Nba Photographer Cassy Athena On Capturing The Biggest Moments For Nba Stars Like Steph Curry And Le

You're listening to Courtside Club, presented by Caesars Sportsbook.

This is when your legs are, somebody crosses you over and you fall.

Break your ankles?

Yes.

Okay, time's up.

That was so good. You're really good at this game.

And welcome to the Courtside Club.

Today, I am super excited to have the queen of sports photography with me.

Here today, Miss Cassie Athena.

Thank you so much for joining me.

Thanks for having me.

Welcome to the Courtside Club.

Glad to be here.

So, everybody on Instagram, any sports fan, is familiar with your photos or has seen one at some point.

Their favorite NBA player, celebrity, football player has all reposted your work.

And they get that outside view of who you are.

But today, I want to dive in and give people the courtside view.

Cool. Well, I'm glad to show it.

I'm so excited that you're here today.

I feel like I haven't seen you in a while, probably because of COVID.

Because we would normally run into each other at all of these different events and whatnot.

When did you start your photography journey?

I mean, I would say when I was younger, my dad always used to have a camera and take pictures of me and my brother.

It was just like a capturing moments sort of thing.

And so, I always associated taking photos with capturing moments.

And then, as I got a little older, I started playing basketball in college.

I played at Glendale College out here.

And I always just had like a little point-and-shoot camera.

And I'd take pictures of my teammates or the guys' team.

And I just love people's emotional reactions to capturing these moments.

And so, it just kind of drove me to keep learning more and doing it more.

But I actually went to school for animation and visual effects.

So, nothing to do with photography. It was just always a hobby.

But kind of, right? Like, that's still kind of in the art world.

Yeah, but I feel like I've never been like formally trained as a photographer.

So, a lot of the technical stuff, I was just searching, you know, tutorials or whatever.

And then, I started doing photography.

And then, I started doing photography.

And then, I started doing photography.

When I graduated college in 2011, there was an NBA lockout.

And that's when somebody had told me,

Hey, there's a league down here in L.A. called the Drew League.

You should pull up. There's NBA players.

And I showed up, and there was absolutely like no photo cameras there.

There was like two guys filming.

Yeah, it was like Ball is Life, Mars Real, Who Mixtape, and then me with my camera.

And so, I was taking photos, capturing moments.

And that's when I started meeting players.

And they started saying, Hey, come to this private run.

Come to this private run.

Come to this birthday party.

And it kind of just continued to go from there.

After that lockout summer had ended, it ended around December.

Nobody wanted to hire me because I wasn't a real photographer according to, you know, newspapers or media outlets.

So, I just would wait until the summer, and I would just capture players' shoes, outfits, personal lives.

So, I kind of became like this lifestyle photographer.

Not necessarily what I was going after, but it just happened that way.

Yeah.

Anybody who isn't familiar with the Drew League,

it's, I guess, what would you call it?

It's like a pro-am league in the summer in L.A.

But some of the best hoopers in the world have played, like Kobe Bryant's played there.

Has LeBron ever gone through the Drew League?

Yeah, LeBron went that summer.

So, LeBron, Kevin Durant, like the list goes on and on.

And now, if you go there, like there's a million cameras, a million people.

It's oversaturated.

That's what I'm saying.

So, for you to get your start there, what else were you doing at the time?

Photography.

Photography.

Was that your, like, your full-time?

No.

I was interning at a visual effects studio.

Okay.

At the same time that I was trying to do photos of whatever I could shoot.

And so, I had interned probably six months at a studio here in Culver City.

And then, at the end of the summer, I ended up getting hired.

And so, I had to, like, kind of put my photography.

I didn't know how to, like, mix it in as a full-time job.

So, I would work all day at this studio.

And after I would get off of work, I'd go shoot a run or a game or a workout, whatever I could shoot.

And then, I ended up working at that visual effects studio for a year and a half.

And then, I finally, like, they kind of pushed me and were like, you need to go be a photographer.

Like, this isn't working.

So, I ended up becoming a photographer, like, full-time probably around, like, 2013.

Like, the end of 2013.

That's pretty great, though.

And really taking it serious.

Yeah.

So, wait.

The visual effects studio.

Like, what were you actually doing there?

