#1 Barca Got Me Ballin’ Again!
11 min read This is my story... or should I say "our" story.
A young spirited boy raised in Europe, growing up to love an "American game" and making a move to one of the biggest basketball cities in Europe, Barcelona.
I say "our" story because our lives and backgrounds might be different, but you’ll easily relate to the passion ballers have for the game and the incredible culture that surrounds it. Basketball has always been a way to connect for us. Wherever we may come from, whatever language we may speak, we speak Basketball, both on and off the court.
The past 15 years, I've had the incredible opportunity to travel, study, work, live and play in several cities in Europe, before finally moving to Barcelona.
Basketball has always been a big part of my life, but that didn't seem to be the case for a lot of my friends and people around me growing up. At least not like football, rugby, or even tennis.
Everyone knew I was the basketball guy. Not that I was that good, there just weren't that many.
Why wasn't everyone else a basketball guy?
I've heard it so many times. They say "basketball is an American game". They should know change is coming.
In the past 4 years, only players out of Europe won the NBA MVP... the most prestigious individual award, in the most prestigious professional basketball league in the world. Trust me that the names of Giannis Antetokounmpo aka "The Greek Freak" and Nikola Jokić aka the Serbian "Joker" will be remembered and revered. How about Luka Dončić?
On top of that, the EuroLeague is the second best league in the world and right in our backyard, gaining in popularity more than ever and attracting exciting talent from around the world. Even in 3x3 Basketball, a new Olympic sport, Europeans are dominating.
It's true basketball was invented in "America", but Europeans are perfecting it somehow and hereby inspiring a whole new generations of kids that they can idolise. The same way I had my role models like Kobe, Shaq, Iverson, Nowitzki, LeBron and so many more. Somehow I feel this is only the beginning, but that's a whole other story.
As a kid, I could play for hours and hours on the hoop right next to our garage.
Swish, swish, brick, swish.
I used to draw my favourite players in a sketchbook, memorised their heights & stats in my tiny head and when asked to suit up for special occasions… this is how I would show up… lol
My room was a little basketball island with NBA posters on the walls that I collected from whichever basketball magazines were available at the store. There weren't many. I would fall asleep with a ball in my hands, under my orange NBA bedsheets and dream about playing in the League one day. I might have taken the movie "Like Mike" a little too serious at the time.
I was definitely the basketball guy.
After graduating and landing a job, more responsibilities came. More distractions also came and time kept slipping away. I couldn't commit anymore to three or four club trainings and a game on top of that every week. Especially with this new job, especially when trainings start at 6pm. You know what I mean, life takes over sometimes.
From time to time, I'd gather my old uni teammates and join a weekend league. Other times, I would just be shooting around at my local court with my Beats on to find a certain peace of mind… Rare to see a good net. Rare to see other ballers. Often kids were playing football though...
My presence on the court started fading away, my fade-aways were definitely failing. I wasn't the baller I once was, at least not on the court. But, I kept on watching NBA highlights in the morning, I kept on shooting my socks in the laundry bin yelling "Kobeeeee". My Instagram feed is still filled with ball highlights and iconic hip hop lyrics and videos. Everywhere I go, I still see the numbers #24 #8 #23 #34 and lately a lot of #77. They say "We see what we want to see." I say “It’s true”.
For a little while, basketball wasn't the centre of my life anymore, but real ballers know that once you’ve fallen in love with the game, there ain't no turning back. Not that any of us would ever want to.
I remember the weekends we used to visit Barcelona with my boys... mostly tearing it up at night and hanging on the beach with cheap cans of beers.
No matter our (alleged) state, we always got a good glimpse of how much people love basketball over here in Barca. Locals and tourists casually wearing NBA jerseys all over the city, Jordans and Nikes on my feet and everyone else's. But above all, the local ballers have access to gorgeous basketball courts hidden all over the city..., by the beach, in most parks, and that all year long.
Sure there are outdoor basketball courts in most European cities, but the big difference in Barcelona is, that there will always be at least a couple of fellow ballers, and when it's not a couple... it'll be a few dozen.
Something you could maybe only find in basketball countries like Serbia or Lithuania over here in Europe.
Usually I would say I'm not the jealous type, but this dreamy Barcelona lifestyle and basketball scene got to me in some way and stayed in the back of my mind for years. Why would you not want to live in this city if you love ball...? And even if you don't. Living in Barcelona, under the sun, near the beach, seemed to me like the European version of living next to the iconic ball courts in Venice Beach, Los Angeles. Only it turned out to be even better.
