keep you going, keep you
just knowing you're doing the right thing.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Yeah, it definitely fuels fuels the fire, but then also
kind of heals you a little bit, you know, kind
of dealing with as people that are part of the
LGBTQ community deal with, you know, flack and hate and
negativity from all all aspects of like kind of we're
criticized for what we do and when you see that
love and it's just it warms your heart and kind
(15:34):
of heals you a little bit, which is really cool
to see.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Was there ever a moment where like mentally you were like,
you know what, I'm tired of everybody else, like for
for all the shit that I'm getting, or for constantly
like being on me for how I want to express myself. Like,
were you ever like drained a little bit mentally?
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Yeah, I would say it just it was a lot
of my freshman year was it was a lot of
just mentally being drained and physically as well. But I
was the only team or I was the only freshman
on our team that was starting an the only newcomer
in our lineup, and so just people that were like Jordan,
well like you got to you have to act a
certain way, you have to do this, and it's like, well,
(16:17):
I'm just playing volleyball like that, I'm just being me
right now, Like can I just be me? Can I
just do what I want to do, what I think
is fun? And so that was that was probably the
only time in my career of volleyball that I felt like, Okay,
I need a break from this. I need a break
from all this. So yeah, that was probably the only time.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
And when you need when you need a break, like
what's your getaway? Like mine, I have kids. I have
a four year old and a two year old, So
like that's how I kind of like get away from
from basketball for a second because I'm like upstairs playing
hot wheels or you know, Barbie or whatever. But but
what's yours?
Speaker 2 (16:52):
For mine, it's it's calling friends. Uh, A lot of
my best friends don't live in southern California, so it's
just a lot of them live like in New York
or like in the Midwest, and I and so I
called them just to kind of rant and like just
to get out of the volleyball space, because, as you know,
(17:12):
in collegiate athletics, you spend almost every hour of the day.
You go to class, you go to rehab, you go
to practice, you do all that, and it's just like
you need a break from that vicious cycle of Okay,
well I see the same six people every single day,
and so yeah, that's kind of my getaway of just
calling friends that I haven't talked to in a long
time and just like venting to them and yeah, catching up.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Well, Jordan, as someone who's still in college, like you're
doing an incredible job for all the weight that you
have on your shoulders and really carrying yourself incredibly well.
So it's really cool for me I'll do this podcast
with you because not only am I a fan, but like,
after talking to you and really just seeing how you
care yourself, it's I keep using the word inspiring and
(17:56):
I'm trying to think of another word beside that, but
definitely an inspiration. So thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
No, well, well, thank you so much, Stewart. You're you're
a great person, and you know, I'm so glad we
got to chat and kind of you know, just talk
as like two athletes that are obviously a part of
the LGBTQ community but are kind of doing big things
for their sport and for sports in general.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
But I'm not done. I know that sounded like an end,
but I'm not done. I just wanted to give you
a thank you. All right, time for one more break.
Next up, we look ahead to see what's next for
Jordan and he gives me some help on some of
my celebrations. Welcome back to Game Recognized Game. I'm Brianna
(18:54):
Stewart and joined by Jordan Lucas. And this is the
question that I've been like done to ask you. I know,
you guys didn't have the most successful season that you wanted,
but what was it like for you to individually be
blowing up while your team was like not exactly where
(19:15):
you wanted to be? Like? Was it hard balance? You
know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Yeah, totally totally. I feel like that that was one
of the most difficult things to kind of see and
be a part of as someone on the team. But also,
you know, having all this media attention and you know,
news anchors coming in and they're just all this kind
of attention within with just in the sport right now,
(19:41):
and I it was hard to deal with because I
wanted to make sure that our team was always included
in everything that I did, and so when like people
would be like, hey, we want to come and interview you,
I was like okay. I was like, well, I'm going
to have my teammates there so you know they can
you know, feel the love and feel the support. And
that was always that was just my big thing trying
to deal with, like, well, we just lost this match,
(20:03):
but then how do I come into practice tomorrow and
be like, hey, guys, so we're gonna have ABC News here.
