My son watches YouTube videos about sports, he loves watching basketball games…but the reality of a 9-year-old kid playing NYC ball on mythical courts of NYC was a far reach that was until we walked past one. He and I sat to watch a one on one game between two men. Within seconds, one of the men said, “Hey Little Man, I can see it in your eyes, you want to play.” After shooting around a bit, the pickup game began. It was a 2 on 2 person game. Mattias shot passed and dribbled the ball down the court like he was a regular. The men were extremely encouraging and inclusive, they gave him pointers throughout the game and congratulated when he made an incredible shot.

What surprised me most was that my son took the risk and said, “Sure.” My heart was happy watching him give and receive high 5’s and play with the big boys on the courts of NYC.