It was a night of unforgettable emotions for Jaden Ivey. With the clock winding down, the 22-year-old hit a stunning shot over Ochai Agbaji to secure the Pistons a dramatic 102-100 victory over Toronto. A spectacular game-winner! But what made the moment truly unforgettable wasn’t just the shot itself—it was the audience.

Watching courtside was none other than Niele Ivey, Jaden’s mother, and the head coach of Notre Dame Women’s basketball. For Niele, it wasn’t just a proud mother’s moment. It was a chance to see her son shine under the kind of pressure she’s taught so many athletes to handle.

And for the man of the hour, it was even more special knowing his mom—and the rest of his family—were there to witness it. “It was definitely special,” Jaden Ivey said in the post-game presser, his excitement palpable. “Big time having my wife and my mom here, my dad as well; watching that game-winner – my first game-winner – somebody told me that. It’s crazy! So, I am just blessed and thankful.”

Ivey’s stellar performance—25 points, five rebounds, eight assists, and one steal while shooting 76.9% from the field—was a reminder of why he’s seen as a rising star. But it was the emotional weight of the moment, with his family in attendance, that took this matchup to a whole another level!

For her part, the ex-Grizzlies assistant coach took to social media to share her excitement. Sharing a post-game picture of herself side-hugging Jaden, with a full-blown smile, Niele Ivey wrote, “Proud Mama,” followed by a red heart in her IG story update. Well, who wouldn’t?

But that wasn’t all. The 47-year-old shared the buzzer-beater shots shared by Detroit’s official account and Sportscenter, captioning the former with, “TUUUHHHHHHHHHHH [a string of fire emojis] LETS GOOOOO JADEN.” 

In the latter video, an emotional note, “I’m so proud,” followed by a pleading face (here, no doubt referring to how overcome with emotion she is) and heart emojis. And with such celebratory moments, Mama Ivey has successfully caught the attention of the NBA world.

A weekend to remember for Jaden Ivey and mom, Niele Ivey

As the game-winner sent the Pistons’ arena into a frenzy, the spotlight naturally turned to Niele Ivey, who seemed to be living out a dream weekend. One user had the good grace to post the fast-becoming viral photo of Niele Ivey, introducing her to those who might not be too familiar with Jaden’s mother. “That’s Niele Ivey (head coach of Notre Dame’s WBB), Jaden’s mom, taking in the moment.”

The rest of the fans on social media were quick to celebrate the Notre Dame coach, with one admirer summing it up perfectly: “Niele Ivey’s weekend of good fortune continues.” 

We agree!

Coach Ivey has been instrumental in maintaining a dominant program at Notre Dame. Her players have consistently performed well against ranked opponents. In addition, the coach also boasts one of the nation’s most dynamic rosters, including top recruits like Hannah Hidalgo—already making waves as the ACC Rookie and Defensive Player of the Year.

Moreover, they are off to a splendid start, 5-0, this season. It is no doubt a testament to the team’s strong form under Ivey’s leadership. Between leading the Fighting Irish on the sidelines and watching her son deliver the biggest moment of his young NBA career, Mrs. Ivey’s joy became a rallying point for basketball fans everywhere.

As such, it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume that Niele and Jaden are living their best week. Between Jaden’s jaw-dropping buzzer-beater for the Pistons and Notre Dame’s success, the energy in the Ivey household must be electric. A point, this next individual noted. “Niele Ivey and Jaden Ivey are having a GOOD week [fire emojis]. I know their phone calls are going crazy this week lol.”  

You can almost imagine the phone calls. Probably a mix of congratulations, proud family moments, and lots of “Can you believe this?”

Be it the high of Jaden’s career-defining moment or Coach Ivey’s splendid start to the season, it’s clear the Iveys are undoubtedly having a remarkable week! And we can’t help but join in on the excitement.