Because, like, you went to school for that, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

So, I went to school to learn how to be a compositor, which is where you're doing stuff.

On the computer.

So, if it's, like, a green screen, you take, like, the green screen plate, the actual plate of the background, and, like, the foreground, and you put them all together and make it look real.

But I just got sick of being on the computer.

It's too much work.

Yeah.

So, I ended up transitioning to be a coordinator and a producer.

So, I was now in charge of making sure that the artists were doing their work on time and I was getting everything organized.

So, I kind of was, I ended up being a producer for that whole time instead of, like, an actual artist on the computer, which I enjoyed it more because I enjoy talking to people.

I enjoy talking to people and socializing, but it's definitely something most people don't know about me is that I was in that whole production world and I've worked on, like, really big TV shows and movies and I enjoyed it.

It was a lot of work for not a lot of money and I didn't feel very fulfilled because I was so passionate about something else.

So, I ended up, like, the people at the company saw that I was, like, really passionate about basketball and they kind of gave me the push to go forward with it.

I almost think that if you started, say, now.

Mm-hmm.

Because I feel like...

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Because, like, it might have been different because now in this day of, like, social media and all these different things, it's, like, kind of anybody can be a professional if you've done enough work on your own online.

Yeah.

Exactly.

But to hear that you weren't taken seriously and then to see where you are now is just, like, kind of ironic to me.

Yeah, because when I started, it was, like, very new social media.

There was no Instagram yet.

Yeah.

It was, like, a little bit of Twitter and Facebook.

So, most of the people that I was trying to work with, they just looked at it like you haven't worked for a traditional media outlet or a company.

You didn't go to school for it, so you're not a real photographer.

But nowadays, I mean, you could go buy a really nice camera.

If you end up, like you said, shooting enough stuff on your own, you could build a portfolio and get hired to do jobs.

Yeah.

So, social media changed it for everybody.

And then now cameras are cheaper as well, too, so they're more affordable.

So, that's why you see so many photographers.

But when I was trying to do it, I was in the middle of, like, this age of, like, these OG photographers that had, like, gone to school and probably shot on film and all that.

Yeah.

And now I'm over here.

I'm on a digital camera trying to figure it out for social media.

And it was just, like, a new thing.

Do you remember when that first break was for you, when you felt like you were really getting some traction kind of in this field and people started recognizing you?

Yeah.

I feel like in the beginning, one of the brands that, like, really supported me was Dime Magazine.

They would post my photos a lot.

And I was like, okay.

Like, people want to see my work.

And then that kind of led to Under Armour working with me.

And they brought me out to shoot my first high school tournament, the Elite 24.

And the players in that game were, like, Devin Booker, Stanley Johnson, like, Miles Turner.

Like, a lot of guys who are now in the NBA doing bigger things.

So, I feel like when I flew out to New York and I got to be around them, even though high school players were not super popular like they are now.

Right.

But they, I felt like my first, like, wow, I'm actually, like, on a plane and going to, like, work because of my camera.

So, to me, I felt like that was the first kind of, like.

To get the ball started.

I didn't really start making money until years later.

But I felt like those kind of events made me feel really grateful that my camera got me here.

Yeah.

But I think that is something for a lot of people.

And maybe, like, those listening or watching don't really understand.

Like, it is a grind in this industry.

I don't care what you're doing.

And a lot of people, you know, see on social media people who kind of blow up as what you think is overnight.

Yeah.

You know what I mean?

They have, like, one viral video or this and that.

But for the majority, like, 99.9%.

99.9% of us, it takes that time.

And it really is, like, a grind to get where you want to be.

Because I think even people with me, they see, oh, her first job was, like, NBA 2K.

And it's not even close.

No, you were working years before that.

Yeah.

I was working years before that.

And I also was, like, working in a restaurant 40 hours a week.

And, like, doing, like, modeling jobs.

Because it doesn't start paying off until you really, you know, get some traction.

And it's, like, by that time, people will know who you are.

People will know who you are before you start.

They'll know who you are before you start making money.

Yeah.

That's, I guess, the point I'm trying to make.

Yeah, definitely.

One of my uncles, he's an actor.

And he always says it takes years to become an overnight success.

