The Five Personalities You Meet in a Pick-Up Basketball Game

If you've been watching the 2008 Beijing Olympics, you may have noticed that basketball stars, both from the United States and China, are revered as gods. Once a strictly American game, basketball has exploded onto the international scene like no other sport in the last twenty years.

Take a walk through any of the world's playground courts and you'll see some guys mimicking Kobe Bryant's moves and others still trying to "be like Mike." On a closer level, though, you might even see a resemblance in the types of people that play pick-up basketball games. Having played basketball everywhere from Boston to Sao Paulo, I can't help but analyze the five personalities you meet in a street ball game.

1. The Trash-talker: Every sport has a trash-talker, especially basketball. This type of player usually has some degree of skill, although by no means is he outstanding on every play. Rather, he opens his mouth to brag about a lucky shot he made or mock an opponent's failed attempt to connect. The trash-talker loves to get inside his opponent's head and break his man's confidence. After all, when his opponent starts bricking shots and playing with less physicality, it makes the trash-talker look a lot better than he really is.

2. The Star: The star is, quite simply, the best player on the court. He usually arrives to the park with a posse and somehow makes his presence known. Once the game starts, the star will exhibit a subtle confidence, making plays for his teammates while he prepares to take over the game. Playing against a new crowd, the star will eventually reveal his arsenal of moves to show why he's king of the court. While the star does occasionally talk trash, he usually let's his game (or one of his teammates) speak for him.

3. The Loner: This is the guy you see shooting jump shots on his own until someone invites him to play. The loner is a capable player who has the potential to make big plays, only he doesn't demand the ball enough. This type of person plays with a quiet intensity, relying on effort to make up for his lack of flash. He rarely opens his mouth to talk trash or argue a call.

4. The Cheater: The cheater tends to be the worst player on the team. He's unnecessarily competitive and his game doesn't match up with his intensity. This player calls more fouls than anyone on the court, especially after he misses a shot. The cheater wants to be "the guy" on the team, even if he doesn't possess the skills. This leads to him hogging the ball, shouting orders to his teammates, and arguing almost every call.

5. The Sidekick: This player is part of the star's posse and knows the trash-talker and the cheater. When players start debating calls, the sidekick is usually the voice of reason saying, "Hey, are we here to play basketball or what?" The sidekick is a sound player who understands the game, but, like the loner, he's not particularly flashy or dominant. He tends to be the friendliest player on the court and makes a conscious effort to involve the loner in the team's play.

So, there you have it-the five basketball personalities. Next time you're out on the courts shooting hoops, keep an eye out for these types of players. Maybe you won't run into all of five types at once, but odds are you'll see at least a few of them out there. Who knows, maybe you'll even recognize some of these characteristics in yourself (let's just hope you're not the cheater).