9781422288009 Players & the Game Around the World

Text-Dependent Questions 1. Why did Yao Ming decide to retire from basketball? 2. Which two players discussed in this chapter have been inducted into the Bas- ketball Hall of Fame? 3. What was Dikembe Mutombo’s career goal when he came to America? 4. Describe two ways basketball has changed since James Naismith’s day. How has it also stayed the same?

One other thing hasn’t changed since Naismith’s day. Despite all the fame and fortune, basketball continues to be a force that pulls people together. As we watch an exciting game between our favorite teams, we see past our differences. We’re united with people all around the world who are watching that same game. The players—whether they’re professionals or a group of kids playing a pick-up game— know firsthand that basketball is all about pulling people together. Larry Brown, a college basketball coach, says, “All the successful teams I’ve ever seen have three characteristics: They play unselfish, they play together, and they play hard. . . . Basketball, more than any sport, is a team game.”

44

PLAYERS & THE GAME AROUND THE WORLD