SPORTS
NBA By Justin Yen
The Ultimate Dream?
Illustration by Karissa Poon
What is the NBA and why is it every basketball player’s wish to be a part of the team? The National Basketball Association, abbreviated NBA is a league of teams from many different cities in the United States and one from Canada (the Toronto Raptors). Needless to say, the organization cherry-picks each and every player from American colleges, ensuring that only the cream of the crop makes the cut. Such is the extent of prestige associated with the NBA that it has become a well-known fact that NBA players are the world’s highest-paid athletes, as seen by the mean annual salary per player. To give you an idea of how profitable it is to be an NBA player, statistics have shown that the average NBA player in the 2018 season pocketed an impressive USD $5 million per year! However, the actual salary would be highly dependent on the specific player’s popularity, skills and demand in the league. One of the main reasons why NBA players are paid so well is partially due to the extensive viewership that NBA games have not only in America but also across the globe.The appeal of basketball to audiences can be attributed to several key reasons. Firstly, the audience tends to be drawn into the intense rivalry between certain teams whose strengths parallel each other, making it difficult to predict the eventual winner. The most exhilarating games often conclude with the smallest possible winning margin of a solitary point. This makes it difficult to predict the outcome of crucial playoffs, raising the spectators’ suspense. In addition, the match duration is much shorter than football, lasting just over 2 hours. Every single minute is packed with adrenaline and nail-biting moments, especially when particularly ambitious shots are made. It is incredibly difficult to purchase NBA tickets, given that they are in such high demand. Ticket prices range from USD$10 to $3000 per match. Although prices can be exorbitant, many die-hard fans are more than willing to splurge to secure an opportunity to catch their favourite teams play live. It would be a dream come true if I ever had the chance of watching an NBA match live!
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ISSUE 21
XIAO HUA
Layout by Natalie So
My Basketball Journey When I was in Year 2, I considered myself to be a soccer player. It seemed to be the most popular sport among students and definitely the most commonly played sport during recess. One day, my dad said, “Hey Justin, your brother Arthur is playing basketball and he really enjoys it. You should try it out too!” However, basketball had not yet intrigued me at that point. Thus, I politely rejected my dad’s suggestion. However, as time went on, I found myself beginning to be subconsciously influenced by my elder brother. Initially, my dad was the one who had to convince me to play. Unsurprisingly, I was fearful of the ball initially as I was not equipped with knowledge about how basketball should be played. However, as I developed my skills over time, I started to appreciate the beauty of the game and became more enthusiastic about playing. My dad also introduced me to the NBA matches that were broadcasted on television, in the hope that I would be inspired by professional basketball players, and perhaps even pick up some of their legendary skills. Slowly but surely, I began to perceive basketball in a much more positive light as my horizons broadened over time. The NBA games demonstrated to me how amazing and captivating basketball could be when played at the highest level. Towards the end of Year 2, I pondered over whether I should join the school’s basketball team to pursue my interest in the sport. When my mom was in the process of signing up for CCAs, she asked me if I wanted to join the school team. I felt apprehensive at that moment, as I still had some concerns about switching from soccer to basketball. I did not know if I was passionate enough about basketball to give up soccer completely. I decided to take a leap of faith and made the switch.A day before the tryouts were due to take place, I was so nervous that I could hardly stand straight and breathe evenly. I understood the importance of the audition and was worried about not being good enough to be selected. Thankfully, the coaches must have thought that I had the potential to become a good basketball player, as I was eventually selected. I came home that night with my head held high, for all my training efforts had paid off.
