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.

Basketball Essay

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. 

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

A collage of photos depicting Shann Ferch's life in basketball.

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.

Kral Ferch (left) dunks the basketball, Shann Ferch (right) dribbles the basketball

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.

A bear skull and teeth

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.

A beaded basketball

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.

Shann Ferch talks to the Gonzaga team in 2017

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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Writing Beginner

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

Close up image of a basketball held by a player - How to Describe a Basketball game

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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Table of Contents

Become a Writer Today

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. 

Essays About Basketball: What I learned through basketball

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.

basketball story essay

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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  • History & Culture

Here's the history of basketball—from peach baskets in Springfield to global phenomenon

The first game used baskets as hoops and turned into a brawl. Soon after, basketball evolved into a pillar of American sports.

The nets used by athletes to dunk the ball and score points in the beloved game of basketball evolved from peaches, or rather the baskets used to collect peaches.

That’s what a young athletic director ultimately used on a cold day back in 1891 for a new game he created to keep his students engaged. 

James Naismith was a 31-year old graduate student teaching physical education at the  International YMCA Training School , now known as Springfield College, in Springfield, Massachusetts when students were forced to stay indoors for days due to a New England storm.  The usual winter athletic activities were marching, calisthenics, and apparatus work but they weren’t nearly as thrilling as football or lacrosse which were played during the warmer seasons. 

Naismith wanted to create a game that would be simple to understand but complex enough to be interesting. The game had to be playable indoors, and it had to accommodate several players at once. The game also needed to provide plenty of exercise for the students, yet without the physicality of football, soccer, or rugby since those would threaten more severe injuries if played in a confined space. ( See 100 years of football in pictures. )

Naismith approached the school janitor, hoping he could find two square boxes to use for goals. When the janitor came back from his search, he had two peach baskets instead. Naismith nailed the peach baskets to the lower rail of the gymnasium balcony, one on each side. The height of that lower balcony rail happened to be 10 feet. The students would play on teams to try to get the ball into their team’s basket.  A person was stationed at each end of the balcony to retrieve the ball from the basket and put it back into play.

The first game ever played between students was a complete brawl.

“The boys began tackling, kicking and punching in the crunches, they ended up in a free for all in the middle of the gym floor before I could pull them apart,” Naismith said during a January 1939 radio program on WOR in New York City called We the People, his only known recording. “One boy was knocked out. Several of them had black eyes and one had a dislocated shoulder.” Naismith said. “After that first match, I was afraid they'd kill each other, but they kept nagging me to let them play again so I made up some more rules.”

The humble beginnings of the only professional sport to originate in the United States laid the foundation for today’s multi-billion-dollar business. The current National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) March Madness college basketball tournament includes the best 68 of more than 1,000 college teams, stadiums that seat tens of thousands of spectators and lucrative television contracts.

Original rules of the game

Naismith didn’t create all of the rules at once, but continued to modify them into what are now known as the original 13 rules . Some are still part of the modern game today.  Naismith’s original rules of the game sold at auction in 2010 for $4.3 million.

In the original rules: The ball could be thrown in any direction with one or both hands, never a fist.  A player could not run with the ball but had to throw it from the spot where it was caught. Players were not allowed to push, trip or strike their opponents. The first infringement was considered a foul. A second foul would disqualify a player until the next goal was made. But if there was evidence that a player intended to injure an opponent, the player would be disqualified for the whole game.

Umpires served as judges for the game, made note of fouls and had the power to disqualify players. They decided when the ball was in bounds, to which side it belonged, and managed the time. Umpires decided when a goal had been made and kept track of the goals.

If a team made three consecutive fouls, the opposing team would be allowed a goal.

A goal was made when the ball was thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stayed there. If the ball rested on the edges, and the opponent moved the basket, it would count as a goal. When the ball went out of bounds, it was thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. The person throwing the ball was allowed five seconds; if he held it longer, the ball would go to the opponent. In case of a dispute, an umpire would throw the ball straight into the field. If any side persisted in delaying the game, the umpire would call a foul on that side.

The length of a game was two 15-minute halves, with five minutes' rest between.  The team making the most goals within the allotted time was declared the winner. If a game was tied, it could be continued until another goal was made.

First public games

The first public game of basketball was played in a YMCA gymnasium and was recorded by the Springfield Republican on March 12th, 1892. The instructors played against the students. Around 200 spectators attended to discover this new sport they had never heard of or seen before. In the story published by the Republican, the teachers were credited with “agility” but the student’s “science” is what led them to defeat the teachers 5-1.

