For VICE Sports, I wrote about the complex and changing hoop ecosystem at the Drew League. What responsibility does a pro-am league that meets in South Central LA have to stay local as business takes off? And for the Jewish Journal, I considered one aspect of coaching bar mitzvah-aged kids at the JCC Maccabi Games. When does a Modern Orthodox … Continue reading Two new things.
Superman, Looking For Work: On Dwight Howard’s 2016 Free Agency
For VICE Sports, I wrote about rehoming Dwight Howard, who has plenty of basketball left. I couldn't fit this anywhere in the article, but Dwight has my favorite dunk contest dunk of the last ten years. I like it because it's relatively obscure, but also because it's one of the most original prop-free dunks -- with no … Continue reading Superman, Looking For Work: On Dwight Howard’s 2016 Free Agency
A conversation with Josh Jackson, who’s ready to break out at Kansas
I was never hyped up as the best high school basketball player in the country, and I also didn't play high school basketball beyond our intramural leagues, so a disproportionate amount of what I've gleaned about life as a top recruit comes from watching He Got Game. I asked Josh Jackson how far off I was, and some other … Continue reading A conversation with Josh Jackson, who’s ready to break out at Kansas
The Cavs’ Championship Parade Was Also a Celebration of Black Bodies
1.3 million people showed up at the biggest party the state of Ohio has ever seen to celebrate LeBron James and his band of Cavaliers, who together brought Cleveland its first championship in 52 years. It looked like fun: Kevin Love had WWE title belts slung over both shoulders, Kyrie Irving flung his strapback into the crowd as it roared in adulation, and … Continue reading The Cavs’ Championship Parade Was Also a Celebration of Black Bodies
“The corner three is the most sickening shot in basketball”: Talking to Jimmy Goldstein, NBA Godfather
The first basketball game I ever went to was an otherwise meaningless January tilt between the Seattle Supersonics and the Los Angeles Clippers. Of that game, I remember two things: a buzzer-beating Gary Payton dunk sending the game to overtime (it was almost definitely Desmond Mason who actually did this, but Payton is what I remember), … Continue reading “The corner three is the most sickening shot in basketball”: Talking to Jimmy Goldstein, NBA Godfather
The Clippers’ Lark, Descending
Before the Clippers' last home game of the 2015-2016 season, I went to their locker room and found surprisingly good vibes. Then they lost the next two games and met elimination, and I wrote about their revelation, which came necessarily late.
No Peers, No Heirs: Kobe At the End of the Road
Kobe's last game was the biggest LA moment since the OJ chase. Earlier that day, I wrote about his essential loneliness for VICE Sports.
Ball Is Life: How Three High Flying Brothers Led America’s Top High School Hoops Team
I wrote about the Ball brothers and the undefeated national champion Chino Hills Huskies for VICE Sports. Reporting on this team was really fun, but I wound up getting my ass kicked by LaMelo and Okongwu in horse, which was more than I bargained for. I'm guaranteeing victory in the rematch right here, on this website, which many people … Continue reading Ball Is Life: How Three High Flying Brothers Led America’s Top High School Hoops Team
In Praise of the Giannis Antetokounmpo Point Guard Experience
When I was reporting my first article on the Bucks, Mike Smith, who does color commentary on Clipper broadcasts, pulled me aside in the tunnel before tipoff. "How do you pronounce Giannis's last name?" he asked me. "Ahn-te-to-koom-po?" Yeah, that's fine, I told him. "It's actually more like Ah-detto-koom-bo, but the way you said it will … Continue reading In Praise of the Giannis Antetokounmpo Point Guard Experience
J.J. Redick’s Renaissance of Repetition
For VICE Sports, I wrote about J.J. Redick, supremely watchable but wholly unrelatable. I made some .gifs for this. Here's one that I liked, but didn't make the cut:
Louis Keene 