Two years ago, we had a kid named MT (I'm using his initials, not his full name) on our 12U team. That was a very good team, great chemistry together on and off the court. They worked hard. They worked together. They won the Aiea 12U League championship.
Shortly after that league, MT, who was our newest player, told me that he would start playing for the Sharks 13U team immediately. He'd just turned 13. He also said he wanted to keep playing for the Thunder, but not the 13U or 12U. He wanted to play for Thunder 15U, while playing AGAINST us in 13U for the Sharks.
I told him, no thanks. He didn't understand. He had no concept of team unity. All he knew was he had some friends from school on that Sharks team and he thought it would be a great idea to double-cross us. When he came to practice the next week, I asked him to explain his plans to the guys.
He turned around and walked away. His mother called me later and apologized. MT hadn't even talked with her about this decision and she was disappointed. His stepdad called me later and told me I shouldn't have "called him out in front of the team."
MT made his own decision to leave a great championship team. He didn't appreciate his teammates. He didn't appreciate all the parents who cheered for him and supported him through ups and downs.
He played for the Sharks for a few months. Oftentimes, he didn't listen to that coach, just like with the Thunder. Then he quit the Sharks (or was kicked off) and jumped to yet another team. All the things he needed to work on, he never improved on. He didn't really want to be coached UP. He wanted to have a social event with friends at practice and games, which is OK. But he didn't really love the game and his teammates enough to be loyal to them.
He loved the hype of the game, not the roots, the sweat, the grind of getting better. That's fine, you know. Not every basketball player is destined to get better every day, every year. In fact, that kind of player is rare.
We're just spoiled because since we started our team, we've had so many guys (and girls) who really, truly love the game and their teammates, and they keep working to get better. That's what makes me and all our coaches so satisfied and grateful.
Some guys are like MT, a nice kid who was more concerned with things other than his teammates. Our guys in the Thunder are about having fun, working hard and playing together.
We've had our share of guys like MT who eventually faded away. They didn't want to work. They wanted to play on other teams. They wanted to have everything and wound up with nothing or very little. Never really improved. Never put in the reps. Got cut by their JV or Varsity coaches. Or they made their teams and did nothing to help the team. They ask about coming back to play for us.
Then there are guys who worked their tails off night and day, guys like Keanu Vela, now playing college ball. Isaiah Visoria, also playing college ball. Drew Viena. On and on. It wasn't luck. It was hard work and a great love for the game and their teammates. Rain, sunshine, wind, no wind — it didn't matter. They worked. And they had huge fun while they worked.
In life, relationships, friendships, teamwork, teammates ... the great ones are rare and hard to find. Cherish it all and don't ever take them for granted. Hold them closely, because if you let them slip away, you may never have that blessing again.
If and when we are taken for granted, there's nothing we can do to stop anyone from leaving. The truth is, if they're going to treat us that way, we're better off if they do leave. We'll miss guys like that and pray for them to find what they're looking for.
If anyone wants to be a MT, we can't stop him. Wish him well and focus on our Thunder Ohana.