Yeah, so true.

But most people don't see the years that lead up to that one big moment.

Right.

But it's all those years that, like, allow that moment to happen.

Definitely.

Mm-hmm.

I feel like something that's special about you as well is you have kind of built this

relationship with these professional athletes, high school athletes, and to where they trust

you.

And to where they trust you, being around with your camera and kind of capturing them.

Did that just happen organically?

Yeah.

Was that, yeah?

Well, I feel like...

Being in the scene, I guess.

I feel like it just happened with, like I was saying, I was mainly shooting L.A. players.

And I was getting to know, like, one or two players.

And I feel like I built a good, solid relationship with those guys.

And then after that, it kind of word of mouth.

Yeah.

You know, like, oh, like, if Cassie's cool with this guy, then I trust her.

And then people also saw, like, as I was saying, I was like, oh, I trust her.

I was taking photos.

I wasn't releasing anything that was negative or trying to harm them.

So I ended up, after that first summer, the game, I ended up meeting him.

I'll bring you into my world.

So I got to shoot music videos.

I got to shoot clubs, studios, everything.

And so being around him, I definitely learned a lot.

And I think a lot of people saw how I portrayed him in, like, a really great light.

Right.

And I think it'd be really easy to make somebody look bad, especially in that world.

And I never posted anything negative.

Right.

It's always positive stuff.

So it kind of made other people, like, okay, like, she's not here for any weird reasons.

Like, she wants to show us in a good light.

So that trickled into the basketball world.

Yeah.

And then over time, you just build relationships and your reputation, like, precedes itself.

Yeah.

But I think that's something special in today's age, too, because a lot of media outlets are

like, you know if you have some sort of photo that, like, has shock value or has some sort

of, like, controversy behind it, it's going to get clicks.

Yeah.

Like, so that's kind of an easy way.

It's like, kind of get yourself on the map.

Oh, like, Cassie took this photo.

Have you seen this photo?

And then that's something that you did.

But I don't think people maybe understand on the other side of that.

You're also, like, losing some relationships that could help you in the long run.

I think your morals get involved, too.

Oh, yeah.

I don't like doing that with my content, either.

And even, like, a show like this, I like to showcase what people, like, the exciting

things people have going on in their lives.

Yeah.

Right.

Because you could potentially ask somebody a controversial question, but you might never

have that relationship again.

Yeah.

And I do, over the years, have met a lot of paparazzi that have tried to convince me,

just, you know, send this or send that.

I'm like, I don't want to.

Like, I just don't.

And at this point, it's been over 10 years, so I feel like if I was going to do it, I

would have done it, you know?

Yeah.

But it's just, that's not who I am.

That's not why I got into this.

And I value my relationships more than trying to get one clickbait moment.

Yeah.

Do you think it's hard, in a sense, being a female with what you do?

Because I think most of the people that you shoot with that I have seen.

Are men.

Obviously, like, pro athletes in that sense.

And I can relate in that way as well, because this is just such a male-dominated space.

Is that tough for you?

Or is that just something that you're just like, I don't care?

Oh, no.

It definitely is, like, a challenge.

I feel like, especially in the beginning, to this day, I really don't see many female

sports photographers, specifically.

And I feel like, in the beginning, it was always questioned.

People were always questioning, like, why I was around all these athletes.

Like, what were my real intentions?

Yeah.

Because no female would want to come take free pictures for nothing.

Like, I was there trying to get shows or trying to do something that wasn't, like, it just

didn't make sense.

Yeah.

And so, and I just noticed a lot of the guys that were trying to kind of start around the

time I did didn't have any of those issues.

Meanwhile, I'm constantly being questioned about my character.

So, yeah.

And so, I felt like I had to, like, overcompensate and really, like, get to know, like, the girlfriends,

the moms, the families.

The players.

Like, it's not just the players.

I know their whole circle.

Just to, like, assure them, like, hey, I really don't have any weird ulterior motives.

So, that was, like, a real big challenge.

And it took a few years to kind of get established.

And now, now I'm at a point where, I mean, I don't care what, like, an outside people

on the internet might say.

Yeah.

Because, like, the athletes I work with, the people I work with, they know who I am.

