I still remember the first time I saw John Apacible play basketball—it was during the 2018 regional championships, and his team was down by 12 points with just four minutes left on the clock. The energy in the gym was electric, but you could feel the tension among his teammates. That’s when John took over. He scored 14 points in those final minutes, including a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer. It was one of those moments that made you realize why people say, "To be the champs, you got to beat the champs." John wasn’t just a player; he was the embodiment of that mindset.
John’s journey into basketball wasn’t exactly a straight path. Growing up in a neighborhood where soccer was the dominant sport, he didn’t even pick up a basketball until he was 13. But once he did, there was no looking back. I’ve always admired how he turned what many saw as a late start into an advantage. While other kids were burning out from years of intense training, John brought a fresh perspective and relentless hunger to the game. By the time he was 16, he was already averaging 22 points per game in local youth leagues. His high school coach once told me that John’s work ethic was something else—he’d stay after practice for hours, perfecting his jump shot until his arms were sore. That dedication paid off when he earned a scholarship to play college ball, a moment he describes as the turning point in his life.
One thing that stands out about John’s career is how he’s always embraced challenges. I mean, think about it: when he joined the collegiate league, his team was ranked seventh in their conference. Most people wrote them off, but John saw it as an opportunity. He’d often say, "If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best," and he lived by those words. In his sophomore year, his team faced the defending champions, who hadn’t lost a game in 18 months. John dropped 31 points that night, leading his team to an upset victory that nobody saw coming. It wasn’t just about the numbers—though his stats were impressive—it was the way he carried himself. Calm under pressure, fierce in competition, and always with a clear focus on the bigger picture.
Of course, no career is without its setbacks, and John’s was no exception. During his third year in the pros, he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for nearly eight months. I remember talking to him during his recovery, and he was surprisingly upbeat. "This is just another champion I have to beat," he told me, referring not to an opponent but to the obstacle itself. That resilience is something I’ve always respected about him. He didn’t just sit around waiting to heal; he used the time to study game footage, improve his mental toughness, and even mentor younger players. When he returned to the court, he came back stronger, averaging 18.5 points and 7 assists per game in his first season back.
What I find most inspiring about John’s story is how he’s managed to stay grounded despite his success. He’s not one of those athletes who’s all about the spotlight. I’ve seen him after games, spending time with fans, especially kids, and sharing stories about his own struggles. He once told a group of aspiring players, "You don’t become a champion by waiting for your turn. You become a champion by taking it." That’s the kind of mindset that has defined his career. Whether it’s a regular-season game or a championship final, John approaches every match with the same intensity.
Looking back at his career highlights, it’s hard to pick just one moment that stands out. There was the time he scored a career-high 44 points in the 2021 playoffs, or when he led his team to back-to-back championship wins in 2022 and 2023. But for me, it’s the smaller moments that really capture his essence. Like the way he celebrates his teammates’ successes as if they were his own, or how he never shies away from giving credit to his coaches and support staff. John Apacible isn’t just a great basketball player; he’s a testament to what it means to chase greatness relentlessly. And as he often says, if you want to be the champs, you’ve got to beat the champs—and John has spent his entire career doing exactly that.
