A blowout win: 1 Takeaway from Summer League

Just one takeaway today: perception is everything.

It ended on a high note. A blowout victory over the Orlando Magic ensured the Boston Celtics ended their time in Las Vegas

with a win.

The harsh reality of Summer League is that not everybody who played for the Celtics this past week will remain with the

team. Some players will make the trip back overseas. Others will begin hunting for new opportunities within the United

States. A large portion of players will be staring a season in the G-League right in the face.

Part of fighting for your dreams is understanding the setbacks that will occur along the way. Not everybody is born with the

physical gifts to excel at something from the jump. Sometimes, you have to fight and claw for every inch of success that

comes your way. And make no mistake, being good enough to take part in Summer League is certainly a success worth being

proud of.

Think about it. Millions upon millions of people play the game of basketball around the globe. Only a select few make it into

the collegiate ranks before the herd gets thinned again, and the best of the best head into the professional leagues — either in

America or in Europe or Asia. Being a professional basketball player at any level is a success.

Watching these players hustle for a chance at taking the next step in their careers is incredibly profound. It resonates with

me. The hustle. The determination. And the uncertainty of whether you’re going to get to the Mountaintop, whatever you

deem that to be.

For me, I used to believe that mountaintop was living in the United States, covering the team as a full-time media member.

Yet, this past year, I’ve envisioned a second mountain. It’s just as big and just as difficult to climb. The only difference is

things at the top look slightly different. I’ve learned that having control over my own income streams, and choosing who to

work for, is of the utmost importance to me. As freelance, not all of those choices are in my control at present.

So, I climb. This new mountain top looks similar to the other — it’s just that one key aspect is different.

Isn’t that what these Summer League hopefuls will be waking up to realize today or tomorrow, or maybe even late next

week? No matter what, they’re probably going to be playing professional basketball next season; it’s just that one key aspect

will be different. Being a professional in Europe, China, the G-League, Taiwan — it doesn’t matter. You’re still playing

basketball for a living. Yes, the NBA is the mountaintop. And every year, these players will be taking steps to reach the

summit.

But what if they just climb a different mountain?

If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my own personal journey toward my dream, it’s that what you see in your mind’s

eye is fluid. Dreams take shape as you get closer to achieving them. Not everything is going to be how you imagined it.

Accepting that you can be living your dream while not being where you dreamed of being is an incredibly complex

realization to work through.

Five years ago, I set out to cover basketball as a job. In my mind, that meant moving my family to the United States. It meant

traveling from city to city, attending every game, every practice session. To this day, that dream lives on, with some slight

alterations. The only difference is I’ve also accepted that I’m living my dream right now. I wake up every day and write

about, talk about, and create content about…basketball. That’s what pays my bills. Isn’t that what I set out to accomplish?