And I just don't care about, I don't care about it now in the way that I used to.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

People I work with respect me.

But it's definitely, it's tough.

And then the other thing that's tough is, like, I'm also six foot tall and blonde.

So, when I go to, like, NBA games and I try to sneak in a camera or a vent, I get spotted

really easy.

I see so many guys that I know that are, like, shorter and they're, like, a little more discreet.

And they sneak in more camera equipment than I do.

But if I'm trying to sneak in, it's like, oh, no, this, like, tall girl, like, she's

not supposed to be here.

Right.

You stand out.

Yeah.

So.

Wait.

What's the secret of sneaking in?

Sneaking in a camera.

I need to know this.

Oh, yeah.

That's, that's top secret.

Oh.

I mean, like, you're allowed to bring cameras in.

You just have to figure out, like, what lenses you can bring in and stuff.

But there's, like, certain areas where you're not supposed to sit at and maybe I end up

sneaking somewhere.

Not just NBA games.

Like, events in general.

I'm pretty good about sneaking around.

But I do get caught a lot easier.

That's good.

Even when I do have credentials, I get, you know, harassed.

I've had a lot of security guards harass me because they feel like they could get away

with bullying me.

I've had, like, some crazy stories that have happened over the years, but.

That's insane.

Yeah.

And it's, like, hard because if I talk about it publicly, it's, like, I'll get backlash

for trying to go to events.

Yeah.

So, it's, like, maybe one day I'll be able to share more to, like, help other people

realize, like, this is a tough thing for being a female in this industry.

But I do feel so much love and support from all the male athletes and their families.

And there's a lot of people behind the scenes that have done a lot to help.

So, it balances it out for sure.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I think that that's something that maybe you won't understand if you're not a female,

right?

And I'm one of those people, I think, we're probably similar in this.

Like, I don't make any excuses for being a female because at the same time, and especially

with what I do, I'll be the first to admit that, like, there are advantages to being

a female in this industry.

Of course.

Because if I know my shit, I can stand out because I'm a female.

I just have to make sure I know my shit and I know what I'm talking about.

But at the same time, there are certain situations that we get put into.

That might be uncomfortable.

And I'm not saying anybody's doing anything that's, like, overtly wrong.

But there's just, how do I describe it?

There's just this thing that could make you feel uncomfortable as a female that if a male

were in the same position, they just don't experience that.

And so, but I understand where you're coming from.

Because the thin line for me is, like, I'm never going to complain.

But maybe there is a story that I can tell that can help somebody else who's younger

who's trying to do what I'm doing.

And maybe there's a way.

Maybe there's a way to carry yourself or, like, hey, there's things to look out for.

Like, if somebody is talking to you like this or if there's, you know, this happens, there's

a way to go about that situation to make sure that you come out on the right side.

Or if they're saying this about you, like you said, if people are talking about you

being at the games just because you're trying to, like, hook up with a player, you've got

to block those things out.

You know, there's a way to, like, be strong in it.

But, yeah.

That stuff really turns off, I think, a lot of women to being in this world.

Because I feel like it gets overwhelming, especially when you're first starting, trying

to be taken serious and also follow your passion.

So I feel like that kind of, like, discourages a lot of females from getting to the point

where, like, you and I are.

Yeah.

Which is sad.

It takes time, though, too.

Because I've even noticed that when I kind of first started and was getting more visibility,

people were only talking about more so, like, what I looked like than what I was talking about.

And, like, that was hard for me at times.

Because, obviously, like, I'm flattered if someone wants, you know, to compliment the

way that I look.

But I would love for you to listen to what I'm saying because I'm actually really proud

of, like, what's coming out of my mouth.

Exactly.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And also, like you do say, there is advantages to it.

Like, I definitely don't want to feel like I'm complaining about being a female.

Yeah.

Because I do stand out.

I feel like I can kind of blend in with the crowd easier.

You know, and there's been a lot of really cool opportunities, you know.

Now, especially, like, I feel like women are being heard more.

And I feel like now is, like, a better...

Time than ever before to stand out and really kind of, like, own, like, what we've been

dealing with and doing and share our experiences.

Like, you having your podcast, you're able to open up another side that a lot of people

wouldn't even have opportunities to do on their own.