Hey guys, we're gonna have Fox eleven news or Fox
ten news here, like sorry, Like it was. It was
a hard thing to juggle. But my teammates were great,
and I can't say anything bad about them. They were
They were troopers, like Jordan, we're here for you. We
get that you know you're doing big things right now
(20:24):
for men's volleyball, and you know, if you need our help,
just let us know. So they were super supportive of it.
But for personally, it was really hard to kind of
juggle both factors of I'm doing so well, you know
from the social media standpoint, but our team isn't performing
that we would like to.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Yeah, I feel like that's that's definitely got to be tough.
But good on your teammates for for continuing to uplift
you because I know how big of a moment this
is for you, but also the way that you're carrying
within the sport. So with that being said, like next season,
are you planning to go back to No Rich or
(21:01):
which plans so you can chanser.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
I right now am still at cal State Northridge. The
and simply Men's Vogel Portal did open today, So there
are a lot of things that I've been There are
a lot of things that I've been thinking about. There's
a lot of stuff that I have to talk to
if I management and kind of feel what's right for
(21:26):
me kind of where I want to do. I would like,
if I was to enter the portal, to stay in
southern California, just because born and raised here, I've already
went outside of the state. I just to mean, nothing
really compares to southern California. So I would love to
stay in south of California. But I'm open to a
lot of other possibilities. And yeah, I mean I'm just
trying to, you know, be in the present right now
with everything that's going on. But in regards to the
(21:48):
question you asked, you will see me for one more year,
that's that's doing. But where we'll see kind of how that. Yeah,
we'll see kind of how that shakes up to be.
I'll I'll be waiting for the announcement so that I
know where I'm going to go for the volleyball game. Okay,
And like just a random question that I have because
(22:12):
I know a little bit about the nil landscape within
the basketball world, and you hear about it in volleyball
and stuff like that, how how is it I'm sorry
you hear about it in football, but how is it
in volleyball and women's volleyball? It's very big now because
women'svolleyball's taken over kind of volleyball as a whole. For
men's volleyball, it's it's i would say, almost not really
(22:34):
a thing. And that's kind of what we're trying to
navigate right now, is like no one's really garnered this
much attention before for men's volleyball in the sport. So,
you know, it's kind of going to be interesting to
see how some of these schools, if I do choose
to go into the portal, how they kind of want
to dish out the nil and everything, and yeah, I
would say it's just kind of for men's volleyball, like
non existent in a way.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Well, I hope that you you've changed that and a
new standard for what the nile world is in men's volleyball.
That'll be cool. Go get your bag. I know you
get in some money, so go get your bag in
the nil world as well.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
I mean, that's hopefully. I'm trying to collect all these
coins that I can. I'm trying to take bills. That's
all I want, all right.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
So I have like the way that you celebrate is
really outgoing, and like I don't always celebrate that way.
I like, I'm just like more chill. I just I
don't know. I just like when I'm shooting shot, I
know I'm confidence is going to go in and I'm
happy to win. So Peter is supposed to show this
(23:40):
clip of me winning hitting a game winner. Okay, okay, okay,
So the game winner was great, right, but like, what's
what should I add? What should my extra flair be?
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I mean I think off of something like that. You know,
I get basketball and kind of you know, the pair
amount of that game winner. I mean I would off
of something like that. I mean I would either blow
a kiss to the competitive, to the to the girl
who was trying to you know, you know, block your
shot or whatever. But then I could also see you
like a shot like that, just pumping the runway back
(24:20):
to like your to your bench or to your side
because it's wraps something like that, or even like a
even like a like you could brush a little brush
your hair like one toss and then and then a
little kiss.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Okay, this is a lot is going to be.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Or to actually about this one. You you hit you
hit the little jumper, and then you just collect your coins.
