Nets center Mason Plumlee “Gets the Ball Rolling” in fitness initiative

Keeping a balanced lifestyle was the message as the Brooklyn Nets and Coca-Cola partnered up again for the ‘Get the Ball Rolling’ initiative, an event that teaches children how to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Nets center Mason Plumlee was on hand along with Borough President Eric Adams on Thursday, March 19 at Barclay Center as they spoke to 45 children from the New York Police Athletic League’s Armory Center about the importance of being fit.

Plumlee discussed with the young fans the importance of taking advantage of their youth. “This is the best time of your life to enjoy an active lifestyle,” said Plumlee. “Trust me, there’s no more free time you have than when you’re a kid. I would encourage you guys to try all the sports, see what you’re good at and not as good at, and challenge yourself to try everything. Because there will come a point when you’re in your twenties when it’s not an option to go out and throw a football around with your buddies or learn how to swim or play soccer because you’ll have real life obligations.”

He also explained that it’s good to try everything, even if you don’t excel at it. “I look back and I don’t have any regrets because I tried everything,” he noted. “I wasn’t good at a lot of things. I was the worst football player. I wasn’t good at tennis but I had fun trying.”

The children were then allowed to ask the rising Nets star any question they wanted, which varied from how many points he scores per game to what his shoe size is. The kids were astonished to find out he wears a size 18 sneaker.

Once the question and answer session concluded, the young athletes and Plumlee made their way to the arena’s practice court. They performed various drills that included running, lay-ups, free throws and defense.

Through the drills, the children also learned the importance of working together. “Teamwork and being on a team is a great way to develop relationships and you learn people skills that will carry you forward,” said Plumlee. “Those are skills that apply even after sports. They apply in the workplace and college.”

Adams also touched on the importance of event. “You’re going to realize that what [Plumlee] shared with you, you will use it later because it’s about being healthy and knowing if you could put a ball through the hoop and you could wear a black robe on the Supreme Court,” he said. “It’s about making sure you have a balanced lifestyle, being active, eating right, living right and taking care of your body.”

“All things come with finding a passion,” said Plumlee. “It doesn’t have to be sports. Instruments, school, whatever it is, if you find something and fall in love with it, I would encourage you to pursue that and the reason I say try everything at your age is because you may not know what it is yet and that’s okay. Passion could take you to great places.”