Within weeks the sport’s popularity grew rapidly. Students attending other schools introduced the game at their own YMCAs. The original rules were printed in a college magazine, which was mailed to YMCAs across the country. With the colleges’ well-represented international student body the sport also was introduced to many foreign nations. High schools began to introduce the new game, and by 1905, basketball was officially recognized as a permanent winter sport.

The first intercollegiate basketball game between two schools is disputed, according to the NCAA. In 1893, two school newspaper articles were published chronicling separate recordings of collegiate basketball games facing an opposing college team.

In 1892, less than a year after Naismith created the sport, Smith College gymnastics instructor Senda Berenson, introduced the game to women’s athletics. The first recorded intercollegiate game between women took place between Stanford University and University of California at Berkeley in 1896.

With the sport’s growth in popularity, it gained notice from the International Olympic Committee and was introduced at the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis as a demonstration event. It wasn’t until 1936 that basketball was recognized as a medal event. Women’s basketball wasn’t included as an Olympic medal event until the 1976 Montreal games. ( Wheelchair basketball in Cambodia changed these women's lives. )

As the sport continued its rapid spread, professional leagues began to form across the United States. Basketball fans cheered on their new hometown teams. The first professional league was the National Basketball League (NBL) formed in 1898, comprised of six teams in the northeast. The league only lasted about five years. After it dissolved in 1904, the league would be reintroduced 33 years later in 1937 with an entirely new support system, with Goodyear, Firestone, and General Electric corporations as the league owners, and 13 teams.

While professional sports leagues gained nationwide attention, college basketball was also a major fixture. The first NCAA tournament, which included eight teams, was held in 1939 at Northwestern University.  The first collegiate basketball national champion was the University of Oregon. The team defeated Ohio State University.

Like most of the United States in the early to mid 1900s, basketball was segregated. The sport wouldn’t be integrated until 1950 when Chuck Cooper was drafted by the Boston Celtics. Prior to Cooper being drafted there were groups of black teams across the country, commonly known as “the black fives”, which referred to the five starting players on a basketball team.  All-black teams were often referred to as colored quints or Negro cagers.  The teams flourished in New York City, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Chicago, and in other cities with substantial African American populations. They were amateur, semi-professional, and professional.

Of the more than 1,000 collegiate basketball teams across all divisions of the NCAA, 68 teams play in the annual March Madness tournament. The best college teams from each conference around the country compete for a place in the Sweet 16, Elite Eight, Final Four and, ultimately,  the national championship. Though basketball might not be played the same way as it was when Naismith invented it—peach baskets have been replaced with nets, metal hoops and plexiglass blackboards—its evolution proves that the game has transcended a century.

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basketball story essay

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!

basketball story 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.

Have a draft of your college essay? We’re here to help you polish it. Students can participate in a free Peer Review, or they can sign up for a paid review by CollegeVine’s experts. Sign up for your free CollegeVine account today to start improving your essay and your chances of acceptance!

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basketball story essay

basketball story essay

Writing My own Story

By jorie allen.

There was a time in my life when I hardly had a single thought in my head that didn’t revolve around basketball.

To be fair, I didn’t have much of a choice.

My dad was a fantastic player and played for the Hall of Fame coach at DePaul in Ray Meyer.

Needless to say, I had a basketball in my hands before I could even walk.

I’ve always loved the game, but it hasn’t been without its sacrifices.

In high school, I used to eat lunch with my English teacher because I didn’t have a core group of friends to sit with since I was always playing basketball.

I missed prom one year because of basketball, which doesn’t sound like the end of the world, but try telling that to a 17-year-old girl who didn’t get to wear a corsage on her wrist like all the other girls at school.

I don’t say all of this to make it seem like I’m complaining.

Trust me, basketball has been a blessing in my life.

I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without it.

But there came a moment in college when I asked myself, I’ve given so much of my life to this sport.

What is it giving back to me?

It wasn’t until I arrived at my dad’s old stomping grounds at DePaul that I came into my own and discovered who I am both on and off the court.

While I wouldn’t be the first Allen in the family to wear a DePaul jersey, I realized that I’m not my dad, nor does basketball have to define my life.

I have a pen in my hand, just like everyone else, and I set out to write my own story.

basketball story essay

Getting back

After my freshman year at Indiana, it was difficult for me to even describe, but I couldn’t shake this feeling of unfulfillment.

I was 19 at the time, and all I had done for the entirety of my conscious life was play basketball.

I felt stuck, and I knew I had more to offer the world than dribbling and shooting an orange ball.

Coach Bruno at DePaul was the first coach I talked to when I entered the transfer portal. I loved talking to him because he resonated with my journey and understood exactly where I was coming from in regard to that unfulfilled feeling.

