essay about basketball experience

Essays About Basketball: Top 5 Examples and 7 Prompts

Among the many essays about basketball out there, how can you make yours stand out? See this article for examples and prompts that will aid you in writing.

Basketball is a famous sport that has been around for 131 years. It was invented by a Canadian physical education instructor named James Naismith with two objectives: to keep athletes playing indoors during winters and to have a safer sport compared to football.

Over the years, basketball has grown to be a loved sport worldwide. It’s why it’s not surprising that it’s a great subject to talk about in your essay.

Below are examples to learn more about the game and how you can effectively write essays about basketball:

1. What Basketball Taught Me by Josh of San Diego, California

2. essay on basketball –  a sport of agility and endurance by randhir singh, 3. national basketball association and the woman national basketball association by lewis rios, 4. basketball: then vs. now by jaime moss, 5. essay on the last shot by darcy frey by mamie olson, 1. the most important skills for basketball, 2. what i learned through basketball, 3. why do i like basketball, 4. my unforgettable basketball experience, 5. my life as a basketball player, 6. basketball book or movie review, 7. the negative side of basketball.

“I believe basketball has taught me many valuable life lessons, and perhaps more importantly, played a significant role in developing me into the successful student and employee I am today.”

The author talks about how he fell in love with the basketball game – from watching it on television to participating in competitive basketball. He took the game with him as he grew. 

Through this sport, he learned many lessons, including commitment, responsibility, and teamwork. He expounds on how these values helped him through life through his essay. Finally, he ends his piece by encouraging others to try basketball or any sport to have motivation in life. For more, see these articles about basketball .

“Basketball is a sport of agility and endurance that develops by hand and eye co-ordination… Basketball even overtakes baseball as the unofficial American pastime.”

Singh reviews basketball rules and how they changed over time but with the same principles. He discusses the main rules and scenarios straightforwardly, making his essay short but informative. You may also be interested in these articles about baseball .

“Some of the differences between NBA basketball and WNBA basketball appear to be related to the differences in size or physical capacity of men and women… I think we can all come to the conclusion that no matter what the gender is or what the rules are, that both of them are out on the basketball court to just WIN.”

Rios’ essay focuses on the differences between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Women’s NBA. Some of the things he mentions are ESPN and their basketball video game, where fewer people spend time on WNBA. Additionally, owners of WNBA significantly make less from their teams, thus having less to invest in or pay their players.

He also talks about some similarities between NBA and WNBA, including their popularity among fans. At the end of his essay, Rios hopes he has shared enough information with his readers about basketball.

“Other changes such as uniform colors, dunking rules, regulation on backboards… some over and over again until they became what they are today… Basketball is a great American sport, and perhaps one that requires the most skill along with a great mental game.”

Moss’ essay consists of James Naismith’s original 13 basketball rules and how these rules evolved. These modifications were done to make the game more efficient and fun. Some significant changes include dribbling, boundary lines, and pointing systems. 

He also mentions the controversy surrounding the three-pointer and how it affected the other game rules. In the future, basketball’s rules will continue to develop.

“I do think basketball is a valid option for most students to escape poverty… Basketball may open a few doors but there’s still no guarantee.”

The author recounts what The Last Shot by Darcy Frey is all about, retelling the story of Russel, Tchaka, Stephon, and Cory, who lived in a dangerous neighborhood and found escape in basketball. She then relays her input of basketball, helping these characters stay out of trouble, but it still isn’t enough to prepare them for the lives they’ll have to endure. 

She further expounds on the events in the book, centering on the direct relation between academics and basketball in the story. You might also be interested in these essays about volleyball .

7 Prompts on Essays About Basketball

After understanding more about the different subtopics of basketball, here are prompts that you can get inspiration from for your essay:

You don’t have to be a basketball player to know what skills are in demand for the game. You can simply be a fan or a casual spectator who knows how the game works. Tell your readers what you are so they can appreciate your essay from your point of view. 

Dedication, commitment, and consistency are only some of the things you develop when you love a sport. If you’re not a player yourself, but a close relative is, you can relay what they told you about basketball.

For example, you can relate to what your father tells you when you watch basketball gameplays with him. He may say he loves a particular team because of their teamwork. He may also say it shows in their gameplay. Then, you can delve into what “teamwork” means.

Like the other prompts in this list, this particular prompt doesn’t need you to be a player. Instead, to give you an idea, you can share your experience with the game, such as watching gameplay and liking how the people cheer for the players.

 You can also narrate how great the game was, not because the players are professionals but because they never give up.

If you’re a basketball player yourself, feel free to recount a scene that played out in one of your games that you will never forget. Describe how you got to that point and why. Include what it made you feel like then and what it makes you feel now. 

If you expect non-players to read your piece, write in a way that non-players will understand by avoiding basketball jargon. Or you can briefly explain what those related terms mean, so every reader will understand why it’s a memory you hold dear.

If no one thing stands out for you during your time as a basketball player, you can still write about it in the general term. For instance, you can share how a day in your life went when you were a player.

There are many books, movies, and literary pieces that you can check out and write an essay about. If you have a favorite piece about basketball, briefly summarize it and list why you’re so fond of it. You can also persuade your readers to check out the book themselves through these prompts.

Are you new to persuasive writing? For help with this topic, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing ?

You can write about the problems connected to the game to give your essay a different atmosphere, such as the potential injuries for players, bullying within a team, or how few only make it to professional basketball. You can talk about something you want to give attention to and let your readers know your thoughts on it.

On the other hand, you can also share a bad experience related to basketball, like your father preferring to watch basketball on television than play with you and your siblings.

Here’s a great tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead.

Maria Caballero is a freelance writer who has been writing since high school. She believes that to be a writer doesn't only refer to excellent syntax and semantics but also knowing how to weave words together to communicate to any reader effectively.

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Home Essay Samples Sports Basketball

Why Basketball Is My Favorite Sport: Memorable Moments and Life Lessons

Table of contents, the thrill of the game, teamwork and camaraderie, life lessons learned, the joy of personal growth, the conclusion.

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Basketball Essay for Students and Children

500+ essay on basketball.

The game of basketball has truly become global in the last few years. The game is currently popular in the United States. Also, it is described by many as an American game because of the fun and competitive element in it. Also, this is one of the games which is played indoors and still caters to billions of fans around the world. This game was Dr. James Naismith from Canada. Initially, he invented the game by using a rectangular pitch which was 6 feet wide and 4 feet high. Additionally, the court includes a free throw line which is 12 feet long. In basketball essay, students will get to know about the different components that make the game of basketball special.

It is a team game that has gained immense popularity. Also, the game is played with the help of a ball and the ball is shot into the basket that is positioned horizontally. So, the objective in the game is to shoot the ball and score the maximum points. This game is played by 2 teams that constitute a total of 5 players each. Also, the game is played on a marked rectangular floor that has a basket on both the ends. 

Originally, basketball was played using a soccer ball. Also, it was James Naismith that used a peach basket which ha ad a nonhollow bottom. So, this basket was nailed at a height of 10 ft. above the ground and on an elevated track. If you consider the manual removal of the ball from the basket a drawback then the bottom was removed to and it took the shape of modern-day baskets. Also, dribbling was not part of the game initially. Eventually, it evolved till 1950 by which the balls got better shape due to manufacturing. 

Additionally, the orange ball was evolved from the brown ball. The brown ball was used in the beginning as it was thought that the ball is more visible. By 1996, the peach baskets used were replaced by metal hoops on the backboard. 

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Basketball Game 

At the start of the game, a referee tosses the ball at the center of the court between two players. One player from either team try to get their hands on the ball and the ball is passed on to the teammates. For scoring a point, a team needs to shoot the ball through the basket. If a shot is scored from a distance that is closer to the basket than the 3 point line than it fetches 2 points. Also, if the ball is shot from the distance behind 3 point line, it fetches 3 points. So, the team that has a maximum number of points is declared the winner. 

In case of a draw, there may be additional time allotted to both the teams. In the game, a player is cannot move if he is holding the ball. The player needs to dribble, otherwise, it is considered as a foul. Likewise, when there is a physical contact that affects the other team then it counted as a physical foul. 

Basketball is game played with a maintained and carefully marked court. It is a team sport that is commonly found in many different areas. 

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Essay on My Experience with Basketball

The moment I started to learn basketball; I knew it was made for me. However, I grew up participating in track most of my childhood. A few weeks ago, I was training with my coach for a track tournament, He kept screaming at me as I ran saying “Come on boy push yourself!!”, This issue was met with a tired sigh from me, I spit on the grass briefly thinking of using my spike on his face before quickly calming down. “Come on Isaac this will all be worth it one day.” I thought. Somewhere along the line, I began to question where I was going with tracks.  Of course, running under the scalding sun played a role in it, I began to sing calming songs in my head to calm myself down, some Mozart perhaps. You see although I was athletic and could do track well; I didn’t quite enjoy It wholly, However, the benefits far outweighed the bad side of it like a scholarship, Special treatment, And Making my parents proud. So of course, I stuck with it. I never knew I'll start playing another sport the next day.  

Faith Presented itself soon the next day. After coming second in a race due to muscle pulls, A tall, scruffy-bearded Spanish guy approached me and told me I was playing the wrong sport, and I'm too tall to participate in track. He then proceeded to Invite me to a basketball gym the next day; I was confused “I think you have the wrong guy sir.” I said to him. “Just show up once if you don’t like it, you're free to leave.” My head was still spinning, and I wasn’t thinking clearly so I nodded to him” I’ll try my best”, I said languidly. 

The next day, my life was about to make a dramatic turn. I showed up at the gym at 6 pm the Spanish guy showed up 10 minutes later. I tried to touch the rim and did it with relative ease; “Impressive!” said the coach “with enough training you should be getting up there, let's start by getting used to bouncing the ball.” So, I started bouncing the ball, Then I progressed to jumping and putting the ball in. The rubbery smell of the ball appealed to me positively and for the first time, I found a sport interesting; I knew at that moment this was the sport made for me, the swish sound the ball made when it entered the rim was like a drug to me it was more than the fun nature of the game, no, this event was different for it touched my very soul.  

I immediately threw myself into the game, it became my obsession. I used to stay outside my house every day working on my dribbling moves; Hours on the end I worked on my handles. Eventually, I progressed to get a makeshift hoop in my house, I put the hoop on my wall at home and shot on it every day. I got better every day by vigorous training which enabled me to move on to the next level and play with real players. In a few months, I had gotten to the level of someone with 5 years of experience.  

This experience has led me to believe that God has a plan for everyone, and wherever God leads your heart to; You must follow in faith and trust in his plan for you. I'm still getting better every day and following what God puts in my heart. It is odd how life is sometimes you'll never know where you'll head Tomorrow. The sport spoke to me and I followed the calling.

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• Basketball Essay

Essay on Basketball

Basketball is a widely popular and loved sport that is played all around the world. An essay on basketball would be incomplete without the mention of its smart moves and team-building benefits. Basketball is believed to have originated in Canada and the United States of America in the 19th century. There are several health benefits of playing basketball and it is an extremely fun physical activity. In this informative essay about basketball, the various benefits of playing basketball are discussed.

An Essay on Basketball and its Benefits 

While penning down the short paragraph about basketball this needs to be mentioned that when basketball is played, it is meant to be a source of joy and pleasure among its players. The aim of the play is to pass the ball through the basket which is hung on some height. Basketball can be a game between two individuals or, in the case of professional games, it is played between two opposing teams consisting of five players in each team. The score is determined by hitting the basket of each other’s teams. 

Due to the demand for heavy physicality from its players, basketball is highly favored. In this essay on basketball, the several health benefits of playing this sport are discussed:

Basketball is essential in promoting cardiovascular health among its players. It is immensely helpful for one’s heart health. Due to the game’s constant locomotion, the heart rate shows an increase. Thus, basketball lowers the risk of stroke and other heart diseases. 

Basketball is supremely effective in burning calories. Due to its constant, quick movements of running and jumping, basketball acts as a great way of working out and can drastically burn calories. 

Basketball strengthens the bones of its players. Due to the game’s primary dependence on physical energy, basketball results in bone strength among its players. The players’ muscles and bones get strengthened because of the game’s constant action of working muscles against the bones. 