You're on the floor and just collecting money, collecting money,
collecting just and grab it like yeah, just like you know,
something like that, and I just you know, put it
in your bag, you know, put it in your bag.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Yeah, okay, all right, I love that. I'm gonna take
a few of those. I don't know if I can
use them all at once, but I can do the hair,
the hair flip, I can do the blood the kiss,
and then yeah, I'm gonna collect my coins because why not. Yeah,
stay tuned because the celebrations are coming. I don't always
(25:24):
I don't always do them, but they're gonna come.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Yeah. I can't wait to be tuned in and watch
you do a little a little hair toss or a
little kiss, so you know, a little more antics to
the to the basketball game. I love to see that.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
I'm not even gonna I'm not even gonna tell my
wife Martin I'm gonna do it. I'm just wait for
her to be surprised, and she's just gonna be like,
what is what happened to you? I'd be like, well,
my new friend Jordan gave me some some inside uh,
some tips on how I should be celebrating and celebrating myself.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Yeah, a little tips and tricks. I mean, girl, have
you got the talent, which obviously you do, you might
as well flaunt it a little bit. You might as
well give the give the fans a little a little crumbs,
a little hate.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Okay, Okay, I got that. Okay, all right, this is
my last question for the pod. Okay, what's next for
Jordan Lucas on the court and also off the court.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
On the court, what's next for me is another season
for sure to be determined. We're at though, but then
I feel like people can this next season really hope
to see and get more of a glimpse into kind
of who I am. I feel like now people are
still starting to realize kind of the style that I
play with and you know, the personality that I have
(26:41):
on the court, and so that's what I'm looking forward
to with people just being more engaged in it, and
like maybe i have a couple of new celebrations that
I'm thinking of, you know, I'm I'm watching some some
drag race to kind of get inspired a little bit more.
And then for off the court, I'm I hope that
or for I hope people can see me what I'm
(27:02):
doing next is just staying true to who I am.
I think that's one thing that I've done very well,
and I'm very proud of myself over my entire teenage
years and now my early adult years, is that I've
been the same person, in my opinion for the last
probably ten years. So I think people can just expect
to kind of, you know, see more antics and more
of just who I am off the court, which is
(27:23):
a little bit more reserved. I always say this, I'm
always a little bit more reserved off the court and
a little more to myself.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Okay, I'm a hair flip, all right. You heard it
here first. Thanks for checking this out. Please leave a
review on our podcast page and comment on our YouTube channels.
See you next time, and thank you Jordan, Thank you
so much
I'm not even gonna tell my wife Martin I'm gonna
do it. I'm just wait for her to be surprised,
and she's just gonna be like, what is what happened
to you? I'd be like, well, my new friend Jordan
gave me some tips on how I should be celebrating
and celebrating myself. Welcome to Game Recognized Game. I'm Brina
(00:24):
Stewart and today I'm joined by a very special guest.
He may know him from his viral videos. He's a
star outside hitter from cal State Northridge volleyball team. Welcome
Jordan Lucas to Game Recognized Game.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Hi, Stunie, thank you so much for having me absolutely.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
How are you? How's everything?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
I'm doing well? Yeah, life has been pretty good. You know.
Obviously the virality and kind of surrealness of it all
has been a little overwhelming, but the outpour of support
has been amazing. How are you doing?
Speaker 1 (00:53):
I'm doing good. Our WBA season is about to start,
so really just kind of gearing up for what's to come.
But it's you're it's off season now, right? Your season
is over now? Right?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Yes, our season was over about a week and a
half ago.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Yeah, and how did it go?
Speaker 2 (01:11):
It went all right. We didn't have the best season,
probably a couple of matches that we lost barely by
two or three points and the fifth that that you know,
we would really want to go our way, But overall
it was really good. I mean, like the team wise,
we're a young team. I was like our oldest guy,
so yeah, it's kind of like a a younger more younger. Yeah,
(01:34):
I just ther team.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Okay, well there's there's always next year. But let's not
get into that yet because I have questions about that.
One of the things we do here, Jordan is we
we say this podcast is called Game Recognized Game, and
Miles isn't here my co host, so I'm just like
holding down the ford a little bit. But what does
game Recognized Game mean to you?
Speaker 2 (01:55):
To me, it means that your opponent has respect for
you and what you do for whatever sport it is, basketball, volleyball, football,
But there's also that kind of tenacity that you both have,
or that both parties have for each other, that you know,
we respect you, but when we're on the court, you know,
(02:16):
it's we're not friends, We're not cool. That's what it
means to me. Gaber's game period.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I love that. And you had one hundred and forty
nine kills this season. When was the specific moment that
you realize like, oh I got this, like I have game?