So, this kind of stuff is cool, too.

Definitely.

Yeah.

We are getting to halftime of the show.

I want to dive deeper into what you're doing now and even more into the basketball world.

But since both of us come from a basketball background, I was wondering.

If you wanted to play a basketball-themed game of Heads Up with me.

Okay, that's fine.

Cool.

Let's do it.

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Like, really short basketball player.

Point guard.

Yeah.

Shooting guard.

Like an NBA legend when you talk about the shortest guy.

Oh, like Z-Bug.

Yes, that's it.

Yes, that's it.

Down.

Yeah.

Tall player, like, MVP status.

The Nets.

Giannis.

The Nets.

The Nets.

Like, you say LeBron or...

Kevin Durant.

Yes.

This is when you're bouncing the ball, like...

Dribbling.

Yes.

This is the team in the city that we're in right now.

Los Angeles Lakers?

Yes.

The Beard.

James Harden.

Yep.

Okay.

Okay, so this is, like, what you call on the court when the point guard's coming up and

he, like, calls out, like, uh, run Georgetown.

Uh, play?

Yeah.

Uh.

It's play-by-play, but I don't even know.

Okay.

Uh, tall guy who used to play for the Lakers.

He has a brother who also plays named Mark.

Oh, my...

Mark?

His brother's name is Mark.

He used to play for the Lakers.

I don't know where he's at now.

Lopez brothers?

I don't know.

Wait, where's Paul Gasol at now?

He was, like, on the group Memphis.

Where's he at now?

You should have said, like, Spanish player.

But, yeah, I know who he's talking about.

But, when you're not on defense, you're on the other...

Block?

On the other side, and you, like...

Push, charge, I don't know.

Okay, pass, offensive foul.

Okay, so this is, like, the last part of the tournament.

Uh, the...

The last couple games.

The playoffs.

This is what...

The finals.

Yes.

Uh, so if you're not on defense, you're on...

Offense.

Yeah.

So this is when you hand off, and then you run and cut.

It's, like, part of a play when you're, like...

Wow, I feel like I don't know anything about this.

Hand it off, and then cut.

Uh...

Um...

Give and go, pass.

Oh, my God!

Okay, this is one I, like, I can't...

I can't miss.

I am...

Uh, hot?

Wet?

Close.

Uh, on fire?

Yeah.

Okay.

Uh, the movie that LeBron was in...

Space Jam.

Yeah.

Uh...

Used to play for Phoenix.

Like, OG, retired NBA player, point guard.

13?

Number...

Coach of the Nets.

Steve Nash.

Right?

I feel like it's getting worse now.

Shit, it's getting worse.

I feel like it's getting worse.

I'm nervous.

No, you're good.

Seven.

Okay, this is a team Steph Curry plays on.

Warriors.

Yeah.

He was just in Space Jam.

LeBron.

Yes.

This is what's happening next weekend in Cleveland.

NBA All-Star.

Yeah.

Um, this...

This is, like, when you have the ball, and you get...

You have the ball, and you, like, run around them.

It's a...

It's a play.

Uh...

Just...

Mid-move?

Pass, pass, pass, pass, pass.

Uh, pass that one, too.

Okay.

Oh, my gosh.

Pass.

Okay, this is, like, a commentator.

He used to play on the Suns.

Big guy.

He's, like, with Shaq, Kenny.

Oh, Charles Barkley.

Yes.

Um, this is Dwayne Johnson.

The Rock?

Yeah.

Oh, like...

Funny.

Uh, pass.

I don't know what those are.

Oh, let's go, let's go.

This is when you...

You get fouled, and then you...

And one.

Yes.

This is when the...

The sound the ball makes when it goes to the...

Yes.

Um, this...

Pass.

Oh, no.

Oh, no.

Uh, this is...

Played on the Miami Heat.

We're just retired.

Yes.

Okay.

Do we get it?

Do we get it?

Do we get it?

Do we feel Cardinals and stuff on there?

What?

That sounds like...

I don't know if I'm kind of...

It has to be seven.

Four.

Yeah, because you guys...

Yeah.

Can I jump back into your personal story a little bit?

Because I know, personally, you had health issues.

I don't know.

You can tell your story.

Okay.

