Are You Too Old For This?
People Under 30 Killed Pickup Basketball
I’m not worried about getting posterized, I just want to get the damn ball
Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.
I’m 33 years old. It’s a weird age, teetering between being in touch and stuck in my ways. And I know I’m not the only one standing at the intersection of Young Buck and Old Head. Every time something comes along, whether it’s slang or pop culture or a new tech platform, you confront the same question: Am I too old for this? That’s why I’m here — to work through these conundrums on your behalf, on a weekly basis. Together, hopefully, we can face some harsh truths about our own washed-ness.
And to begin, there’s no better dilemma than running ball.
Pickup basketball has been omnipresent throughout most of my life. I was never good enough to play organized ball for school teams, so pickup was my lifeline, my connection to the sport. It gave me confidence in high school, helped me recharge in college, and allowed me a chance at self-care in my twenties.
Up until about two years ago, I was playing basketball at an LA Fitness down the street from my job during my lunch break…