One of the key health benefits which come from playing basketball is boosted immunity and reduced stress. Due to the busy nature of the game, the levels of stress among the players get reduced quite significantly. And with this decreased level of stress, the immune system gets boosted.

The dedicated practice of basketball develops better coordination among its players and improves their motor skills. The nature of basketball demands its players for excellent hand-eye and full-body coordination. Due to continuous training, the players develop their full-body coordination as well as their hand-eye coordination through the practises of dribbling and rebound shots.

Therefore, the health benefits of playing basketball are evident in the physical and mental fitness of the player. Apart from improving one’s overall health and height, the sport also develops fast-thinking abilities, reflex, and team spirit in youngsters.   

Basketball Experience Essay: Tournaments and Players

Now coming to the top basketball tournaments, an essay on basketball is simply incomplete without the mention of these names:

Basketball World Cup

Basketball at the Olympics

American tournaments like NBA, Argentine League LNB

Italian League

Spanish ACB league

To get a full-on understanding of the game and write down a basketball experience essay, one must watch these tournaments. The pace of the tournaments is such that one will automatically grow an addiction towards them. Then, if he is asked to write a basketball descriptive essay he will be able to write it easily.

Basketball essay writing becomes a cakewalk for someone who has grown up watching legends like Kobe Bryant playing the game with elan. The American sportsman spent his entire career playing for Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association. He breathed his last on 26th January 2020. He took the popularity of the sport to a different level and will be remembered for generations to come. 

Finally, if any of the important basketball essay topics are often left out then it has to be- ‘The Famous Indian Basketball Players.’ This basketball essay in English doesn’t do that. It humbly acknowledges the contribution of the famous Indian basketball players like Sat Prasad Yadav, Akilan Pari, and Prashanti Singh. They have made it really big over the years and continue to inspire millions of basketball players from all across the country. 

An Essay on My Favourite Game - Basketball

Basketball is a widely popular game that is played by several people all across the globe. In this section of basketball essay topics, the topics which will be discussed are the benefits of basketball in a person’s physical and mental health. There are several ways a person can benefit from playing basketball and those benefits are discussed in this basketball introduction essay.

The Basketball Essay in Short

Numerous physical and mental benefits result from playing basketball. Basketball is highly effective in promoting the cardiovascular health of its players. A healthy heart diminishes risks of heart diseases later in one’s life. Basketball’s high physical demand is crucial in burning calories and reducing body fat in its players.

Basketball also strengthens the bones due to the constant friction of muscles against them. It improves the immune system of the body and is effective in increasing players’ self-esteem.

Therefore, this is a complete essay on basketball in English which throws light on the game’s health benefits as well as how it helps to shape the entire personality of a player. 

FAQs on Basketball Essay

1. What is the Highest Governing Body in Basketball?

FIBA ( International Basketball Federation) is the highest governing body in basketball.  

2. Name Some of the Famous Basketball Players in the World. 

Michael Jordan, Lebron James, and Late Kobe Bryant are some of the famous basketball players of all time. 

3. Which Court is Considered as the Main Court in Basketball- The Outdoor Court or the Indoor Court?

In basketball, the indoor court is considered as the main court while the game played on the outdoor court is often called street ball. 

4. What are the health benefits of playing basketball? 

Playing basketball results in countless health benefits from burning calories to improving heart health by lowering the risk of getting a stroke. But a great cardiovascular health isn’t the only amazing health benefit playing this sport provides. It also strengthens one’s bones as well as muscles. It also leads to boosting of one’s immune system. And like engaging in almost any other sport or exercise, playing basketball has also shown to reduce the stress levels of its players quite conspicuously. This way, playing basketball also has a positive effect on not only one’s physical health, but their mental health as well.  

5. Who are some of the most famous basketball players? How does this sport shape the personality of its players?

Some of the most famous and highly respected basketball players include LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Satnam Singh, Amritpal Singh, and Prashanti Singh to name a few. 

Basketball tends to mould and shape the personality of the players just as much as it improves their physical and mental health. There are a lot of values, ethical beliefs, and other such aspects from the game that one can even apply to their everyday life like sportsmanship, teamwork, confidence, etc. 

6. What are some interesting facts about basketball? 

Initially, as the sport started, dribbling was not allowed at all and if a player got the - ball at a point and they compulsorily had to throw it to another player and continue the game like that. 

A physical education teacher, James Naismith, is the one who invented this sport and also wrote down the very first, the official rulebook of basketball.  

Michael Jordan wore his signature Air Jordans, his favorite shoes, by paying a fine as these shoes went against the guidelines of the NBA dress code. 

At the very beginning of it all, basketball was actually played with a soccer ball and a peach basket. 

7. What are some important rules of basketball? 

Some basic yet key rules of the game are: 

Each team is supposed to have 5 players present on the court at all times during the game. 

In order to win, a team has to score more field goals than the opponent team.

A player is not allowed to run with the ball; a player is only supposed to advance the ball by dribbling or passing and if a player stops dribbling, they have to either pass it or shoot it, not resume dribbling. 

There are quite a lot of fouls in the game and elbowing, blocking, tripping or knocking someone off, are some of the most common ones. 

To inbound the ball, the offense only has 5 seconds. 

Defenders are not allowed to interfere with a shot that is on a downward trajectory. In fact, this is considered to be illegal and is known as goaltending as it grants an automatic field goal to the offence then.

Both the ball handler as well as the ball have to remain within the boundaries of the court at all times. 

The defending team is legally allowed to block or steal the ball from the offending team and they can even use defensive tactics to prevent the latter from shooting and/or scoring. 

Each team has only a limited period of time during a given possession to shoot the ball. While in the NBA, this time limit is 24 seconds, in the NCCA, it is about 30 seconds. 

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114 Basketball Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Title: 114 Basketball Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Introduction:

Basketball is a popular and dynamic sport that has captivated the hearts of millions worldwide. Whether you are an avid player, a die-hard fan, or simply interested in sports, writing an essay about basketball can offer a unique and engaging experience. To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 114 basketball essay topic ideas and examples. From historical milestones to the impact of basketball on society, these topics cover a wide range of aspects related to the sport. Let's explore some of the exciting possibilities!

• The Evolution of Basketball: From its inception to modern-day techniques and strategies.
• The Impact of Basketball on American Culture: How basketball has influenced music, fashion, and entertainment.
• The Role of Women in Basketball: Examining the growth and contributions of female athletes in the sport.
• The Psychological Benefits of Basketball: Exploring the positive effects of playing basketball on mental health.
• The Business of Basketball: Analyzing the economic aspects of the sport, including sponsorships and endorsements.
• The Importance of Teamwork in Basketball: Discussing how collaboration and cooperation contribute to success on the court.
• The Role of Coaches in Basketball: Investigating the influence of coaches on player development and team performance.
• The Impact of Basketball on Youth Development: Examining how basketball can shape character, discipline, and leadership skills.
• The Rivalry Between NBA Teams: Analyzing legendary rivalries and their impact on the sport.
• The Psychology of Winning and Losing in Basketball: Exploring the mindset of athletes during victories and defeats.
• The Influence of Basketball in Education: Assessing the benefits of integrating basketball into school curricula.
• The Globalization of Basketball: Investigating how the sport has spread and gained popularity worldwide.
• The Role of Basketball in Social Justice Movements: Examining the efforts of basketball players to advocate for equality and social change.
• The Impact of Basketball Analytics: Analyzing the use of data and statistics in basketball strategy and player evaluation.
• The Role of Basketball in Community Development: Discussing how basketball programs can foster a sense of belonging and unity in local communities.

To provide a glimpse into the potential depth and breadth of basketball essay topics, here are a few examples:

• The Legendary Rivalry: Comparing and contrasting the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
• The Rise of Women's Basketball: Investigating the evolution of the WNBA and its impact on gender equality in sports.
• The Influence of Michael Jordan: Analyzing the cultural impact and legacy of one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
• From Slum to Stardom: Exploring the inspiring journey of basketball players who overcame adversity to achieve success.
• The Global Phenomenon: Examining the impact of Yao Ming on the popularity of basketball in China.
• The Power of Basketball Films: Analyzing how movies like "Hoosiers" and "Space Jam" have contributed to the sport's cultural significance.
• The NBA and Social Activism: Discussing the efforts of players like LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick in advocating for social justice.

Conclusion:

Basketball offers a vast array of essay topics that can captivate and inspire both sports enthusiasts and academic minds alike. Whether you choose to delve into historical moments, cultural impacts, or the psychology behind the sport, exploring the various aspects of basketball can lead to thought-provoking and engaging essays. The 114 topic ideas and examples provided here are just the tip of the iceberg, so feel free to dive deeper and discover your own unique basketball essay topics.

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Essay on Basketball

Students are often asked to write an essay on Basketball in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Basketball

Introduction to basketball.

Basketball is a popular sport enjoyed worldwide. It was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891. The game is played between two teams, each aiming to score by shooting a ball into the opponent’s hoop.

Rules of the Game

Each team consists of five players. The game begins with a jump ball. The team that scores the most points by shooting the ball through the hoop wins. There are rules against holding the ball and making physical contact.

Skills in Basketball

Basketball requires skills like dribbling, passing, and shooting. It also demands physical fitness, teamwork, and strategic thinking. Players need to be quick, agile, and coordinated.

Why We Love Basketball

Basketball is thrilling and dynamic. It encourages teamwork and promotes physical fitness. It’s not just a game, but a way of life for many, teaching valuable lessons about cooperation, discipline, and hard work.

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250 Words Essay on Basketball

Introduction.

Basketball, a globally acclaimed sport, is a dynamic game that combines physical prowess with strategic thinking. The sport is not only about scoring points but also about the integration of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance.

The Essence of the Game

The beauty of basketball lies in its simplicity and the profound skills it demands. From shooting, dribbling, passing to defending, each aspect of the game requires a unique set of skills, making it a comprehensive physical activity. Moreover, the constant movement across the court boosts cardiovascular health and promotes physical fitness.

Teamwork and Strategy

Basketball is a team sport, and its essence lies in the harmony of the team. Each player’s role is crucial, but the collective effort determines the outcome. The game fosters a sense of unity and camaraderie, as players must strategize and communicate effectively to outscore their opponents.

Life Skills through Basketball

Beyond the court, basketball teaches invaluable life skills. It instills discipline, as players must adhere to rules and respect officials’ decisions. The game also encourages resilience; players must rebound from setbacks and maintain a competitive spirit, mirroring life’s ups and downs.

Basketball, therefore, is more than a game. It is a blend of physicality, strategy, and life lessons. Its global popularity is a testament to its capacity to entertain, educate, and inspire, making it a quintessential sport in today’s world.

500 Words Essay on Basketball

Basketball, a sport that has captivated millions across the globe, is a dynamic game that demands both physical prowess and mental agility. Invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891, it has evolved from a simple indoor game into an international spectacle, played in arenas filled with thousands of fans and broadcast worldwide.

At its core, basketball is a game of strategy and skill. Each team, consisting of five players, aims to score by shooting the ball through the opponent’s hoop while preventing the opposing team from doing the same. The game is played in quarters, each lasting 12 minutes in professional leagues and slightly less in amateur games. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.

Physical and Mental Demands

Basketball demands a high level of physical fitness. Players require strength, endurance, agility, and hand-eye coordination to excel. Yet, the game is not purely physical. It also requires strategic thinking, teamwork, and the ability to make quick decisions under pressure. Players must constantly adapt to the changing dynamics of the game, making split-second decisions that can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

The Impact of Basketball

Basketball’s impact extends beyond the court. It has become a powerful social and cultural force. The sport has been a platform for athletes to influence societal issues and inspire younger generations. From Michael Jordan’s global brand influence to LeBron James’s activism, basketball players have leveraged their fame for greater causes.

Technological Influence on Basketball

Technology has also had a significant impact on basketball. From advanced analytics that help coaches devise strategies, to wearable tech that aids in player performance and injury prevention, technology has become an integral part of the game. It has also transformed the fan experience, with live streaming, virtual reality, and interactive platforms bringing the game closer to fans around the world.

In conclusion, basketball is more than just a sport. It is a test of physical and mental fortitude, a platform for social change, and a barometer of technological advancements. As the game continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly continue to captivate and inspire, embodying the spirit of competition and the joy of teamwork.

