Summer Ball

After the game, Danny finds out someone broke Tess’s camera, and he immediately suspects Lamar. Tess asks Danny why Lamar would be so mean and Danny tells her “‘[b]ullies do stuff like this because they can. They do it even if they’re as good at something as Lamar is at basketball’” (193). Danny comforts Tess; Lamar then taunts Danny about the camera as Danny practices, but Danny remembers his mother’s advice to not engage with a bully like Lamar. 

Danny tells Jeff LeBow about the camera; Lamar denies breaking the camera. Moreover, Lamar threatens to go to another elite basketball camp after these accusations. LeBow appeases him, telling Danny, “‘Fortunately, I got him calmed down’” (197). Upset, Danny urges LeBow to see Lamar for what he is, a bully, and “‘[a]nother guy in sports who’s a great player and a bad guy’” (198). LeBow, however, chooses to side with Lamar, given Lamar’s immense talent.

During a morning workout, Ty reminds Danny that taller guys have to worry about playing shorter guys, too. He tells Danny that once the ball comes down, he worries someone like Danny will take the ball from him. As the two practice, Danny focuses on getting at the ball before Ty (or someone of Ty’s height) can shoot above Danny’s head.