Billy Garrett Jr. knows what it means to refuse a life of limitations. Perseverance is in his blood. His grandfather, Bill Garrett, was the first African-American to play basketball in the Big Ten Conference. Nearly 80 years later, Billy is carrying on that legacy of breaking barriers — he’s the first person diagnosed with sickle cell disease to play in the NBA. “Having sickle cell disease has shown me that I possess a level of strength, discipline, and perseverance that I otherwise wouldn't have known,” he said. Billy was diagnosed with sickle cell disease when he was born. Despite being cautioned against playing sports from his doctors, he continued to pursue his passion and love for the game. It hasn’t come without its lessons learned. When he was 12, Billy experienced a sickle cell crisis while at basketball camp. Overexerting himself led to severe pain coursing through his body and red blood cells trapped in his spleen, causing it to swell. After being transported to the h...