At the end of the call, I’ll never forget him telling me, “No matter where you end up, just make sure you get back to the girl who loves to play the game.”

I burst into tears when I heard those words.

If there was any coach and university that was going to get me back to loving the game and loving my life outside of the game, it was going to be Coach Bruno and DePaul.

basketball story essay

Finding an outlet

When I got to DePaul, I knew the best thing I could do was to just let myself be a human being. Throughout high school and IU, I never allowed myself to step away from basketball and have fun.

Chicago’s such a magnificent and beautiful city that is enriched with culture, art, music, architecture, etc., and I couldn’t wait to explore the city and get more involved in activities on campus outside of basketball.

I’ve also taken a strong interest in creative writing in the last few years, which likely never would have happened without a final project I completed for a multiculturalism course.

Long story short, I was racking my brain trying to come up with a great creative project.

I happened to be home for the weekend helping my dad clean out my grandmother’s house, who had recently passed.

I was helping him clean when I came across some WWII memorabilia from my grandfather, who passed ten years prior.

I spotted these postcards with the Imperial Japanese stamp on them and Japanese caricatures. I was completely puzzled.

Why would Papa keep these around?

The postcards were in Japanese, and I was so intrigued by what these soldiers had written 70 years ago.

I couldn’t let it go.

Not only did I get the postcards translated, I wrote an essay on the letters for my final project. It became so much more than a grade at that point because it was a remarkably rewarding and enriching experience.

No matter what race you were or what country you fought for, none of them wanted to be there, and they would’ve given anything to be home safe, surrounded by their loved ones.

Right then and there, I became infatuated with creative writing and telling people’s stories.

For me, there isn’t a more powerful or impactful feeling in the world.

When I got to DePaul, I knew the best thing I could do was to just let myself be a human being. Throughout high school and IU, I never allowed myself to step away from basketball and have fun. Chicago's such a magnificent and beautiful city that is enriched with culture, art, music, architecture, etc., and I couldn't wait to explore the city and get more involved in activities on campus outside of basketball.

Pushing through adversity

I physically couldn’t compete.

I ended up missing the entirety of my junior season in having two ligaments reconstructed in my left ankle. If that wasn’t enough, since my ankle wasn’t functioning correctly, the cartilage in my knee got torn up as well.

What made it worse was that I was feeling so great about who I was as a person and player heading into my junior season.

But after that injury, I went into a bit of a tailspin.

Throughout the rehab process, it became so grueling that I seriously questioned ever coming back to play because it didn’t seem worth it.

I started to hate the rehab process more than I loved basketball, and that sent me to a dark place.

I’m not sure how I would’ve gotten myself out of it if it wasn’t for Coach Bruno. He told me something I’ll remember for the rest of my life when I was struggling so much with rehab.

He said, “Listen, I know this absolutely sucks. But you’re going to look back on this in a couple of months and realize this wasn’t that hard.”

I thought he was out of his mind at first, but the more he explained, the more I began to believe him and knew he was right.

I didn’t have to be superhuman, mentally strong, or even physically strong. All I had to do was take it one day at a time and do everything I needed to make it back on the court.

basketball story essay

Identifying my self-worth

In my fifth and final season now, I can honestly say that I’m starting to love the game again, which isn’t a feeling I’d had in a long time.

It’s not even because of the team’s success or my own personal success; I just enjoy putting in the work each day at practice.

I love my teammates dearly. I’ve never felt closer to a group of girls than any other teams I’ve been on.

It’s also unbelievably freeing to not define my self-worth based on how many points I score or how many rebounds I get in a particular game.

I carried the burden and pressure of defining myself on those things for far too long, and I’m grateful DePaul helped me recognize that I have other interests and talents that define who I am.

It’s undoubtedly made me a better person and player.

While I’m not certain about my immediate plans after the season ends and I receive my master’s in writing and publishing, I’m confident in my ability to continue to write my life story that will fulfill me and make me happy.

I can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds.

MORE STORIES

basketball story essay

Fulfilling My Dream

basketball story essay

Acing Adversity

basketball story essay

Making an Impact

Copyright © 2023 depaul university athletics.

basketball story essay

Michael Jordan: The Story of a Basketball Player Research Paper

Introduction, childhood years, a step away from death, between basketball and baseball, beginning of the brightest career, chicago bulls.

