For a growing number of NBA players, the postgame highlight of any road trip across the Midwest isn’t a postgame restaurant or bar. It’s a hug, encouragement, and homemade cookies--all courtesy of Diane Simon.

Simon, 64, is a Cleveland native who manages a local AT&T branch. She’s also an NBA fan who loves to meet people and give back. She regularly greets players in the loading docks of NBA arenas to provide them with love, encouragement, and cookies, all free of charge.

“I call her ‘The Cookie Mom,'” said the Memphis Grizzlies’ Joakim Noah. “She’s in my phone as ‘The Cookie Mom.'”

After the Minnesota Timberwolves traveled to Detroit to take on the Pistons in March, Wolves forward Taj Gibson brought along rookie Josh Okogie to meet Simon. “I introduced her to Josh, and he was like, ‘She’s just a lady that makes cookies?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, man. She’s a really nice lady. Her cookies are really good.’

Simon used to babysit for members of the Cleveland Cavaliers, baking cookies as a thank-you. After moving on to other teams, those players would request her cookies as visitors. Her reputation spread to the next generation of players. “By the end of the bus ride, we were on the bus for like 20 minutes, and [Josh] finished his whole box of cookies in those quick minutes. He was like, ‘Her cookies are bomb! Her cookies are fire!’ I was like, ‘Yeah, she does that every time.'”

Diane’s philosophy is simple. “Everyone likes a cookie … I wanted them to know that there was someone there who would do something for them without asking for anything.”

Potential Preaching Angles: Consistent love and generosity is powerful enough to cross distances of class, culture, or creed, and when we show selfless love to others we give them a glimpse of God's love.

James L. Edwards III, “The NBA’s ‘Cookie Mom’” The Atlantic (3-25-19)