Luc Mbah a Moute is not only one of the best and most versatile defenders in the National Basketball Association, but he also happens to be an African prince in his home country of Cameroon. Luc, aka "The Fresh Prince" has found a contributing role on the Milwaukee Bucks as a lock down defender who is capable of guarding stars ranging from D. Wade to dominant centers and power forwards such as Garnett. This is an incredible story of a man coming from a very different background than most of the players who have made it to the league. A large percentage of players in the league came from nothing and grew up with very limited resources in very underprivileged communities, which I don't think is a coincidence by any means. I believe that growing up in such conditions has the power to make one hungrier to get to the league. I think that there are common patterns in socioeconomic status for NBA players before they got to the league and that there are few players who grew up with the resources that Luc grew up with as an African prince, which is what makes his story that much more unique. It is interesting to look at games the way we have in class, and I think it is also interesting to look at what conditions lead to various kinds of success in games in different ways. I think it is very interesting to dissect where people are pushed in life based on the different environments they are raised in.
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/28/sport/luc-richard-mbah-a-moute-nba/index.html
-David Panter
In my opinion, the environment kids are raised in does affect their chances of making it to the NBA. While kids growing up in poverty may seem "hungrier to get to the league," they simply do not have the resources of kids belonging to a higher socio-economic class. Youth with parents who are economically stable and prosperous have many more training options. From personal trainers to athletic gear, kids belonging to rich families simply receive more from their parents in their quest in becoming a professional at their sport. I believe the only separating factor in a player's chances of making it to the league is the determination and persistence of the specific individual. If someone is determined to practice and commit themselves to a strict routine, they greatly increase their chances of making it to the league. Kids belonging to both backgrounds experience a wide number of distractions pulling them farther away from their dreams.
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