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Beyond the Court: Tracing the Rise of Devin Booker from High School to NBA Stardom through the Lens of Age and Experience

This essay about Devin Booker outlines his progression from a high school basketball sensation to an NBA superstar. It highlights his early influence from his father, standout high school career, college experiences at Kentucky, and professional achievements with the Phoenix Suns. Booker’s development into a mature, resilient leader on and off the court is emphasized, along with his philanthropic efforts and role as a community figure. The narrative captures his personal and professional growth, showcasing his evolution into a role model for young athletes.

How it works

Devin Booker’s journey from a high school sensation to an NBA superstar encapsulates more than just the evolution of a basketball player—it charts the trajectory of a young man who turned precocious talent into professional mastery. His path is not just about basketball acumen but also about maturity, resilience, and personal growth amidst the highly scrutinized and pressure-filled corridors of professional sports.

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and later relocating to Mississippi, Devin Booker’s childhood was steeped in basketball.

His father, Melvin Booker, a former professional basketball player, was a significant influence, instilling in Devin not just the mechanics of the game but also its ethos and competitive spirit. This early immersion in basketball culture set the stage for what would become a remarkable career.

At Moss Point High School in Mississippi, Booker’s prowess on the court began to draw national attention. Averaging 30.9 points per game in his senior year and amassing accolades, including three-time selection to the All-State team, Booker’s high school career was a precursor to his future successes. His performance on the court was not merely a function of skill but of a deep understanding of the game, which is unusual for a player of his age. His ability to read the game, make pivotal decisions under pressure, and score not just through sheer force but through strategic intelligence marked him as a player beyond his years.

Choosing to play college basketball at the University of Kentucky under coach John Calipari, known for grooming young talents for the NBA, was a pivotal decision for Booker. At Kentucky, he was part of a platoon system where playing time was evenly distributed among the team’s deep roster of talent. This system taught Booker valuable lessons in teamwork, humility, and adapting his game to fit the larger needs of the team—qualities that are crucial in the NBA.

Booker’s time at Kentucky was short but impactful. He averaged 10 points per game coming off the bench, showcasing his sharp shooting skills, particularly from beyond the arc. His performance earned him a spot on the All-SEC Freshman Team and prepared him for the next big leap—declaring for the NBA draft after just one season at Kentucky.

Drafted 13th overall by the Phoenix Suns in 2015, Booker quickly dispelled any doubts about his readiness for professional basketball. He made a significant impact in his rookie season, earning a place on the NBA All-Rookie First Team. His ability to handle the pressures of professional play, to maintain composure and deliver performance when it mattered, underscored a maturity that belied his age.

Over the years, Booker’s game has evolved significantly. Initially recognized for his shooting, he has rounded out his play to include formidable defense, playmaking, and leadership—traits that have cemented his place as a cornerstone of the franchise. His participation in the NBA Three-Point Contest and selection as an NBA All-Star multiple times highlight his growing influence in the league.

Booker’s rise is also a narrative of resilience. The Suns struggled in his early years, missing the playoffs repeatedly. Yet, Booker’s commitment never wavered. His leadership took a tangible form during the 2020 NBA Bubble, where he led the Suns to an 8-0 record, although they narrowly missed the playoffs. This performance was a testament to his growth not just as a player but as a leader. It set the stage for the 2021 season, where Booker and the Suns reached the NBA Finals, a clear indication of his and the team’s evolution.

Off the court, Booker’s maturity is evident in his philanthropic efforts and his approach to celebrity. Active in community service, he has initiated numerous programs focusing on youth and underprivileged communities, reflecting his understanding of his role as a figure of influence and his desire to give back to the community.

Tracing Devin Booker’s journey from high school to NBA stardom offers more than a sports narrative; it reveals a young man who has grown up under the glaring spotlight of one of the world’s most demanding sports leagues and emerged not just as a top athlete but as a role model. His story is one of talent meeting opportunity, of personal growth paralleling athletic excellence—a testament to what young athletes can aspire to and achieve, both on and off the court.

Cite this page

Beyond the Court: Tracing the Rise of Devin Booker from High School to NBA Stardom Through the Lens of Age and Experience. (2024, May 12). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/beyond-the-court-tracing-the-rise-of-devin-booker-from-high-school-to-nba-stardom-through-the-lens-of-age-and-experience/

"Beyond the Court: Tracing the Rise of Devin Booker from High School to NBA Stardom Through the Lens of Age and Experience." PapersOwl.com , 12 May 2024, https://papersowl.com/examples/beyond-the-court-tracing-the-rise-of-devin-booker-from-high-school-to-nba-stardom-through-the-lens-of-age-and-experience/

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Beyond the Court: Tracing the Rise of Devin Booker from High School to NBA Stardom Through the Lens of Age and Experience . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/beyond-the-court-tracing-the-rise-of-devin-booker-from-high-school-to-nba-stardom-through-the-lens-of-age-and-experience/ [Accessed: 15 May. 2024]

"Beyond the Court: Tracing the Rise of Devin Booker from High School to NBA Stardom Through the Lens of Age and Experience." PapersOwl.com, May 12, 2024. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/beyond-the-court-tracing-the-rise-of-devin-booker-from-high-school-to-nba-stardom-through-the-lens-of-age-and-experience/

"Beyond the Court: Tracing the Rise of Devin Booker from High School to NBA Stardom Through the Lens of Age and Experience," PapersOwl.com , 12-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/beyond-the-court-tracing-the-rise-of-devin-booker-from-high-school-to-nba-stardom-through-the-lens-of-age-and-experience/. [Accessed: 15-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Beyond the Court: Tracing the Rise of Devin Booker from High School to NBA Stardom Through the Lens of Age and Experience . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/beyond-the-court-tracing-the-rise-of-devin-booker-from-high-school-to-nba-stardom-through-the-lens-of-age-and-experience/ [Accessed: 15-May-2024]

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How To Describe A Basketball Game In A Story (17 Tips + Examples)

Sometimes you need to write a basketball scene in a story, essay, or paper.

Here’s how to describe a basketball game:

Describe a basketball game in writing by focusing on the game’s dynamics, player roles, strategies, and emotional highs and lows. Capture the scene with vivid play-by-play descriptions, basketball terminology, and vivid imagery. Highlight climactic moments for an immersive reader experience.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to describe a basketball game in writing.

You Must Understand the Dynamics of Basketball

Table of Contents

When describing a basketball game in a story, it’s essential to have a good grasp of the game’s fundamentals and the life lessons it imparts.

Recognizing the dynamics of basketball not only paints a vivid picture of the gameplay but also reveals insights into players’ resilience and perseverance. Icons like  Michael Jordan  and  LeBron James  embody the truth that even the best fail, but it’s through these failures that character is developed and successes are celebrated.

Grasping these principles allows writers to deliver a narrative that reflects the true spirit of the sport.

You are able to illustrate the parallels between basketball and life’s challenges, such as the importance of hard work, determination, and embracing the game’s unpredictable nature.

To better understand the dynamics of basketball and craft an engaging basketball game description, let’s go into the key areas of the game that demand attention:

• Rules and Gameplay
• Positions and Player Roles
• Offensive Strategies
• Defensive Strategies
• Key Statistical Measures

Having a solid understanding of these elements helps in forming a comprehensive basketball gameplay explanation that does justice to the sport’s intricacies and excitement.

Here is a good video about basketball because you can’t describe what you don’t understand:

Set the Scene for Basketball Action

To effectively set the scene in a basketball narrative, one must convey the ambiance of the arena—throngs of spectators, the resonant buzz of anticipation, and the unique energy that pervades the space before the game begins.

This atmosphere is where friendships forge, and camaraderie among fans and players alike is palpable.

Capture the Atmosphere of the Arena

As you walk into the basketball arena, the air is thick with excitement.

You can sense the anticipation of the crowd, the eager energy in the stands, and the unmistakable sounds of the game: the squeak of sneakers, the ball bouncing on the court, and the blaring music pump up the audience for the upcoming match.

The arena ambiance plays a crucial role in setting the basketball scene, as it sets the stage for the drama and action that unfolds on the court.

Introduce the Teams and Players

An essential aspect of describing a basketball match is introducing the competing teams and their players.

The backstories and personalities of each player enrich the narrative, offering contrasting dynamics between the opposing teams.

You might consider detailing notable players from each side, discussing their accomplishments, strengths, and weaknesses.

In addition, focusing on physical characteristics and emotional mindsets, such as a rookie’s nervous energy or a veteran’s calm focus, can offer glimpses into their lives and motivations as they prepare for the game.

Describe the Opening Moments

The start of the game sets the tone for the narrative.

As the players take their positions and the referee prepares for the tip-off, the roar of the crowd grows louder. The sense of urgency and anticipation are palpable.

It’s these opening moments that can hook the reader, drawing them into the unfolding action as if stepping onto the court themselves.

Consider this example:

The crowd held their breath as the ball was tossed into the air for the tip-off. The players, bodies tense and minds focused, leaped upward, each attempting to secure the first possession of the game. The ball was tipped into the hands of the point guard, who darted across the court, ready to execute the first play. The match had begun, and the arena erupted into a cacophony of cheers and applause.

By articulating team dynamics, capturing the game start, and sharing first impressions in basketball, one can craft a compelling narrative that immerses the reader in the action-packed world of the sport.

Incorporate Basketball Terminology

When writing about a basketball game, it’s crucial to use accurate terminology to lend authenticity to your narrative and educate readers who may be new to the sport.

Familiarizing yourself with common basketball terms will allow you to transform your game descriptions from generic to gripping.

In this section, we will explore some essential basketball terms and their meanings, and discuss how you can seamlessly integrate them into your storytelling.

• Field Goal Percentage:  This statistic measures a player’s shooting accuracy by comparing the number of successful field goals (any shot other than a free throw) to the total number of attempts. A higher percentage indicates greater efficiency in scoring.
• Three-Pointer:  A shot made from beyond the three-point arc, resulting in three points scored instead of the standard two points for other field goals.
• Block:  A defensive play in which a player deflects or redirects an opponent’s shot, preventing the ball from reaching the basket.

Now let’s explore how to integrate these terms into your basketball game analysis:

By understanding the nuances of basketball terminology and seamlessly weaving these terms into your storytelling, you can create a more immersive and authentic experience for readers while also demonstrating your expertise in basketball game analysis.

Craft Vivid Play-by-Play Descriptions

To create a captivating play-by-play basketball description, it’s essential to focus on the finer details that make each moment come alive.

A well-written account enables readers to visualize the action as if they were watching the game unfold in real time. By emphasizing the key plays and player movements, your detailed game narrative can transport readers to the edge of their seats.

Highlighting Key Plays and Player Movements

Conveying the excitement of a basketball game requires a keen eye for the most impactful plays and moments.

It’s essential to highlight moments that shift the momentum of the game, such as a game-changing block or steal, or a three-pointer that ties the score. By emphasizing these critical moments, your narrative will erupt with tension, keeping readers deeply engaged.

When describing player movements, it’s vital to depict the fluidity and intensity of their actions.

For example, portray a player’s lightning-fast drive to the basket, weaving through defenders, or the precise execution of a pick-and-roll, leaving a teammate open for an easy layup. These evocative descriptions allow readers to experience the thrill of the game as if they were court-side.

Adding depth to your game narrative also involves capturing the players’ physicality and emotions.

Describing the way a player’s muscles tense as they leap to block a shot or their determination in chasing down a loose ball provides a more vivid and immersive experience for your readers.

Showcasing pivotal plays and emotions (examples):

• Record-breaking performances: “In the final quarter, Steph Curry shattered the record for most three-pointers in a single game, leaving the crowd in awe.”
• Displays of teamwork: “With seamless ball movement and communication, the players effortlessly found each other on the court, leading to a well-executed alley-oop.”
• Impactful defensive plays: “Rudy Gobert, the towering 7-foot-1 center, swatted away the opponent’s shot with ease, sending the ball into the stands.”

Remember, your goal is to provide an immersive experience for your readers. Keep the energy high, be attentive to detail, and maintain the sense of anticipation and suspense throughout your play-by-play basketball description.

This approach will create a gripping narrative that keeps readers enthralled from start to finish.

Building Tension and Momentum

A well-crafted basketball story relies on  building momentum in narratives  and skillfully escalating game drama

Conveying basketball game tension and presenting a  tense sports storytelling  experience is key to keeping readers enthralled from tip-off to the final buzzer. Like the genuine experience of players and spectators, the intensity should ebb and flow with each quarter.