Michael Jordan could have been a baseball player but chose basketball. With his help, Chicago Bulls won their first title which was later followed by a complete three-peat. Two years after his first retirement, Jordan returned to Chicago to help the team that had lost their leading positions. Michael won three more champion titles with Chicago Bulls and eventually departed the club. Jordan is the winner of many individual awards; his main achievement is the NBA Most Valuable Player Award, which he received five times. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was honored with this prize more times than Jordan. Michael’s athletic qualities can be proved not only by the trophies he won but also by the magnitude of advertising contracts, many of which were valid even after Jordan retired. In 2017, Forbes named Jordan as the highest-paid athlete in history. There were many obstacles in the way to his success. At the peak of his form, Jordan lost his father and left basketball. The life of Michael Jordan is a story of struggle followed by success. This paper will discuss the path of one of the best basketball players in history to glory.

Michael was born into a large family – he is the fourth of the five children in the family, and his parents are James and Deloris Jordan. Before the birth of Michael, James served in the US Armed Forces (Lazenby, 2014). Michael was a disobedient child as he liked to do the opposite of what he was told. Jordan always accepted the challenges and often faced trouble because of such a character (The Associated Press, 2015). For instance, when he was four years old, Michael argued with his cousin. The latter offered Jordan a bet – he would pay a dollar if Michael chopped off his toe (Hasday, 2013). Jordan did not want to seem like a coward and accepted the proposal. Although Michael did not lose his body part, he could not avoid physical damage.

In school years, another problem was discovered – Michael was not a hardworking child. Jordan did not want to work and eluded from household chores. One summer, Deloris got her son a job at a hotel, where he had to serve the rooms (James, 2017). The experience was negative – Michael was constantly late and decided never to look for a job again. Discipline problems led Jordan to a temporary expulsion from school (The Associated Press, 2015). Michael left the school without permission to visit a nearby store and was suspended from classes for several days (Lazenby, 2014). Michael became more responsible in high school, where he improved his discipline and academic performance.

At the age of two, Michael nearly died from an electric shock. He touched the junction of two extension cords lying on wet grass. The strike was intense, and the child was thrown back a couple of meters (James, 2017). At the age of seven or eight, Michael almost drowned. Together with his close friend, they swam in the ocean (Hasday, 2013). When the children were far from the shore, a breaking wave emerged (Hasday, 2013). It covered his friend and dragged him to the bottom. Michael managed to survive, but his friend, unfortunately, died (Hasday, 2013). For this reason, Michael was always afraid of water (Hasday, 2013). Later, he could become a water’s victim again – when he was 11 years old, he nearly drowned while trying to pass the mandatory swimming test at school (Hasday, 2013). Jordan did not know how to swim, but still went into the water and made his attempt.

Michael’s father loved baseball and wanted to introduce children to his favorite sport. When the children were old enough to be able to hold a bat in their hands, he began to bring them into the yard and throw a baseball (Lazenby, 2014). Boys from the Jordan family played in the children’s baseball league at the age of five or six. Michael looked well on a baseball court, and the coaches predicted a professional career. From the age of nine, Jordan became interested in basketball. His older brother, Larry, contributed significantly to Michael’s interest (Lazenby, 2014). Father placed a basketball hoop for Larry in the yard, and Michael and Larry played one on one. In high school, Michael finally switched from baseball to basketball (Lazenby, 2014). Michael’s baseball career at the time began to decline. Jordan began to spend more time on the basketball court. Michael realized that basketball is precisely the kind of sport he wanted to practice.

There were no tall people in the Jordan family, and Michael was no exception. Short stature substantially interfered with Jordan – when Michael was 15 years old, he was not accepted into the high school basketball team due to his height (The Associated Press, 2015). In the eleventh grade, the grown-up Michael was eventually taken to the basketball team (James, 2017). There he was noticed by an assistant coach of the Tar Heels team of the University of North Carolina. The specialist immediately appreciated the talent of the young player (James, 2017). During his time at the university, Michael grew even more (The Associated Press, 2015). When Jordan began to play in the NBA, his height was 198 cm.

In Jordan’s first game for the Tar Heels team at the University of North Carolina, his team beat Kansas with a score of 74:67, where Michael brought his team 12 points (Basketball Reference, 2020). Besides this first match, the whole season can be considered successful. Tar Heels reached the finals, where they beat Georgetown with a score of 63:62. Jordan’s toss into the final 15 seconds of the game brought the team victory in the game and the season (Basketball Reference, 2020).

Before Jordan came to Chicago Bulls in 1984, the team was without champion ambitions. With the arrival of Michael, the new owner and the new management came (The Associated Press, 2015). The idea was to build a new team around Jordan, and this plan was successful (The Associated Press, 2015). Michael quickly became the star of the Chicago Bulls. In the first season in the NBA, Michael averaged 28.2 points per game in the regular season and 29.2 in the playoffs (Basketball Reference, 2020). These were the best indicators in the team, and in 1985, Michael received the Rookie of the Year Award (The Associated Press, 2015). Jordan could be distinguished from the crowd of other basketball players by his trademark jump. He seemed to hang in the air for a few seconds and earned the nickname Air Jordan and His Airness (The Associated Press, 2015). Michael’s nickname was quickly monetized – in 1984, Jordan entered into an advertising contract with Nike.

