The Assist is a call for Basketball Love stories beyond the court:
The stories highlight how basketball facilitated experiences or encounters that have had a profound impact on people’s lives.
The Assist is the pass that makes the basket.
This is true in the court but also beyond it.
Somehow, we are all doing this for someone whether we realize it or not.
Pass it Forward!
I've played basketball for more than 20 years: for Tec de Monterrey (León and Monterrey campuses), the Guanajuato State team, the Mexican National Team, the University at Buffalo (NCAA Division I) and the Mieleras pro team, plus countless pickup games along the way.
Basketball has connected me with so many people from so many places. Yes, it's a super fun and dynamic sport, but I've learned it's also a way to express ourselves and connect with each other.
To me, basketball is a common language. Sharing it helps us go further together, whether it's a small favor or a big project. It's a doorway to community and inspiration.
This is a safe space to share your story, in the hope that it inspires someone, somewhere.
Send me your story! 🏀
Pass it forward
Basketball Love Stories
“Holy Ballers” - installing hoops in Uganda
“Holy Ballers actually started really simply. Our family has spent a lot of time in Uganda over the years. And one thing we kept noticing is that there are barely any basketball hoops, especially in public spaces. Even in schools, most don’t have proper hoops or courts. And as ballers, that really stuck with us. So we thought: What if Holy Ballers could help grow the game by installing hoops where they’re needed most?”
-Belinda Gibb (Perth, Australia and Uganda)
Read their story here:
https://theassistbasketball.substack.com/p/holly-ballers-for-africa?r=3z7vh
"Basketball taught us a lot about relationships. Every team needs different players, and not everyone has the same role. Amanda is a point guard and a natural leader. I’m more of a scrappy player who likes to do things my own way. Learning how to appreciate each other’s strengths instead of fighting them made us better teammates and better partners. You don’t always have to agree, but you do have to understand each other. You’re on the same team. Act like it.”
Simone and Amanda have been together for over 15 years, they met in a basketball college visit in New York. They got married in August 2026.
Read their story here:
https://theassistbasketball.substack.com/p/simone-and-amanda-on-the-same-team