Speaker 2 (02:32):
It was, well, I'm saying, I feel like I've always
had game. But there's one specific moment. I would say
it was probably our match against USC. Being from southern California,
I've always loved playing against USC, and I actually had
never lost to them up until that match, and I
(02:54):
did everything that I could. Am I top you shit, Ye,
I did everything that I could in my volleyball talent
to beat them. But yeah, that was probably when I
had thirty kills at USC. Was probably like the moment
where I was like, okay, like I can really I
can really be doing my shit.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
I love that. Okay, just a random side note question
because I want to know, like, what's your vertical.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
I can jump? I think max is probably forty two,
but right now I'm usually around the thirty nine forty
ish range. That's probably where like my average is at
thirty nine to forty.
Speaker 1 (03:28):
So can you dunk?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
I actually have not tried to dunk ever. I come
from a really big basketball family, but I just I'm
not I'm not really into the basket. I don't think
the last time I shot a basketball was probably like
maybe two or three years ago.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
Yeah, you could dunk a volleyball, Like, let's try it.
Let's just see. You got a forty in forty two
inch version. You can definitely dunk, Like.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
For sure, that's something I'll get into. I think I
think I can. I mean before practice, like you know,
the guys shoot hoops before, like at north Ridge and
stuff like. Ilway was like, okay, maybe, but I mean
I might have to take you up on that. I
might have to take you up on that.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
You talked about it a little bit. Your family, big
basketball family. You didn't like to to kind of you
didn't ever take that serious. But like what made you
find volleyball? Like how did you know volleyball was your sport?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
But it kind of stems from my parents. Once I
told them I wanted to be done with basketball, my
dad and my mom were like, hey, well you're not
just gonna do nothing, And so I was already kind
of in volleyball a little bit. My dad is the
high school basketball coach at our local high school and
the volleyball team would practice before them, so I would
always be in the gym and the coach was like, hey,
do you want to, you know, just hit the ball around,
(04:40):
you know, maybe jumping at practice. And that's kind of
where I fell in love with it, which then has
transpired to kind of me right now. Like so probably
around age eleven or twelve is kind of when I
first started really getting into it, and then fourteen is
kind of when I started really picking up and be like,
oh wow, I can actually play this sport at a
high level.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
That's awesome. I mean, I like, side note for a second.
I I played volleyball in high school for a little bit,
and I wish I would have stuck with it because
I think I could have been like all right, but
like my forearms were always hurting from the like this
part of it, you know what I mean, Yeah, the
(05:19):
past I'm like, I couldn't figure that out, but like
I really enjoyed. I really wish I would have stuck
with it once I like figured out how to use
my whole body in my frame a little bit. So
maybe like later in life we can be beach volleyball partners.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Yeah, you could be a blocker and I'll be a defender,
I mean, or we'll do both.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
I mean, yeah, I'm for serve it to you and
you just go for that, all right, yep, Okay, I
want to get into a little bit of your like
viral videos, which I love. By the way, So you're
you're obviously at Northridge now, I know you were at
(06:04):
GCU before this. Did you always play with extra flair
in your celebrations? Like was it always at that level
that it is now, or like did you get more
comfortable with it?
Speaker 2 (06:16):
I would say that I have always been the same
player since I've been thirteen or fourteen. I feel like
a lot of people in the volleyball community can't attest
to that that I've always drawn people in not just
because of my play, but just because of the theatrics
and the quote unquote antics that I just it's just
self expression. For me, it's self expression, and you know,
(06:38):
we see it in male dominant sports, you know, beating chess,
greening through the net, stuff like that, where I just
do it in a more i would say, fun way
and where people actually can enjoy it and it isn't
so you know, overbearing in ways. So yeah, I would
say that my my my celebrations that people either love
it or hate it, but I mean I love doing it.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
I love it too, So you just keep going because
I think it's it's incredible. But have your teammates and coaches, like,
have they always been supportive of it? Or have there
has there been moments where they're like, all right, what
are you doing?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Never at cal State Northridge did I ever have to
really deal with that. The coaches very very supportive and
they love all of kind of what I bring to
the table. Teammates too. It was at my prior school
at GCU, where you know, I received some flak mostly
my freshman year, you know, getting used to it. I
was eighteen, nineteen years old, you know, stepping into Division
(07:35):
one athletics, and they were like what are you doing?
