I was forced into playing basketball in elementary school, but over time, I’ve come to realize that it’s a sport that teaches me about friendship, competition, and important life lessons. Basketball has taught me the value of the moment, the importance of teamwork, and has given me a lot of life wisdom.
I was standing in the warm sun, basking in the glare of dozens of friends surrounding the basketball court. The quarter was only 10 minutes long, but after playing those 10 minutes, my heart felt like it was going to explode and my body was covered in sweat. I remember playing with the girls cheering me on, battling with the opposing team, and playing with a sense of urgency filled with a passion to keep the ball. Even though we ended up losing, I still remember my first basketball game.
What is the appeal of basketball? Soccer and baseball have their own unique appeal. But basketball is all about the thrilling fast breaks, the passes that come from nowhere, the baskets that keep coming, the rush of dribbling fast, and the dunks that go in. These are some of the reasons why many people fall in love with basketball.
It’s been a long time since I’ve touched a basketball, but I still find it fascinating. It’s just that as I’ve gotten older, my feelings towards basketball have changed. When I was in the fifth grade, I was all about soccer, but my mom introduced me to basketball for the first time. I didn’t see what the fun was in throwing a ball into a goal that was much higher than my height. I was much more interested in soccer and baseball, and basketball was just an obligation that my mom forced me to do.
In middle school, I learned to play basketball in earnest, throwing the ball at the high hoop and cheering when it went in on the rare occasions that it did. Back then, we were happy to be out of the house and on the playground. As I progressed through the grades, my vision, which was initially limited to the hoop, widened and I began to see my friends passing the ball to me. Friendships began on the basketball court.
As a high school student, I learned to recognize friends and foes on the court and to be competitive. Just like my friends who were competing for admission, we competed on the basketball court, sometimes becoming friends and sometimes enemies. The basketball court was my escape from studying for exams and the place where I formed lifelong friendships. As entrance exams approached, I spent less and less time playing basketball, but as an adolescent, it was the only thing I enjoyed outside of studying.
After college, I didn’t play basketball as often as I used to. But when I did, it reminded me of my high school days and brought me closer to new friends. Graduating from high school and playing on a basketball court in the center of my new university’s sprawling campus gave me a broader perspective than I had in high school. The only thing I regret is that the basketball culture doesn’t seem to be as active in college. In middle and high school, many people played basketball together during recess and lunch, but I didn’t see that in college. After I got to college, I found myself drifting away from the sport.
The basketball court is a magical place that energizes people who are tired of hard work, and it represents different aspects of life. Playing basketball as a junior in middle school, I realized that team chemistry is the most important thing in our lives. I found wisdom in a bouncing basketball that I couldn’t find in a textbook. I also realized the importance of living life to the fullest. I learned from the scoreboard that being too greedy can lead to bad results for both the individual and the team. I felt a connection without words, especially when I played basketball with people I had never met before on an outdoor basketball court. Even if I didn’t know their names or ages, playing basketball together with basic rules made me feel energized and brought a smile to my face.
Basketball reminds me of the importance of every moment. It’s a short moment, but it’s the sum of its parts that makes a game. In the same way, we can learn from basketball that we should live each day to the fullest for the future. The most important attitude in basketball is not to give up until the whistle blows to end the game, even if the odds are stacked against you. In the Japanese manga Slam Dunk, there is a line that says, “The moment you give up, the game is over.” A buzzer-beater at the last second, just before the end of a game, is a gift to the person who hasn’t given up hope of winning until that moment. Amidst the tension and cheers of those breathtaking final moments, the lesson is that there will be pivotal moments in life, and you should always be ready for them.
The way I feel about basketball now will be a phase in my life. Next year, I might look at the basketball and the world in a different way. Just as literary works such as The Little Prince or Faust have a different impact on me each time I read them as a child, a young adult, and an adult, I hope that basketball will be a sport that stays with me for a long time and imparts different life wisdom.
