Foul Trouble

Danny is one of the two protagonists and point-of-view characters in Foul Trouble. Danny plays the position of point guard, meaning that he controls his team’s offensive strategy by making sure that the ball gets to the right person at the right time. Because of this tactical responsibility, Danny is less concerned with making impressive shots or showing off. Instead, his game is “about practice, determination, and smarts” (3). This pattern also reflects the fact that Danny is the coach’s son and therefore has a more academic understanding of basketball and teamwork. Point guards are often the shortest players on the team and typically make more assists (passing the ball to someone else to shoot) than baskets. Because Terrell is the star player on Danny’s team, much of Danny’s efforts on the court and beyond involve supporting Terrell. From the first moment that recruiters, brand representatives, and colleges start hounding Terrell, Danny becomes Terrell’s unofficial protector and steps in to get Terrell out of tough situations. He also defends Terrell from potentially dangerous encounters. As a result, Danny often gets labeled as a guard dog or an annoying sidekick by those looking to use Terrell.