COM Outlook Winter 2020

18 | DR. KIRAN C. PATEL COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE In 1996, second-year stu- dent Alex Nikolic experienced a life-changing event when he saw the basketball film Space Jam . Although he never had the slightest interest in sports until that time, the film awakened something in him. Emboldened by his new pursuit, Nikolic, who was born and raised in Belgrade, Serbia, decided to join his school’s basketball team, even though he had never even touched a basketball. After an initial practice session, the coach requested a formal meeting with Nikolic’s parents to discuss their son’s noticeable lack of skills. “The coach didn’t understand how a seven-year-old, who had never even picked up a basketball in his life, was suddenly partici- pating in his first team practice— although he did recognize my determined character,” Nikolic recalled. Despite his lack of experience, Nikolic remained on the team. Because of his innate talent and unimpeachable work ethic, Nikolic became the best player on his school’s team within a few years. As his on-court heroics burgeoned, so did the likelihood of a professional basket- ball career. “My father recognized my hard work, dedication, and talent and wanted to support me in my ambition to become a professional player,” Nikolic explained. “His only condition was that I acquire a college degree. Because of the European club system, this wasn’t achievable, so he suggested that the United States would be the best place to make this happen. Thus, in seventh grade, he took me to a summer basketball camp at the IMG Academy in Braden- ton, Florida.” Living the Dream The sprawling academy, which serves as a boarding school for talented children who display aptitude in sports such as baseball, basketball, soccer, and tennis, proved to be a natural fit given Nikolic’s academic and athletic abilities. “After my first week there, the coaches approached my father with a scholarship offer. We both decided that attending high school at the academy would be ideal, so I moved to Bradenton in 2007.” It was a heady time for Nikolic, who lived in a dorm, spent four hours in school each day, and trained for an additional four or five hours when classes ended. “Our team traveled to basketball tournaments all over the United States, and I was able to meet people from all over the world,” said Nikolic, who savored his time at the academy. As he began his junior year, Nikolic’s basketball future seemed exceedingly bright. “Due to my playing style and my excellent GPA, several Ivy League schools were already showing interest in recruiting me,” he said. Fate, however, can often be cruel. During one of his practice sessions, Nikolic endured what would become a career-ending injury. “I shattered my L5/S1 disk during a scrimmage and ended up with muscle spasms and minor nerve damage,” he said. “I was not aware of how serious the injury was, nor that it was about to completely change my life.” In an instant, Nikolic’s life took a dark turn. Dreams of basketball glory and attending an Ivy League college gave way to grueling therapies that did little to alleviate the pain or heal the injury. In the midst of his BASKETBALL DREAMS MORPH INTO MEDICAL MOTIVATION BY SCOTT COLTON, B.A., APR Net the Difference (continued on page 20)