Jordan won his first NBA title in 1991 and managed to win the league for three consecutive years – 1991, 1992, and 1993. After his father’s murder in 1994, however, Jordan decided to retire from basketball (The Associated Press, 2015). With Michael’s departure, Chicago Bulls could not achieve any success. In 1995, Jordan decided to return to basketball, but the season was almost over, so he could not make any significant contributions to Chicago Bulls’ performance (The Associated Press, 2015). A year later, however, Michael helped his team start their path to the second three-peat. Chicago Bulls became champions in 1996, 1997, and 1998, and Jordan’s participation in this three-year success is colossal (The Associated Press, 2015). He retired for the second time in 1999, and although he came back two years later to play for Washington Wizards, he could not manage to win another title. In 2003, Jordan ended his basketball career for the last time.

The story of Jordan is full of effort, determination, and success. Despite facing many obstacles in his life, Jordan managed to become one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In his youth, Michael was short and could not qualify for school basketball teams. Several times, Michael almost faced a tragic ending – in childhood, he nearly drowned twice. However, Jordan always persevered, and his persistence granted him and Chicago Bulls two three-peats. He is one of the best players in the history of both the Chicago Bulls and basketball in general.

Basketball Reference. (2020). Michael Jordan stats . Basketball Reference.

Hasday, J. (2013). Michael Jordan (Modern role models) . Mason Crest.

James, S. (2017). Michael Jordan: A unique insight into the career and mindset of Michael Jordan . CreateSpace.

Lazenby, R. (2014). Michael Jordan: The life . Little, Brown and Company.

The Associated Press. (2015). Michael Jordan: Beyond the court. Mango Media.

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Essay On Basketball – 10 Lines, Short And Long Essay For Children

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Key Points To Note: Essay On Basketball For Lower Primary Classes

10 lines on basketball for kids, a paragraph on basketball for kids, short essay on basketball in english for children, long essay on ‘my favourite sport is basketball’ for kids, what will your child learn from this essay, interesting facts about basketball for kids.

One of the most popular topics for English composition is an essay on basketball for classes 1, 2 and 3 kids. Writing a basketball essay in English is fun for kids as sports is an interesting subject to write on. We all know sports play an important part in the development and growth of a child. Every child plays one or more kinds of sports in their school and with friends. However, basketball is one sport that most kids play. It can be played between two teams or two kids in a playground, court, or backyard.

Most kids in lower primary classes enjoy playing basketball, but they struggle when it comes to writing an essay on basketball in English. Here are some key points that will help them to write essays on basketball easily:

  • Write in brief about basketball.
  • Explain its rules, terminology, how is it played, etc.
  • Benefits of playing basketball.
  • Write the reasons for liking basketball.

Writing a basketball essay for classes 1 and 2 may be difficult initially. Here are a few lines to help them write an essay on basketball:

  • Basketball is my favourite sport.
  • This popular sport is played across the world.
  • It can be played between two players or two teams.
  • The player has to dribble the ball, run and jump to play this game.
  • We can play it on a basketball court or in our backyard with a net ring.
  • The players must dribble the ball and put the ball through net rings to score.
  • The team that scores the maximum points wins the game.
  • It is a game that boosts team building.
  • Running and jumping makes the players strong.
  • Most kids love this game.

Here, we have a short paragraph about basketball that is easy to remember. This simple paragraph can be used by kids to write an essay on basketball.

Basketball is a world popular sport. It is played in many different countries. The smart moves and physical activity make it a fun sport. It is believed that basketball originated in the USA in the 19th century. Usually, basketball is played between two teams with five players each. However, for a friendly match, the count of the players can vary. For example, it can be played between two players or more than five players in a non-professional setting. There are many variations of the game. The team that scores the most points wins the match. This sport promotes good physical health and team building. Therefore, it’s no wonder it is one of the most popular sports.

Here we have a short essay for classes 1, 2 and 3 on basketball. They can take reference from this to write an essay on basketball:

Basketball is one of the most popular physical sports in the world. In most countries, it is played on a professional level. It is a great sport because of the clever team techniques and fun physical effort. Basketball is said to have originated in the 19th century in the United States. Basketball is usually played between two teams, each with five players. A friendly match, on the other hand, can be played between two players or more than five players. The game can be played with a lot of variations. To score points, each team needs to put the ball in the net ring of the opposite team. The players need to dribble, run, and then jump to put the ball through the net ring. The team with the highest goals or baskets wins the game. The game has several positions, and the team gets divided based on those positions. Basketball is a team game, where the whole team has to play as per rules. Players breaking the rules attract penalty points. This sport encourages physical fitness as well as teamwork. It’s no surprise that it’s one of the most popular sports worldwide.