Start by showcasing the initial balanced competition, where both teams vie for dominance on the court.

Readers should feel the adrenaline building as players execute breathtaking plays and the scoreboard shifts in favor of one team or another. Keep your audience on the edge of their seats as you craft a crescendo of tension and excitement that permeates the entire match.

To bolster dramatic tension and momentum, pay attention to:

• Surprising moments that shift the advantage between teams
• Key player rivalries and high-stakes matchups
• Timeouts – describe coaches adjusting strategies and players catching their breath

As the game’s intensity peaks, incorporate immersive descriptions of the mounting pressure in the final minutes.

The closing stages of a basketball game are ripe for dramatic storytelling, and the right words can make readers feel like they’re courtside, sharing in the players’ sweat, determination, and passion.

The experience of watching a thrilling basketball game is akin to watching a dramatic movie or reading an action-packed novel: as tension rises, we can’t help but be emotionally invested. Harnessing this excitement in your sports narrative is all about striking the delicate balance between the physical and the emotional.

Using specific examples and vivid details can help bring your prose to life:

• Turnovers leading to fast break opportunities
• Last-second clutch shots that alter the outcome of the game
• Player emotions, from the elation of victory to the devastation of defeat

By paying close attention to these elements and weaving together a narrative that captures the excitement and tension of basketball, you’ll effectively build momentum and create a compelling, nail-biting sports story.

Player Reactions and Crowd Engagement

The intense energy permeating a basketball game comes from the emotions experienced by players on the court as well as the crowd’s engagement.

Writing about player reactions, such as the elation of a game-winning shot or the devastation of a critical error, humanizes these athletes and brings them to life. Readers are immersed in not only the tactical aspects of the game but also its emotional core.

Crowd engagement amplifies these emotions, with the audience reacting to each triumph and heartbreak alongside the players.

Describing the electrifying connection that transcends team allegiance, as fans rally behind memorable performances and empathize with crushing defeats, further strengthens the bond between your story and the readers.

Impact of a Basketball Game on Narratives

In capturing the emotions of basketball games, writers can illustrate the significant impact these events have on the wider narrative.

The outcome of a game can significantly influence the story’s direction, character development, and the relationships between players and communities. By highlighting basketball-induced narrative shifts, readers are privy to the powerful emotional repercussions brought about by the sport.

Basketball games can serve as a backdrop for personal growth, with players learning valuable life lessons from their experiences on the court.

Relationships are forged and tested, both among teammates and within the community, as the game transcends beyond the boundaries of the playing surface.

Notable Examples of Emotional Repercussions in Basketball Stories:

• Michael Jordan’s first retirement and subsequent comeback, inspiring a generation of basketball fans with his resilience and determination.
• The profound impact of the personal loss of a teammate, driving a team to band together and achieve success in memory of their fallen comrade.
• The incredible underdog victory of a small-town high school team in a major tournament, uniting the entire community in celebration and renewed hope.

Ultimately, capturing emotional highs and lows in basketball storytelling not only makes for a compelling narrative but also underlines the sport’s profound influence on the lives of those who play and bear witness to it.

By authentically conveying these emotions, readers are transported into the dynamic world of basketball.

They are left with a profound appreciation for the game’s impact both on and off the court.

Utilizing Metaphors and Similes

Metaphors and similes are powerful literary devices that can elevate basketball narratives by creating vivid imagery for readers.

These comparisons enable you to express complex emotions, evoke unforgettable scenes, and make the action on the court relatable and engaging.

Here are some examples of effectively employing metaphors and similes in basketball descriptions:

• Agility:  His quick movements on the court made him seem as graceful as a ballerina.
• Pressure:  The atmosphere in the arena was as tense as a tightrope walker’s wire.
• Teamwork:  They moved seamlessly together, like cogs in a well-oiled machine.
• Strength:  The power of his jump was reminiscent of a lion pouncing on its prey.

Additionally, using these literary devices can help you emphasize specific aspects of the game, like players’ unique qualities or the shared spirit of the team.

A well-placed simile or metaphor can impart a deeper understanding of individual roles within the game and inspire readers to connect with the story on a more emotional level.

To further illustrate how these metaphorical and comparative techniques can enhance your basketball narrative, consider the following list of examples:

Illustrate the Game’s Climactic Endings

Basketball frequently delivers some of the most thrilling game endings.

The climactic moments of a basketball game can leave fans on the edge of their seats, making it essential for writers to effectively capture these instances in their narratives.

Reflect on the iconic 1998 NBA Finals Game 6, where Michael Jordan’s memorable last-second basket clinched the win for the Chicago Bulls.

The tension was palpable as he released the ball, and the euphoria that followed his successful basket became an unforgettable moment in sports history.

Such a scenario offers endless opportunities for vivid descriptions that truly immerse readers in the game.

Whether recounting a heart-stopping buzzer-beater, an improbable comeback, or a game-winning block, capturing these climactic moments in writing can grip a reader’s emotions and make them feel part of the action.

As a result, they experience the intense triumphs and agonizing defeats that characterize this beloved sport, leaving them eager for more thrilling basketball narratives.

Final Thoughts: How to Describe a Basketball Game

Ultimately, the way you describe a basketball game in your story comes down to how you understand and play the game yourself.

For more guides on how to describe people, places, and things in your writing, check out one of the articles below.

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How to Write a Non-Cliche College Essay About Sports + Examples

What’s covered:, what makes a sports essay cliche.

• How To Make Your Sports Essay Unique

Great Examples of College Essays About Sports

Where to get your college essay edited for free, or by an expert.

You’ve been brainstorming essay topics for your college applications, and you think you’ve finally found the right one: an extended metaphor likening your experience on the field with overcoming personal struggles. The problem: many other students have this same thought. 

The purpose of a college essay is to make yourself stand out as a unique individual, but when students write about sports, they often blend in. Because of that, students are usually advised to pick a different topic.

That being said, it is possible to write a non-cliche college essay about sports if you put in a little extra effort. Read along to learn how to make your sports essay different from all the other sports essays.

Sports essays are cliche when they follow a standard trajectory. Some of these trajectories include writing a story about:

• An agonizing defeat
• Forging bonds with teammates
• Overcoming adversity
• Overcoming an injury
• Refusing to quit
• Victory during a big game

Because sports essays have very similar themes and “lessons learned,” it can be difficult to make your story stand out. These trajectories also often focus too much on the sport or storyline, and not enough on the writer’s reflections and personality.

As you write your essay, try to think about what your experience says about you rather than what you learned from your experience. You are more than just one lesson you learned!

(Keep in mind that the sports essay is not the only college essay cliche. Learn about other essay cliches and how to fix them in our complete guide).

How to Make Your Sports Essay Unique

1. focus on a specific moment or reflection..

The college essay is a way for students to humanize themselves to admissions officers. You do not feel human if you are describing yourself as just another player on the field!

One important way to make your essay about you (not just about sports) is by focusing on a specific moment in time and inviting the reader to join you in that moment. Explain to the reader what it would be like to be sitting in that locker room as you questioned the values of the other players on your team. Ask your reader to sit with you on the cot in the trainer’s room as your identity was stripped away from you when they said “your body can’t take this anymore.” Bring your reader to the dinner table and involve them in your family’s conversation about how sports were affecting your mental health and your treatment of those around you.

Intense descriptions of a specific experience will evoke emotions in your reader and allow them to connect with you and feel for you.

When in doubt, avoid anything that can be covered by ESPN. On ESPN, we see the games, we see the benches, we even see the locker rooms and training rooms. Take your reader somewhere different and show them something unique.

2. Use sports to point out broader themes in your life.

The main risk when writing about sports is neglecting to write about yourself. Before you get started, think about the main values that you want to express in your sports essay. Sports are simply your avenue for telling the reader what makes you unique. 

As a test, imagine if you were a pianist. Would you be able to talk about these same values? What if you were a writer? Or a chemist? Articulating your values is the end, and sports should simply be your means.

Some values that you might want to focus on:

• Autonomy (you want to be able to set your mind to anything and achieve it on your own)
• Growth (you seek improvement constantly)
• Curiosity (you are willing to try anything once)
• Vulnerability (you aren’t afraid to fail, as long as you give it your all)
• Community (you value the feedback of others and need camaraderie to succeed)
• Craft (you think that with deliberate care, anything can be perfected)
• Responsibility (you believe that you owe something to those around you and perhaps they also owe something to you)

You can use the ESPN check again to make sure that you are using sports as an avenue to show your depth.

Things ESPN covers: how a player reacts to defeat, how injuries affect a player’s gameplay/attitude, how players who don’t normally work well together are working together on their new team.

Things ESPN doesn’t cover: the conversation that a player had with their mother about fear of death before going into a big surgery (value: family and connection), the ways that the intense pressure to succeed consumed a player to the point they couldn’t be there for the people in their life (value: supporting others and community), the body image issues that weigh on a player’s mind when playing their sport and how they overcame those (value: health and growth).

3. Turn a cliche storyline on its head.

There’s no getting around the fact that sports essays are often cliche. But there is a way to confront the cliche head-on. For example, lots of people write essays about the lessons they learned from an injury, victory, and so on, but fewer students explain how they are embracing those lessons. 

Perhaps you learned that competition is overwhelming for you and you prefer teamwork, so you switched from playing basketball to playing Dungeons & Dragons. Maybe, when your softball career ended abruptly, you had to find a new identity and that’s when you became obsessed with your flower garden and decided to pursue botany. Or maybe, you have stuck with football through it all, but your junior-year mental health struggle showed you that football should be fun and you have since started a nonprofit for local children to healthily engage with sports.

If your story itself is more cliche, try bringing readers to the present moment with you and show why the cliche matters and what it did for you. This requires a fair amount of creativity. Ensure you’re not parroting a frequently used topic by really thinking deeply to find your own unique spin.

Night had robbed the academy of its daytime colors, yet there was comfort in the dim lights that cast shadows of our advances against the bare studio walls. Silhouettes of roundhouse kicks, spin crescent kicks, uppercuts and the occasional butterfly kick danced while we sparred. She approached me, eyes narrowed with the trace of a smirk challenging me. “Ready spar!” Her arm began an upward trajectory targeting my shoulder, a common first move. I sidestepped — only to almost collide with another flying fist. Pivoting my right foot, I snapped my left leg, aiming my heel at her midsection. The center judge raised one finger. 

There was no time to celebrate, not in the traditional sense at least. Master Pollard gave a brief command greeted with a unanimous “Yes, sir” and the thud of 20 hands dropping-down-and-giving-him-30, while the “winners” celebrated their victory with laps as usual. 

Three years ago, seven-thirty in the evening meant I was a warrior. It meant standing up straighter, pushing a little harder, “Yes, sir” and “Yes, ma’am”, celebrating birthdays by breaking boards, never pointing your toes, and familiarity. Three years later, seven-thirty in the morning meant I was nervous. 

The room is uncomfortably large. The sprung floor soaks up the checkerboard of sunlight piercing through the colonial windows. The mirrored walls further illuminate the studio and I feel the light scrutinizing my sorry attempts at a pas de bourrée, while capturing the organic fluidity of the dancers around me. “Chassé en croix, grand battement, pique, pirouette.” I follow the graceful limbs of the woman in front of me, her legs floating ribbons, as she executes what seems to be a perfect ronds de jambes. Each movement remains a negotiation. With admirable patience, Ms. Tan casts me a sympathetic glance.   

There is no time to wallow in the misery that is my right foot. Taekwondo calls for dorsiflexion; pointed toes are synonymous with broken toes. My thoughts drag me into a flashback of the usual response to this painful mistake: “You might as well grab a tutu and head to the ballet studio next door.” Well, here I am Master Pollard, unfortunately still following your orders to never point my toes, but no longer feeling the satisfaction that comes with being a third degree black belt with 5 years of experience quite literally under her belt. It’s like being a white belt again — just in a leotard and ballet slippers. 

But the appetite for new beginnings that brought me here doesn’t falter. It is only reinforced by the classical rendition of “Dancing Queen” that floods the room and the ghost of familiarity that reassures me that this new beginning does not and will not erase the past. After years spent at the top, it’s hard to start over. But surrendering what you are only leads you to what you may become. In Taekwondo, we started each class reciting the tenets: honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, humility, and knowledge, and I have never felt that I embodied those traits more so than when I started ballet. 

