We Are Family

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination.

“He knew his shot was money, that he only needed enough time for the pads of his fingers to graze the rock before he let it fly. And in those moments, when the net popped as the basketball whipped through and the crowd oohed and aahed over the little kid with the big game, Jayden also knew that those before-dawn workouts had been worth it.”

Jayden’s dedication to basketball supplies palpable results, and the diction—words like “graze,” “popped,” “whipped,” “oohed,” and “aahed”—reinforce Jayden’s snappy skills. The sentence structure itself mirrors the energy of the game, with quick, rhythmic wording that mimics Jayden’s movements on the court. This passage also reflects the theme of Daily Persistence and Self-Control, demonstrating how effort and discipline translate into recognition and success.

“All you knew was that I was bigger and stronger than you. But you didn’t know what woulda happened if you woulda actually went up against me.”

Through dialogue, Roddy gives Jayden a lesson about daily persistence and self-control. Jayden will encounter obstacles—like Roddy planting himself in the paint—but Jayden can’t stop or give in: He must confront them and stay active. Roddy’s challenge forces Jayden to consider how much of his own failure is self-imposed. This moment introduces a key question of whether Jayden is holding himself back or if the challenges in front of him are truly insurmountable. The ambiguity in Roddy’s words—“what woulda happened”—suggests that uncertainty should be met with courage, not avoidance.

“Son, I love you more than you will ever know, and I believe in you more than you will ever know. Whether you want to play in the NBA like Kendrick King or fly to the moon, you have the potential to do all that and more. When you wear these shoes, I want you to remember that.”

The note from Jayden’s mother turns the Kendrick King shoes into a symbol of support. His mother believes in him and wants him to pursue his dreams. More so, Jayden’s mother doesn’t limit her son to basketball—“fly to the moon” indicates that he could succeed and find fulfillment elsewhere.