The National Basketball Association (NBA) shows us that basketball is more than just a game, by giving back through its NBA Cares initiative. The NBA works to create an image that is more than a collective body of selfish, rich, irresponsible athletes. Through NBA Cares, we can see a different side of the NBA and its players than we normally do. There are often many misconceptions about major sports leagues and professional athletes that tend to be negative. However, the NBA and its players and organizations commit to various amounts of community service and charity work. Some players even take it upon themselves to start their own foundations, donate or give time to charities, or participate in the league’s very own NBA Cares program.
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Kyrie Irving requested a trade from the Cleveland Cavaliers this past summer and he was dealt to the Boston Celtics. Irving and the Celtics are currently on a nine-game winning streak and sit atop the Eastern Conference, while the reigning Eastern Conference Champions are holding an unexpected 4-6 record.
Kyrie Irving told us he made this move for personal reasons. He wanted to grow as a player and as a man. As we can see he is holding to that. When we first heard of this, people questioned why anyone would want to leave a team that had made three straight Finals appearances and won a championship in 2016; the reason is a toxic relationship.
This doesn’t necessarily mean with LeBron James, but at some point, the relationship(s) Kyrie had in Cleveland became toxic for him personally. A toxic relationship is one that affects you in a way that you’re no longer you, you aren’t growing, achieving what you want, or getting what you need out of the relationship. Kyrie Irving came to that point and found a way to get out. We can clearly see it was a good move for him personally, as he is seeing success with the Celtics, growing and becoming a more complete basketball player, and is overall just happier.
This offseason has given several players a fresh start, whether it be a shot at redemption, a chance to compete for a championship, or a chance to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Whatever the case may be, it’s a fresh start nonetheless.
I myself have taken a fresh start as I wrapped up my undergraduate career this past May and used my “offseason” to find employment. I am now employed full-time and embracing the challenge of building my career and starting life post grad. I opted not to go straight to graduate school because sometimes we need a fresh start. We must find ourselves, reestablish our purpose, and understand what goals we want to reach and how we’re going to reach them. Take some time to really look at your life and ask yourself “do I need a fresh start?” If you find yourself at a good place in your life then look no further, if you’re happy that’s all that matters. But, if the answer to that question is yes or you find yourself unsure then maybe it is time to change things up. The NBA offseason was a result of players and/or organizations feeling that they needed change and it was time to start moving in another direction. If you think you need a fresh start, evaluate your life and figure out what changes need to be made and the direction in which you want to go. Once you’ve done that, put your plan into action and start working. Communication is an important element to the game of the basketball. Players need to communicate so they are better able to understand each other and what is going on during a game. Without communication a team will not go very far. There has to be communication on both ends of the court. Communication allows players to know where they should be and what they should be doing, it allows players to know where the opposition is and what they are doing, and it increases cohesion. A team that communicates operates better as a unit. As Duke Head Coach Mike Kryzewski once said, “effective teamwork begins and ends with communication.”
We all have our own team whether it be our parents, friends, significant other, siblings, coworkers etc. No matter who is on our team we have to communicate with them. All too often we fail to effectively communicate with people. When we fail to communicate, we fail to send a message to someone else. When that message is not received clearly or not received at all, misunderstandings occur. Kobe Bryant gave 20 years of his life to the game of basketball and in his career he gave us some of the best moments we could ask for. He was able to do this because he lived by one phrase “Mamba Mentality.” This means that you live each day trying to be better than the day before. Bryant simply put, that it is constantly trying to be the best version of yourself.
Kobe Bryant did this through his play over the years. Day in and day out, he gave more, played harder, and soared to new heights. You do not win five championships, 2 finals MVPs, a league MVP, 2 scoring titles, get 18 All-star selections, win 4 All-star MVPs, earn numerous All-NBA and All-Defensive team selections, score 81 points in a game along with many other accomplishments without bettering yourself each and every day. Bryant is known for his impeccable work ethic. He would not have accomplished all he has without putting in the work, pushing himself to new limits, and demanding excellence from himself and those around him. That is what Mamba Mentality is to me, doing whatever is necessary to succeed. Bryant showed me that if you work hard, give everything you have, and set out to destroy whatever is in your way, success is inevitable.
Russell Westbrook has astounded us this season in what is set to be a historic one and should end with him possibly holding up the MVP trophy. He has now recorded 41 triple doubles and with just a few games left he is most likely to break Oscar Robertson’s record of 41 triple doubles in a single season. Westbrook is averaging a triple double, what only one man in NBA history has ever done. The question we have to ask ourselves though is, can one man really do it by himself?
To rest or not to rest? This is the current debate circulating around the NBA. Recently, we have seen a surge of NBA players missing games due to rest. The most notable among these players were the Golden State Warriors’ key players Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala who missed an ABC primetime game against the Spurs on March 11. People also took issue with the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Head Coach Tyronn Lue resting his big three of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love in yet another nationally televised game against the Clippers on March 18. The NBA universe has been split on the topic of interest ever since. There are those who believe rest is essential for today’s players, as science has proven a correlation between fatigue and injury. Then there are those who believe resting is hurting the game, the business, and is just unfair to fans. Does the NBA have a resting problem? A little late, but who says we only have to celebrate Black history in February, history can be discussed any time. Better late than never right? Black history month acknowledges members and supporters of the black community for their accomplishments and contributions to the world that have opened doors, paved the way, set the tone, and helped many people today. Many moments in black history were firsts. In our history, many black accomplishments have been first because the adversity and barriers many black people faced did not allow the masses to accomplish a lot. However, thanks to sheer will, determination, and hard work there were people who were able to break those barriers and do what no other had ever done.
Among those people, were the first African-Americans in the NBA those of whom were Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Nat Clifton. These players paved the way for today’s players in what is now a predominantly black league. In the 1950-1951 NBA season, Chuck Cooper was the first black player drafted by an NBA team when the Boston Celtics selected him. Nat Clifton was the first to sign an NBA contract after signing with the New York Knicks, and Earl Lloyd was the first black player to play in an NBA game as his team, the Washington Capitols, had their opening game one day before the others.
Traditionally known as the foul line, the charity stripe as many refer to it today is one of the easiest places to get points in the game of basketball. There are no defenders, there is no contact, and it is only 15 feet from the face of the backboard. Simple right?
Although this seems like a relatively easy shot to make, for a lot of players it is not. I myself have struggled to make a free throw in my life, so I know it is not as easy as it seems. In a league of over 100 players who qualify for the NBA’s free throw percentage leaders, the 2016-2017 season has only 5 players shooting 90 percent or more from the free throw line and a few players just a couple percentage points shy of the 90 percent mark. You would think there would be more players making their free throws, seeing that it is a professional association. We even call it the charity stripe, meaning the points are being given away. So why is this?
In basketball we see players chase dreams, dollars, fame, stats/records, and rings. As fans most of us think the most important thing for players to chase is a championship ring. But, we too often forget these players are regular people whose lives are sometimes more than basketball. For some players this is a job, a means of providing for their family and just that. For others, this is a claim to fame, living a life they never thought they would as kid; expensive clothes, fancy cars, big houses, etc. There are even a few who play the game and use their celebrity to address important social issues. The rest that are left either look to stuff the stat sheet on a nightly basis, cementing their legacy in numbers, or only seek to win in hopes of winning a championship. Whatever their intentions may be, they are all chasing something for reasons we may or may not know.
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AuthorRelating the game I love to the life we live in hopes of inspiring people to achieve greatness in their personal lives. Archives
November 2017
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