From Nerf Hoops to NBA Glory…
Once upon a (not so long) time, in a land not far away (considering the size of the universe), little Sam Hauser was taught by Mom and Dad that chasing victories was nobler than counting stats. Forget buckets, buddy. Just rack up the wins!
Fast forward, and this mentality has Sam bombarding NBA hoops with three-pointers like nobody’s business. His mom, Stephanie, isn’t the least bit surprised. This life lesson has been repeated more times than old dad jokes at family reunions: Conquer the game, not the box score. Which probably explains why Sam recently made Trail Blazers wish they screwed the lids back on their baskets.
Stephanie recalls, even as a toddler, Sam was obsessed with hoops. “Me shooty!” he babbled, more articulate than Shakespeare — at age two. Fast forward through high school heroics, college switcheroos, and Tony Bennett pep talks, and it’s crystal clear: Sam was destined to shoot the lights out… even if he was once called a “bad defender.” (Mom laughed that one off faster than a popcorn kernel in a microwave.)
So, kids, next time you worry about your stats, remember: Sam Hauser didn’t. Instead, he made “team player” cooler than ice-cream sundaes on a sunny day.
