We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nikki Thompkins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Nikki thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

BIGNIK LLC. is an extension of myself. I am the brand! I grew up in a low-income neighborhood with high crime rate and the presence of drug and gang activity. I was raised in a single parent home where we had financial deficiencies. Often times food, clothing, and toiletries were donated to the family to help make ends meet. Playing sports was an outlet for me. I played 3 sports in high school to avoid being home. I spent countless hours at the community center in my neighborhood as well. It was a safe environment where I was able to participate in sports activities, eat free meals, do Arts and Crafts, board games, receive help with homework, and build healthy relationships. I earned a full ride basketball scholarship to Central Michigan University. I was a student athlete in college for four years. I was undersized and played against much taller players at the center position. I had much success. I would often tell my opponent to get “GET BIG” This had nothing to do with physical size because they were already taller. The “GET BIG’ was the measurement of my heart and passion. That stuck with me and I started referring to myself as BIG NIK. (NIK is short for Nikki). Soon others started to refer to me as BIG NIK as well. Even off the court I was being called BIG NIK due to my heart and passion for the community. I went on to play 8 years of professional basketball after college. (There was no WNBA yet). I knew that once I retired, I was going to give back in some capacity to the community that I grew up in. I’ve always had the passion to help others because someone always helped our family. I wanted to pay it forward. That it how BIG NIK LLC. was birthed.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

Once retired I knew that I wanted to be a resource for the community. I started doing Back to School giveaways, Thanksgiving Baskets, Christmas Baskets, Christmas gifts, Easter Baskets, Shoe/Coat drives and whatever else was needed in the community. I would speak at the local community centers, Boys and Girls Club, Job Corps, parks, and basketball camps. I would always relay the message that they could make it out because I did! Also expressing the importance of paying it forward. What separates me from others that go back into their communities is how I can relate fully to both boys and girls. Ironically, I have more males that look up to me as a mentor/inspiration than females due to my sports background. I get so many letter and messages from young men who express how much of an impact that I have made in their lives.

BIGNIK LLC. is a business and a brand. We have merchandise to wear from t-shirts to hoodies. There is a certain way you should feel when you put on the merch. Every item contains the trademarked slogan “DO IT BIG” on the back of the shirts, hoodies and jackets. That encourages whomever that wears it, to be excited about the day because their passion will be maximized! You can wear it to the gym, to work, to cook, to write… Whatever it may be just do it passionately!

This Spring we launched BIG NIK Basketball. It is an AAU travel basketball organization that gives kids who are not top tier or can’t afford the hefty payments of other programs an opportunity to play and experience travel basketball. We have both boys’ and girls’ teams. I have gotten so much positive feedback from parents, players and the community about how impactful BIG NIK Basketball was for their kid this past Spring and Summer. We are excited to start back up this winter with additional teams. I am most proud of success of BNB (BIG NIK Basketball) because of the foundation. Basketball is what allowed me to go to college for free and in a sense saved my life because it was my outlet/coping skill. It may do the same for so many others.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Baxter Community Center is the place where I spent countless hours to enjoy a safe place to just be. Once I retired, I returned to work for the center in an effort to give back. This place was family for me. I grew up without a father, so Baxter Community Center was my Dad. I credit the center with helping save my life, literally. While there working one afternoon, I felt faint. I was able to go into the wholistic clinic that is onsite. They took blood from me and sent it in. A few hours later I was told to head to the emergency room. They needed to do two blood transfusions and eventually a hysterectomy. One week later my doctor called and stated that they found a rare and aggressive cancer in my uterus and that I would need another surgery. This time they removed my cervix, ovaries, uterus and lymph nodes. to prevent any chance of spreading. I am very happy to be cancer free and I do not take anything for granted. I spend a lot of time pouring into people. Men, women, kids, ect.. I want my story to inspire them and encourage them to “DO IT BIG” in life!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

So many people don’t know how I am always so positive despite my life growing up. I was the youngest of four. My mom worked to provide for us and always made it happen. I always tell people that we were not rich in money, but we were rich in love. Despite all of the love and guidance my mother showed us, a couple of my siblings were still hardheaded. My two oldest siblings developed addictions. That was the reason I hated coming home after school. I played basketball all my life, but the biggest pivot move I made did not happen on the court. It happened with my siblings. Although I love them tremendously, I had to separate from them. I could not allow their addiction and manipulation deter me from my goals in life. It was very hard to do but necessary for me to continue on my journey. They did not take it well but understood. Their choices in a sense helped me become who I was because I knew I did not want to be like them in any way. I still love my siblings.

Contact Info:

• Website: bignik.org
• Instagram: bignikllc
• Facebook: Nicole Nikki Thompkins (personal page) bignikllc (business page)
• Twitter: bignikthompkins (individual page) _BNBfamily (travel basketball page)
• Youtube: BigNik Thompkins
• Other: TikTok: BIGNIKThompkins