You're open to it.

Yeah.

But that you also had to overcome, which I think just makes your story even more interesting

and empowering.

Yeah.

For sure.

Yeah.

I mean, when I was in...

Yeah.

When I was in college, I ended up being diagnosed with a brain tumor.

Um, I was...

Like, the long story short, I was, um, in art class one day, and I had this horrible

headache, and I, like, turned my head.

I started blacking out, and I usually don't get headaches.

Yeah.

So I went down to the school doctor, and it was during midterm, so most kids don't sleep

and stuff.

Right.

And so the nurse was like, you're probably fine.

And then the doctor came in, and he was like, yeah, it might be lack of sleep, or you might

have a brain tumor.

So you should go to the...

Yeah.

Yeah.

It was just, like, very extreme.

That's crazy.

And he's like, you should...

You should just go down to, um, the emergency room and get, like, everything scanned and

checked out.

Right.

So I'm freaking out.

I tell my dad, uh, we drive down to the hospital together.

Even at the hospital, they're kind of making fun of me.

Oh, no, a college student with a headache, you know?

Right.

I was like, I don't know.

Like, the doctor said it could be a brain tumor, so, um, they ran tests, they did CAT

scans, and they ended up finding something, and they were like, your headache had nothing

to do with it.

It had, like, it just, you had a headache from, like, not sleeping.

Um, but they found something, and I had to stay for, like, a few days.

They ran tests.

They knew it wasn't cancerous pretty fast, but they weren't sure 100%, so I got a few,

uh, more opinions, and it ended up it was a brain tumor, and it was in the balanced

part of my brain.

So they didn't know how I could, like, walk or function or anything.

They also don't know how...

And you were playing basketball, too, right?

Playing basketball, art major.

Yeah.

And I felt fine.

Like, I never felt any balance issues in my life.

Yeah.

And, uh, like, they just couldn't understand how I was able to walk.

I couldn't walk or anything, so I had to get it removed.

I was diagnosed in February.

Fast forward to July is when they let me have the surgery, because they're like, you don't

want to wait too long, and all I was thinking is I don't want to repeat another year of

college.

I want to, like, get it done with, so...

Yeah.

Um, I waited till the summer.

They had to shave the whole back of my head.

Um, they did the surgery.

It took maybe, like, five or six hours.

It took way longer than they thought, but once they removed it, since they were, like,

poking around that part of my brain, I had, like, the worst balance issues for probably

six months.

It was, like, imagine standing up and spinning in a circle five times and trying to walk,

but all day long.

Yeah.

So, um, I was constantly dizzy, and then to this day, like, I have, like, a metal plate

on the back of my skull.

Like, they had stitched me up with, like, 15 staples, so while it was healing, it was,

like, that process was crazy, but then just, like, trying to walk again, trying to do it,

and then I ended up starting school again in the fall, probably around, like, September.

That's really quick.

Yeah, it was a few months later, so even with, like, issues, I was still, like, trying to

go back to school.

It was my senior year, and it just makes you realize how at any second, like, your life

can change, and you don't really have control of what's going to happen, and so when stuff

like that happens, um, especially when it happened to me, I just realized, like, God

has a bigger purpose for me, and I had kind of been coasting through life at that point,

and I was like, what's my bigger purpose?

Like, how can I make a mark on this earth?

Yeah.

And that's really when I started getting into photography and taking it more serious, and,

you know, it's been, that was 2009.

You know, we're in 2009.

That was in 22, so it's, like, all these past years, I could have not been here, but

instead, I feel like I've made a mark on this earth, so.

Yeah.

In a way, like, I'm glad I went through it, because it changed my whole perspective.

Well, it's crazy, too, because you, you always have to think you had a guardian angel or

I don't, or whatever you believe in.

Yeah.

That gave you that headache that day.

Yeah.

You know what I mean?

Because if they said that wasn't related, that, to me, just, like, stands out, like,

wow, somebody was looking over you or something was looking over you.

Yeah.

And looking out for you, because they knew that you had more.

Yeah, because that could have possibly led to, like, way worse issues down the line,

so.

That's what I'm saying.

Yeah.

Did you continue playing basketball after that, or was that kind of the end of your

hooping career?

