Night Hoops

Trent gives Nick two different narratives about the shooting. Why does Trent provide multiple accounts, particularly making himself look more guilty in Part 5, Chapter 5? What does this reveal about the internalization of external perceptions? How does this connect to the theme of Judging People on Their Present and Not Their Past?

The novel often contrasts the physicality of playing basketball with the emotional struggles the characters face. How do the physical demands of the game mirror or contrast the internal and interpersonal conflicts the characters face throughout the narrative?

Nick cites the Seattle Supersonics all-star point guard Gary Payton as a role model. Watch one of Payton’s highlight videos, like “Gary Payton’s Top 10 Plays of his Career” (NBA, YouTube, 2 Sept. 2013). How does Payton’s performance connect to how Payton comes across in the novel? What is the relationship between Payton’s and Nick’s play? Research Payton and determine if Payton’s personality is more like Nick’s character or Trent’s character. Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.

Secrets play a major role in the plot’s development. How do the characters’ secrets impact their relationships throughout the narrative? Analyze the way secrecy functions as both a protective mechanism and a source of tension. How does the eventual revelation of secrets change the dynamics between characters, particularly Nick and Trent?

In Night Hoops, community support (or lack thereof) is central to shaping individual identity. How does the basketball team serve as a microcosm of the larger Bothell community? Consider the interactions between the characters, both on and off the court. How do team dynamics influence the main characters’ understanding of their identity and influence on others?

Kobe Bryant is a Hall-of-Fame shooting guard who wrote a poem addressed to basketball, “Dear Basketball” (2015). Read Bryant’s poem and link it to Nick’s view on basketball. What do Bryant and Nick have in common? How do they both express their devotion to the sport?

Analyze the concept of legacy in Night Hoops. How does Nick’s understanding of legacy evolve throughout the novel? How does this idea impact Nick’s actions or how he understands other characters’ motivations?

Pick a minor character and analyze their importance in the narrative. How does Michael Ushakov play a central role in the novel, and how would the narrative change without him? What would happen to Nick without the pragmatic Mom? How might Trent change if he didn’t have Steve Clay?