Class 1 or 2 students are asked to write short essays. However, an essay for class 3 students is longer. Here is a long essay on basketball for kids:

I play many sports, but basketball is my favourite. I have played basketball with my elder brother since I was 3. We had a basketball net ring in our backyard. As I played basketball at home, I could easily make it to the junior basketball team in school. I am one of the youngest players on my school team. Let’s talk about the points like history, types, and benefits that made me a big fan of this game.

History Of Basketball

Basketball is an indoor sport invented by a Massachusetts professor at Springfield College. It was created by James Naismith in December 1891. James Naismith created this game for his students because they were bored during winter. So, he developed a game that everyone could play inside.

Types Of Basketball Games

Basketball can be played in different variations in many environments with a different set of rules. Some types of basketball games are:

  • Recreational Basketball –  This type of basketball is played in schools and colleges. It aims at teaching students basic basketball skills with no winning or losing.
  • Disabled Basketball – This was developed for people who cannot play the general basketball sport.
  • Prison Basketball –  This type of basketball was developed for people in prison or penitentiary institutions.
  • Show Basketball – This type of basketball is aimed at entertaining the audience, like a drama. It is a pre-planned activity, and many celebrities, and professional players, play for charity events.

Benefits Of Playing Basketball For Kids

Playing basketball has numerous health and other benefits for kids. It is a great sports game to stay active and fit. Playing basketball strengthens bones and muscles and boosts immunity, making us strong. We also learn team spirit and team building by playing basketball

How To Play Basket Ball – Terminology And Rules

Basketball is played with a set of rules and terms. It is a two-team game where both teams compete to score the maximum points. Each team has twelve players; where five players play, and seven are seated on the bench. A team can score one, two, or three points by successfully shooting the ball in the hoop. A basketball game is divided into four twelve-minute quarters, for a total game length of forty-eight minutes.

One popular term is draft choice, referring to a player chosen to play for the NBA’s 30 clubs. A free throw means a throw from the end of the line, and a personal foul is when a player makes physical contact with a player from the opposite team.

From an essay about basketball, your child will learn in detail about the sport. As they write the essay, besides the structuring of such essays, they will understand the game and how to play it in depth. They will also see the health benefits of playing basketball.

 Some interesting facts about basketball:

  • Basketball played on an outdoor court is called street ball.
  • The game of basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891.
  • Initially, in basketball dribbling wasn’t a feature.
  • The farthest basketball shot was made by Joshua Walker in 2022.
  • Earlier, basketball was played with a soccer ball or football.

1. Which Is The Highest Governing Body Of Basketball?

The highest governing body of Basketball is the FIBA (International Basketball Federation).

2. Who Are Some Famous Basketball Players In The World?

Some famous basketball players are Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Lebron James.

3. What Are The Major Tournaments In Basketball?

The major Basketball tournaments are:

  • Basketball World Cup
  • Italian league
  • Spanish ACB league

Basketball is a popular sport worldwide, played both professionally and recreationally. The flexibility of the sport with its fun tactics makes it a favourite sport for millions of kids.

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Essay on Basketball History

Students are often asked to write an essay on Basketball History 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 History

The birth of basketball.

Basketball started in 1891. A physical education teacher named Dr. James Naismith invented it. He wanted a game that could be played indoors during winter. He hung a peach basket at each end of the gym and used a soccer ball. That’s how basketball began.

The Rules of the Game

At first, basketball had 13 rules. For example, players could not run with the ball. They had to throw it from the spot they caught it. Over time, these rules changed. Now, players can dribble and move around the court.

Basketball Spreads Globally

Basketball quickly became popular. Schools, colleges, and clubs started playing it. In 1936, it became an Olympic sport. Now, it’s played all over the world. The NBA, America’s professional league, is famous globally.

Women in Basketball

Women started playing basketball in 1892, just a year after it was invented. The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was founded in 1996. It’s the most successful women’s professional sports league in the U.S.

Modern Basketball

Today, basketball is a fast-paced, high-scoring game. It’s loved by millions of fans worldwide. Players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James have become global icons. Basketball’s history is full of exciting moments and legendary players.

250 Words Essay on Basketball History

Basketball started in 1891. A man named Dr. James Naismith, a physical education teacher from Canada, invented it. He was trying to create a new game to keep his students active during the cold winter months. He decided to hang a peach basket on the wall. The goal was to throw a soccer ball into the basket. That’s how basketball was born!

