Background information

In this section you can find some background information that may be useful when you work with Kevin Love’s essay “Everyone Is Going Through Something”. If you do not need further information on the listed topics, feel free to skip straight to the Analysis section.

Professional basketball and the NBA

The National Basketball League (NBA) is a billion-dollar industry. Basketball is one of the most popular sports in the US, and professional players on the best teams typically enjoy great fame and earn large salaries. However, there is also a lot of pressure on players to perform, as every second of their performance on the field is typically evaluated carefully, and it may all affect their chances of getting on a good team (or staying on it).

In the age of social media, it is also important to note that a player’s behavior while off the field may also be subject to much public attention and discussion. As Love points out, there has traditionally been a culture of toughness surrounding male professional...