My basketball history

Thursday, February 17, 2005

Wow. My basketball skills have certainly improved. I like it. I LIKE IT! I seem to distribute the ball better, can shoot quickly (and accurately, might I add) when I have an open look of the basket, and can perform crossovers (the normal one, not the between-the-legs one) quickly and effectively.

The only downside currently is my inability to dribble with my left hand, thus ensuring that I will rarely drive inside from the left. And yeah, not to forget, my spin dribble (or according to some people, pivot) has decreased in effectiveness. Yeah, I rarely practice that, so no wonder lah. But there was a time that that type of dribble skill is my weapon of choice. But now, I prefer crossovers.

But I always think how things would've been different if I were to start playing basketball earlier in my life. I started playing basketball in 1997, when I was in Form 4 at Sekolah Alam Shah. I remembered that at that time, I told my friend Hazani that my target is to one day join the school team. What's more, if you guys remebered, in those years, the Slam Dunk comics (with our favourite character, Sakuragi Hanamichi) were all the rage. Everybody wanted to try and play basketball.

But my interest in basketball started waaaaay earlier, when I was in Form 1 even. However, I was sooo segan at that time to join my friends in playing because I didn't know a thing about basketball, except for the fact that my brother is a very good player, and played for the KL and Selangor team in the non-Chinese basketball competition that's now known as Petronas Cup.

What a baaad decision. I rue the day I made that choice. I should've started earlier, because, if I were to analyse the time it took for me to become the good player that I am now, it took me from 1997 to 2001 for me to really develop my skills. 4 years! Imagine if I were to start playing from Form 1. By Form 5, I might even make it to the school team! Ruginye...

But really guys, based on my current skills, I think I can seriously be a good player if I was like this in Form 5. I might even be able to beat most of those school team members at that time! Well, except for Ajai and Shah, of course, since they're too gempak. ;)

Back to the story of 1997. However, I felt grateful that Hazani went ahead of me and started playing basketball. As a result, I felt envious and the next day, I went and played it myself! I dunno what would happen if Hazani didn't give me that indirect encouragement to play. Surely I will still be segan to play also.

Well, the rest, as you say, is history. I played really, really badly the first 2 years that I was introduced to basketball, but my skills really flourished when I was in KMYS. It's there that I was able to learn how to do the spin dribble, and also how to perform the crossover effectively. My shot accuracy also improved when I was there. And I was grateful that I was able to get picked for the college team (although I think it's due to respect for seniors rather than me being very skillful). But still, I feel happy to get the experience of playing formal basketball games.

My best year was when I just went out of KMYS, in 2001. That was the year I performed exquisitely. Hehe... As you recall, when I was playing in Uniten back when I was a first-year student, there's this guy who even called me Iverson. Allen Iverson... wow! I guess it's because I like to penetrate inside during that time. But now, my style of play is more refined, as I gain more experience. My main style of play nowadays is to find an open space, catch the ball being passed to me, and shoot. I am quite an accurate 2-point shooter, might I add. And sometimes, I can also shoot threes. So beware of that guys... ;)

My dear former schoolmates (SAS), how I long to one day reunite with you guys and play a few rounds of basketball, if only to just show you how I've improved compared to the person I was between 1997-1998. I'd like to kick your asses! Hehehe... well, I doubt that I can do that, since if I was able to improve myself, you guys must've been able to do that, no?

Ajai, takyah citer la, I've seen him play at Adidas 3-on-3 2003, and he's his usual, very gempak self lah. But I'm intrigued to know how Shah's and Nik's skills are currently, since those two were among the greats of our school lah jugak. And how I long to see how Pa'eh, Mantot, Capao, all those former school team members are performing currently in terms of basketball. I know, most of them are no longer playing as active as they were then, but I'd still like to know, even if it's just for the simple reason to show off the improvements that I have made. ;)

So, Nik, whenever you're free, moh la kita main! Ajak Shah, Ajai & dua2 Wall skali. Hehehe... I'm always free jek if you guys want to contact me and ask to play a pickup game or two. :)

Can't wait for NBA All-Star Weekend this weekend! The East should win the All-Star Game this time!

Sorry for the long post guys...

Posted by Nikman Shah at 10:36 pm
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