Focused, resilient, and competitive: Noah and Nelson Neumann are not your ordinary social media personalities. Known for their TikTok accounts nelsontheprodigy_ and nnsquad4, respectively, they've captured the hearts of over a million followers each. Their journey to stardom was marked by viral moments; in June 2023, Nelson's basketball TikTok garnered over 2 million views, showcasing his relentless drive on the court.
Meanwhile, Noah's 'Dunk Challenge' video exploded in May 2023, amassing millions of views and solidifying his status as a TikTok sensation. Yet, these content creators are more than just athletes. Whether it's traveling the world or making people laugh, these two exemplify the modern digital influencer, all while staying true to their competitive spirits.
In this tell-all interview with the Neumann Brothers, we had the opportunity to discuss how their upbringing shaped their journeys, uncover their methods of making a positive impact through their platforms, and dive headfirst into all things social media to reveal the secrets behind their viral content and what keeps them driven in the ever-evolving world of digital fame.
The Beginning…
Parents are the pinnacle of our hopes and dreams as children. Their support (or lack thereof) can usually make or break how we decide to pursue our interests, and it's no different for Nelson and Noah. Nelson shares, "My love for basketball comes from my dad.
At a young age, he got a ball in my hand. And I started trying to beat my older brother and then the rest was history. When my little brother came along, he could hoop like the day he was born, so I had another challenger. We constantly push each other to be better and work harder. It's like a built-in hype team." This support also pushed Noah to establish his own sports brand called "NN SQUAD," where he sells merchandise. "I've always been super creative. As a kid, I was known for never reading instructions, but instead taking pieces from all of my games, combining them and making a whole new game that was way better. When I got old enough to start translating my outlandish ideas into business ventures, my parents encouraged me and helped me navigate the markets. In today's world, even teens can be wildly successful," Noah says.
Do you ever just get in front of the camera and feel like you're just meant for the spotlight? It happens to the best of us, and we don't necessarily take these feelings as a sign, but sometimes things just take off. When asked about his journey into content creation, Nelson responded, "[It] all really happened organically.
I tried out for Rod Wave Elite, and made the first team. From the very beginning, Cam Wilder took me under his wing, like he was my big brother. We started just having fun and laughing on camera and people seemed to love it. Most of my videos get a lot of views. Sometimes, they are basketball related, sometimes I'm just dancing, sometimes it's just my brothers and me chilling. At this point, people are curious about what I eat, where I sleep, what I wear, the music I listen to, really, anything."
via Noah and Nelson Neumann
Ready, Set, Go!
Everyone wishes for the freedom and flexibility to explore the world and witness things beyond their wildest dreams. However, for Noah and Nelson, this opportunity is a reality for them as they expand their horizons beyond their daily routines, acquiring a deeper understanding of the world. "I feel that I've learned way more by traveling than I ever did out of a textbook or online class. Imagine studying Rome and then visiting the Vatican that same day and seeing the Pope himself.
Imagine reading about the Taj Mahal as opposed to actually walking up to it and seeing it with your own eyes. It's allowed me an incredible opportunity to really get to know the world first-hand. There was one week where I was in Nepal at the beginning of the week and Dubai at the end of the week. The extreme poverty to extreme wealth really shook me. It was crazy to me that people survive and thrive in such different environments. It was a very eye-opening experience: people living with so little, and then people dripping in luxury," Noah says. "My mom tells the story that at the tail end of our trip, my brothers and I were in a crowded undeveloped airport, having to share chairs and electrical outlets. The air was stale and the plane was very late. Mobs of people flowed through the tiny spaces. We didn't complain, not once. I'm not even sure that we realized the discomfort around us. My mom said that at that moment, she saw us choose gratitude and gratefulness for all that we had. She said that this moment let her know that it was time to go back home. Perspectives had been shifted. We were no longer focused just on our own comforts. Our focus had shifted to caring for others. Leaving traditional schooling for a year of homeschooling and travel must have been quite an adventure. What were the most valuable lessons you learned during that time? I really do think that seeing the world has changed who I am as an individual. I believe that most people in the world are good, humble people just trying to put food on the table for their families. Traveling opened my eyes to many religions and cultures. One of my favorite memories is preparing and serving lunch to 10,000 visitors at a Sikh temple in India," Nelson recalls.
There's nothing more important than giving back to the community, especially when you have a large enough platform to the point when you can actually implement change. The Neumann brothers value this belief with their active engagement. "I've learned that with great power comes great responsibility. It is a personal goal of mine to always spread happiness and good vibes, so that I make others feel good about the world and about themselves.
I keep my content light-hearted and fun, so that people will smile when they watch it. As far as community support, I started donating and raising money to organizations I care about at a very young age. Growing up, my parents liked to choose one charity per year and host a community fundraiser for that organization. I guess you can say that they served as good role models for me," Noah says.
via Noah and Nelson Neumann
Juggling It All
"Fashion helps define my vibe and tells a lot about who I am. I love to be flashy, and shock people with my choices. And yes, I do have a shoe problem, but I find that the shoes and the jewelry are the crowning touches." - Noah Neumann
Being busy is a large part of life, and there will be times when you have multiple things going on and so little time to complete everything. One of the key things that comes with balancing it all is time management and self-care. "I was just talking to my mom about that. I told her that I love it and that I'm so grateful for it and wouldn't have it any other way.
