Please, somebody clarify!!

Rating: Null/10 (20 September 2003)

I saw this movie at the theater when it came out, and must have seen it 20 times since. Sorry, but it is perhaps the greatest basketball film ever! I now own it on dvd. In the first seen where the coach first meets the players, Buddy (one of the players) walks out of practice, apparently for good. About half way into the movie, after several games, Buddy is suddenly on the team again. His return was never explained. Am I the only one that has noticed, or did I miss something????