CATEGORIES

The SUMMER THAT WASN'T

Playground entry fences chain locked. Rims removed. Leagues canceled. Summer basketball just stopped in 2020. And as its effects extended beyond the blacktop, we were reminded why it's so important.

METAMORPHOSIS

The sport of basketball speaks to so many people in so many ways. Dan Peterson, the founder of Project Backboard, has teamed up with artists to use the beauty of the sport to turn local courts into works of art that are accessible to all.

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE, THERE'S Fire

For former No. 1 pick Deandre Ayton, the last three years have had their ups and downs. Now that he and the Phoenix Suns are back on the way up, DA wants everyone to know that's where they're planning to stay.

Now What?

As North Carolina rapper J. Cole transitioned from up-and-comer to full-blown vet, he came to a realization: staying sharp and fighting off complacency ain't easy. Inspired by his love for basketball and his desire to remain on top of the game, the 36-year-old has been treating music like a competitive sport while he readies his next project: The Off-Season.

ONE STEP AT A Time

NBA and G League vet Jeremy Lin and Loyola Marymount's Anthony Yu speak candidly about the ups and downs of being Asian American in the basketball world.

THE GARDEN Blooms

The Knicks are back. Deadass, they're back. A return to the tough, gritty, resilient style that made the teams of the past so dominant has allowed Saba Julius Randle and RJ Barrett and the Knicks an opportunity to compete for homecourt advantage in the 2021 playoffs. Facts.

CITIZEN OF THE World

Congolese native Yannick Nzosa played for professional teams in Italy and Spain before he turned 17. Now that his name is moving up the 2022 pre-draft boards, the former soccer player has one thing front and center in his mind—succeeding for his family back home.

STRONG Island

Mental fortitude and physical toughness are what's helped Long Island's Arella Guirantes make it all the way to the W.

KICK IN THE Door

The WNBA, now in its 25th season, is the longest-running women's sports league ever. SLAM sat down with four of the most influential players of all time Diana Taurasi, Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith and Sue Bird to discuss their part in making the League the force it is today.

Can't YOU SEE

It ain't hard to tell that supernatural vision has established Nuggets star Nikola Jokic as a clear candidate for the 2021 MVP Award.

Hollywood

Though her first year in the WNBA was anything but normal, Atlanta dream star Chennedy Carter is on her way to a long career in front of the bright lights.

THE THIRD Coming

FOR DJ WAGNER, SON OF DAJUAN AND GRANDSON OF MILT—BOTH FORMER NBA PLAYERS—BASKETBALL RUNS IN HIS FAMILY’S BLOOD. OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, HE’LL USE THAT TALENT AND HIS NO. 1 RANKING IN THE CLASS OF 2023 TO LEAD CAMDEN HS TO THE TOP OF THE BASKETBALL WORLD (AGAIN).

STATE of the UNION

CHRIS PAUL HAS BEEN A NATURAL LEADER SINCE AS FAR BACK AS HE CAN REMEMBER. BUT THROUGH 2020, AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NBPA, PAUL HAS LED ALL 450 NBA PLAYERS THROUGH THE MOST TURBULENT OF TIMES—THROUGH A PANDEMIC, A SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENT, A BUBBLE, AND A SEASON THAT SOMEHOW STRETCHED 355 DAYS—AND THOSE LEADERSHIP ABILITIES HAVE BEEN MORE CRUCIAL THAN EVER. WE SPOKE WITH CP3 ABOUT THE LEGACY OF THE PAST YEAR AND MUCH MORE.

The Fresh Princesses of Blair

IT’S STRAIGHT UP DOMINATION WHEN OLIVIA MILES AND DOMINIQUE DARIUS, TWO OF THE BEST GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY, ARE ON THE FLOOR AT THE SAME TIME.

BREAKING BOUNDARIES

MEET THE SALAM SCHOOL STARS—AN ALL-MUSLIM GIRLS’ TEAM THAT’S CHALLENGING GENDER-NORMS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY.

Back For More

ATHLETIC PROPULSION LABS’ first basketball sneaker got banned from the NBA because it gave wearers an “advantage.” The brothers who launched the company have returned to the game 10 years later, with a duo of brand new sneakers.