The thing about change is that it eventually stops making things so different. After nine different schools, four different countries, three different continents, fluency in Tamil, Norwegian, and English, there are more blurred lines than there are clear fragments. My life has not been a tactfully executed, gold medal-worthy Taekwondo form with each movement defined, nor has it been a series of frappés performed by a prima ballerina with each extension identical and precise, but thankfully it has been like the dynamics of a spinning back kick, fluid, and like my chances of landing a pirouette, unpredictable. 

Why it works:

What’s especially powerful about this essay is that the author uses detailed imagery to convey a picture of what they’re experiencing, so much so that the reader is along for the ride. This works as a sports essay not only because of the language and sensory details, but also because the writer focuses on a specific moment in time, while at the same time exploring why Taekwondo is such an important part of their life.

After the emotional image is created, the student finishes their essay with valuable reflection. With the reflection, they show admissions officers that they are mature and self-aware. Self-awareness comes through with statements like “surrendering what you are only leads you to what you may become” and maturity can be seen through the student’s discussion of values “honor, courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control, courage, humility, and knowledge, and I have never felt that I embodied those traits more so than when I started ballet.” These are the kinds of comments that should find their way into a sports essay!

“Advanced females ages 13 to 14 please proceed to staging with your coaches at this time.” Skittering around the room, eyes wide and pleading, I frantically explained my situation to nearby coaches. The seconds ticked away in my head; every polite refusal increased my desperation.

Despair weighed me down. I sank to my knees as a stream of competitors, coaches, and officials flowed around me. My dojang had no coach, and the tournament rules prohibited me from competing without one.

Although I wanted to remain strong, doubts began to cloud my mind. I could not help wondering: what was the point of perfecting my skills if I would never even compete? The other members of my team, who had found coaches minutes earlier, attempted to comfort me, but I barely heard their words. They couldn’t understand my despair at being left on the outside, and I never wanted them to understand.

Since my first lesson 12 years ago, the members of my dojang have become family. I have watched them grow up, finding my own happiness in theirs. Together, we have honed our kicks, blocks, and strikes. We have pushed one another to aim higher and become better martial artists. Although my dojang had searched for a reliable coach for years, we had not found one. When we attended competitions in the past, my teammates and I had always gotten lucky and found a sympathetic coach. Now, I knew this practice was unsustainable. It would devastate me to see the other members of my dojang in my situation, unable to compete and losing hope as a result. My dojang needed a coach, and I decided it was up to me to find one. 

I first approached the adults in the dojang – both instructors and members’ parents. However, these attempts only reacquainted me with polite refusals. Everyone I asked told me they couldn’t devote multiple weekends per year to competitions. I soon realized that I would have become the coach myself.

At first, the inner workings of tournaments were a mystery to me. To prepare myself for success as a coach, I spent the next year as an official and took coaching classes on the side. I learned everything from motivational strategies to technical, behind-the-scenes components of Taekwondo competitions. Though I emerged with new knowledge and confidence in my capabilities, others did not share this faith.

Parents threw me disbelieving looks when they learned that their children’s coach was only a child herself. My self-confidence was my armor, deflecting their surly glances. Every armor is penetrable, however, and as the relentless barrage of doubts pounded my resilience, it began to wear down. I grew unsure of my own abilities.

Despite the attack, I refused to give up. When I saw the shining eyes of the youngest students preparing for their first competition, I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was. The knowledge that I could solve my dojang’s longtime problem motivated me to overcome my apprehension.

Now that my dojang flourishes at competitions, the attacks on me have weakened, but not ended. I may never win the approval of every parent; at times, I am still tormented by doubts, but I find solace in the fact that members of my dojang now only worry about competing to the best of their abilities.

Now, as I arrive at a tournament with my students, I close my eyes and remember the past. I visualize the frantic search for a coach and the chaos amongst my teammates as we compete with one another to find coaches before the staging calls for our respective divisions. I open my eyes to the exact opposite scene. Lacking a coach hurt my ability to compete, but I am proud to know that no member of my dojang will have to face that problem again.

In the beginning, you might think this is another cliche sports essay about overcoming adversity. But instead, it becomes a unique statement and coming-of-age tale that reads as a suspenseful narrative. 

The author connects their experience with martial arts to larger themes in their life but manages to do so without riffing off of tried-and-true themes. Through statements like “I knew I couldn’t let them down. To quit would be to set them up to be barred from competing like I was” we learn about the students values and their desire to be there for those who depend on them. 

The student also brings it full circle, demonstrating their true transformation. By using the “Same, but Different” ending technique , the student places themself in the same environment that we saw in the intro, but experiences it differently due to their actions throughout the narrative. This is very compelling!

“1…2…3…4 pirouettes! New record!” My friends cheered as I landed my turns. Pleased with my progress, I gazed down at my worn-out pointe shoes. The sweltering blisters, numbing ice-baths, and draining late-night practices did not seem so bad after all. Next goal: five turns.

For as long as I can remember, ballet, in all its finesse and glamor, had kept me driven day to day. As a child, the lithe ballerinas, donning ethereal costumes as they floated across the stage, were my motivation. While others admired Messi and Adele, I idolized Carlos Acosta, principal dancer of the Royal Ballet. 

As I devoted more time and energy towards my craft, I became obsessed with improving my technique. I would stretch for hours after class, forcing my leg one inch higher in an effort to mirror the Dance Magazine cover girls. I injured my feet and ruined pair after pair of pointe shoes, turning on wood, cement, and even grass to improve my balance as I spun. At competitions, the dancers with the 180-degree leg extensions, endless turns, and soaring leaps—the ones who received “Bravos!” from the roaring audience—further pushed me to refine my skills and perfect my form. I believed that, with enough determination, I would one day attain their level of perfection. Reaching the quadruple-pirouette milestone only intensified my desire to accomplish even more. 

My efforts seemed to have come to fruition two summers ago when I was accepted to dance with Moscow’s Bolshoi Ballet at their renowned New York City summer intensive. I walked into my first session eager to learn from distinguished ballet masters and worldly dancers, already anticipating my improvement. Yet, as I danced alongside the accomplished ballerinas, I felt out of place. Despite their clean technique and professional training, they did not aim for glorious leg extensions or prodigious leaps. When they performed their turn combinations, most of them only executed two turns as I attempted four. 

“Dancers, double-pirouettes only.” 

Taken aback and confused, I wondered why our teacher expected so little from us. The other ballerinas seemed content, gracing the studio with their simple movements. 

As I grew closer with my Moscow roommates, I gradually learned that their training emphasized the history of the art form instead of stylistic tricks. Rather than show off their physical ability, their performances aimed to convey a story, one that embodied the rich culture of ballet and captured both the legacy of the dancers before them and their own artistry. As I observed my friends more intently in repertoire class, I felt the pain of the grief-stricken white swan from Swan Lake, the sass of the flirtatious Kitri from Don Quijote, and I gradually saw what I had overlooked before. My definition of talent had been molded by crowd-pleasing elements—whirring pirouettes, gravity-defying leaps, and mind-blowing leg extensions. This mindset slowly stripped me from the roots of my passion and my personal connection with ballet. 

With the Bolshoi, I learned to step back and explore the meaning behind each step and the people behind the scenes. Ballet carries history in its movements, from the societal values of the era to each choreographer’s unique flair. As I uncovered the messages behind each pirouette, kick, and jump, my appreciation for ballet grew beyond my obsession with raw athleticism and developed into a love for the art form’s emotive abilities in bridging the dancers with the audience. My journey as an artist has allowed me to see how technical execution is only the means to a greater understanding between dancer and spectator, between storyteller and listener. The elegance and complexity of ballet does not revolve around astonishing stunts but rather the evocative strength and artistry manifested in the dancer, in me. It is the combination of sentiments, history, tradition, and passion that has allowed ballet and its lessons of human connection to become my lifestyle both on and off stage.

This essay is about lessons. While the author is a dancer, this narrative isn’t really about ballet, per se — it’s about the author’s personal growth. It is purposefully reflective as the student shows a nice character arc that begins with an eager young ballerina and ends with a reflection on their past. The primary strength of this essay is the honesty and authenticity that the student approaches it with.

In the end, the student turns a cliche on its head as they embrace the idea of overcoming adversity and demonstrate how the adversity, in this case, was their own stereotypes about their art. It’s beautiful!

“Getting beat is one thing – it’s part of competing – but I want no part in losing.” Coach Rob Stark’s motto never fails to remind me of his encouragement on early-morning bus rides to track meets around the state. I’ve always appreciated the phrase, but an experience last June helped me understand its more profound, universal meaning.

Stark, as we affectionately call him, has coached track at my high school for 25 years. His care, dedication, and emphasis on developing good character has left an enduring impact on me and hundreds of other students. Not only did he help me discover my talent and love for running, but he also taught me the importance of commitment and discipline and to approach every endeavor with the passion and intensity that I bring to running. When I learned a neighboring high school had dedicated their track to a longtime coach, I felt that Stark deserved similar honors.

Our school district’s board of education indicated they would only dedicate our track to Stark if I could demonstrate that he was extraordinary. I took charge and mobilized my teammates to distribute petitions, reach out to alumni, and compile statistics on the many team and individual champions Stark had coached over the years. We received astounding support, collecting almost 3,000 signatures and pages of endorsements from across the community. With help from my teammates, I presented this evidence to the board.

They didn’t bite. 

Most members argued that dedicating the track was a low priority. Knowing that we had to act quickly to convince them of its importance, I called a team meeting where we drafted a rebuttal for the next board meeting. To my surprise, they chose me to deliver it. I was far from the best public speaker in the group, and I felt nervous about going before the unsympathetic board again. However, at that second meeting, I discovered that I enjoy articulating and arguing for something that I’m passionate about.

Public speaking resembles a cross country race. Walking to the starting line, you have to trust your training and quell your last minute doubts. When the gun fires, you can’t think too hard about anything; your performance has to be instinctual, natural, even relaxed. At the next board meeting, the podium was my starting line. As I walked up to it, familiar butterflies fluttered in my stomach. Instead of the track stretching out in front of me, I faced the vast audience of teachers, board members, and my teammates. I felt my adrenaline build, and reassured myself: I’ve put in the work, my argument is powerful and sound. As the board president told me to introduce myself, I heard, “runners set” in the back of my mind. She finished speaking, and Bang! The brief silence was the gunshot for me to begin. 

The next few minutes blurred together, but when the dust settled, I knew from the board members’ expressions and the audience’s thunderous approval that I had run quite a race. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough; the board voted down our proposal. I was disappointed, but proud of myself, my team, and our collaboration off the track. We stood up for a cause we believed in, and I overcame my worries about being a leader. Although I discovered that changing the status quo through an elected body can be a painstakingly difficult process and requires perseverance, I learned that I enjoy the challenges this effort offers. Last month, one of the school board members joked that I had become a “regular” – I now often show up to meetings to advocate for a variety of causes, including better environmental practices in cafeterias and safer equipment for athletes.

Just as Stark taught me, I worked passionately to achieve my goal. I may have been beaten when I appealed to the board, but I certainly didn’t lose, and that would have made Stark proud.

This essay uses the idea of sports to explore a more profound topic—growing through relationships. They really embrace using sports as an avenue to tell the reader about a specific experience that changed the way they approach the world. 

The emphasis on relationships is why this essay works well and doesn’t fall into a cliche. The narrator grows not because of their experience with track but because of their relationship with their coach, who inspired them to evolve and become a leader.

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Publications, let me enfold thee, an essay on basketball by gonzaga faculty member shann ray ferch.

Let me enfold thee, and hold thee to my heart. Shakespeare

What is it like to be a college basketball player?

Probably quite a bit similar to what it’s like being a college student, or a dancer, a poet, or a scientist. College basketball involves a great dream. We might say the dream is life, and then we might wonder, what does life ask of us? The answer may mean the difference between despair and hope; or the distance, nuanced, oblique, between darkness and light; or the resolution and peace that come of being in the presence of beloved others who have loved us and changed us forever.

