Setting Screens and Global Basketball Dreams

The discussion of sports tends to veer its focus towards competition, and the complexities of power dynamics that follow. Consistency of these social norms and regional flexing creates an unsustainable and toxic environment that ignores many of the facts of the nature of playing a game. With these narratives, the purpose of coming together to collectively experience important life events becomes ignored. Perhaps one of the facets of life that should be tapped into more, are these personal stories and connections we can make through sports. Specifically, through the sport of basketball, people can begin to understand more about each other, and the similarities they share. Basketball since its conception has been an inclusive environment that cultivates these globalized perspectives. Through basketball, people’s experiences on a global scale have been modified, and positively influenced. People’s firsthand accounts, and stories speak for themselves, and through their respective perspectives we can begin to expand our own thought processes or modes of thinking.

One of the most interesting pieces to the global basketball puzzle, must be the ties that the sport has to the Philippines. As an archipelago that was bound to the US after a series of manipulative tactics during the American “Gilded Age”, the Philippines shares many commonalities with both colonial networks that took advantage of its sovereignty. As someone with blood ties to that location, who has seen first-hand the types of courts, NBA/PBA presence, and overall basketball marketing that occurs, it comes as no surprise how ingrained the sport has become in the culture there. Rafe Bartholomew wrote in his book, Pacific Rims, “Basketball has become more than just a pastime for Filipinos; it was a social norm, something that young boys were expected to do. As subsequent generations came of age playing and watching hoops, the sport’s grasp on society strengthened to the point where it is now impossible for many Filipinos to imagine their lives without basketball” (Bartholomew 75). While these words describe how large a sport can truly become on an international scale, these words come from the perspective of an outsider looking in.

I decided to discuss basketball with one of my cousins, Mark Nolasco, to verify. As someone who was born and raised in Imus, Cavite, in the Philippines, the narrative he describes comes straight from the heart. If you need any reassurance towards the connection he has to hoops, this is a man who proposed to his to be wife in Central Park, and then a couple of hours after brought her to watch a Nets game. He begins to discuss the influences of the sport on his life by stating, “Growing up, basketball was the main root of most of my friendships. It gave everyone in my school a common ground that we can talk about, or do during our free time. I have never been a social kid, but basketball made fitting in easier, whichever school I went to” (Nolasco). He continues to discuss the importance of the sport on a national scale by saying, “Basketball never failed to give Filipinos inspiration. Like what I said in the previous question, basketball is a great equalizer in this country. Rich or poor, you would see basketball courts everywhere, even makeshift ones on streets. You can see people playing with bare feet, or even on flooded streets. It gave struggling Filipinos an outlet to just show off or a game to just enjoy. And whenever we compete internationally, even if we lack height, the Filipino people unite behind our team to cheer them on. I would say most Filipinos use this game as both a distraction and inspiration against all their struggles and sufferings” (Nolasco). When looking outwards towards inspirations he says, “Being someone who lived outside the states, I never really cheered for any team specifically. Growing up, I used to like Manu Ginobili from the Spurs. I liked his team-first mentality, and how he can make an impact even if he lacks athleticism, just bring a good all-around player. Now that he is retired, I think now I like Curry, along with all other Filipinos” (Nolasco). It is fascinating how an Argentinian basketball player in North America became a source of entertainment and inspiration for someone living around the world in Southeast Asia. The influence the sport of basketball has on socialization cannot be understated as well. These connections provide people with a sense of being part of the larger whole, and help us understand our respective cultures more. I also know for sure Steph Curry is huge in the Philippines, because I personally saw his face plastered on every technology advertisement in almost every shopping mall I visited.

