🏀 Why I Wrote "Basketball Breakthrough"

-

 🏀 Why I Wrote "Basketball Breakthrough"

When my son first picked up a basketball in 1st grade, he didn’t stand out at tryouts. He was the fastest runner, sure, but dribbling? Not so much. We wanted to build his confidence, so we found a local coach who started with the basics—dribbling drills, running half-court and full-court, Lunges, High Knees, “Frankensteins,” Agility Ladders. Slowly, he moved up to shooting layups. It wasn’t just about basketball; it was about endurance, resilience, and character.

By 3rd grade, he began to shine. He was even asked to play on the 5th and 6th graders team. With a strong foundation and a supportive coach, he started having fun in games. He was starting to understand Basketball. Driving him back and forth, watching from the bleachers, I saw every type of player—fast, slow, agile, clumsy, tall, short, big, skinny. Each had strengths and weaknesses, but together they grew.

When my husband and I had the chance to coach, we saw firsthand that basketball wasn’t just basketball. It was a life skill: learning to cope with teammates, encouraging each other, working with different strengths whether they win or lose. That realization sparked the idea for Basketball Breakthrough.

📖 From Bleachers to Book

My son and I spent the last summer writing stories inspired by real NBA journeys. We researched players who faced struggles similar to the kids we coached. Stephen Curry missing shots but bouncing back. Muggsy Bogues playing bigger than his size. Damian Lillard staying calm under pressure. Chris Paul leading without shouting. Giannis Antetokounmpo loving the fundamentals. Dennis Rodman valuing the dirty work. The Boston Celtics building championship culture.

Each story ends with a Quick Huddle—3–4 practical takeaways kids can use right away, whether at practice, in games, or even at school.

💡 Takeaway for Parents

✨ Final Thought

Basketball Breakthrough is for every young player who needs a boost, every parent who wants character as much as points, and every coach who wants motivating reads for their team. Writing it with my son was a joy—and hearing from families who say it encourages both kids and adults has been the ultimate win.

And yes, we’re already working on Basketball Breakthrough 2!

With Love,  Joy (BBall Mama)🏀

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

🧠Walnuts Look Like Brains… and They’re Good for Them Too!

-
🧠 A Fun Food Connection Have you ever noticed that walnuts look just like tiny brains? Nature has a clever way of giving us hints about the foods we eat. In fact, this resemblance isn’t just funny—it’s a reminder that walnuts are packed with nutrients that help our brains grow strong and stay sharp. 🍎 Food Meets Storytime In my book Super Foods for Super Kids , I love showing children how foods resemble body parts. Carrots look like eyes, celery looks like bones, and walnuts look like brains. These playful connections make nutrition fun and help kids remember why healthy foods matter. Next time you snack, ask your child: “What does this food look like?” You’ll be amazed at the answers! 🔬 The Science Behind the Fun Walnuts aren’t just shaped like brains—they’re actually good for them too! Omega-3 fatty acids support memory and learning. Antioxidants protect brain cells from damage. Vitamin E helps keep the brain healthy. So when kids munch on walnuts, they’re fueling th...
Read more

🍌 Why I Wrote "Monkey Bananas"

-
If you’ve read  Super Foods for Super Kids , you might remember the line:  “Bananas look like a smile, and bananas make you smile.”  That simple idea stuck with me—and it turns out bananas do a lot more than just brighten your mood. They’re shaped like a hand (that’s why a bunch is called a “hand of bananas”), and they’ve even been linked to easing arthritis pain. But here’s the funny part: when I started researching bananas, I realized I didn’t know much about them at all. For example, I thought bananas grew on trees. Nope! They grow on a very tall plant. Bananas are full of surprises, and the more I learned, the more I wanted to share their story with kids. 🌏 Bananas Then and Now Growing up in South Korea, bananas were rare treasures. I still remember going to the outdoor market,  Shijang , with my mom when I was in second grade. I begged for a banana, and because they were so expensive, she bought just one finger. We took it home and cut it into five equal pieces...
Read more