Parents Rebounding- It's Funny But...

This past year as I interviewed players, one of the topics that came up was how players got started in basketball. Several of the players would describe their moms or their dads helping them in the driveway. All of the players who mentioned their parents shooting with them, viewed it as a fond memory. It was not just the basketball part of things, but they valued the one on one attention and time from their parents.



We had baskets in our basement when I was growing up (son of basketball coach). I can remember how exciting it was when my dad after supper would ask if we wanted to go shoot baskets in the basement. Yes, there was the dreaded having to work on weak hand layups for awhile, but it was always fun. I got to shoot, he got to rebound. I got to shoot some more, he got to rebound some more. There were the horse games and the one on one games that as a 7-8 year old I miraculously came from behind to win- thanks Dad! Yes, I think my dad wanted me to become a good basketball player, but I don't think that was the main reason he went down to the basement after a long day at work. It was a simple way to share time and for him to show I was important. It was good bonding time, and terrific memories.

What made me think about this were two tweets from Jon Leuer. Leuer was the UW star last year, first round draft pick by the Bucks, and is headed off to play in Germany in the lockout. He tweeted first about how funny it was watching his dad  trying to rebound for him now that his dad is getting older. Imagine that, Leuer is 22 years old, going to be a millionaire, and he is still shooting baskets with his dad.

As soon as I read it, I thought about our players describing experiences with parents and shooting. I will have to check back but I think Leuer making fun of his dad is pretty similar to Megan Young making fun of her mom rebounding for her. Most of us don't become NBA or WNBA players like Jon Leuer but some of our experiences in the driveway with our parents were just as good as his experiences!

jleu30 Jon Leuer 

The older my dad gets the funnier it is to watch him rebound for me

jleu30 Jon Leuer 

That being said he's proly rebounded over a million shots for me and is the main reason I am where I am today