In a similar vein, the presence of basketball is very much felt in the Baltic region of Europe. In Lithuania, “the sport is often called a religion” (FIBA). This notion is not without its reasoning. Through winning the second and third EuroBaskets in 1937/1939, Soviet occupation, and a new re-emerging identity, the construct of basketball has remained a constant beacon of positivity to rally behind. To clarify these perspectives, I interviewed a student living in Lithuania, Jonas Skukauskas. On the personal meaning basketball has to him, he said, “I guess I could split the meaning of basketball into parts. Me and my friends can always talk about last night's games, share highlight reels, or just talk about b-ball in general, so yeah it just basically helps keeping connected with friends. Second one would be a form of emotional venting since I am quite an aggressive individual and physical contact during sports helps me to get stuff out. Third one is kind of lame to admit but it sometimes helps me get my self-worth up if I manage to win against people who were practicing basketball for years” (Skukauskas). To expand the context of a national identity, and the culture surrounding basketball he continued, “When it comes to basketball in Lithuania it's kind of wild. Well at least it was REALLY wild back when I was growing up. We were almost at a point where basketball was considered the only ok sport to devote your time to, everything else was seen as a waste. Our players were idolized big time. When world or European championships came around people would go to watch the games in masses, all the cafes, pizzerias were full, cities were setting up tents and big ass screens to host viewing parties. Though we got spoiled by great performances of our national team and when things started to go downhill it almost looked like the sky is falling. Lithuanians even say that basketball is our second religion, not joking. And you know how it is with religion... you get some crazies and delusional, loud people” (Skukauskas). The context of history and personification of the meaning of the sport expands how we can begin to understand each other. Jonas was also very keen on cracking NBA related jokes, and talked about how he admired different playstyles and achievements. These premises stand to conclude how unified sports can really make us through our shared passions, despite the competition, and different cultures.

When looking towards our immediate neighbors up north, it would almost be criminal to not include a perspective from the nationality of origin of basketball. Canada has many experiences with basketball. From the highlights of their first championship, to the lowlights of the “city of Toronto [being] nicknamed LeBronto” (Matthew), Canada has seen it all. The current excitement for Team Canada has started due to many new strong players entering the picture. As a native New Yorker who spent a decent amount of time in Canada, the culmination of this connection can be epitomized by RJ Barrett’s success this year as a member of the Knicks. The news discussing how, “Barrett is going to be a fixture on Team Canada for years to come”, (Small) should come as no surprise. Expanding on this connection, I interviewed one of my closest friends, Austin McMillan, who came from a smaller town in Canada, Barrie, Ontario. Although he came from a smaller area, his height is important to note. Austin is a tall guy. He talked about the influence the sport had on him by saying, “Ever since I hit my big growth spurt in high school, I’ve always been asked what basketball team I play for, so in that regard it's been a pretty big deal in my life as a conversation starter. But in all seriousness, basketball was one of those sports growing up that you could just pick up a ball and start playing regardless of how good you were. It was something that I played for fun with friends and sometimes a bit more seriously on school teams, and was definitely a sport that brought a lot of positive experiences to my life like the teammate camaraderie and the actual physical benefits. As I got a little older, I started watching and getting into professional basketball more, and that has been a great time. Being a basketball fan brings so many benefits, from having exciting games to watch most nights of the year, to being a conversation topic with friends and other fans. Overall, it’s a huge positive influence on my life and it will hopefully continue to be one” (McMillan). When talking about the Raptors victory, he said, “Seeing the Raptors win the championship was probably the highlight of my basketball fan career. I had been following/watching the Raptors in the years prior and it always seemed like no matter how well we did in the regular season, we would go out in the first or second round of the playoffs and run it back to do it again the next season. When we got Kawhi, suddenly it seemed like there was an actual chance at a deep playoff run, which is super exciting given the team’s history. The deeper the team got into the playoffs, the more the excitement built up. People that I knew who did not follow basketball were getting invested and it became a topic of daily conversation. When the Raptors ended up winning, people were celebrating everywhere. It was an experience that brought a lot of people together, and one that I think raised a lot more interest in basketball in Canada. As a fan, it’s always great when there are more people to talk to about a sport you love!” (McMillan). The principle of celebration is something that can be felt anywhere, and everywhere, and so is the love Canada has for basketball these days. The willingness to discuss the different aspects of the sport you are passionate about with all types of people is also an amazing premise. The captivation, and staying power that the Raptors have in Toronto, and Canada puts the collectivist ideology that the sport of basketball can express on full display.  