But then as the year progressed and probably halfway through,
they kind of really respected me just for the craft
of all the ball that I play, just kind of
like the talent that I had, and they're like, oh,
you know that was actually kind of funny. You know
you Jordan, you hit a great ball and then you
twirl and I'm like, yeah, yeah, I.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Love that, So like, yeah, you obviously became very viral
as of late, like within these past month few months,
And were you expecting that, Like, what was the craziest
thing that came about from from just like blowing up?
Speaker 2 (08:14):
No, I tell almost everyone who asked me that that
I was just playing volleyball, Like that's just always been
my style of volleyball. That's always just who I've been.
And you know, you know, the rality of it all
I think is really cool, but just something I wasn't
looking for just or seeking out. But you know, if
I can, quote unquote right now be the face of
men's volleyball, I'm happy to be it because we have
(08:36):
such a niche sport and such a small sport within
America that luckily that we're getting some recognition and also
some more new eyes to the sport, which you know,
can only help further the sport of men's volleyball.
Speaker 1 (08:48):
Yeah, I think. And also you're just becoming like a
real role model to kind of athletes of all sports,
to just show that there's there's many different ways to
kind of and be yourself, but also celebrate the way
that you do things and enjoy it, you know what
I mean?
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, totally, And I think that's That's something that right
now the world needs, is you know a little bit
more representation and a little bit more like just lightheartedness
within sports and athletics as a whole. I feel like,
you know, a lot of people take it super serious,
and you know, obviously there is that serious side, but
you have to kind of distinct you know, you're the athlete,
but then also the person that there is and I
(09:30):
try and mix them in between.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
No, I love it. I am wherever.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Once.
Speaker 1 (09:36):
I'm going to ask you a question about, like what's
your plan for next year? Because I know you have
one more year of eligibility left, so whenever we figure
that out, I would like to come to a game,
but you have to come to one of my games
as well, Like that's let's just swamp.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
What do you think, Oh, we'll do a trade off. Totally, Yeah, totally,
I'm down. I think that I think I went to
one WNBA game the Sparks. I went to one of
the Sparks games I think two years.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Well, I want you to come to New York come
to a game at Barclays.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Yeah, for the Liberty. I know you played for the Liberty.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
The games here are incredible and I know I'm biased,
but like I want you to come and give me
your honest opinion. You got to meet Ellie. You gotta
do the whole thing. We got the Timeless Torches, which
are like these dancers that are like over the age
of sixty five and they're just like crushing it to
these songs like in between the timeout. So we have
(10:29):
a good vibe here and you definitely gotta come.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Okay, totally, totally. I would be super down for that
to watch, to watch you ball out, but then also
watch the team and the environment. That sounds so fun.
Speaker 1 (10:40):
Perfect time for a quick break. Next up, we get
into more of Jordan's impact in the LGBTQ plus community.
Please rate, review, and subscribe to Game Recognized Game. Let's
do you in miles wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome
(11:06):
back to Game Recognized Game and I'm Brienna Stewart Today
I'm joined by Jordan Lucas and Jordan's as an LGBTQ
athlete like myself. What has the reaction been from inside
your community from all the positive and maybe also negative
outpour of your viral moments.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
It's been phenomenal. I mean I feel like people within
the LGBTQ community, Like everyone's been through hardships and deal
with you know, negativity and stuff. But I feel like
that's what makes our community so great is that we
have so much love and unionization with each other and
they've I mean a lot of my friends are part
of the LGBTQ community and I have you know, I
(11:50):
go to West Hollywood a lot, so you know, the
love has just been immense and something that has been
super cool just to see people that you know from
all walks of life. You know, older LGBTQ people, younger
LGBTQU people, middle aged people that just like are so
supportive and trying to really like, hey, you're really changing
how people view us within sports. So I think that's
(12:12):
super cool. I love it.
