Why haven’t I quit basketball? If I got a dollar for every time someone asked me this question, I could buy a basketball team and never need to lace up again. I’ve heard it everywhere: on the walk to practice, while eating lunch in the cafeteria, even during college counseling meetings. Once, my basketball coach asked me the question in the middle of practice, shouting at me after I made a mistake. My response to this question has changed throughout the years, but fundamentally my response has stayed the same. Despite this being said, I have never explored all aspects of my answer to this important question in my life and I, too, grapple with it very frequently.

The question still lingers because of where I play. My high school program is a factory for state titles and Division I athletes. The gym walls are dripping with banners, and the roster is stacked every year with kids who look built in a lab. Then there was me: a skinny, small Indian kid who never quite fit the prototype. I remember walking into my first day of varsity basketball and being terrified. I was overwhelmed with the size of my teammates and the intensity of the practice. I remember the sweat running down my hands so heavily that I had to wipe them on my shorts before taking part in a drill. Now, being a part of a Division 1 basketball team, assumptions about my belonging are made even more than before.

There’s also the time question. Basketball isn’t a hobby here, it’s a year-round occupation. Lifts before sunrise, film at lunch, and practice during weekends or holidays. I have missed countless family vacations, hangouts with friends, and classes. With this being said, I am forced to miss out on other opportunities that I could benefit from greatly as well. My family has always pressed upon me that if I ever feel basketball is taking away too many opportunities that I should quit.  

So why stay? My answer consists of three parts: Lessons, love, and the future.

Lessons. Now that I have finished my basketball journey as a high schooler, I have really learned how rewarding basketball is. It has taught me how to work hard, work within a team, and push through difficulties and adversity. I have pushed my body to places I didn’t think were possible. In addition, I have gained lifelong friendships and bonds from being part of a team. These people are my closest friends, who I know I can count on later in life. Lastly, basketball has helped me get to where I want to be. My relationships with my coaches and hard work as a high school basketball player helped me get into the school I wanted to go to.

Love. Basketball is my true love in life. I have loved basketball since I was a kid. To this day I still have a picture of my reaction to making my first ever basketball shot in a game. Really, basketball is all I’ve ever known. I have dedicated countless hours of my life to playing basketball and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Future. “Father time is undefeated.” Every athlete experiences a time when they can no longer play the sport they love. I know this time is coming soon for me, but I want to remain around the sport I love. This has led me to look into opportunities working in sports, other than being a player. Whether that’s a coach, agent, broadcaster, or manager, I feel that the longer I play basketball and gain more insight into sports, the better my chances of working professionally within sports will be.

One of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my basketball career is my senior night in high school. In high school I got to start very little games due to our team being really good. However, on senior night I got the chance to start. Not only did I get to play with some of my best friends on the court, but my friends and family showed up to cheer me on. Scoring in that game and hearing my community cheer me on and chant my name was one of the coolest moments I have had in my life. That moment captures why I continue to play basketball.

So when someone asks, “Why haven’t you quit basketball?” I don’t mind. I’ve been asking myself the same thing for years. And every time I answer, I find another reason to stay.