In New York City, basketball is a life fundamental that you would have to be absolutely blind to not see. The prominence of the Knicks penetrates every inch of the city. It is important to catalog how, “On May 8, 1970, the New York Knicks claimed their first championship after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the NBA Finals following a tremendous performance by Walt Frazier and the heroics of Willis Reed” (Taylor). The relationship basketball has with New York City reverberates through the old school cool basketball giants of style, talent, and winning in the 70s, to the Ewing era. Focusing on the influences of New York City basketball in the 90s, I interviewed my brother-in-law, David Baskin. When discussing the meaning basketball has to him, he said, “From a young age my role models were athletes in general, and basketball was my favorite sport. This is what I emulated and wanted to become. I modeled my style around basketball players. Where I grew up, there were not many black people, but all my role models were black basketball players. In NBA Live, I did not care about making the default player look like me. I listened to hip-hop, and loved black culture. The Knicks were my biggest inspiration, blue and orange were my favorite colors. I would collect cards, and it gave me something to work towards. I would shoot hoops all the time. Basketball gave me a sense of confidence in myself, and it gave me the opportunity to meet new people at a young age through camps as a shy kid. It sounds like a lot of kids had that. I would play with my brother in the backyard a lot. We would fight, but have each other’s backs in CYO leagues. It was a way of bonding with each other” (Baskin). His discussion of influences surrounding the Knicks continues as he states, “Young me was 100% Knicks, now that I am older, I root for other teams and can be more open about things, but nothing beats a clutch game the Knicks pull off at Madison Square Garden” (Baskin). I personally know how much he loves Ewing from the fact that his email address to this day has the number 33 in it, but he also expands upon this by saying, “Patrick Ewing was my favorite player, and in my opinion he never failed. To me, he was always perfect. A Jamaican immigrant was the primary focus of my childhood, and the exposure I had to different cultures through basketball is why I am so pro-immigration” (Baskin). To David, and many of us, basketball is everything that you make of it. The knowledge and diversity of perspectives that the game carries on its shoulders has taught many people lessons about themselves and others. On top of the perspectives he brings from his childhood, and the influences the sport had on him growing up, it is also important to note that basketball has acted as a vessel for bonding between David and I. Basketball stands as one of the biggest contributors to our continually growing relationship. 

Perhaps one of the most important discussions to have surrounding the United States these days has to do with the different forms of immigration and the policies surrounding it. To break down this multifaceted topic through the lens of basketball, I interviewed a close family friend, Parag Sheth. A first-generation Indian immigrant working as a doctor at Mount Sinai, his educational background is extensively listed officially, “graduated from Johns Hopkins University with honors, SUNY- Stony Brook Medical School, and St. Vincent's Medical Center's Rehabilitation Residency Program, where he was named Chief Resident. He went on to complete fellowship training at The Mayo Clinic in Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation and then joined the Mount Sinai staff in 1994” (Mount Sinai). What is not listed, but is equally as interesting is his complex history and investment in the sport of basketball. The discussion of his youth centralized around his father as a focal point. His father, a graduate of University of Michigan, had “little to no exposure to American sports, but through his time spent in America, he became a large active fan of sporting events, and his alma mater” (Sheth). As Parag grew older, he moved from Queens to Rockland County, and his interest shifted from a more baseball centralized interest, to basketball. He notes his passion and understanding for the sport came from a friend, “when I was a senior in high school, my best friend, David Siegal, watched Knicks games. He had a court in his driveway and taught me all the rules” (Sheth). Through this, he gained more of a passion for watching basketball. This spilled over into his adulthood when finding time to spend with his cousin, Shail Sheth, who was also a successful Indian American Yale graduate. Parag reminisced on sweet memories of going to Knicks bars together, and watching games in person. Although his cousin is no longer with us, Parag emphasized that his happy memories watching Jason Kidd, and Richard Jefferson era Nets games, along with all the other basketball experiences with each other are aspects of life that will always stay with him. While Shail was in the hospital, Parag was able to play golf with Knicks legendary underdog John Starks, who he recalled recorded a very heartfelt get-well message. As time pushes our individual perspectives forward, the catalysts for positive experiences stay with us. The premise of meaningful memories surrounding sports through collectivism stays true, and will always render purpose. Parag concluded our interview with a discussion on his passion for motion, and athletic movement. As a doctor, he is “fascinated by Curry’s shot, and spends hours watching his range of motion in slow motion” (Sheth). Stories like this display how sports can bring us together, and remind us of our passions. Our inspirations should not be limited to singular nationalistic constructs. They should be free and diverse to dissect those living in the world around us. Opportunity and constructivism can come from anywhere. From two cousins sharing memories, to the rest of the world, we should always remember, “James Naismith, an immigrant from Canada, invented basketball in 1891 after taking a job at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts” (Anderson). The importance of immigration on the history of this country, and their experiences should inspire us.

