Eddie is an 11-year-old boy living in a trailer park with his single mother. He has natural basketball talent but frequently misses his shots when faced with distractions or performance pressure. Motivated by his family's severe financial struggles after his father's passing, he enters a high-stakes shooting contest to improve their situation.

Mr. Finkle is the wealthy, short, and bald owner of Finkle Foods, the town's largest employer. Despite advertising his snack products with a wholesome origin story, he pays his factory workers low wages and dismisses them without hesitation. He views the million-dollar contest as a cheap publicity stunt to boost his declining business revenue.

Annie is a highly intelligent and observant girl who forms a fast bond with Eddie after moving into his trailer park. She loves reading poetry and possesses incredible basketball skills, honed through patient practice rather than showmanship. She provides grounding advice to Eddie and helps him write the winning poem required to enter the Finkle Foods contest.

Annie's dad is a former college athlete who lost his opportunity to join the NBA due to youthful overconfidence. He currently lives in the trailer park with his daughter and faces unemployment after being laid off from the local factory. Understanding the mechanics of basketball and the importance of focus, he steps in to train Eddie for the contest.

Eddie's mom is a hardworking single parent doing her best to support her son. She works at the local snack factory to slowly pay down the extensive medical debts left behind by her late husband. Her abrupt firing leaves the family in a precarious financial state, motivating her son to take drastic action.

Eddie's dad passed away from cancer a year before the events of the story. He shared a strong bond with his son over their mutual love of sports and basketball. His absence creates a lasting emotional impact on the family, leaving them with heavy debts but also warm memories.