I truly discovered Barcelona and its basketball scene when I finally moved here with my girl in the summer of 2021. Living in Barcelona wasn’t any longer a dream… and it didn't take me long to feel right at home. The same home of FC Barcelona, one of the best basketball clubs in Europe. It didn't take me long either to go watch a game at the Palau Blaugrana. What an unforgettable experience it was.
Thousands of basketball fans filled with all types of emotions, chanting their club songs all game long, admiring superstars like Nikola Mirotic and Nick Calathes. I remember being blown away by the IQ and skills of the 21 yo Lithuanian rising star Jokubaitis and the way they played so well together.
Real unselfish team basketball.
No spectacular shows, long timeouts, kiss cams or mascots fooling around. Just thousands of die hard basketball fans expecting their team to rise to the occasion.
Yeah... European basketball and especially its fans are different. Just ask Kevin Durant how he felt during the Final Four Olympiacos-Monaco game in Greece last month.
In just a few weeks time, I met dozens of ballers, and not just on the court, but also randomly off the court. Not something that would happen so easily elsewhere.
My ball entourage grew and people I met around the city knew about basketball. They also loved playing or talking about it (almost) as much as I do. It's just incredible to see how many boys and girls are dedicating their lives to the game in some way over here.
Young players training hours a day for a chance to go pro and coaches grinding away with them. Influencers and artists creating basketball content all over the city, freestylers, sneaker-heads, and so much more. Everyone helping each, pushing each other, connecting around their shared passion for the game.
I’m not the only basketball guy anymore.
We are many. And I'm lovin' it.
Over the years, I've picked up the habit to save every basketball court I pass by on Google Maps. You never know.
In Barcelona, you can truly have your pick. I was excited to finally explore and play on the courts I had heard so much about. The recently renovated courts of Poblenou, the iconic one by the beach in Barceloneta, the mecca of streetball at Sants, and more.
I'm not gonna lie. It can be a bit intimidating at first to see how good some of the local streetballers are and how hard they play, especially after not playing as often as I used to. I was ready to give it a shot though, my cardio wasn't.
To put in a few words, "streetball" is basically basketball played outside with a few different rules. It's usually 3 on 3, outdoors, and a bit more physical where you call your own fouls (if you dare). The rules may be somewhat different depending on the country, the city and even the court... but I can tell you, it takes some time getting used to if you're not. Streetball was never that big in the places where I grew up. We'd almost always play indoors in a club. Our coach would shut us up if we'd dispute a foul or talk too much. I’m starting to get the hang of it now though. You'd also be lucky to find a good outdoor court, and that is if the weather allows.
I'll never forget the reactions of my non baller friends when I invited them to come and watch the weekly Sunday afternoon pick up at the Barceloneta court. To say they were impressed would be an understatement. They had a somewhat nervous yet constant smile on their faces. They were in awe…, shocked by the tough plays, the attitude, the intense trash talking at times, the literal blood, sweat and tears. "No contact sport" they used to believe lol. It was the first time they witnessed the incredibly overwhelming energy and SWAG of local ballers, both on and off the court. And they loved it. Oh yeah... I'll use the word "swag" in 2022, cos there ain't no better word to describe a baller's fit and attitude. Just come and see.
"Community" is another word that I'd use to describe Barcelona’s streetball experience. Especially now that I've been playing more regularly around the local courts and really getting a good sense of it. You start to recognise more people, bond with people. You start to understand the different skillsets of ballers and recognise the legends that inspired them. You can just feel how ballers connect so easily over here, on and off the court.
A multi-cultural and fully functional family, with one love for the game.
Italians, Dominicans, Spanish, Filipino, French, Nigerians, Americans, a Belgian (yours truly) and more. You got the OGs of the court, the tourists, the pros, the regulars, the kids, the ballers that come from outside the city.
A melting pot of cultures, languages and skin colours. All there vibing to the blasting hip hop from the speakers. All there with the best sneakers. All there for the love of the game.
It's not just the sport. It's not just shooting a ball in a hoop. It's not just dribbling up and down the court. Basketball is a culture with awesome values and the best of people grinding to become an even better version of themselves. The Barcelona scene has shown me this over and over again. "Ball Inn" was the reason I moved to Barcelona. And I’m so glad I did. Now Barcelona and its ballers are inspiring me every day to continue building "Ball inn". And I’m so appreciative of the support.
My name is Mike and I'm a baller on a mission.
More kids in Europe should be able to grow up loving basketball. More ballers should be able to reconnect with their favourite game. More people should understand how amazing this game truly is.
I no longer dream about joining the NBA. I no longer feel like the the only basketball guy.
We are many. And more every day.
These days, I dream about the incredibly exciting journey ahead of us and contributing as much as we can to bring basketball to the next level in Europe. Where it belongs.
Until the next one. On & Off the Court
Peace. Mike
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