Six Basketball Stars, Six Different Styles
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Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming, Magic Johnson, Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama and Rui Hachimura show different ways to play basketball. We can compare their size, their jobs on the court, their playing styles, their countries and their times in the game.
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Text to type: Shaquille O'Neal, Yao Ming, Magic Johnson, Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama and Rui Hachimura show different ways to play basketball. We can compare their size, their jobs on the court, their playing styles, their countries and their times in the game.
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Before you begin
Warm-up
Do you like watching basketball?
What do you enjoy more, a powerful dunk or a long shot?
Would you like to be very tall?
Part 1: Shaquille O'Neal — Power Near the BasketReading
Part 1: Shaquille O'Neal — Power Near the Basket
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Text to type: Shaquille O'Neal, also called Shaq, is from the USA. He was a huge, strong center, 2.16 m tall. A center often plays close to the basket. Shaq used his power to dunk. A dunk means putting the ball down through the basket from above. He was a star in the 1990s and 2000s. He played for the Orlando Magic, then the Los Angeles Lakers, then the Miami Heat. With the Lakers, he won three titles in a row, from 2000 to 2002. He later entered the Hall of Fame, which honors great basketball people.
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Check your understanding
Check: Part 1: Shaquille O'Neal — Power Near the Basket
1. How did Shaq use his size near the basket?
Sample answer
Shaq used his large, strong body to make powerful dunks close to the basket.
Think one step further
Would you enjoy playing close to the basket?
Do you prefer powerful players or fast players?
How would you feel about being 2.16 m tall?
Reading
Part 2: Yao Ming — Great Height and a Soft Touch
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Text to type: Yao Ming is from Shanghai, China. At 2.29 m, he was even taller than Shaq. He was also a center, but power was not his only skill. He had a soft shooting touch. This means he could shoot the ball gently and with good control. In 2002, the Houston Rockets chose him first in the NBA Draft. The draft is how NBA teams choose new players. Yao helped make the NBA hugely popular in China. Foot and ankle injuries ended his career in 2011. His story shows that a very tall player can also be a careful shooter.
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Check your understanding
Check: Part 2: Yao Ming — Great Height and a Soft Touch
1. What made Yao different from a player who only used power?
Sample answer
Yao was very tall, but he also had a soft shooting touch and good control of the ball.
Think one step further
Would you rather learn a soft shot or a powerful dunk?
How would you feel about a player from your country joining the NBA?
What would you enjoy about watching a very tall player?
Part 3: Magic Johnson — A Tall Player Who Led the AttackReading
Part 3: Magic Johnson — A Tall Player Who Led the Attack
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Text to type: Magic Johnson is from the USA. He was a 2.06 m point guard, very tall for that job. A point guard leads the team's attack and passes the ball to other players. Unlike Shaq and Yao, Magic used his height in this leading role. His Los Angeles Lakers were famous in the 1980s for Showtime. This was a fast, exciting style with quick attacks, called fast breaks. Magic made no-look passes. He passed without looking at the player receiving the ball. He won five titles and won Olympic gold with the 1992 Dream Team.
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Check your understanding
Check: Part 3: Magic Johnson — A Tall Player Who Led the Attack
1. Why was Magic unusual for a point guard?
Sample answer
Magic was very tall for a point guard, and he used his passing skills to lead the team's attack.
Think one step further
Would you enjoy passing the ball to help a teammate score?
Do you like a fast game or a slower game?
Would you like to try a no-look pass?
Reading
Part 4: Stephen Curry — Big Results from Long Shots
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Text to type: Stephen Curry is a point guard from the USA. At only 1.88 m, he is small for the NBA. He has played for the Golden State Warriors since 2009. His special skill is the three-pointer, a shot from beyond the three-point line. It earns three points. Curry has made more three-pointers than anyone in NBA history. He changed how teams play: many now shoot far more threes. He has four titles and two MVP awards. MVP means Most Valuable Player. He won Olympic gold at Paris 2024. At 38, he is still playing, with a new deal through 2028–29.
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Check: Part 4: Stephen Curry — Big Results from Long Shots
1. How did Curry change the way teams play?
Sample answer
Curry's success with three-pointers helped change the game, and many teams now shoot far more threes.
Think one step further
Would you rather shoot from far away or close to the basket?
What do you like about watching a smaller player?
Would you like to keep playing a sport at 38?
Reading
Part 5: Victor Wembanyama — Height with Guard Skills
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Text to type: Victor Wembanyama is from France. He was born in 2004 and is 2.24 m tall. The San Antonio Spurs chose him first in the 2023 NBA Draft. He belongs to today's new era of basketball. He blocks shots like a center. A block stops another player's shot from reaching the basket. But he also dribbles and shoots three-pointers like a guard. Dribbling means moving with the ball while bouncing it. His skills bring different roles together. He won Defensive Player of the Year for 2025–26, an award for the best player at stopping the other team.
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Check: Part 5: Victor Wembanyama — Height with Guard Skills
1. How does Wembanyama bring different playing roles together?
Sample answer
Wembanyama blocks shots like a center, but he also dribbles and shoots three-pointers like a guard.
Think one step further
Would you rather block a shot or make a three-pointer?
Which of Wembanyama's skills would you like to learn?
Do you enjoy watching young players develop?
Part 6: Rui Hachimura — A Japanese Forward and ShooterReading
Part 6: Rui Hachimura — A Japanese Forward and Shooter
Typing practice
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Text to type: Rui Hachimura is from Toyama, Japan. He is 2.03 m tall and plays forward. A forward can help near the basket and farther away. Rui is a good shooter, so shooting is an important part of his game. He played college basketball at Gonzaga University in the USA. In 2019, the Washington Wizards chose him in the NBA Draft. He became the first Japanese player chosen in the first round. He later played for the Los Angeles Lakers. Since July 2026, he has been with the Los Angeles Clippers. His path connects Japanese basketball with today's NBA.
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Check: Part 6: Rui Hachimura — A Japanese Forward and Shooter
1. What was special about Hachimura's selection in 2019?
Sample answer
Hachimura became the first Japanese player chosen in the first round of the NBA Draft.
Think one step further
Would you like to watch Hachimura play?
Would you enjoy studying and playing a sport in another country?
Which would you like to improve, shooting or passing?
What you can do now
Final Reflection
Think about all six players, from Shaq's power and Yao's soft touch to Magic's passing, Curry's long shots, Wembanyama's mixed skills and Rui's shooting. Which style would you most like to try, and why?
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Six Basketball Stars, Six Different Styles
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Part 1: Shaquille O'Neal — Power Near the Basket
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Part 2: Yao Ming — Great Height and a Soft Touch
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Part 3: Magic Johnson — A Tall Player Who Led the Attack
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Part 4: Stephen Curry — Big Results from Long Shots
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Part 5: Victor Wembanyama — Height with Guard Skills
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Part 6: Rui Hachimura — A Japanese Forward and Shooter
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