Gonzaga University has enjoyed a sustained and by some accounts miraculous journey into the heart of college basketball. For those who love basketball and have been graced to witness the journey, there remains both the beauty and vigor of excellence developed over many days, months, and years, and also the ultimate dream of the sport: the possibility of a National Championship. At each level of competitive basketball every player who seeks a higher goal holds the dream of a championship very close. Whether or not the dream is realized is a matter left to the dynamic interplay of devotion, fortitude, chemistry, chance, fate, and luck.

This essay* is a mosaic of my own experiences playing basketball in high school, college, and in the German Bundesliga, and finding myself on the other side of the dream, held by even greater dreams about love, forgiveness, reconciliation, wholeness, and the mystery of the Divine.

* Parts of this essay appeared previously in Narrative Magazine and the book Blood Fire Vapor Smoke

In the dark I still line up the seams of the ball to the form of my fingers. I see the rim, the follow-through, the arm lifted and extended, a pure jump shot with a clean release and good form. I see the long-range trajectory and the ball on a slow backspin arcing toward the hoop, the net waiting for the swish.

In Montana, high school basketball is a thing as strong as family or work and when I grew up Jonathan Takes Enemy, a member of the Apsaalooké (Crow) Nation, was the best basketball player in the state. He led Hardin High, a school with years of losing tradition, into the state spotlight, carrying the team and the community on his shoulders all the way to the state tournament where he averaged 41 points per game. He created legendary moments that decades later are still mentioned in state basketball circles, and he did so with a force that made me both fear and respect him. On the court, nothing was outside the realm of his skill: the jump shot, the drive, the sweeping left-handed finger roll, the deep fade-away jumper. He could deliver what we all dreamed of, and with a venom that said don’t get in my way.

I was a year younger than Jonathan, playing for an all-white school in Livingston when our teams met in the divisional tournament and he and the Hardin Bulldogs delivered us a crushing 17-point defeat. At the close of the third quarter with the clock winding down and his team with a comfortable lead, Takes Enemy pulled up from one step in front of half-court and shot a straight, clean jumper. Though the range of it was more than 20 feet beyond the three-point line, his form remained pure. The audacity and raw beauty of the shot hushed the crowd. A common knowledge came to everyone: few people can even throw a basketball that far with any accuracy, let alone take a real shot with good form. Takes Enemy landed and as the ball was in the air he turned, no longer watching the flight of the ball, and began to walk back toward his team bench. The buzzer sounded, he put his fist high, the shot swished into the net. The crowd erupted.

Many of these young men did not escape the violence that surrounded the alcohol and drug traffic on the reservations, but their natural flow on the court inspired me toward the kind of boldness that gives artistry and freedom to any endeavor. Such boldness is akin to passion. For these young men, and for myself at that time, our passion was basketball.

But rather than creating in me my own intrepid response, seeing Takes Enemy only emphasized how little I knew of courage, not just on the basketball court, but in life. Takes Enemy breathed a confidence I lacked, a leadership potential that lived and moved. Robert Greenleaf said, “A mark of leaders, an attribute that puts them in a position to show the way for others, is that they are better than most at pointing the direction.” Takes Enemy was better than most. He and his team worked as one as they played with fluidity and abandon. I began to look for this way of life as an athlete and as a person. The search brought me to people who lived life not through dominance or coercion but through love and freedom of movement.

In the half dark of the house, a light burning over my shoulder, I find myself asking who commandeers the vessels of our dreams? I see Jonathan Takes Enemy like a war horse running, fierce and filled with immense power. The question gives me pause to remember him and his artistry, and how he played for something more.

By the time my brother Kral and I reached high school, we both had the dream, Kral already on his way to the top, me two years younger and trying to learn everything I could. We’d received the dream equally from our father and from the rez, the Crow rez at Plenty Coups, and the Tsitsistas (Northern Cheyenne) rez in the southeast corner of Montana. In Montana tribal basketball is a game of speed and precision passing, a form of controlled wildness that is hard to come by in non-reservation basketball circles. Fast and quick-handed, the rez ballers rise like something elemental, finding each other with sleight of hand stylings and no-look passes, pressing and cutting in stream-like movements that converge to rivers, taking down passing lanes with no will but to create chaos and action and fury, the kind of kindle that smolders and leaps up to set whole forests aflame.

Kral and I lost the dream late, both having made it to the D-1 level, both with opportunity to play overseas, but neither of us making the NBA.

Along the way, I helped fulfill our father’s tenacious hopes: two state championships at Park High in Livingston, one first as a sophomore with Kral, a massive win in which the final score was 104 to 64, with Kral totaling 46 points, 20 rebounds, and three dunks. And one two years later when I was a senior with a band of runners that averaged nearly 90 points a game before there was a three-point line. We took the title in what sportswriters still refer to as the greatest game in Montana high school basketball history, a 99-97 double-overtime thriller in 85’ at the Max Worthington Arena at Montana State University, before a crowd of 10,000.

Afterward on the bus ride through the mountains I remember my chest pressed to the back of the seat as I stared behind us. The post-game show blared over the speakers, everyone still whooping and hollering. “We’re comin’ home!” the radio man yelled, “We’re coming home!” and from the wide back window I saw a line of cars miles long and lit up, snaking from the flat before Livingston all the way up the pass to Bozeman. The dream of a dream, the Niitsítapi and the Apsaalooké, the Blackfeet and the Crow, the Nēhilawē and the Tsitsistas, the Cree and the Northern Cheyenne, the white boys, the enemies and the friends, and the clean line of basketball walking us out toward skeletal hoops in the dead of winter, the hollow in our eyes lonely but lovely in its way.

At Montana State University, I played shooting guard on the last team in the league my freshman year. Our team: seven Black men from all across America and five White kids mostly from Montana. We had a marvelous, magical point guard from Portland named Tony Hampton. He was lightning fast with wonderful ball-handling skills and exceptional court vision. He brought us together with seven games left in the season. Our record at the time was 7 wins, 16 losses. Last place in the conference. “We are getting shoved down by this coaching staff,” he said, and I remember how the criticism and malice were thick from the coaches. Their jobs were on the line. They’d lost touch with their players. Their players had lost touch with them. Tony said, “We need to band together right now. No one is going to do it for us. Whenever you see a teammate dogged by a coach, go up and give that teammate love. Tell him good job. Keep it up. We’re in this together.”

A team talk like that doesn’t typically change a season.

This one did.

Tony spoke the words. We followed him and did what he asked, and we went on a seven-game win streak, starting that very night when we beat the 17th-ranked team in the country, on the road. The streak didn’t end until the NCAA tournament eight games later. In that stretch, Tony averaged 19 points and 11 assists per game. He led the way and we were unfazed by outside degradation. We had our own inner strength. Playing as one, we won the final three games of the regular season. We entered the Big Sky Conference tournament in last place and beat the fourth-, second-, and first-place teams in the league to advance to March Madness. When we came home from the conference tournament as champions, it felt like the entire town of Bozeman was at the airport to greet us. We waded through a river of people giving high fives and held a fiery pep rally with speeches and roars of applause.

We went on to the NCAA tournament as the last-ranked team, the 64th team in a tournament which at that time had only 64 teams. We were slated to play St. John’s, the number one team in the nation. We faced off in the first game of the southwest regional at Long Beach, and far into the second half we were up by four. St. John’s featured future NBA players Mark Jackson (future NBA All-Star), Walter Berry (collegiate player of the year), and Shelton Jones (future winner of the NBA dunk contest). We featured no one with national recognition. We played well and had the lead late in the second half, but in the end we lost by nine.

When my brother graduated from Montana State I transferred and played my final two seasons of college basketball for Pepperdine University. At that time, Pepperdine had been a league-leading team for many years. Our main rival was Loyola Marymount University, featuring consensus All-American Hank Gathers and the multi-talented scorer Bo Kimble. My senior year at Pepperdine we beat Loyola Marymount 127-114 in a true barn-burner! Also a fine grudge match, considering they beat us earlier in the season at their place. We were set to play each other in the championship game of the West Coast Conference tournament but before we could meet at the top of the bracket, Hank died, and the tournament was immediately canceled.

The funeral was in Los Angeles, a ceremony of gut-wrenching grief and bereavement in which we gathered to honor one of the nation’s young most-radiant men. We prayed for him and for his family and for all who would come after him bearing his legacy of love for the game, elite athleticism, and the gift of living life to the full. His team went on to the NCAA tournament and made it all the way to the Elite 8. Bo Kimble shot his first free-throw of the NCAA tournament left-handed in honor of Hank. The shot went in. The nation mourned. The athletes who knew Hank were never the same.

As a freshman in high school, I was tiny, barely five feet tall, and my goal was to play Division 1 basketball. I’d had this goal since I was a child and because of my height and weight it seemed impossible, and actually felt impossible. I was small, but I made a deal with myself to do whatever it might take from my end to try to get to the D-1 level, so if I did not accomplish the goal, I knew at least I had given my all. I grew eight inches the summer before my sophomore year in high school, thanked heaven, and began to think perhaps the goal was not totally out of reach.

Hour after hour. Everyday. The dream was now fully formed, bright shining, and excruciating. I played 8 hours per day before my junior year, 10 hours per day before my senior season. At the height of it I played 17 hours in one day. Hours of solitude and physical exhaustion were plentiful. I gave my life to the discipline of being a point guard and a shooting guard. I worked on moves, passing, shooting, defending, ball handling. The regimen involved getting up at 7 a.m. at the singlewide trailer we lived in, on my bike by 7:40, traveling the highway toward Livingston, yellow transistor radio (borrowed from my mom) in the front pocket of my windbreaker, the ball tucked up under the coat, and me riding to Eastside, the court bordered by a grade school to the east, the sheriff’s station and the firehall to the north, and small houses to the west. A few blocks south, the Yellowstone River moved and churned and flowed east. Above the river a wall of mountains reached halfway up the sky.

Mostly I was by myself, but because the town had a love for basketball, there were many hours with friends too. In those moments with others, or isolated hours trying to hone my individual basketball skills, I faced many, many frustrations, but finally the body broke into the delight of hard work and found a rhythm, a pattern in which there was the slow advance toward something greater than oneself. Often the threshold of life is a descent into darkness, a powerful and intimate and abiding darkness in which the light finally emerges.

“Beauty will save the world,” Dostoevsky said.

Because of basketball I know there exists the reality of being encumbered or full of grace, beset with darkness and or in convergence with light. This interplay echoes the wholly realized vision of exceptional point guards and the daring of pure shooting guards, met with fortitude even under immense pressure.

At Eastside, both low end and high end have square metal backboards marked by quarter-sized holes to keep the wind from knocking the baskets down. Livingston is the fifth windiest city in the world. The playground has a slant to it that makes one basket lower than the other. The low end is nine-feet, 10 inches high, and we all come here to throw down in the summer. Too small, they say, but we don’t listen. Inside-outside, between-the-legs, behind-the-back, cross it up, skip-to-my-lou, fake and go, doesn't matter, any of these lose the defender. Then we rise up and throw down. We rig up a break-away on the rim and because of the way we hang on it in the summer, our hands get thick and tough. We can all dunk now, so the break-away is a necessity, a spring-loaded rim made to handle the power of power-dunks. The break-away rim came into being after Darryl Dawkins, nicknamed Chocolate Thunder, broke two of the big glass backboards in the NBA. On the first one Dawkins’ force was so immense the glass caved in and fell out the back of the frame. On the second, the window exploded and everyone ducked their heads and ran to avoid the fractured glass that flew from one end of the court to the other. Within two years every high school in the nation had break-aways, and my friends and I convinced our assistant coach to give us one so we could put it up on the low end at Eastside.

The high end is the shooter's end, made for the pure shooter, a silver ring 10-feet, two inches high with a long white net. At night the car lights bring it alive, rim and backboard like an industrial artwork, everything mounted on a steel-grey pole that stems down into the concrete, down deep into the hard soil.

A senior in high school, I’m 17. I leave the car lights on, cut the engine and grab my basketball from the heat in the passenger foot space. I step out. The air is crisp. The wind carries the cold, dry smell of autumn, and further down, more faint, the smell of roots, the smell of earth. Out over the city, strands of cloud turn grey, then black. When the sun goes down there is a depth of night unfathomable, the darkness rent by a flurry of stars.

