Cameron Boozer was taken third overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2026 NBA Draft, but the post-selection interview with ESPN quickly turned into a family moment—anchored by his mother, CeCe (Cindy), whose on-camera appearance sparked a wave of comments ac
Cameron Boozer’s name landed with the kind of weight draft nights demand—then his mother made sure it didn’t stop there.
The Memphis Grizzlies selected Boozer third overall in this year’s NBA Draft. The forward’s stock had already been built on a Duke season that brought him National College Player of the Year recognition and a consensus All-American nod. On the night his future shifted, the celebration didn’t play out like a script either. Boozer sat down with ESPN for an interview after the selection. and the group around him looked like a reunion of everything that got them to that moment: his older brother Carmani. his twin brother and former Duke teammate Cayden. his father and former NBA veteran Carlos Boozer. and his mother. CeCe.
CeCe’s real name is Cindy, and she arrived for the on-camera segment in a black dress. Almost immediately, the focus in the digital crowd moved from the pick to her. Social media users flooded the timeline with comments about her looks. turning what might have been a straightforward post-draft appearance into a trending spectacle.
One X user wrote: “These booser [sic] boys momma is a dime piece.” Another replied, “Omg sheeeeesh boozers momma is sexy.” A different comment read, “now that im 25 i finally understand hot moms.”
For Boozer, though, the noise outside the frame didn’t eclipse what he was trying to say inside it. When asked about what the moment meant, he described it as something shared rather than owned.
“our moment as a family,” Boozer said.
CeCe—speaking with ESPN’s Lisa Salters during the on-camera interview—spoke in the same spirit. framing the journey in terms of belief and persistence. “I think it’s really just faith over fear,” she said. Then she connected that message to the hard parts of the road her son had walked with his family beside him.
“So we battle that adversity as a family and now we get to celebrate as a family and be here to watch Cameron. I just couldn’t be more proud.”
Boozer’s own words brought the focus back to the day-to-day support behind the big night. He talked about how central family has been to his path to the NBA, including practical sacrifices that started long before draft tickets and television cameras.
“I don’t even know how to describe it honestly, man. … It’s my moment, but it’s our moment as a family,” Boozer said. He added that his mother used to drive him to practices and tournaments during his grade school days—an everyday commitment that. in hindsight. feels like it led directly to the one rare evening when everything finally came together.
The Memphis Grizzlies may have made the selection—third overall for Cameron Boozer—but on draft night. the real highlight for many viewers was how the celebration looked up close: a family grouped around a pick. with CeCe’s presence sparking a social media frenzy and Boozer’s message staying grounded in what he called “our moment.”.
NBA Draft 2026 Memphis Grizzlies Cameron Boozer CeCe Boozer Cindy Duke National College Player of the Year consensus All-American Carlos Boozer ESPN Lisa Salters