In this blog post, we explore how basketball’s appeal and meaning evolve as time passes, and why basketball offers important life lessons.
I was basking in the warm sunlight, the center of attention from dozens of friends surrounding the basketball court. Though a quarter lasted only 10 minutes, after playing that 10 minutes, my heart felt like it would burst and my whole body was drenched in sweat. I remember playing amid the cheers of the girls, locked in fierce physical battles with the opposing team, filled with the intense passion of not letting them steal the ball. Even though we lost, I still can’t forget my very first basketball game.
What is the appeal of basketball? Soccer and baseball each have their own unique charms. But basketball captivates with its thrilling fast-break transitions, unpredictable passes that could come from anywhere, nonstop scoring, the adrenaline rush from quick dribbling, and the satisfying thwack of a dunk. Aren’t these elements what draw so many people into the game?
It’s been a long time since I last touched a basketball, but the sport’s appeal remains unchanged. Only my feelings toward basketball have shifted with age. In fifth grade, I loved only soccer. But my mom first suggested basketball. I wondered what fun there could be in throwing a ball at a hoop much taller than me. Soccer and baseball were far more interesting to me, and basketball was just an obligation I reluctantly took up because my mom suggested it.
When I started middle school and began learning basketball properly, I cheered just to see the ball go through the tall hoop, even if it was rare. Back then, we were happy just to be on the playground, away from cram school. As the years passed, my vision, which had initially been fixed only on the hoop, gradually broadened. I began to see the friends passing me the ball. Friendships blossomed on the basketball court.
Entering high school, I learned to distinguish teammates from opponents and developed a competitive spirit. Like friends caught up in fierce entrance exam competition, we too competed on the court, sometimes becoming friends and sometimes rivals. The basketball court was an escape for me, exhausted from exam prep, and a place where lifelong friendships were forged. As entrance exams approached, the time spent playing basketball gradually decreased, but during my teenage years, basketball was my only joy outside of studying.
After becoming a college student, I didn’t play basketball as often as before. However, whenever I did play occasionally, it brought back memories of high school and sometimes became an opportunity to get closer to new friends. Playing games on the basketball court at the center of my new university’s expansive campus after graduating high school gave me a broader perspective than I had in high school. The only regret was that basketball culture didn’t seem as vibrant in college. In middle and high school, many people played basketball together during breaks or lunchtime, but I never saw that in college. I, too, had gradually drifted away from basketball since entering university.
The basketball court is a magical place that breathes life into those weary from hard work, a place that reveals many facets of life. Playing in a basketball game during my second year of middle school, I realized that teamwork and coordination among teammates are the most crucial elements in how we live. I discovered wisdom, unattainable from textbooks, in the bouncing basketball. I also came to understand the importance of living faithfully to one’s role. Above all, I could see on the scoreboard that excessive greed leads to unfavorable outcomes for both the individual and the team. Especially when playing basketball with strangers at outdoor courts, I felt a silent connection forming. Even without knowing their names or ages, playing together while adhering to basic rules somehow energized me and brought a smile to my lips.
Basketball reminds us of the importance of every moment. Though each moment is fleeting, these moments accumulate to complete the game. Similarly, basketball teaches us that our lives require living each day faithfully for the distant future. The most crucial attitude in basketball is never giving up until the final whistle blows, no matter how unfavorable the situation. As the Japanese manga Slam Dunk states, “The moment you give up is the moment the game ends.” A buzzer-beater, that last-second shot just before the game ends, is a gift given to those who never gave up hope of victory until that very moment. Amid the breathless tension and cheers of that final instant, we learn a lesson: life, too, has such crucial, decisive moments, and we must always approach them with a prepared mindset.
My current reflections on basketball are likely just one phase of my life journey. Next year, I might view the basketball and the world through a different lens. Just as literary works like The Little Prince or Faust offer different insights when read as a child, in youth, and as an adult, I hope basketball remains a sport that stays with me over time, imparting diverse wisdom about life.