Speaker 1 (12:15):
I mean, like I said, you're literally like kind of
paving the way and really being an inspiration. I think
not only for like kids who are in college now
trying to express themselves, because I know for me, it
took me a second to be comfortable in my own
skin and understand who I liked and what I liked
and what I wanted to be, but also for those
(12:36):
that are that are older, you know, just just realizing
that like they don't have to to kind of shy
away from having a little bit of an extra flair
to them if if that's.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
What makes them happy, totally totally.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
So what do you hope for with other LGBTQ plus
athletes now that you have this platform, like not only
for you, but like what would be the next step
for all athletes of the community going forward.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
I hope they feel inspired in a way, but then
also that kind of like that freedom now to express
themselves within volleyball or within sports or with just in
life in general, that you know, it gives a glimmer
of hope that you know, you can be who you
want to be and you're still be accepted and be
(13:30):
able to flourish within athletics.
Speaker 1 (13:33):
And like, has there been has there been moments where
someone at a game you know, has reached out to
you or like a sign that has really impacted you. Obviously,
I'm sure you get tons of stuff from social media,
but what's like one message or one story that really
kind of hit close to home and was like made
(13:54):
you realize, like this is why I do it.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
It was probably when we played at the University of
Hawaii about three weeks ago. And this is right after
the entire incident happened at UC Irvine and everything. And
I have some family ties to Hawaii and they're fans
who are known for being pretty brutal or just not brutal,
but they really support their own team, not really the
(14:17):
other team, and a lot of their fans were very
supportive and came up to me after the match and
we're just telling, you know, how much appreciation they have
for me, and you know, just that they hope that
I'm doing okay and they love me, and that one
of the signs actually was a phrase that I use
sometimes on social media. It's called a trust the Duchess.
And one of the signs was that by a fan
(14:39):
and they ended up gifting that to me, and so
that was that was really cool to see because it's
a niche remark that I make sometimes and just that
someone was able to catch on to that and end
up making a sign for me, it was super cool
and super surreal to see.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
I think, you know that support just just really probably
goes a long way, and maybe you don't need reassuring
on who you are, but still like just the fact
that you have people that you don't know in your
corner has got to like keep you going, keep you
just knowing you're doing the right thing.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Yeah, it definitely fuels fuels the fire, but then also
kind of heals you a little bit, you know, kind
of dealing with as people that are part of the
LGBTQ community deal with, you know, flack and hate and
negativity from all all aspects of like kind of we're
criticized for what we do and when you see that
love and it's just it warms your heart and kind
(15:34):
of heals you a little bit, which is really cool
to see.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
Was there ever a moment where like mentally you were like,
you know what, I'm tired of everybody else, like for
for all the shit that I'm getting, or for constantly
like being on me for how I want to express myself. Like,
were you ever like drained a little bit mentally?
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Yeah, I would say it just it was a lot
of my freshman year was it was a lot of
just mentally being drained and physically as well. But I
was the only team or I was the only freshman
on our team that was starting an the only newcomer
in our lineup, and so just people that were like Jordan,
well like you got to you have to act a
certain way, you have to do this, and it's like, well,
(16:17):
I'm just playing volleyball like that, I'm just being me
right now, Like can I just be me? Can I
just do what I want to do, what I think
is fun? And so that was that was probably the
only time in my career of volleyball that I felt like, Okay,
I need a break from this. I need a break
from all this. So yeah, that was probably the only time.
Speaker 1 (16:35):
And when you need when you need a break, like
what's your getaway? Like mine, I have kids. I have
a four year old and a two year old, So
like that's how I kind of like get away from
from basketball for a second because I'm like upstairs playing
hot wheels or you know, Barbie or whatever. But but
what's yours?
Speaker 2 (16:52):
For mine, it's it's calling friends. Uh, A lot of
my best friends don't live in southern California, so it's
just a lot of them live like in New York
or like in the Midwest, and I and so I
called them just to kind of rant and like just
to get out of the volleyball space, because, as you know,
(17:12):
in collegiate athletics, you spend almost every hour of the day.
You go to class, you go to rehab, you go
to practice, you do all that, and it's just like
you need a break from that vicious cycle of Okay,
well I see the same six people every single day,
and so yeah, that's kind of my getaway of just
calling friends that I haven't talked to in a long
time and just like venting to them and yeah, catching up.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Well, Jordan, as someone who's still in college, like you're
doing an incredible job for all the weight that you
have on your shoulders and really carrying yourself incredibly well.
