Nate Kingz is the son of Dorothy Signal of Salem, Oregon, and the grandson of the late Charles and Amelia (Madros) Nickoli of Nulato. He is a tribal member of the Nulato Tribe and a Doyon shareholder. Kingz was raised in Oregon by his adoptive mother, Sherie Meithof.
Kingz journey has been shaped by resilience and determination. He experienced significant hardship early in life, including time spent in foster care before being adopted outside of his biological family. Through these challenges, he developed a strong work ethic and an unwavering commitment to his lifelong dream of becoming a professional basketball player. Today, he trains at an elite level, dedicating himself daily to the pursuit of an NBA career.
Kingz is currently working towards a master’s certificate in Project Management at Syracuse University. Prior to transferring to Syracuse, he graduated from Oregon State University, where he got his sociology degree and earned a place on the Dean’s List.
Kingz advice to the future generation is powerful: “No matter what cards you are delt in life good or bad you can do anything through sheer belief and hard work. Comparison is the thief of joy, if you just grind eventually your success will come!”
“As a graduate of Syracuse University, I’ve followed their basketball program for years,” said Kingz friend Howard Darling. “During a recent game, I noticed a Native tattoo and zoomed in on the photo. I was amazed to see the Nulato Tribe name incorporated into his tattoo. I reached out to Nate to let him know I was also from Nulato and a Syracuse graduate. He was surprised and excited to connect with someone who shared both that hometown and university connection.”
The Atlantic Coast Conference has other upper major basketball programs such as Wake Forest, Duke and North Carolina. Those programs have produced NBA legends such as Tim Duncan, Zion Williamson, and Michael Jordan.
“Seeing a Doyon shareholder and Nulato tribal member competing at that level is incredibly inspiring,” said Howard. “It shows what our people can achieve through focus, hard work, and dedication, and I believe his journey inspires shareholders across our region.”
