The Final Four

“My plan is to go pro as quick as I can, enter the NBA draft, and cash that fat paycheck for me and my family.” 

Malcolm McBride is an arrogant, determined young man. His interviews with the media never hide his belief in himself, and he never hesitates to say exactly what he feels. This confident attitude can make him appear foolish to some people, but McBride’s desire to earn as much money as he can as soon as he can has positive motivations: He is desperate to lift his family out of poverty and he views basketball as the best way to do this. His arrogant attitude and constant conversation with the media have elevated his profile and increased his chances of being selected for the professional league. McBride willingly embraces his arrogance in the belief that it will help his family.

“It’s not always about you!” 

Trisha is Malcolm McBride’s older sister. She is more responsible than him and a skilled musician. One day, she is involved in an accident and killed by a gunshot. The last words she says to her brother are to remind him that “it’s not always about you” (17). These words contrast with McBride’s insistence that he should always put himself first when he speaks to the press. McBride might openly insist that he is only looking out for himself, but his dead sister’s words inform his character.