Basketball stands as a platform that offers meaningful conversation and discussion around the world. The more we choose to observe, and discuss, the more we transcend our preconceived notions. Through our discussions surrounding basketball, we can understand more about each other, and begin to be more constructive when it comes to our more globalized identities. The overt senses of nationalism that are being promoted by our current media are an incredibly poor display of the perspectives we can have. It is important to take a step back and realize that the one thing that ties and binds us together is our humanity. Through our connections, we should be willing to understand one another, and work to create a more constructive future to transcend the set outdated normative boundaries. Through these ideologies, the collective constant of the sport of basketball can stand as a platform for turning these diverse narratives and integrated passions into a reality.

Works Cited

Anderson, Stuart. “Immigrant Players Steal Bases And Basketballs, Not Jobs.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 27 July 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2020/07/27/immigrant-players-steal-bases-and-basketballs-not-jobs/?sh=17610bd445d5.

Bartholomew, Rafe. Pacific Rims: Beermen Ballin' in Flip-Flops and the Philippines' Unlikely Love Affair with Basketball. New American Library, 2010.

Baskin, David. Interview. By Ridgewell Clark. 5/11/2021.

Matthew, Aaron. “End of LeBronto? Worrying Record in Lakers Uniform Proves LeBron James Isn't Raptors' Kryptonite Any More.” EssentiallySports, 3 May 2021, www.essentiallysports.com/nba-news-basketball-end-of-lebronto-worrying-record-in-los-angeles-lakers-uniform-proves-lebron-james-isnt-toronto-raptors-kryptonite-any-more/.

McMillan, Austin. Interview. By Ridgewell Clark. 5/10/2021.

Nolasco, Mark. Interview. By Ridgewell Clark. 5/3/2021.

Sheth, Parag. Interview. By Ridgewell Clark. 5/7/2021.

Skukauskas, Jonas. Interview. By Ridgewell Clark. 5/9/2021.

Small, Danny. “RJ Barrett Plans To Play For Team Canada This Summer.” Elite Sports NY, Elite Sports NY, 12 Apr. 2021, elitesportsny.com/2021/04/12/rj-barrett-plans-to-play-for-team-canada-this-summer/.

Taylor, Cody. “History on This Day: Knicks Claim First NBA Title with Win over Lakers.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 8 May 2021, therookiewire.usatoday.com/2021/05/08/knicks-first-nba-title-walt-frazier-willis-reed/.

“Parag Sheth, Mount Sinai Health System.” Mount Sinai Health System, www.mountsinai.org/profiles/parag-sheth.

“The Godfathers of Lithuanian Basketball.” Fiba.Basketball, Fiba, www.fiba.basketball/eurobasket/2022/news/the-godfathers-of-lithuanian-basketball.