Brooklyn Nets honor 12-year-old basketball player with cerebral palsy with All-Star Award

Honoring a young inspiration and remarkable basketball fanatic in Brooklyn.

Before their game against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday, April 2, the Brooklyn Nets honored 12-year-old Marina Pellicciari with the team’s All Star Award presented by the Hospital for Special Surgery.

With the award, the Nets organization recognizes junior high school basketball players within the Tri-State area who demonstrate grit, determination, and a desire to succeed both on the court and in the classroom.

Pellicciari, a New Jersey native who attends the Eric Smith School and is battling cerebral palsy, was presented with a $2,500 grant for the school’s athletic program and a trophy center court of Barclays Center right before tip off.

The moment meant a lot to Pellicciari who just two years ago underwent selective dorsal rhizotomy, a procedure that treats muscle spasticity caused by abnormal communication between the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.

“It feels great,” she said. “I’m very honored and grateful that the Nets gave me this award. I’m very grateful. I was very surprised and happy that I won the contest because I get to give the grant to my school for them to use.”

The basketball player, who has met all-time NBA greats such as Kobe Bryant, explained her physical struggles and how she’s been able to overcome them. Because of the cerebral palsy, she said, “My muscles tighten when they’re supposed to relax so it’s really hard for me to walk and I’ve gone through a lot,” she said. “I’ve persevered. I train. I go through physical therapy. It feels rewarding. I am very grateful that a lot of people have helped me along the way.”

The surgery was just one of many obstacles Pellicciari’s overcome. “Once I got through it all, I felt very proud of myself,” she said. “It helped me with playing basketball. It helped the way I run and the way I look at things differently from a basketball perspective.”

Marina’s mother Andrea was on hand in Brooklyn to watch her daughter receive the prestigious award. “I am beyond proud,” she said. “It means a lot that hard work is still recognized. She could see for herself that having a goal and achieving it is awesome. She has that lesson for the future and it will serve her so well down the road.”

She also discussed her daughter’s impressive recovery post surgery. “She’s been amazing,” she added. “She was pretty much in constant pain, no matter what she was doing, and we couldn’t stop it. Since the surgery, I could count on one hand the amount of times that she’s complained and really it’s been the result of muscle strengthening versus muscle tightness which is what it was before.Our whole family is really grateful. It’s just so nice for her to be recognized by the sport she loves more than anything.”

Her skills on the court have also improved. The young hoopster wasn’t supposed to be back until this season but she made such a good recovery that the team let her play last season.

This was her third time at Barclays and may have been her favorite visit yet. “I really like it here. I think it’s a really cool place and it’s fun to be here,” she said. “My favorite player is Jeremy Lin. He talked to me and it was great. He told me to keep going and never give up.”