Basketball is the backdrop for much of the novel and is a symbol woven throughout the narrative to illustrate some of its main themes. The game parallels many of the facets of life explored throughout the novel, including the tension between individual and group efforts. As in all team sports, the best teams are not just those that have the best players but the ones where the players support and communicate with each other effectively. Even the best basketball player in the world cannot win a game by themselves.

On the other hand, individual ability is integral to how well any given person plays. In basketball and life, many of these abilities are innate; they are not “earned.” Bunny won the genetic lottery given his height, speed, coordination, and other attributes necessary to be a star basketball player. People born without these traits cannot become professional athletes, no matter how hard they work or how well they communicate with their team.

Bunny, however, does not rest on his laurels and bask in his advantages; on the contrary, he works hard to maximize his potential. Thus, a combination of luck, skill, effort, and community reinforcement coalesces to create a superior basketball player.