Cameron Boozer’s heartfelt journey into the NBA spotlight was shared with his older brother, whom he once played a crucial role in rescuing.
“This is my moment, but it’s truly our moment,” the 18-year-old expressed to ESPN’s Lisa Salter amidst the company of his family during the NBA Draft in Brooklyn, where the Memphis Grizzlies selected him third overall.
Standing at 6 feet 9 inches, the Duke forward is not only the son of Carlos, a former NBA star, but he is also the twin brother of Cayden, his partner on the high school and college courts. However, it was his elder sibling, Carmani, who became the focus of Salter’s conversation on that landmark night, rather than Cayden or Carlos.
Carlos once shared with The Associated Press in 2008, while playing for the Utah Jazz, the challenges faced when Carmani was born in 2006, diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, a hereditary blood disorder. Although individuals affected by this condition can often reach adulthood, they are burdened with a notably reduced lifespan.
In an effort to change Carmani’s fate, Carlos and his then-wife CeCe chose to utilize the birth of their twins in 2007 to supply the umbilical cord blood stem cells and bone marrow transplants necessary to save their eldest son’s life.
‘Being able to see everything he does, works hard, and shows up,’ Carmani said of Cameron on Tuesday night, ‘I couldn’t be more proud of someone, and to be able to call [him] my little brother is amazing.’
Cameron Boozer (lower left) is pictured with brothers Carmani (top left) and Cayden (top right) as well as their parents, Carlos and his now-former wife, CeCe (lower right)
Carlos Boozer is seen with sons Carmani (left), Cameeron and Cayden in April of 2010
The family first revealed the story when Carlos was a budding NBA star in Utah, telling The Associated Press that they decided to create a donor for young Carmani by producing their own through in-vitro fertilization.
Two of the healthy embryos they created were implanted, resulting in the twins’ birth in July of 2007.
After Carmani had chemotherapy to attack his sickle-cell producing bone marrow, he was injected with stem cells from one twin’s umbilical cord to stimulate the growth of new bone marrow in the hope it would produce healthy blood cells.
‘I think it’s really just faith over fear,’ CeCe, who has since divorced Carlos, told ESPN on Tuesday. ‘So, you know, we battled that adversity as a family, and now we get to celebrate as a family, and be here to watch Cameron, and I just couldn’t be more proud.’
Carlos echoed his ex-wife’s sentiment.
‘First, I’m proud of him,’ the 44-year-old Carlos said. ‘Like the dedication, you heard Carmani talk about it, his sacrifice. He shows up every single day. I’m just happy for him, man.’
Carlos then shared a message directly to Cameron: ‘Take each moment, enjoy each moment. Obviously, be where your feet are. This is something you’ve been waiting for your entire life, and go enjoy it, man. Go enjoy it.’
The Boozer twins were two of the top recruits in the country before committing to Duke
Cameron and Cayden Boozer, front row, from left, with their family during their signing ceremony at Columbus High School on Thursday, November 14, 2024, in Miami
Sickle cell is a devastating inherited disease of deformed red blood cells that can’t carry enough oxygen, common among people with ancestors from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and the Mediterranean.
The abnormal red blood cells, which shaped like a sickle or crescent, have difficulty moving through the blood stream. Complications can include intense pain, stroke, organ damage and death.
Bone-marrow transplants have been successful in curing the disease, but it is a risky procedure because the chemotherapy wipes out the immune system. In infants, the risks are even greater.
Cameron was the college player of the year in his one season at Duke after averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.
Cayden is staying at Duke, where he is expected to crack the starting lineup in 2026-27.