So it's really cool for me I'll do this podcast
with you because not only am I a fan, but like,
after talking to you and really just seeing how you
care yourself, it's I keep using the word inspiring and
(17:56):
I'm trying to think of another word beside that, but
definitely an inspiration. So thank you appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (18:05):
No, well, well, thank you so much, Stewart. You're you're
a great person, and you know, I'm so glad we
got to chat and kind of you know, just talk
as like two athletes that are obviously a part of
the LGBTQ community but are kind of doing big things
for their sport and for sports in general.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
But I'm not done. I know that sounded like an end,
but I'm not done. I just wanted to give you
a thank you. All right, time for one more break.
Next up, we look ahead to see what's next for
Jordan and he gives me some help on some of
my celebrations. Welcome back to Game Recognized Game. I'm Brianna
(18:54):
Stewart and joined by Jordan Lucas. And this is the
question that I've been like done to ask you. I know,
you guys didn't have the most successful season that you wanted,
but what was it like for you to individually be
blowing up while your team was like not exactly where
(19:15):
you wanted to be? Like? Was it hard balance? You
know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (19:20):
Yeah, totally totally. I feel like that that was one
of the most difficult things to kind of see and
be a part of as someone on the team. But also,
you know, having all this media attention and you know,
news anchors coming in and they're just all this kind
of attention within with just in the sport right now,
(19:41):
and I it was hard to deal with because I
wanted to make sure that our team was always included
in everything that I did, and so when like people
would be like, hey, we want to come and interview you,
I was like okay. I was like, well, I'm going
to have my teammates there so you know they can
you know, feel the love and feel the support. And
that was always that was just my big thing trying
to deal with, like, well, we just lost this match,
(20:03):
but then how do I come into practice tomorrow and
be like, hey, guys, so we're gonna have ABC News here.
Hey guys, we're gonna have Fox eleven news or Fox
ten news here, like sorry, Like it was. It was
a hard thing to juggle. But my teammates were great,
and I can't say anything bad about them. They were
They were troopers, like Jordan, we're here for you. We
get that you know you're doing big things right now
(20:24):
for men's volleyball, and you know, if you need our help,
just let us know. So they were super supportive of it.
But for personally, it was really hard to kind of
juggle both factors of I'm doing so well, you know
from the social media standpoint, but our team isn't performing
that we would like to.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Yeah, I feel like that's that's definitely got to be tough.
But good on your teammates for for continuing to uplift
you because I know how big of a moment this
is for you, but also the way that you're carrying
within the sport. So with that being said, like next season,
are you planning to go back to No Rich or
(21:01):
which plans so you can chanser.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
I right now am still at cal State Northridge. The
and simply Men's Vogel Portal did open today, So there
are a lot of things that I've been There are
a lot of things that I've been thinking about. There's
a lot of stuff that I have to talk to
if I management and kind of feel what's right for
(21:26):
me kind of where I want to do. I would like,
if I was to enter the portal, to stay in
southern California, just because born and raised here, I've already
went outside of the state. I just to mean, nothing
really compares to southern California. So I would love to
stay in south of California. But I'm open to a
lot of other possibilities. And yeah, I mean I'm just
trying to, you know, be in the present right now
with everything that's going on. But in regards to the
(21:48):
question you asked, you will see me for one more year,
that's that's doing. But where we'll see kind of how that. Yeah,
we'll see kind of how that shakes up to be.
I'll I'll be waiting for the announcement so that I
know where I'm going to go for the volleyball game. Okay,
And like just a random question that I have because
(22:12):
I know a little bit about the nil landscape within
the basketball world, and you hear about it in volleyball
and stuff like that, how how is it I'm sorry
you hear about it in football, but how is it
in volleyball and women's volleyball? It's very big now because
women'svolleyball's taken over kind of volleyball as a whole. For
men's volleyball, it's it's i would say, almost not really
(22:34):
a thing. And that's kind of what we're trying to
navigate right now, is like no one's really garnered this
much attention before for men's volleyball in the sport. So,
you know, it's kind of going to be interesting to
see how some of these schools, if I do choose
to go into the portal, how they kind of want
to dish out the nil and everything, and yeah, I
would say it's just kind of for men's volleyball, like
non existent in a way.