Early Basketball Rules

The first basketball game was very different from what we know today. There were nine players on each team. The ball could only be moved by passing, not dribbling. If a team made a basket, they scored a point and the game was paused to get the ball out of the basket. In 1893, the first women’s basketball game was played.

Formation of Professional Leagues

Basketball became popular quickly. In 1936, it was included in the Olympic Games. In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed. This was the first professional basketball league. In 1949, the BAA merged with the rival National Basketball League to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Today, basketball is played worldwide. The rules have changed a lot since Naismith’s time. Now, there are five players on each team. Players can dribble the ball and there’s a net instead of a basket. The NBA is the most famous basketball league, with teams and players known all over the world.

Basketball has a rich history. From a simple game with a peach basket and a soccer ball, it has become a global sport loved by millions.

500 Words Essay on Basketball History

Introduction to basketball.

Basketball is a popular sport, loved by many people around the world. It was invented by a man named Dr. James Naismith in 1891. He was a Canadian physical education teacher who was trying to create a new game to keep his students active during the winter while indoors.

The Inception of Basketball

Naismith wrote down 13 basic rules for this new game. He hung a peach basket onto the elevated track, and used a soccer ball as the first basketball. The aim was to throw the ball into the opposing team’s peach basket. The game was a hit from the start. Students loved it, and it quickly spread to other schools and colleges.

In 1936, basketball was included in the Berlin Olympic Games, giving it a global platform. In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was formed. This was the first major professional basketball league. In 1949, the BAA merged with a rival league, the National Basketball League (NBL), to form the National Basketball Association (NBA). The NBA is now the world’s top professional basketball league.

Changes in the Game

Over time, basketball has seen many changes. The peach baskets were replaced by metal hoops with backboards. A brown ball was introduced in the late 1950s to replace the soccer ball. In the 1980s, the three-point line was added to the court. These changes have made the game faster, more exciting, and more challenging.

Famous Players

Basketball has given us many famous players. Michael Jordan, a player from the 1980s and 1990s, is often called the best player of all time. He won six championships with the Chicago Bulls. In recent years, players like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry have also become famous. They have taken the game to new heights with their skills and talent.

Women also have a strong presence in basketball. The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) was formed in 1996. It is the premier women’s professional basketball league in the world. Players like Lisa Leslie, Diana Taurasi, and Maya Moore have made huge contributions to women’s basketball.

Basketball is a game that has grown and evolved over time. It started as a simple indoor game and has become a global sport with millions of fans. It has brought us many exciting moments and unforgettable players. The history of basketball is a testament to the enduring popularity of this sport.

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Narrative Essay About Basketball Game

Outside the sun was shinning brightly, while inside the basketball gym, everyone cheered. Today was of course the one game we had to win to get into the playoffs. Everybody cheered hoping for our team’s victory. At practice this morning we felt ready, so we thought. Now it was sunset, and The Wolves were waiting; they were legends in the county and were trying to get their 4th playoff trophy. My whole team was on the court setting up for the game and everything was ready. Finally, when the hosts called our team name, the spotlight was on us. We jogged through the cameras, smoke, and lights to our side of the court. The other team did the same. It was time to play. We played 5 v 5, and I was in. Coach Jones said, “ JC, defend number 21.” Number 21 looked like he was 6 foot. He was huge. Before we knew it, we were losing 9-10, but we had the ball, and I was about to score a layup. But number 21, who we called “Bowser,” came charging at me and sent me flying off court. Not even a warning from the referees! Coach told me to come off court to rest for a…

We took the photo, but there were so many people waiting for the speech, we were forced to the court. It was time for coach’s speech, and said, “ Great game guys it was up to the final stretch and thank you for all our parents who take time out of their lives to let their child commit in this activity.” I honestly didn’t pay attention to his speech this time until he called me up to talk to everyone. Actually coach did all the talking and I just stood and smiled. Coach said “the only reason we won this game is because of JC. It was a team effort but he showed he wanted it the most and proved if you believe you can do something, no one can stop you from achieving your goal.” Once he was through his speech, he dismissed our team. Even though I was a punching bag earlier today, I felt great that I was the star of the…

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Personal Experience — Basketball Court – My Second Home

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Basketball Court – My Second Home

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Published: Nov 8, 2019

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basketball story essay

Essay 305 engl 3103

basketball story essay

Inciting joy: Poet Ross Gay on gardening, grief, and basketball

“There are all of these rules inside of pickup basketball that are not really written down, that are understood, which is that we're going to figure out how to be together,” says poet Ross Gay.

