The Truth Is Out There
On conspiracy theories in sports, from the ‘85 NBA draft lottery to Michael Phelps’ gold medal performance in the 100-meter butterfly.
Basketball
Grandpa Was A Baller
One man’s stories from the early days of the NBA.
The Kid Who Wasn't There
An investigation into the true identity of a high school basketball player.
The Malice at the Palace
An oral history of the Pacers/Pistons melee in 2004.
A Question of Identity
On the “unfair significance” of Jeremy Lin.
The Legacy of Wes Leonard
The story of a high school star who died minutes after hitting a game-winner to end an undefeated season, and the family and friends he left behind.
Did This Man Really Cut Michael Jordan?
On Clifton “Pop” Herring, the then-26-year-old high school basketball coach who famously left Jordan off the varsity squad as a sophomore.
"We Are Grown Men Playing a Child's Game"
Bill Russell, race, and the NBA of the 1960s.
The Murder of Tayshana "Chicken" Murphy
On the death of a high school basketball star in New York City.
Shaqzilla!
On the battle between Shaquille O’Neal and his former IT guy, who’s in control of much of O’Neal’s archived (and often damning) correspondence.
Larger Than Real Life
What happens to 7-footers when they step off the basketball court?
Three-Man Weave
On witnessing an incredible junior college basketball game 23 years ago in North Dakota.
Shoot the Moon
A profile of Felipe Lopez, high school phenom.
The Garden of Good and Evil
On recommitting to the Knicks after “a decade of dysfunction and delusion.”
A Fan's Notes on Earl Monroe
The author came late to basketball. A profile of his favorite player:
He creates a sense of danger in the arena and yet has enough wit in his style to bring off funny ideas when he wants to.
Betting It All On Basketball: A Gamblers Grind In The NBA
Basketball is considered one of the most difficult sports to effectively bet on, therefore gamblers like Haralabos Voulgaris who make a handsome living on NBA lines are a rare breed, whose knowledge of the game and personal statistical databases rival most of the league’s front-offices’.
This ’Melo Is
A profile of Carmelo Anthony, newly anointed savior of the New York Knicks.
The Talent Trap
The inner workings of a high school basketball team stacked with international talent.
My Story
“My name is Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr., and my name is also Abdul Kareem, but I’ll explain about that much later.” A three-part personal essay on basketball, family, race and religion.
A Fling and a Prayer
The story of the 2010 NCAA championship game between Duke and Butler, and what would have been greatest shot in college basketball history.
Dunk and Done
On Baylor’s freshman basketball star Perry Jones and how the new era of one-season careers has changed the landscape of college basketball.
Too Slick, Too Loud, Too Successful: Why John Calipari Can't Catch a Break
A profile of the highest paid coach in college basketball. A pioneer of one-and-done recruiting, Calipari is also the only coach in NCAA history to have two runs to the Final Four removed from the record books for rules violations.
Dear Nate
The story of Nate Fleming—walk-on point guard at Oklahoma State, fan favorite, golden child—and the 2001 plane crash that took his life.
Allen Iverson: Fallen Star
A reporter heads to Istanbul, where Iverson is playing minor league hoops in a 3,200-seat arena and hanging out at T.G.I. Friday’s.
A Different Drummer
A profile of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, written at the midpoint of his career.