Speaker 1 (22:55):
Well, I hope that you you've changed that and a
new standard for what the nile world is in men's volleyball.
That'll be cool. Go get your bag. I know you
get in some money, so go get your bag in
the nil world as well.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
I mean, that's hopefully. I'm trying to collect all these
coins that I can. I'm trying to take bills. That's
all I want, all right.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
So I have like the way that you celebrate is
really outgoing, and like I don't always celebrate that way.
I like, I'm just like more chill. I just I
don't know. I just like when I'm shooting shot, I
know I'm confidence is going to go in and I'm
happy to win. So Peter is supposed to show this
(23:40):
clip of me winning hitting a game winner. Okay, okay, okay,
So the game winner was great, right, but like, what's
what should I add? What should my extra flair be?
Speaker 2 (23:59):
I mean I think off of something like that. You know,
I get basketball and kind of you know, the pair
amount of that game winner. I mean I would off
of something like that. I mean I would either blow
a kiss to the competitive, to the to the girl
who was trying to you know, you know, block your
shot or whatever. But then I could also see you
like a shot like that, just pumping the runway back
(24:20):
to like your to your bench or to your side
because it's wraps something like that, or even like a
even like a like you could brush a little brush
your hair like one toss and then and then a
little kiss.
Speaker 1 (24:37):
Okay, this is a lot is going to be.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Or to actually about this one. You you hit you
hit the little jumper, and then you just collect your coins.
You're on the floor and just collecting money, collecting money,
collecting just and grab it like yeah, just like you know,
something like that, and I just you know, put it
in your bag, you know, put it in your bag.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Yeah, okay, all right, I love that. I'm gonna take
a few of those. I don't know if I can
use them all at once, but I can do the hair,
the hair flip, I can do the blood the kiss,
and then yeah, I'm gonna collect my coins because why not. Yeah,
stay tuned because the celebrations are coming. I don't always
(25:24):
I don't always do them, but they're gonna come.
Speaker 2 (25:27):
Yeah. I can't wait to be tuned in and watch
you do a little a little hair toss or a
little kiss, so you know, a little more antics to
the to the basketball game. I love to see that.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
I'm not even gonna I'm not even gonna tell my
wife Martin I'm gonna do it. I'm just wait for
her to be surprised, and she's just gonna be like,
what is what happened to you? I'd be like, well,
my new friend Jordan gave me some some inside uh,
some tips on how I should be celebrating and celebrating myself.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Yeah, a little tips and tricks. I mean, girl, have
you got the talent, which obviously you do, you might
as well flaunt it a little bit. You might as
well give the give the fans a little a little crumbs,
a little hate.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
Okay, Okay, I got that. Okay, all right, this is
my last question for the pod. Okay, what's next for
Jordan Lucas on the court and also off the court.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
On the court, what's next for me is another season
for sure to be determined. We're at though, but then
I feel like people can this next season really hope
to see and get more of a glimpse into kind
of who I am. I feel like now people are
still starting to realize kind of the style that I
play with and you know, the personality that I have
(26:41):
on the court, and so that's what I'm looking forward
to with people just being more engaged in it, and
like maybe i have a couple of new celebrations that
I'm thinking of, you know, I'm I'm watching some some
drag race to kind of get inspired a little bit more.
And then for off the court, I'm I hope that
or for I hope people can see me what I'm
(27:02):
doing next is just staying true to who I am.
I think that's one thing that I've done very well,
and I'm very proud of myself over my entire teenage
years and now my early adult years, is that I've
been the same person, in my opinion for the last
probably ten years. So I think people can just expect
to kind of, you know, see more antics and more
of just who I am off the court, which is
(27:23):
a little bit more reserved. I always say this, I'm
always a little bit more reserved off the court and
a little more to myself.
Speaker 1 (27:30):
Okay, I'm a hair flip, all right. You heard it
here first. Thanks for checking this out. Please leave a
review on our podcast page and comment on our YouTube channels.
See you next time, and thank you Jordan, Thank you
so much
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