I call the ballers by name, the great Native basketball legends, some my own contemporaries, some who came before. I learn from them and receive the river, their smoothness, their brazenness, like the Yellowstone River seven blocks south, dark and wide, stronger than the city it surrounds, perfect in form where it moves and speaks, bound by night. If I listen my heroes lift me out away from here, fly me farther than they flew themselves. In Montana, young men are Native and they are White, loving, hating. At Lodge Grass, at Lame Deer, I was afraid at first. But now I see. The speaking and the listening, the welcoming: Tim Falls Down, Marty Round Face and Max and Luke Spotted Bear from Plenty Coups; Joe Pretty Paint from Lodge Grass; and at St. Labre, Juneau Plenty Hawk, Willie Gardner, and Fred and Paul Deputee. All I loved, all I watched with wonder—and few got free.

Most played ball for my father, a few for rival teams. Some I watched as a child, and I loved the uncontrolled nature of their moves. Some I grew up playing against. And some I merely heard of in basketball circles years later, the rumble of their greatness, the stories of games won or lost on last second shots.

The body in unison, the step, the gather, the arc of the ball in the air like a crescent moon—the follow-through a small well-lit cathedral, the correct push and the floppy wrist, the proper backspin, the arm held high, the night, the ball, the basket, everything illumined.

We are given moments like these, to rise with Highwalker and Falls Down and Spotted Bear, with Round Face and Old Bull and Takes Enemy: to shoot the jump shot and feel the follow through that lifts and finds a path in the air, the sound, the sweetness of the ball on a solitary arc in darkness as the ball falls into the net.

All is complete. The maze lies open, an imprint that reminds me of the Highline, the Blackfeet and Charlie Calf Robe, the Crow and Joe Pretty Paint, the Cheyenne and Highwalker, a form of forms that is a memory trace and the weaving of a line begun by Native men, by White men, by my father and Calf Robe’s and Pretty Paint’s and Highwalker’s fathers, by our fathers’ fathers, and by all the fathers that have gone before, some of them distant and many gone, all of them beautiful in their way.

Fresh from professional ball in Germany I went with my dad to the Charlie Calf Robe Memorial Tournament on the Blackfeet rez in northeast Montana. The tribe devoted an entire halftime to my father and he didn't even coach on that reservation. They presented him with a beaded belt buckle and a blanket for the coaching he’d done on other reservations, the Cheynne rez, the Crow rez—to show their respect for him as an elder who was a friend to the Native Nations of Montana. During the ceremony they wrapped the blanket around his shoulders, signifying he would always be welcome in the tribe.

On that weekend with him, I received an unforeseen wholly unique gift. Dedicated as a memorial to the high school athlete Charlie Calf Robe, a young Blackfeet artist, long distance runner, and basketball player who died young, the tournament was a form of community grieving over the loss of a beloved son. The Most Valuable Player award was made by Charlie’s wife, Honey Davis, who spent nine months crafting an entirely beaded basketball for the event. When the tribe and Honey herself presented the ball to me, and I walked through the gym with my father, an old Blackfeet man approached us. He touched my arm, and smiled a wide smile.

“You can’t dribble that one, sonny” he said.

I saw my father’s father only a handful of times.

He lived in little more than a one room shack in Circle, Montana. In the shack next door was my grandfather’s brother, a trapper who dried animal hides on boards and leaned them against walls and tables. I remember rattlesnake rattles in a small pile on the surface of a wooden three-legged stool. A hunting knife with a horn handle. On the floor, small and medium-sized closed steel traps. An old rifle in the corner near the door.

My father and I drive the two-lane highway as we enter town. We pick up my grandfather stumbling drunk down the middle of the road and take him home.

Years later my grandpa sits in the same worn linoleum kitchen in an old metal chair with vinyl backing. Dim light from the window. His legs crossed, a rolled cigarette lit in his left hand, he runs his right hand through a shock of silver hair atop his head, bangs yellowed by nicotine. Bent or upright or sideways, empty beer cans litter the floor.

“Who is it?” he says, squinting into the dark.

“Tommy,” my dad says, “your son.”

“Who?” the old man says.

When we leave, my grandpa still doesn’t recognize him.

On the way home through the dark, I watch my father’s eyes.

My grandfather was largely isolated late in life. No family members were near him when he died. He once loved to walk the hills after the spring runoff in search of arrowheads with his family. But in my grandpa’s condition before death his desire for life was eclipsed. He became morose and very depressed. In the end, alcohol killed him.

There’s J.P. Batista, a powerful player dubbed “The Beast” when he played here because he could score on anyone, and if he was hungry on the court, which was always, we said “Feed the Beast!” There’s David Pendergraft, perhaps the most beloved generational talent in Gonzaga’s history because he played with unquenchable fire and if he was guarding the best player on the other team, which was nearly always, the other team was in trouble. There’s Ronny Turiaf, a man whose heart was as big as the world, on and off the court. Finally, there’s Mike Nilson, the soul of the first GU teams to break through into the dream of advancing far into March Madness, a beautiful person with uncommon tenacity and loyalty, who serves others with grace and ease. Too many to be named, the players the community has welcomed, known and loved leave a legacy we as dear as any championship run.

In present-day Montana, with its cold winters and far distant towns, the love of high school basketball is a time-honored tradition. Native teams have most often dominated the basketball landscape, winning multiple state titles on the shoulders of modern day warriors who are both highly skilled and intrepid.

Tribal basketball comes like a fresh wind to change the climate of the reservation from downtrodden to celebrational. Plenty Coups with Luke Spotted Bear and Dana Goes Ahead won two state championships in the early eighties. After that, Lodge Grass, under Elvis Old Bull won three straight. Jonathan Takes Enemy remains perhaps the most revered. Deep finger rolls with either hand, his jumpshot a thing of beauty, with his quick vertical leap he threw down 360s, and with power. We played against each other numerous times in high school, his teams still revered by the old guard, a competition fiery and glorious, and then we went our separate ways.

For a few months he attended Sheridan Community College in Wyoming then dropped out.

He played city league, his name appearing in the Billings papers with him scoring over 60 points on occasion, and once 73.

Later I heard he’d done some drinking, gained weight, and become mostly immobile.

But soon after that he cleaned up, lost weight, earned a scholarship at Rocky Mountain College and formed a nice career averaging a bundle of assists and over 20 points a game. A prize-winning article on Takes Enemy appeared in “Sports Illustrated.”

A few years ago we sat down again at a tournament called the Big Sky Games. We didn’t talk much about the past. He’d been off the Crow reservation for awhile, living on the Yakima reservation in Washington. He said he felt he had to leave Montana. He’d found a good job. His vision was on his family. The way his eyes lit up when he spoke of his daughter was a clear reflection of his life, a man willing to sacrifice to enrich others. His face was full of promise, and thinking of her he smiled. “She’ll graduate from high school this year,” he said, and it became apparent to me that the happiness he felt was greater than all the fame that came of the personal honors he had attained.

Jonathan Takes Enemy navigated the personal terrain necessary to be present to to his daughter. I hope to follow him and be present for my daughters. By walking into and through the night he eventually left the dark behind and found light rising to greet him.

Inside me still are the memories of players I knew as a boy, the stories of basketball legends. From Montana, from Gonzaga, from Europe. The geography of such stories still shapes the way I speak or grow quiet, and shapes my understanding of things that begin in fine lines and continue until all the lines are gathered and woven to a greater image. That image, circular, airborne, is the outline and the body of my hope.

The drive is not far and before long I’m at Mission Park. I take the ball from the space in the backseat of my car and walk out onto the court. I approach the top of the key where I bounce the ball twice before I gather and release a high-arcing jumpshot.

Beside me, Blake Walks Nice sends his jumper into the air and Joe Pretty Paint’s follow through stands like the neck of a swan.

The ball falls from the sky toward the open rim and the diamond-patterned net.

Behind us and to the side only darkness.

An arm of steel extends from the high corner of a nearby building.

A light burns there.

As we draw near to another NCAA tournament, I don’t want to forget the dream. The following poem is written in honor of Jose Hernandez, Tony Hampton, Melichi Four Bear, Gernell Killsnight, Jonathan Takes Enemy, Dexter Howard, Doug Christie, J.P. Batista, Ronny Turiaf, David Pendergraft, Mike Nilson, Tim Falls Down, Bobby Jones, Paul Deputee, Blake Walks Nice, Ron Moses and so many other men, each of us inscribed by culture, intuition, race, and love, each of us united by an elegant game, and united by giving ourselves so that others might become more beautiful, more holy. Of the group above, one died a difficult death after years in prison at the outskirts of San Francisco, another was shot in the head by a high-powered rifle at a party near Crow Agency, a third was knifed to death outside Jim Town Bar, a fourth took his own life by hanging, a fifth died of an alcohol-laced car wreck when his vehicle flew from a bridge into a winter river. The rest are still alive. The rest still love with an undying love those who have passed before us to the next world. We receive from them the blessing they give, and we ask God for the mercy to keep the dream.

the way your hands moved through mid-air reaching for round light leather has always been to me not unlike the intimate fusion that connects the core of high magnitude stars

in the place where God shapes bones and ligament, fingers, thumb and palm we hated each other, brother, until basketball made me a point guard and you a swing man flyer who walked on wind

collectively we’d set our bodies to beat one another until our faces cracked like porcelain and blood-rivers ran the cheek-bone shelves of a south sunk in wine-water because America meant us for violence

but better than we knew God knew us and now that the game is over i can’t unremember you enfolding me as I hold you to my heart and you cup your hand to the back of my head

About the Author

Poet and prose writer Shann Ray Ferch teaches leadership and forgiveness studies at Gonzaga University. Ferch is the author of a work of leadership and political theory, Forgiveness and Power in the Age of Atrocity: Servant Leadership as a Way of Life (Rowman & Littlefield), and co-editor of Servant-Leadership, Feminism, and Gender Well-Being (SUNY Press), Servant-Leadership and Forgiveness (SUNY Press), Global Servant-Leadership (Rowman &Littlefield), Conversations on Servant Leadership (SUNY Press) and The Spirit of Servant Leadership (Paulist Press). In his role as professor of leadership studies with the internationally renowned PhD program in Leadership Studies at Gonzaga, he has served as a visiting scholar in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. His novel, American Copper (Unbridled Press), is a love song to America revealing the radiant and profound life of Evelynne Lowry, a woman who transcends the national myth of regeneration through violence. The novel won the Foreword Book of the Year Readers’ Choice Award and the Western Writers of America Spur Award, and was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award, the High Plains Book Award and the Foreword Book of the Year Award for Literary Fiction. Explore more of his writing here . 

• Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership Studies

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• Essay on Psychology

Basketball Reflection Paper Essay Example

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Psychology , American Sports , Success , Competition , Teamwork , Life , Sports , Security

Published: 12/11/2019

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In conclusion, basketball is a game that requires both physical and mental involvement in the part of the player. I believe that every player has to be ready to play as a team in that teamwork is essential if a basketball team is going to win a particular game. In addition basketball fans are part of the game. Finally, I believe that it is important to make sure that the fans that attend any basketball game are controllable so as not disrupt the smooth flow of the game.

Works Cited

Allen, Forrest, C. Basketball. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers, 1991. Print.

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The Knicks Are Finally Good Again. And New York City Loves Them for It.

Fifty years since the Knicks last won a championship, a freshly promising team led by star point guard Jalen Brunson has captivated their hometown.

By David Waldstein

Photographs by Adrienne Grunwald

They poured out of Madison Square Garden and the surrounding bars, draped in Jalen Brunson jerseys and other Knicks paraphernalia, chanting and yelling and exulting as they clogged Seventh Avenue and brought traffic to a halt.

The Knicks had just defeated the Indiana Pacers in the first game of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday, but some fans celebrated as if they had just won a championship. When that hasn’t happened in 50 years, it helps explain the elation.

A similar scene ensued on Wednesday night after the Knicks came from behind again to beat Indiana in Game 2. Just a few days earlier, a similar flash mob of crazed young Knicks fans thronged the front of the Garden after the Knicks eliminated the 76ers in the first round of the playoffs. And that game was in Philadelphia .

No New York sports team can captivate the city quite like the Knicks, and even before the latest heroics on Wednesday, in which Jalen Brunson played through a foot injury to inspire another victory, this team has become a source of immense interest and joy in the city.

Within moments of the wins over the Pacers, the Empire State Building glowed blue and orange, beaming Knicks pride out to Gotham like a bat signal.

