According to his friends and family, there is nothing stopping local teen Damien Smith from achieving his hopes and dreams of one day playing in the NBA, with the exception being his own mental hurdles as well as the incurable bone disease that renders him unable to run or jump any longer.
“For him, it’s a mental thing. If he doesn’t believe in himself, he will never make it to the NBA,” said his father, Ronald Smith.
“Of course, it is also clearly a physical thing. He does not have the muscular capabilities needed to perform at such a high level. Or really any level. He physically cannot play basketball, so that obviously is a major obstacle for his professional aspirations.”
Smith’s friend Rodrigo Orton says there was a point in time when he had everything it took to become an NBA athlete, but regularly blew opportunities to get noticed by professional scouts.
“Here he was, in the championship game, getting ready to play in front of scouts from the pros and a national tv audience. It was the biggest game of his life. And he comes in with a hangover and a black eye. It’s almost like he wanted to sabotage himself,” he said.
“Of course, once the bone disease thing started to rear its head a few months later, the point was moot. But still. At the time, we thought he was throwing his life away.”
Smith’s mother Deborah says that her son knows he has the talent to succeed as a professional basketball player, but acknowledges he is not ready at this point in time.
“He has always believed that if he focuses and puts in the effort, he will be able to accomplish whatever he wants. So he knows the only person who can stop him from getting into the NBA is himself,” she said.
“But as for non-persons, this incurable bone disease is also doing a pretty good job getting in his way. I mean, it takes him 35 minutes to get dressed in the morning. How is he supposed to compete with some of the best athletes in the world?
Despite the obstacles, Damien says his personal struggles have taught him valuable lessons in life.
“I guess in the end, it really didn’t matter if I have the mental toughness to make it in the NBA,” he said.
“Because my bones are broken. They don’t work anymore. So…it’s kind of a bummer.”
Note: This article is satirical and does not reflect factual reporting.