I mean, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube combined could be a full-time job in itself. Then, add basketball, school, fashion and YouTube on top of that, and I'm pretty swamped. I definitely take time to myself, make sure I spend quality time with family, get outside and enjoy nature, meditate, and pray. All of these things keep me grounded and focused," Noah shares. "That is something that I continue to work through. Homeschooling helps because I can manage my time better. I like to get up, do some agility work, sit down at the computer and knock out some class work, go to the gym around lunchtime, come back and rest, and then hit the books again. And as far as the travel goes, as long as I have my laptop, I can work from anywhere. I'm grateful that I've had the opportunity to homeschool. It allows me to pursue my content creation fully," Nelson says.
Brothers By Chance, Friends By Choice
"My parents are a huge inspiration to me. While they don't know much about social media, just having their support is everything. They help me navigate the business side of things, but really depend on me to chart my own course." - Noah Neumann
Growing up in a large family isn't easy, and it can be the best thing ever, or it can be World War III. At the end of the day, the family will always be who you have to rely on and be there for you, even if you're the middle child. "I'm really close with both brothers. Basketball definitely binds us together.
I mean, if we're not hooping at the gym, we're either hooping in the pool or the trampoline or the mini-hoop or the court outside. We literally have endless hooping options. Our house is the house where everyone chills. There are always tons of people. My parents truly have an open-door policy," Nelson recalls.
via Noah and Nelson Neumann
Moving Forward
Just because you're young doesn't mean the grind doesn't stop. When asked about his future aspirations for his brand, Noah shares, "I would love to grow NNSQUAD as a brand and I'd love to continue to be known as a funny content creator who brings joy to a wide audience. Basketball is my passion, and hopefully I can go far with it.
I put in the work every day and love every minute of the grind. Music is just for fun and hopefully I can keep rapping with the boys." Nelson also has similar plans to go with the flow. "I guess I'll see where God leads me. For now, I just love to hoop, hang with my boys, and try to make people laugh. It feels good to have someone tell you that you helped them through a rough time. I'm here for that, for making people feel good."
via Noah and Nelson Neumann
10 Fun Questions
If you could have dinner with any athlete, who would it be and why?
Noah: Lebron James. I've followed him his whole career. I would inquire how it feels to literally be the best basketball player in the world. I've already met Jordan, so Lebron is next.
Nelson: Steph Curry. I come from a family of Lebron fans, so my love for Curry runs deep! I love his tenacity and work ethic. I'd probably ask him for some shooting tips.
What's your go-to karaoke song, even if you've never actually done karaoke?
Noah: Definitely "Baby" by Lil Baby
Nelson: "Snooze" by SZA
If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be and why?
Noah: Probably shooting a basketball. If I could make 100% of my shots, oh yeah, I'd be set.
Nelson: I'd have to say shooting. It's nice to know that every ball's going in.
What's the most unusual food you've ever tried, and did you like it?
Noah: In Morocco, I ate pigeon. It was good, actually. It was served in some sort of pastry and tasted sweet.
Nelson: My dad and I used to love these beef tongue tacos in Santa Barbara. I guess that's pretty odd.
If your life was a movie, what genre would it be, and who would play you?
Noah: Cool question. It would be an action, suspense film written by Christopher Nolan. My character would be played by Daniel Craig.
Nelson: Actually, my life IS a movie. Every day, I feel like I'm in a new scene.
What's the most adventurous thing you've ever done or would like to do?
Noah: Climbing inside of the pyramids in Egypt was really amazing! It was tiny inside, and you had to stay crouched down as you climbed a ramp to the top.
Nelson: We took a Four Runner out in the desert of Dubai and did spin-outs and jumps. We actually ended up with a flat tire and were literally stranded in the desert for a minute.
Beach vacation or mountain retreat?
Noah and Nelson: Beach
If you had a time machine, would you visit the past or the future, and what's the first thing you'd do there?
Noah: Future and I'd buy everything I could, and then I'd return to the present and sell it all and make as much money as I could on it.
Nelson: Past. I'd go back to my fifth-grade self and tell myself to stop eating Honey Buns.
What's your favorite cheesy joke that always makes you chuckle?
Noah and Nelson: Usually, we all just laugh at our dad's BAD DAD jokes. He actually thinks they are funny, and that just makes it all funnier.
If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?
Noah: Drake, maybe? I feel being on stage in front of that many people would be incredibly insane, and I feel like the paparazzi would be lit.
Nelson: Maybe the President? I feel like I could bring people together and make positive changes for our country! Nelson for President. I like that.
Keeping up with the Neumann Brothers!
To stay updated with Noah and Nelson, be sure to subscribe to their TikTok channels, which you can find at @nelsontheprodigy_ and @nnsquad4, and follow them on Instagram at @nnsquad_ and @nelsonneumann2028.
