Basketball is the focal point of Foul Trouble. The story’s reliance on the sport plants the book firmly within the sports fiction genre, and the influence and pressures of the sport infiltrate every aspect of the players’ lives. From their family to their girlfriends to their futures, Danny, Terrell, and the other players are affected by basketball and the attention it brings. For Danny, his relationship with his dad is tied up in the sport since his dad is also his coach. Whether on or off the court, Danny and his dad are both a family and a team, and this puts a strain on their relationship. Likewise, Terrell’s decisions about his future affect both his mom and his relationship with his girlfriend. Although both women want what is best for Terrell, they also hold strong opinions about this topic. Terrell therefore struggles to be true to himself while doing what is best for the people he loves. Thus, basketball profoundly affects both his relationships and his identity.

Basketball also highlights The Unfairness of Subjective Value Judgments, becoming a metaphor for the fact that not all players on the team are created or treated equally, for different positions on the team come with different levels of responsibility.