The average NBA basketball player is 6-foot-7. This is scary considering the average human being is 5-foot-7. Six foot seven is already above average, but above average in the NBA, is completely different. A man named Manute Bol played on the Washington Bullets at 7-foot-7. Yes, 7-foot-7. People recognize the fact that there are skyscrapers in the NBA, but what they don’t realize, are the little trees that surround them. Among the Bullets was a player no one could forget, besides Manute Bol. His name is Muggsy Bogues. At 5-foot-3 this little ray of lightning speed could go up and down the court in a matter of three seconds. He had a gift for hops, ability to pass, and being able to drive to the basket between 7 foot trees.

Now, there are many players that are way below the NBA average, and people think how amazing it is there are men the size of an average sixth grader playing in the NBA. What they don’t think about is the freakish athleticism it takes to accomplish the things they are doing on the court. I am a 5-foot-3 point guard for my high school basketball team. Being as small as I am, I hate using my height as an excuse for mistakes on the court. Players are born with raw talent. Each and every player is blessed with the great gift of athleticism. But many players don’t take the time to develop these gifts. For me, I just have to work that much harder. Players like Muggsy Bogues, Nate Robinson, Spud Webb, and many, many more do so as well.

Sometimes, I enjoy being small. Being able to fly across the court, bump shoulders and score in the paint, and shoot from behind the arc, just makes me feel that much better knowing I’m not an “average” player.

On our Boys varsity team, there is a  5-foot-7 senior named O’shea Mclaughlin, he is a point guard and has tremendous speed and can drive to the basket like Nate Robinson. He has great potential.

Speaking of athleticism, McLaughlin may not have any scholarships for basketball like his brother Jaquori Mclaughlin, who’s a sophomore and is committed to Oregon State, but O’shea Mclaughlin has many track scholarship offers.

People need to appreciate who they are, and what they are, and what they play for, on and off the court. It doesn’t matter if you’re 7-foot-7, or 5-foot-3, you need to develop your gifts, improve every day, ignore your faults, and be grateful for what you do have. Everyone has a dream, go get it.