Seven essays that go beyond the box score.
NBA
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Making of Dwyane Wade
“The Hall of Famer reached the highest heights of the basketball world. Now he’s figuring out the type of man and father he wants to be.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Wild West of NBA Jump Balls
“Basketball’s most iconic tradition is also one of its oldest and most curious events, characterized by the same foggy rule interpretations, quirky styles, and chicanery as the first jump balls ever tossed.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
“Then the Alligators Got Him”: Inside Ja Morant’s 18-Month Downfall
“It is a period in which a 22-year-old rising superstar struggling with the excesses of fame has become a 24-year-old man whose actions are jeopardizing his career.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Shams Charania’s Scoop Dreams
“Shams Charania tweeted his way to the top of the NBA reporting world. He might be the future of sports journalism.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
A Car Ride and a Game 7 Loss That Activated Nikola Jokic Into an MVP
“For years, Jokic had been told … that he needed to get in better condition if he wanted to succeed in the NBA. But now it was coming from within.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
How a Ticket from Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls Debut Became Priceless
“Every ticket can tell you a story. I’m someone who’s about relationships and experiences. And that’s what tickets are to me.”
Posted inCuration, Nonfiction, Top 5
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, our editors recommend stories by Eric Borsuk, Aaron Gell, Laurie Penny, Hanif Abdurraqib, and Will Rees.
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Magic of Summer Basketball
“I am someone who grew up in a city without an NBA team.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Art of Passing
“When their heads are right, the best passers are the good-vibes guys of the league. Joy curators. Misters Congeniality. They make you happy. They let you touch the ball. They trust you. They think you’re good enough. They think you can help. Some combination of stunt-person, illusionist, actor, detective, and circus performer. They raise the […]