3 the HARD WAY

THREE NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS WITH THREE DIFFERENT TEAMS MEANS DANNY GREEN KNOWS A THING OR THREE ABOUT WINNING. AS HE WRITES HERE, THE THIRD WAS THE MOST SATISFYING.

2020 WNBA Preview

Will The Mystics be able to defend their title without MVP Elena Delle Donee? Will The Sky live up to lofty expectations? Will Stewie lead the storm back to the top? Regardless of what happens, we're just hipe that The W is back.

NO MERCY, NO FEAR

THE NBA IS BACK AND NEW ORLEANS PELICANS STAR ZION WILLIAMSON IS AS CONFIDENT AS HE’S EVER BEEN. LET THIS BE YOUR FINAL WARNING.

THE PEOPLE'S CHAMP

NATASHA CLOUD HAS ALWAYS FOUGHT FOR WHAT’S RIGHT. BY OPTING OUT OF THE 2020 WNBA SEASON TO FOCUS ON SOCIAL JUSTICE, THE REIGNING CHAMP CONTINUES HER FIGHT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

PACK MENTALITY

MEET ROBBY SIKKA, THE SUPERFAN TURNED DOCTOR TURNED NBA TEAM VP WHOSE EXPERTISE HAS BEEN CRUCIAL FOR THE NBA THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

MOMENT TO MOMENT

CLASS OF 2021 SUPERSTAR AZZI FUDD HAS BATTLED COUNTLESS OBSTACLES, INCLUDING MAJOR KNEE SURGERY, OVER THE PAST YEAR. AS SHE RETURNS TO THE SPORT SHE LOVES, SHE’S FILLED WITH A FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON THE GAME AND LIVING LIFE IN A PANDEMIC.

CHI VIEW

AS THE 2020 WNBA SEASON BEGINS, CHICAGO SKY FORWARD GABBY WILLIAMS VOWS TO CONTINUE USING HER PLATFORM TO SPEAK ABOUT SOCIAL JUSTICE AND FIGHT FOR CHANGE.

THE LINK UP

AFTER TORONTO NATIVE ROY WOODS PAID HOMAGE TO PASCAL SIAKAM ON HIS LATEST EP, WE HAD TO INTRODUCE THE OVO SOUND ARTIST TO THE RAPTORS ALL-STAR. HERE, THEY TALK ABOUT TORONTO CULTURE, MUSIC, BALL AND SO MUCH MORE.

THAT QUARANTINE LIFE

AS THE WORLD SHUT DOWN IN MARCH DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS, EVERYONE HAD MORE FREE TIME THAN WE KNEW WHAT TO DO WITH. CHECK OUT WHAT YOUR FAVORITE PLAYERS WERE UP TO DURING THEIR HIATUS.

GO LEGEND

AS SHE BEGINS HER 19TH SEASON IN THE WNBA, THE SEATTLE STORM’S SUE BIRD RECALLS HER EARLY DAYS IN THE LEAGUE, WHAT IT’S BEEN LIKE IN THE WUBBLE AND WHY SHE WORKS SO HARD TO MAKE THE GAME BETTER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

BY EXAMPLE

DUKE FORWARD WENDELL MOORE JR ORGANIZED A POWERFUL BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTEST IN HIS HOMETOWN OF CONCORD, NC, LEADING HIS COMMUNITY TO PUSH FOR JUSTICE AND CHANGE.

Ja Morant – Sum 2 Prove

From unheralded prep prospect to mid-major star to potential NBA Rookie Of The Year, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is as legit as they come. And now, he’s focused on one thing and one thing only: stacking wins. From unheralded prep prospect to mid-major star to potential NBA rookie of the year, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant is as legit as they come. And now, he’s focused on one thing and one thing only: stacking wins.

The Past is Present

PUMA’S LATEST HOOPS SHOE—COMBINING THE OLD AND NEW—IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

HEATIN' UP

ARCHBISHOP STEPINAC (NY) GUARD RJ DAVIS WENT FROM UNRANKED PROSPECT TO MCDONALD’S ALL-AMERICAN IN LESS THAN A YEAR. NEXT FOR THE BURGEONING PG? BRINGING HIS NEW YORK GAME DOWN SOUTH TO UNC THIS FALL.