The Knicks have been somewhat decent for a few years, but this version is different. This group is led by Jalen Brunson, a humble, 27-year-old, team-first overachiever who, along with the rest of the Knicks, has transfixed the city in a way reminiscent of Patrick Ewing’s 1990s teams.

On Friday, the team will play Game 3 in Indianapolis. A win would add another dash of belief to the once-crazy notion that this group could one day win the team’s first championship since 1973.

“Outside the arena there has been a lot of talk, a lot of excitement,” Brunson said last week. “I just love the fact that New York is really embracing us.”

The 2024 Knicks play hard. They are fun, united and unassuming, and Brunson has emerged as the most appealing athlete in New York right now. More relatable than Aaron Judge of the Yankees, less egomaniacal than Aaron Rodgers of the Jets, and more dependable than anyone on the Mets, the Liberty or the Giants. He is even more productive than Artemi Panarin, the Rangers’ superstar scorer.

With his 43 points in the Knicks’ Game 1 win over Indiana, Brunson became the first player to score 40 points in each of four straight playoff games since Michael Jordan in 1993. Yes, that Michael Jordan. When Brunson was asked about it after the game, a teammate leaned into the interview, incredulous. He turned to Brunson and repeated: “Jordan?”

Brunson, flashing the same impeccable timing that he does on the court, replied, “Stop.”

That charm, combined with his hard-working ethos, is a prime reason that old and new fans are flocking to the Knicks after ignoring decades of embarrassing malfunctions.

Maria Luisa Rocca, for example, is in her mid-90s and didn’t watch much basketball before this year. A native of Colombia, she came to the United States in 1956 and moved to Manhattan only eight years ago to be close to her sons, who were not major hoops fans, either.

Most nights she watched baseball on television, and she paid little, if any, attention to the New York basketball team. Until this year.

Now, for her and many of her fellow New Yorkers, the Knicks — and particularly Brunson — have become appointment viewing, and elevator rides around the city are spent reliving the glory and marveling at Brunson’s latest magic.

“I have to watch the games,” Ms. Rocca said from her apartment in Greenwich Village. “I love this team, and Brunson is the best. He always shares credit. Some teams are bullies. Not the Knicks.”

The blue and orange need only two more wins against Indiana to reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2000, which would help eliminate the stench of two fallow decades, despite playing in “the world’s most famous arena.” With their best record in 10 years and a likable cast of players, the Knicks have also won back many long-suffering fans.

Jeff Tewlow, born and raised in New York, was a devout Knicks fan from his youth until the recent sourness forced him to completely lose interest for many years. Now 57, Mr. Tewlow is in front of the TV for every game and says this team, unlike previous versions, is exceptionally likable.

“This team is different,” Mr. Tewlow said. “This is a team you like for a lot of reasons, but the biggest is Brunson. What an unbelievable story he is.”

Once thought of as a complementary player, Brunson averaged 28.7 points per game this year, the fourth highest in the N.B.A.’s regular season. His father is Rick Brunson, a former Knicks player and the team’s current assistant coach. When Jalen was a toddler in the late 1990s, he could usually be found in the Knicks locker room, bouncing a basketball that was almost as big as he was.

Now 27 and 6-foot-2, he shoots from the outside, slithers inside, hits turnaround jumpers with ease, rebounds diligently and passes unselfishly. He scores when they need scoring, passes when they need passing and rebounds when they need a board. In Game 2, he played despite a foot injury, recalling, for some, Willis Reed’s hobbling heroics in Game 7 of the 1970 finals with an ankle injury.

In this year’s playoffs, he leads all players with 35.6 points per game. That includes 47 in Game 4 against the Sixers, which is more than any Knick has ever scored in a postseason game — more than Bernard King, Patrick Ewing or even Walt Frazier, the greatest point guard in club history, who won the franchise’s only championships, in 1970 and 1973.

Point guard for the Knickerbockers is a venerated position in the city, like conductor of the New York Philharmonic, manager of the Yankees or head chef at Gage and Tollner. It’s even up there with being the mayor, although Brunson has no known detractors.

“Brunson has been all of that,” Frazier said Monday at the Garden. “He’s being compared to me and my team and what we accomplished. They haven’t won a title yet, but he’s on the threshold, and it’s great everyone is talking about them.”

That includes a crush of A-listers — Cardi B, Sting, Julianne Moore, Tracee Ellis Ross — suddenly scrambling for courtside seats. But this team is not a Hollywood production. It is a real group that ordinary citizens identify with, like Evan Wilson, an archaeologist who moved to New York from Los Angeles seven years ago. Tossing aside his Laker fandom, Mr. Wilson now supports the Knicks, watching most games with a group of regulars at Jimmy’s Corner in Midtown Manhattan.

“There may not be as much superstar talent as other teams,” Mr. Wilson said, “but they make you want to cheer for them. I’m definitely a convert.”

As are the throngs who pack M.S.G. in their Jalen Brunson jerseys — No. 11 was by far the most popular shirt in the building and on the streets. At last accounting in March, Brunson’s shirt was the 15th most popular in the world, according to the N.B.A. The next audit should reveal a drastic rise in sales as more and more people discover the thrill of the Knicks’ roll.

“There is nothing like it,” said OG Anunoby, a forward who also was injured Wednesday night; unlike Brunson, he did not return and his status is unknown for Game 3. “It’s electric. All of us, we feel it, and we love it.”

For the first time in years, much of New York loves it, too.

David Waldstein writes about the greater New York region with an emphasis on sports. More about David Waldstein

Inside the World of Sports

Dive deeper into the people, issues and trends shaping professional, collegiate and amateur athletics..

Competing for Olympic Spots:  Two friends had run side by side for more than 10,000 miles. Both vied for a place in the marathon at the Paris Games .

Captivating New York:  It has been 50 years since the Knicks last won the N.B.A. championship. Now, a freshly promising team has enthralled the city .

A Different Kind of Superstar:  Nigel Sylvester, one of the world’s most famous BMX riders, has used social media and collaborations to become one of his sport's most recognizable figures .

Americanizing English Soccer:  U.S. investors are gobbling up the storied teams of the English Premier League — and changing the stadium experience  in ways that soccer fans resent.

A Sense of Home:  For generations of immigrants in New York, Sunday soccer at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens  is more than a game.

UWGB to name Fox Sports radio host and analyst Doug Gottlieb as new men's basketball coach

G REEN BAY – The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men’s basketball team is expected to hire Fox Sports radio host and basketball analyst Doug Gottlieb as its new coach, one year after he was among the final five candidates for an opening that went to Sundance Wicks .

UWGB athletic director Josh Moon expected a quick hiring process after Wicks was named the head coach at Wyoming on Sunday.

Gottlieb will keep doing his radio show during the week while coaching at UWGB, providing a rather unusual dynamic but one that will give the program some national exposure.

He signed a five-year contract with UWGB, although he won't be making the annual salaries Wicks was in line to make each of the next five years. Wicks was set to earn $300,000 next season and receive a $25,000 raise each season through 2028-29.

"I’d say in today’s college basketball world, especially at a mid-major institution like ours, we have to be outside the box," Moon said. "Sunny did an amazing job providing this program and now Doug, his challenge is to continue that road. We went way down the road with Doug last year and felt comfortable at that point with where he is at and the whole transition of being a college coach."

Gottlieb doesn’t have much coaching experience, although he was part of a staff that coached the U.S. team at the Maccabiah Games in 2009 and 2017.

UWGB was impressed with him during his initial interview last year, so much so that he survived longer than some established head coaches and assistant coaches.

More: Doug Gottlieb to UWGB men's basketball has Twitter stunned. Reactions to radio personality's hire as Green Bay's next coach

More: What to know about Doug Gottlieb, national radio host and new UWGB men's basketball coach

The Milwaukee native is among the all-time assist leaders in NCAA history during a career that started at the University of Notre Dame. He spent just one season at the school before a well-known incident in which he stole credit cards from fellow students, something he wrote about at length in an  essay for The Athletic  in 2018.

He eventually ended up at Oklahoma State, where he was a strong player for three seasons from 1997 to 2000 and still holds several school records.

Gottlieb interviewed at OSU twice when the job opened in the past and was considered a legitimate contender both times.

His late father, Bob, was the coach at UW-Milwaukee for five seasons from 1975 to 1980.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: UWGB to name Fox Sports radio host and analyst Doug Gottlieb as new men's basketball coach

Three men to plead guilty in the killing of Boston gangster James 'Whitey' Bulger

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Singapore to inaugurate new PM as Lee makes way after 20 years in charge

Singapore will inaugurate Lawrence Wong on Wednesday as its new prime minister and fourth leader since independence six decades ago, completing a carefully calibrated power transfer designed to guarantee continuity in the wealthy city-state.

Home — Essay Samples — Life — Basketball — Essay On History Of Basketball

Essay on History of Basketball

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Words: 674 |

Published: Mar 19, 2024

Words: 674 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Table of contents

The origins of basketball, development as a professional sport, impact on society, in conclusion.

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Pastor john-paul miller’s church divided following wife mica miller’s shock suicide after claiming abuse: ‘what a hypocrite’.

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The South Carolina pastor whose wife killed herself in eerie circumstances after slapping him with divorce papers gave an emotional eulogy for her at their church — but not everyone in the congregation was convinced he was being genuine.

“I think it’s pretty evenly split,” says one church member who was in the sanctuary during the May 5 service as John-Paul Miller gave his message, in which he sad he tried to raise Mica from the dead .

“You could look around and some people were crying but other people had stone faces. I’m not buying what he’s selling, I just keep thinking ‘what a hypocrite.’ And I know 100% that I’m not alone.”

But another congregant at Solid Rock Church disagrees.

“The man just lost his wife,” says Gary Bauer, who says he “occasionally” attends services.

“I know they had marital problems, but can you imagine how horrible he feels right now? I think a little compassion is needed.”

Mica had filed for divorce days before taking her life and written an affidavit to her attorney where she claimed she had been “abused in every way I can think of”.

Her family has also been critical of John-Paul, accusing him of “brainwashing” her, a claim he has strongly denied.

Mica’s death was ruled a suicide by the Robeson County medical examiner after she was  found dead  from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in North Carolina’s Lumber River State Park.

John-Paul has pointed out his wife — part of the church’s praise team — suffered from mental illness, had made previous attempts to take her own life, and was hospitalized on multiple occasions.

Mica’s April 27th death has sharply divided the church in their opinion of John-Paul. The Post has spoken to several congregants who acknowledge their feelings are complex and difficult.

The pastor is on paid administrative leave as he processes his wife’s death.

“We’re not okay,” another member said.

“This raises a lot of questions about what we should expect out of a pastor. I know that church is not a place where everyone is perfect, but he seemed to have a dark side that we couldn’t see.”

Leadership at Solid Rock Church did not return The Post’s request for comment.

Their website has been taken offline and the official Facebook account now restricts comments.

But Mica Miller’s death has unearthed some dark secrets the pastor was hiding.

He allegedly emailed her admitted to posting a topless photo of her .

“It was evil,” the 44-year-old wrote to his 30-year-old wife, according to  NewsNation .

“I’m sorry for putting a picture of you on the internet. It was for less than one hour and immediately taken down,” the pastor’s letter apparently said.

Also, dirty details about his first marriage were contained in explosive divorce documents first uncovered by the Daily Mail.

In the documents, his ex-wife Alison alleged he had an “addiction to prostitution” and had carried on an affair, later revealed to be with Mica, who was also married at the time.

“When his affair was discovered, the church leaders demanded that [he] seek counseling for sexual addiction,” she wrote in her divorce filing.

And although Mica Miller’s family alleges her husband had groomed and abused her, he denies any wrongdoing.

Following the untimely death of Mica Miller, unfounded rumors and false accusations began circulating on social media and in various media outlets, suggesting Pastor Miller’s involvement in her demise,” Miller’s lawyer, Russell Long, said in a statement.

“This created a buzz, causing local and national media outlets to be proliferating these falsehoods, on a mammoth proportion. Our client refutes any report that suggests he ever abused his wife.”

But not everyone believes him.

“It’s a new scandal every day,” says the church member.

“I don’t know what to do with it all, but I’ll probably take a break from the church for awhile. It’s just really gross.”

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