Basketball without Borders

If I would to speak about a specific type of sport in which I encourage children and teenagers to indulge in, then it will most probably be the sport which I really love, basketball. It’s typically a contact sport with a lot of pushing and banging of bodies but despite that, the sport promotes not only active exercise but also friendship and camaraderie among players as well. In addition to physical activity, it also involves analysis and critical thinking because in order to defeat the opposing team, a ball club must apply the right strategy, and execution of that strategy is vital for the success of the team. Aside from that, the sport also has a unifying effect. Basketball is like music. It unites people of different color and language. No wonder many people play the sport, it is full of fun, and it is also good for the health too. Basketball is a competitive sport. It demands a lot of physical stamina, strength, and sound judgment in order to emerge victorious.

Around the world, basketball is pretty much appreciated. In fact, there are already many international superstar basketball players in the NBA (National Basketball Association) today. One of them is the very popular Yao Ming from the People’s Republic of China. The guy is seven foot and six inches tall and is playing as the center for the Houston Rockets. Another famous baller in the NBA is Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks. The guy hails from Germany and is seven feet tall. The agility and versatility of Dirk made him unique from any other big men in the league. His ability to shoot the three point shot with very high accuracy and his ball handling skills makes him eligible to be labeled as one of the superstars in the NBA today. Tony Parker who plays in the guard position for the San Antonio Spurs is also considered as one of the game’s finest in present time. His blistering speed and the ability to handle the rock and put it in the hole makes him a force to reckon with in the NBA. And if we would talk about dishing dimes and stacking up the assist category in the stat sheet, we cannot possibly disregard the Canadian point guard of the Phoenix Suns, the two-time most valuable player in the NBA, Steve Nash. Steve makes fancy passing look so easy and shooting free throws as if it is only one foot away from the basket. Aside from the players that I have mentioned above, there are still a lot of international players playing in the NBA. Most of them are from Europe.

Aside from the NBA, there are also existing leagues around the world catering quality basketball and producing superstars that would possibly enter the NBA one day. The existence of these leagues makes basketball even more globally competitive in nature. This is very evident during the Olympics. The clashing of the different basketball players from the different countries around the world is surely a joy to watch especially for a basketball enthusiast like me. It just goes to show, the basketball is indeed without borders. Anyone can play the game as long as you are physically capable of running up and down the court and still possess the energy of being able to shoot the ball through the hoop. Yes, it is true that the game is quite physical in nature but that actually adds spice into the game and besides, there are rules that govern the game itself. Due to its popularity, many women also play basketball today. The counterpart of the NBA, the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) opens the door of opportunity for women to play basketball at the professional level and prove to the men that they also have the skills to play the game at a very high level. The emergence of the WNBA supports the premise that basketball is definitely without borders, especially borders pertaining to gender issues.