At that point, I was more of, like, a casual basketball player.

Okay.

I wasn't, I had been playing at Glendale College.

I played for a couple years, and then when I transferred to Cal State Northridge, I didn't

want to pursue playing.

So, at that point, I was just playing more, like, recreationally, but it didn't, like,

derail my career or anything.

But if I was playing, it would definitely have made a huge impact.

That's what I'm saying, because balance is, like, such a big thing.

Yeah.

Yeah.

On a lighter note, too, I feel like you've had to have this question at some point.

Can you go through airport security?

Like.

Yeah.

So, it's, like, the kind of metal, it's, like, a mesh or something.

Because I thought that at first, too, I'm going to have to carry a card.

Yeah, I was, like, wait a second, you're going to, like, set off the airport security, like,

totally making light of the situation, but, like, you're good now.

It hasn't gone off yet, so we're good.

Okay, perfect.

What was the first photo that you were, like, wow, I can't believe this player posted one

of my photos?

I feel like it's gone in different stages.

So, I feel like early in my career, like, James Harden had posted my stuff, and he was

still really young at the time during the lockout, but he posted it on Twitter and made

it his, like, profile picture.

Oh, wow.

I was, like, wow, this is so cool.

And then fast forward to, like.

Like, years later, I was working with Steph Curry, who was, like, a huge player at that

time, and he was posting it.

And then I would say, like, in more recent years, like, up to 2018, when the first time

I, like, really met LeBron, he posted one of my photos that went super viral during

Fashion Week in New York.

So, I feel like throughout my career, there's been, like, really cool moments.

And it doesn't always have to be, like, superstar, like, athletes.

I mean, there's been people in the music world, or there's been outlets, like, when I got

published.

Like, Sports Illustrated, stuff like that, too.

So, I feel like there's been so many moments of just, like, people supporting it.

And I get excited even when people that I know personally post my stuff and tag me and

all that stuff.

So, it's not just, like, superstars.

I've posted a couple of yours.

Yeah, I've definitely shot you one.

Yeah.

We've had a couple that you've shot of mine where I was, like, broadcasting, actually,

one of the high school games.

I think you were shooting the game, but then you got some of us.

And then, when I've, like, played in little celeb games here and there, I feel like we

always connect.

And then, you also text me the pictures.

Yeah.

So, that makes me happy, too, that I get, like, easy answers.

I spend so much time just texting people photos after events.

Oh, I'm sure you get, like, blown up after an event.

All the time.

Because everybody, like, everybody wants pictures.

Everybody knows that you take good pictures.

Yeah.

So, they, like...

Yeah.

How have you noticed your work and your career kind of adapting and shifting as the landscape

of social media?

I feel like it has changed so much, you know, since 2011.

Of course.

When you first started.

Yeah, I feel like it's always changing.

In the beginning, especially, it was so new.

And I feel like people didn't really understand, like, the power you had in social media in

the way that, like, people can monetize and make full careers now with just posting, like,

from their actual phones, you know?

So, I feel like in the beginning, it was, like, a very big learning curve trying to

understand, like, what Instagram or Twitter, these outlets can actually do for my financial

career doing photography.

And then, over the years, then, it's like...

Snapchat comes into play, and then videos are now on Instagram, and then, like, Vine

and TikTok, and I feel like it's always changing and evolving, and I feel like most of the photographers

I see that can't keep up with social media, they get left behind.

So, that's, like, a big, I would say, like, issue if you're having a hard time trying

to, like, really dive into it, but I feel like I've forced myself to, like, learn it,

understand it, and, I mean, now I'm trying to get into TikTok, which has been, like, a

whole new thing.

Like, I posted one video last week.

I got, like, 7 million views.

I'm, like, oh, I can see why people are, like...

Yeah, it was a basketball video of Adam Sandler.

Oh, my gosh.

But then, like, the next day I'll post a video, it gets 100 views.

So, it's, like, learning, like...

That's TikTok for you.

So, if you're just getting started, like, that is TikTok's algorithm.

So, just, like, brace yourself.

But it's one of those things that, like, you, like, did the grind to get where you are in

your photography.

TikTok is something you'll pick up very quickly, but, like, it'll just be a grind also.

Yeah.

