Have you ever dreamed about being playing in the NBA? Of course you have. We’ve all called our credentials as we select ourselves with the first overall pick. From the suit and shoes we’d wear, to whom we would thank first; it was all a part of the fantasy. Think back to how you would make up your rookie stats with your friends. Rookie of the Year was a lock. Averaging 20 points per game would be easy. There is something to the NBA dream. The lights, the fans, the adoration — all of it makes up a grand experience. The pomp and circumstance of being a professional athlete serve as an excellent backdrop.
With the advent of video games, we can insert ourselves into that intoxicating environment. We spend copious hours creating and molding a player that would make even the likes of Kawhi Leonard nervous to defend.
Even with all that comes with the gig, there is only one reason that anyone wants to be in the NBA. Simply put, the passion of playing basketball is what drives the dream. For those who love the game, going pro is the ultimate achievement. That love fuels the pick-up games at the neighbors’ houses that last long into the night. The sound of the net’s swish and the reverberation of dribbling can be recognized from miles away as they compel you to jump out of bed to find the nearest hoop. Everyone remembers the early stages of their love of the game. We never forget the first time we touched a basketball or the first time we made a long-distance shot.
The majority of the league doesn’t look at what they do as a job. The late practices filled with repetitive and mundane drills are light work when looking at the bigger picture. Every night spent watching their favorite players perform in front of millions helped to keep the dream tangible. Each passing year represented getting closer to having a chance at something special. When that day finally comes, and their name is plastered across television screens as a draftee into the NBA, the goal is finally realized.
That isn’t the end of it all, however. As much as players have earned their way into this realm, there are millions of other kids out there with just as much talent who are working to take their spot.
That is the thing with athletes of any sport – they tend to be ultra-competitive. It’s that competitive drive that has brought them to the point of playing professionally. That same competitiveness allows them to work tirelessly to improve and get better. Players consistently contend that the universe hasn’t handed them anything – everything that they have achieved and earned was done so through their volition. Aside from the natural physical gifts, this is true.
The dedication that players have for their craft is unparalleled. It’s meticulous, strenuous, and can be grueling, but they understand what it takes to get to this point. They, more than anyone else, know that staying here is not guaranteed.
As with every dream, there are the down times.
In the beginning, when everything is new and just being in the mix is enough, the weight of expectation hasn’t been fully felt.
Quickly, though, they begin to hear their games dissected by fans and talking heads. The joy of playing the game, however, acts as a buffer between them and the vitriol.
“He’s not working hard enough.” “He should be in the gym 24/7.” “Players don’t want it as bad once they’ve made it to the league.”
These guys have thought about playing basketball in the NBA since they were young children. Sometimes there are factors in life that can interrupt or completely derail a dream: Injuries, team mismanagement and life each play a part. Players then take other opportunities into account. The NBA is the pinnacle of pro success, but options such as playing overseas have become more and more viable.
Basketball players want to play basketball; there is no other way of putting it. The league tagline “This Is Why We Play” perfectly illustrates what the sport means to the players. That innocent love of their job allows them to be able to battle through the struggles that come with it and continue through turmoil.
Because one thing is for sure: Not everyone can have a storybook career.
Take the case of Derrick Rose. Born and raised in Chicago, Rose and his unequivocal talent took the country by storm. His legendary skill and athleticism left us speechless. His troubles had the same effect. He rose from his complications at Memphis under head coach John Calipari to be selected by his hometown Chicago Bulls; Rose was on the path to becoming basketball royalty.
The Memphis issues all but faded from existence as the phenom point guard did to them what he did to opponents over and over again — he outran them. He jumped over them, he dunked on them and he turned them into an afterthought.
In 2011, Rose became the youngest player ever to win League MVP.
Then came the tragedy. In a playoff series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rose suffered a knee injury. That day marked the beginning of a long and unforgiving derailment of a promising career.
The Bulls traded Derrick Rose the New York Knicks a year ago. We hoped that maybe that would help Rose’s image – Madison Square Garden, christened the Mecca of Basketball, has a special way of connecting players to the game. Sadly, that wasn’t the case for Rose. While his play wasn’t awful, his tenure there was rocky, and the Phil Jackson regime did nothing to help his situation.
In October of 2016, Rose had to face legal litigation over an alleged rape case. The courts acquitted him of all charges. This past January, Rose disappeared from the Knicks for 24 hours with little to no communication with the team. He couldn’t even finish the season after a meniscus tear at the end of the year.
Now six years and multiple injuries after his spectacular story began, Rose has signed a deal to join the Cleveland Cavaliers. Playing for the veteran’s minimum, Rose has the chance to play alongside perhaps the greatest basketball story ever in LeBron James.
Will this be the opportunity to revive and rewrite his story? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, remember that we get to witness guys live out their passion right in front of us. Any one of us would jump at the chance to do the same. So appreciate it and don’t take it for granted.
