Basketball is a recurring motif that serves as the primary arena for testing the boys’ friendship, self-worth, and differing values. On the basketball court, the social hierarchies of middle school reign supreme, influencing the boys’ actions more surely than the millions still lurking unspent in their bank account. For Felix, the game is a source of confidence and enjoyment, but Benji’s lack of prowess on the court represents the crushing weight of his parents’ expectations, exacerbating his deep-seated feelings of inadequacy. 

The boys’ dynamic on the court also charts the health of their partnership. Initially, Benji picks Felix as a partner in open gym, calling him “buddy” and signaling their burgeoning friendship. However, during the high-stakes tryouts, Felix chooses a more skilled player as his partner in order to improve his own chances of making the team. When the narrative notes that “Benji was surprised—and hurt” (190), this moment marks the most significant fracture in their friendship. The conflict on the court demonstrates that sudden wealth cannot erase the boys’ pre-existing anxieties or automatically fortify their friendship; instead, the very presence of the money intensifies the pressures that threaten to pull the boys apart.