Is 'Hard Work Always Pays Off' Just a Myth? The Hidden Cost of Black Guard Talent in NBA Trade Wars

The Court That Never Showed Up

I still remember the alleyway where Jalen Green played—no scout came, no headline followed. Just sweat on cracked asphalt at midnight, the kind of game they don’t teach in textbooks. He didn’t wear a number because he wasn’t wanted; he was just one more name in a long line of forgotten boys. His story wasn’t traded—it was buried under press releases and salary caps.

The System That Refuses to See You

When Phoenix traded for Durant, nobody asked if Jalen Green was worth the pick. The Suns said no—not because he wasn’t good enough, but because systems weren’t built for kids like him. They want stars with numbers that shine—but only if they fit neatly into marketing slides and brand deals. Meanwhile, Jalen shot his heart out on courts where opportunity was never traded—only remembered by those who stayed.

The Quiet Revolution

I grew up with my father—a schoolteacher—who taught me that fairness isn’t bought from highlights; it’s earned from midnight practices and silent grit. Every time a young Black guard lingers on the bench while the league watches elsewhere—we’re not talking about talent. We’re talking about whose dreams get erased when money moves.

This is why I write—not to sell stories—but to let someone know: You can work harder than anyone else… and still be invisible. And yet—you’ll still be here tomorrow.