And it takes time for people to follow and whatnot.

But 7 million?

I've had any videos on TikTok get 7 million.

That's pretty good.

Like, I have, like, a million here, like, 2 million here, whatever.

But...

So, congrats.

But it is...

Thanks.

But it is cool to think, like, for example, I had, like, 400 followers on there.

And my video got 7 million.

So, it's cool to think that even if you don't have, like, a huge following, a fan base,

through social media, like, going viral can really kind of get you, like, on track to

open more doors at least.

Definitely.

Yeah, I think anybody who's just getting started should use that to your advantage.

And then, like you said, you just have to be adaptable.

Yeah, don't be discouraged and stick with it.

Yeah.

You just gotta keep with it.

So, we are getting to the end of the game.

And I have some buzzer beaters for you before I let you go.

Okay.

All right.

So, first up, describe your ideal courtside fit.

Wow.

I mean, usually when I'm courtside, I'm working.

So, I try to, like, make sure that...

I mean, I like to be...

I'm very comfortable.

Yeah.

So, I'll wear some sneakers, preferably, like, Jordans.

I love, like, retro Jordans.

I mean, it might be something similar to this.

Something similar, yeah.

I'll wear, like, some cool pants and maybe, like, branded t-shirt with my name on it,

something like that.

So, this might be, like, a typical fit I would wear to a game.

I love the branding, by the way.

I feel like if people have never even seen you or seen your face, they know the name.

They know the watermark.

Yeah.

They know Cassie Athena.

And then, they see you on the sideline wearing your shirt or your necklace or whatever.

They're like, oh, like, you're the face behind the photos.

Yeah.

So, next question.

What is your ideal courtside drink and food combo?

Wow.

I feel like I never eat at games, but there's a few games where I'm just, like, relaxing.

You're like, I'm just so working.

Yeah.

I'm like, I feel like when I'd go to games with one of my girlfriends out here,

she'd love to order chicken tenders, fries, and, like, the red Twizzlers.

Okay.

And then, also, we'd get, like, a drink, like, a mixed drink.

Like a cocktail.

Soda water with vodka and some lime or something like that.

So, I'd say that's my go-to if I'm not working.

I'll take that.

Yeah.

What is the best game that you've ever been courtside for?

There's probably a lot.

I would say one that stands out to me is I got to go down to Miami

and watch a few games when it was Dwayne Wade's last season.

Oh, cool.

And there was two games that they had, like, lost.

It was blowouts.

And I was like, okay, there's one game left.

They're playing the Warriors.

I feel like they're not going to win.

Yeah.

And at the end, that's when Dwayne Wade hit the game-winning buzzer-beater shot.

And, like, he's running around screaming.

And we're all excited.

And I was sitting there trying to stay still and take photos of the moment, though.

So, I was going to, like, really celebrate.

But I was, like, being in the moment.

That was, like, a pretty cool experience.

How did those photos turn out?

Amazing.

Yeah.

It was, like, really cool.

But I had to stay still.

So, that was the hard part.

And my last question.

What event in history would you have loved to have been courtside for?

In history?

Could be sporting.

Could be just any event.

I don't know.

Honestly, like, I feel like there's so many cool events that have happened.

On the topic of sports, I would say, like, I think it would have been cool to see, you know,

like, Kobe Bryant when he did his 81.

Something like that.

Like, some kind of, like, really epic moment that stands out.

Yeah.

That would be dead.

Thank you for joining us.

Before I let you go, let everybody know where they could find you and anything to look out for.

Yeah.

That you have coming up.

My social.

My Instagram.

It's Cassi Athena Photo.

My personal page, Cassi Athena.

Everything else, Cassi Athena.

Stuff I have coming up, you just have to tune in and see.

She'll be courtside, you guys.

Just wait for it.

So, thank you so much again.

For all you guys watching at home, make sure that you subscribe, like, and I'll see you guys next time.

Bye.

What's up, guys?

It's Rachel Demita.

Thank you so much for watching this week's episode of Courtside Club.

Make sure that you like, rate, and subscribe to ESPN's YouTube channel and wherever you listen to your podcasts.

We have new episodes coming to you guys every single week, so stay tuned for that, and I'll see you soon.