“The ability to recover  
gets harder  
the older you get.” 
Buster Posey

My youngest son, Brendan, had a dream. So in March 2024, he made the decision to quit his job and venture into the world of entrepreneurship. He created True Form Basketball, a program that provides individual and group instruction on the fundamentals of basketball. The program also focuses on sharing values — teamwork, hard work, commitment, self-discipline, courage, integrity, confidence, respect, and overcoming obstacles. 

Just as things were getting started, Brendan experienced his first major obstacle. I saw a video of Brendan playing basketball on a Friday morning in May 2024 in the gym at 24-Hour Fitness in San José. As had been the case since his earliest days of playing hoops, he looked like a gazelle. His movements were smooth, determined, and powerful. Little did he know, at that time, that while playing the following Monday, he would rupture the patellar tendon in his left leg during a workout. He had surgery the following day.

While he was certainly disappointed with the situation, Brendan was determined to get well and return to coaching. It was slow-going at first, but little by little, his commitment to the rehab program was impressive. In fact, because he was in such good shape going into the surgery, the pace of his recovery surprised even his doctor and physical therapist. By August, Brendan was back on the court.

I was proud of him. Brendan attributed his positive attitude to his respect for Kobe Bryant, who sustained a serious injury himself during his career. Bryant had said, “Everything negative — pressure, challenges — is all an opportunity for me to rise.” He did, and so did Brendan.

By October 2024, things were looking up for Brendan’s business. He had a number of clients ranging from a fourth grader to a Division 1 high school basketball player. He was also coaching several adults, people who just wanted to improve their game. Then it happened again.

In November 2024, during another game, the patellar tendon in Brendan’s other knee ruptured. Same injury, different leg. The next day, the same surgery at the same hospital. The medical team at Regional Medical Center welcomed him back warmly. 

It would have been easy to understand if Brendan had decided to give up the dream. The thought of several more months of recovery was daunting, but again, Brendan’s attitude reflected the “Mamba mentality” of Kobe Bryant. Little by little, one day at a time, Brendan put in the work. As Bryant had once said, “It’s a long journey, but if you focus on the mini milestones along the way, you will find beauty in the struggle of doing simple things that prior to this injury were taken for granted.”

Now it’s early October 2026. Brendan is, once again, a specimen of health, but he doesn’t take it for granted. He continues to work out daily and to challenge himself to keep his legs strong by stretching and resistance training, enabling him to provide outstanding guidance to his clients. 

Brendan never gave up, and this inspires me. I’m not sure I would have had the courage and persistence to keep going. Yes, Brendan is getting a little older, but he is committed to keeping himself in excellent physical condition and continuing his journey of True Form Basketball.