221- Derrick Roses’ words to the 11 year old’s birthday party

D Rose spoke to the kids, and I was fortunate enough to listen in. He said that there are over a million 11 year olds playing basketball in America today. 4,000 will play in college somewhere. Of those 4000, 35 make it to the NBA, and of those 35, 5 earn starting spots, and 7 get appreciable playing time, for 4 years or so. Then they’re done. He pointed to the basketball, and said, ‘Basketball is not who you are. You are all unique people, and basketball doesn’t define you as a person. Your work ethic and your roles in your family, are more important than how good you are at basketball. If one of the best in the world is willing to say that to a bunch of 11 year olds, we can say it to them too. The Ws and Ls don’t define us as people. How hard we work, how our relationships our with ourselves and with each other are what matter the most.