Do you remember that time in high school you interviewed Shaq and were on the cover of Sports Illustrated Kids with him? Me neither. But author Amar Shah does! And lucky for us, he chronicles the ups and downs of this experience in his latest book. I caught up with Amar to learn more:
Me: Congratulations on your inspiring new book, WISH I WAS A BALLER (Scholastic Graphix, August 2025)! What made you decide to turn this notable part of your early life into a graphic memoir?
Amar: Very rarely does a short Indian kid with glasses get a chance to be friends with the most popular athlete on the planet. But that’s exactly what happened to me when I was 14 or 15 years old. I suddenly found myself interviewing some of the greatest basketball players of all time, including Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kobe Bryant.
I still remember clutching my first press pass, half convinced someone would stop me and say I didn’t belong. The truth is, I often felt like an outsider. But those experiences, being nervous, being excited, being completely in awe, showed me that even the most unlikely dreams are possible.
Looking back now, I realize that year, 1995 into 1996, shaped the rest of my life. It gave me the foundation for a career in sports media as a producer, editor, and executive. But it wasn’t just about the big moments. I also wanted to capture the normal things every teenager goes through: friendships drifting apart, crushes that never panned out, learning who you are, and in my case, discovering what it meant to be a writer.
In some ways, it reminds me of Cameron Crowe in Almost Famous, how his time covering rock and roll in the 70s defined him. For me, that sophomore year of high school was the same. And I wanted today’s kids to know that even if you feel like an outsider, incredible doors can open if you keep chasing your passions.
It’s been more than a decade in the making. I actually started with an essay for ESPN when Shaquille O’Neal retired, but I knew there was a bigger story than just one piece. This book became my way of finally telling it.
Me: High school is a time of high highs and low lows. Your successes were public, and you could have easily left it at that. But you don’t shy away from depicting the awkward and painful parts of your journey. What was it like revisiting these years and putting it on the page for all to see?
Amar: It was definitely a mix of emotions opening up this chapter of my life. Of course there were incredible highlights, like meeting Michael Jordan and covering NBA games, but diving deeper meant revisiting moments that were awkward or painful. I still had all my high school newspapers, yearbooks, and journals, and looking through them felt like ripping off old bandages that had been sealed for years.
Some memories were joyful, but others were tough. That time in life can feel brutal. Who you sit with at the lunch table, whether you are included or not, can feel like everything. I wrote about having a crush I knew probably wasn’t going anywhere, about friendships that hit rocky times, and even about the hidden message that was published about me in the school paper. That one was especially hard to relive.
But I knew the story needed to be authentic. I didn’t want to write a highlight reel. I wanted to show that even with the exciting moments, I was also just a teenager dealing with the same struggles so many kids go through. Writing this book felt like opening jars of spices that had been sealed for years. When you open them, the scent brings back all the sweetness, the bitterness, and everything in between.
In the end, going back to those memories helped me appreciate how much I grew from them. The painful parts shaped me just as much as the highlights did. And I hope kids reading my story realize that the tough moments they are going through now are not just obstacles, but part of the journey that will shape who they become. Even when you feel left out or uncertain, those experiences can someday become part of a bigger story you are proud to tell.
Me: Both sports and the arts bring out many dreams, but getting to live those dreams is another matter. What do you say to kids who struggle to find their passions or can’t seem to get past the obstacles?
Amar: In some ways, I’m still figuring out what I want to be when I grow up. I’ve had the chance to live many dreams. Even though I wasn’t an athlete, I got to cover Super Bowls, NBA All-Star Games, and interview players I grew up idolizing. But I’ll be honest — I still sometimes wish I could have been an NBA player.
What I’ve learned is that we are often the ones who get in our own way. We put up stop signs for ourselves instead of believing we can get past the obstacles. It’s easy to fall into a scarcity mindset, thinking there’s not enough opportunity, not enough talent, not enough luck. But I think you have to have an audacious belief in yourself. Not arrogance or conceit, but the willingness to say, “I’m not going to take no for an answer.”
That means making the phone call, sending the follow-up, showing up again and again. I knew at a young age where I wanted to be, and it took persistence more than anything else. You may not get there today, or even tomorrow, but if you keep chasing what you love, eventually doors will open.
Me: Rashad Doucet’s artwork brings great energy and vitality to your book! Authors and illustrators are often kept at arm’s length, but I know if I was illustrating a memoir like this I’d want access to as much source material as possible. How was Rashad brought on board and what, if any, was your role in collaborating with him?
Amar: This is such a great question because collaboration in graphic novels can look very different. Sometimes the writer and illustrator never even meet. A writer turns in the script, and the illustrator works separately. Other times, one person does both.
In my case, I was incredibly lucky. My agent, Jas Perry, had the idea to turn Wish I Was a Baller into a middle grade graphic novel after my original version, a young adult memoir, didn’t sell. She knew this story deserved to be told, and she also knew the perfect illustrator to pair me with: Rashad Doucet.
From the start, Rashad and I clicked. We were about the same age, with the same cultural reference points, and we spoke the same creative language. I like to say we were like Andre 3000 and Big Boi, or Eric B. and Rakim, two different artists who came together to make something bigger than ourselves.
I trusted Rashad completely. I didn’t feel the need to micromanage because I knew he would bring energy and heart to the story. When he needed feedback, I was there, but most of the time the magic happened because he’s just awesome at what he does. And that trust created something special.
I give Jas full credit for putting us together, because what Rashad brought to the page elevated the entire book. It’s been one of the best collaborations of my career, and we are already planning to work together again.
Me: How did you get into writing books for kids?
Amar: I knew I wanted to be a writer back in fifth grade after reading Matt Christopher’s sports books and Judy Blume, especially Superfudge and Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Those books lit a fire in me.
But it wasn’t until I had my own kids that I really started writing for young readers. Honestly, I didn’t set out to write for kids. It just turned out to be the perfect voice for me. For me, the ages of 10 to 17 were when I felt life the most. The emotions, the friendships, the heartbreaks, the small victories, everything felt so sharp, like those seismic vibrations Nick talks about in The Great Gatsby.
When I started Wish I Was a Baller, I knew I could capture what it truly felt like to be that age. Then Scholastic gave me the chance to write a sports series about a middle schooler who plays basketball, and I poured in everything from my own experiences: the rejections, the hopes, the excitement, all of it.
I found inspiration both from my kids and from the 15-year-old version of myself. That combination helped me create characters who felt real and relatable. I love writing for this age group because those years are some of the most important and formative. The experiences you have then shape the person you grow into. My goal is to tell stories that kids not only want to read but need to read, because there isn’t nearly enough out there for them.
Me: Can you share what you’re working on next?
Amar: Rashad and I are already collaborating on another middle grade graphic novel project, which I’m really excited about. I’m also working on my first adult novel set in the world of sports, a story that has been in the back of my mind for a long time.
On top of that, I’m co-writing another middle grade novel with a close friend that focuses on a different sport. And I’m finishing revisions on a young adult fantasy that takes place in the here and now. It’s a reimagining of a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Me: Wow, lots to look forward to! Thank you so much for chatting, Amar. Wishing your book much success!
To learn more, please go to Home | Amar Shah Writes.
May 1996 Sports Illustrated for Kids Cover:
Orlando Magic Shaquille O’Neal (32) holding up SI Kids reporter Amar Shah
CREDIT: Andrew Erbelding
do you have a picture with you and MJ