“There are all of these rules inside of pickup basketball that are not really written down, that are understood, which is that we're going to figure out how to be together,” says poet Ross Gay. Photo by Shutterstock

*This episode originally aired on October 29, 2022. At a time when so many around the globe face daily hardships, it may feel trivial to focus a discussion around joy. But joy is perhaps what sustains us — it’s what puts a smile on our faces, connects us with each other, and helps us to see life from a brighter, more positive perspective.  

Material goods or money are not a prerequisite, as joy is often found at the least expected times and in the most unanticipated places. So how do we embrace joy, especially when faced with disappointment, hardship, or sadness? Is it possible to capture and sustain that feeling?  

How do we incite joy within ourselves?

In his latest collection of essays and poems, “ Inciting Joy ,” author Ross Gay ponders the kinds of experiences that have touched his life and brought him joy. Jonathan Bastian talks with Gay about his insights on joy and why joy became the topic for inquiry in his latest collection of essays and poems. From pickup basketball games and skateboarding to fighting injustice and caring for his dying father, Gay ponders the sources of joy in his life and explains the many ways in which joy and sorrow are are deeply intertwined.  

basketball story essay

  • Ross Gay - poet and author of “Inciting Joy” - @RossGay18

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  5. Narrative Essay about Basketball

    When Dr. James Naismith invented basketball in 1891, the game had a built-in deterrent to dunking: the peach baskets used as goals had bottomed, and if the ball fell out of the basket, the field goal was nullified. Now, the slam dunk is a critical part of gameplay.

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    The early years outdoor basketball game in 1892 Players shooting into a closed-bottom peach basket in an outdoor game of basketball, 1892. In the early years the number of players on a team varied according to the number in the class and the size of the playing area.

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    basketball, game played between two teams of five players each on a rectangular court, usually indoors. Each team tries to score by tossing the ball through the opponent's goal, an elevated horizontal hoop and net called a basket. (Read James Naismith's 1929 Britannica essay on his invention of basketball.) The only major sport strictly of U.S. origin, basketball was invented by James ...

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

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    History & Culture Explainer Here's the history of basketball—from peach baskets in Springfield to global phenomenon The first game used baskets as hoops and turned into a brawl. Soon after,...

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    530 Words | 3 Pages Accepting a position to play with the top team in the next highest age group in my club was a great opportunity, although I was certain that it would present obstacles to overcome. Being the youngest player on a team with incredible athletes who display their talent on the court is an exceptional achievement.

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

    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.

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    June 22, 2022 0 33431 In This Article Key Points To Note: Essay On Basketball For Lower Primary Classes 10 Lines On Basketball For Kids A Paragraph On Basketball For Kids Short Essay On Basketball In English For Children Long Essay On 'My Favourite Sport Is Basketball' For Kids What Will Your Child Learn From This Essay?

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    Students are often asked to write an essay on History Of 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 History Of Basketball Birth of Basketball. Basketball began in 1891.

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    Today, basketball is a fast-paced, high-scoring game. It's loved by millions of fans worldwide. Players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James have become global icons. Basketball's history is full of exciting moments and legendary players. 250 Words Essay on Basketball History The Birth of Basketball. Basketball started in 1891.

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    Alex Lewis-Personal Narrative. The referee blows his whistle and I start to lead the ball down the court. I glance over and see a split down the middle of the court, exactly what we needed. I dribble the ball the middle of the paint, right as I see the defenders start to cut me off.

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    A basketball game is not just a bunch of people bouncing a ball. It's more than that. In basketball you have to make wise decisions just like life. Making your own decision is apart of life. I learned life lessons from the game of basketball. I learned not to hold my head down and keep my head up. Basketball gave me confidence.

  21. Personal Narrative Essay: The First Time I Playing Basketball

    The first time I learned basketball was when I am at the 6th grade when my physical education teacher registered me in a basketball summer camp. I used to be a shy and quiet girl but since joining the summer camp I started to socialize and have friends. After two months of learning basketball, I began to like it.

  22. Narrative Essay About Basketball Game

    It was time to play. We played 5 v 5, and I was in. Coach Jones said, " JC, defend number 21.". Number 21 looked like he was 6 foot. He was huge. Before we knew it, we were losing 9-10, but we had the ball, and I was about to score a layup. But number 21, who we called "Bowser," came charging at me and sent me flying off court.

  23. Basketball Court

    The basketball court is a place I deeply value and appreciate. I literally call this place my second home. Whenever I need to relieve stress or just play for the fun of it, it does it for me. This place varies in looks but serves the same purpose. It doesn't matter if it's indoors or outdoors, it's still a ball and a dream.

  24. Essay 305 engl 3103 (docx)

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