“Maybe if I were LeBron James you’d want stay on the phone longer!” my sister Louise yelled, irritated that she wasn’t receiving my undivided attention. How could I lie to the girl? She was absolutely right. Not only would I want to stay on the phone longer, I would want to stay on the phone forever.

The truth is, I am addicted to watching NBA games.
Since becoming infatuated with basketball several weeks ago, I’ve been recording games via Comcast and watching them at night with my mom. From Rajon Rondo’s boyish smile and Glen “Big Baby” Davis’ chubby cheeks to Marcin Gortot’s heroic nose and Dwight Howard’s muscular shoulders (braided like loaves of challah), the “attributes” of several players have caught my eye — and stolen my heart.
However, it’s their teamwork and talent that have earned my respect.
My favorite players are the unselfish ones. Facing powerful defense, the guys wise enough to pass to an open teammate inspire my applause. LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers falls under this category. During a recent game, he ran down the court and realized an opponent would make a lay-up tough for him. He decided to share the glory and made an incredibly quick pass to teammate Wally Szcerbiak. Open near the basket, Szcerbiak made a righteous dunk. This tight communication makes me realize just how quick-thinking basketball players are. After all, I like the players not only for their bodies, but also for their brains.
Speaking of “basketball I.Q.,” I am also proud of the guys who land three-point shots. I am amazed that these players can calculate how high to jump and how forcefully to throw the ball, all while being guarded by huge defenders. Hedo Turkoglu of the Orlando Magic is great at this. Just as the 24-second shot-clock is winding down, players on the Orlando Magic know they can  trust Turkoglu to shoot a three-pointer that makes that lovely “swish” sound as the ball enters the basket. Sure, there are other 6’10’’ Turkish men whose facial hair is distributed perfectly, but I love Hedo Turkoglu because he’s dashing and dependable.  
Needless to say, my favorite teams have players who combine these key qualities — teamwork, talent and striking good looks. I am proud to say that the Denver Nuggets and the Cleveland Cavaliers make the cut. Players on both teams communicate very well with one another on and off the court. They make awe-inspiring three-pointers and dunks, flashing a smile when they’ve done something heroic.
Finally, many of them have faced hardship on their way to the NBA. James’ father abandoned the family when he was a baby. Chris Andersen of the Nuggets experienced emotional problems during his term with the Hornets and was suspended for two years due to drug use. However, all of my favorite players have risen above adversity to make a significant contribution to their teams.
So, when my mom and I watch basketball games and crack open our Kozy Shack rice puddings, there’s a lot we can be thankful for. After all, we get to witness men from around the globe working together to win a thrilling game. When it comes down to it, the NBA is just a United Nations meeting with a basketball court and a whole lot of testosterone. And as if things couldn’t get any better, Comcast lets us fast-forward through commercials and the halftime performances by scantily-clad cheerleaders. Now that’s mother-daughter bonding at its best.