Sherman Alexie has brought himself into his writing by including some of his personal experience in this young adult novel. In the novel, a underlining plot in the story is Junior’s run through his freshman basketball season on the Varsity team at Reardan High School. He makes varsity after an intense battle with the teams best player, Roger. Even though he is the best shooter on the team, Junior felt he wouldn’t get a lot of playing time, which at first he doesn’t, but then he becomes the teams spark plug, their 6th man, averaging 12 points off the bench. When came time to play his former school, Wellpinit, he started his first game.
My first experience playing organized basketball began when I was in the fifth grade on an after school program in the old armory. We played every Saturday morning and I remember that this is where I became the best point guard ever. At least that was the mentality I had because I thought I knew where my basketball career was headed. Little did I know at that time, the odds of me becoming a professional NBA star were not in my favor. Nevertheless, I continued on with my dad’s support and mentoring to be the best player the Arkansas River Valley had ever laid eyes on.
It was my brother and I against our Grandfather, this being because I was very small at the age of 7 and trying to shoot at a ten foot basketball hoop was pretty difficult. My brother passed the ball to me and shouted, “Shoot Allen! Shoot!” In a complete panic and excitement I quickly threw the ball as fast as I possibly could and ended up that I over shot. As the ball continued
Now we can add Michael Jordan name to the list of players I just named. Jordan is being inducted into the Hall of Fame today due to his great basketball skills on the court and all of the things he accomplished in fifteen seasons in the NBA. As a child Jordan basketball career had some ups and downs. According to ESPN, “during his sophomore year at Laney, a 5’9 Michael Jordan tried out for the basketball team. He was passed over for the final spot on the varsity team.” He took that as motivation and dominated on the junior varsity team.
Collins was drafted and hired for the same reason, to restore the winning tradition of the franchise. Collins was a very successful player for the 76ers, but due to injuries was forced to retire the summer before the title won in 1983. Collins is considered one of the best coaches, however there are certain aspects of his coaching style I disagree with. For example, Jrue Holiday should not have been named the point guard because the position doesn’t fit his capabilities. He wants to be known for making the big plays, instead of distributing the basketball to his teammates.
He also practiced all day to get better. Johnson came from an athletic family his father used to play basketball while he was in high school and he learned from his father and his mother used to play basketball when she was young and he watched his older brothers play basketball. By the time he was in eighth grade, Earvin Johnson began to think about his future as a basketball player. He had become a dominant play in his junior high player in his team. He had scored 48 points in a game.
When the family returned to Philadelphia in 1991, Bryant joined the Lower Merion high school basketball team, leading it to the state championships four years in a row. When Joe Bryant's professional career ended in 1991, the family returned to the United States and settled in a comfortable home on the Main Line, the most prestigious of Philadelphia's suburban areas. Basketball helped bridge the gap between Bryant and his classmates at Lower Merion High. Tall and skilled, Bryant quickly became a starter for the varsity team and just as quickly began to make a name for himself in greater Philadelphia. Not surprisingly, Bryant was offered scholarships to almost every major college and university in the country.
Every athlete strives to be the best they can be, but dedication plays a key role in being the best. Michael Jordan, for example, was cut from his high school basketball team. With dedication, he worked hard, kept his mind right, and ended up playing in the NBA. Jordan would stay after practice, play on the weekends, and work in the off season striving to get better. He had the dedication to make 1000 jumpers a day, and that is why he is arguably the best to ever play.
They did not have too many players, but at the time Doug looked like he was seven feet tall. When we finally played them we were pretty worried because Drew was our biggest player and was short compared to Doug. We started off the game pretty solid and scored the first couple points, but by halftime we were down at least 30 points. People in the stands were not into the game at all and kids who were waiting for the next game left the gym. Mr. Johnson took Doug out for the third quarter, and by some stroke of luck everyone on our team caught fire.
I was born in a era where men wore tights and the basketball heroes were the legendary Larry Bird, and the indefatigable duo of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar. It was the era of showtime where the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers was in full swing. Basketball always excites me. It was my first love. I can remember having to try out countless of times for our high school varsity team, but I was always told to sit in the stands because I was too small.