Top 25 NBA Articles on Substack

Latest NBA Articles


Why LeBron James Chose the Sixers

The billionaire basketball legend took a massive pay cut for the chance to bring an NBA championship back to one of the league’s most storied franchises after 43 years.
There are few cities that celebrate sports quite like Philadelphia. What makes Philly different isn’t our celebrations per se—we have to grease the light poles—it’s the emotion of all of us coming together to support our teams, especially after they’ve struggled. As Eagles great Jason Kelce said to one million fans in the cold after finally winning it a…
Patrick J. Murphy ∙ 36 LIKES ∙ 6 RESTACKS
Presley's avatar
Presley
He is a remarkable man. I wish him and your team a remarkable season.
Maria Evans's avatar
Maria Evans
You connected the value he brings to the city (and himself) — and the long-term value people should seek so beautifully. Thanks!

Four Aussie takeaways from the 2026 NBA Summer League

The 2026 NBA Summer League saw ten Aussie players suit up for ten different teams, with hopes of earning a fifteen man roster spot in the world's top basketball league.
Every year, the NBA Summer League features a host of Australian players on the fringes of a regular NBA roster spot, as well as some new faces hoping to make a name for themselves in front of NBA scouts. The 2026 edition included ten Aussie players, as well as New Zealander Flynn Cameron and several ex-NBL foreign players - Lee Hyun-jung, Malique Lewis …
Ayush G ∙ 1 LIKES ∙ 1 RESTACKS

Crossing the Atlantic: How Basketball Literature Found an Audience in Italy

The NBA became a global cultural export, but the books that explain why it matters crossed the Atlantic much more slowly. Italy became an unexpected laboratory for how basketball literature travels.
If you ever need to find passionate expressions of pure competitive spirit, crafted by the minds of passionate men and women whose lives have revolved around words and ideas, just look at the sports books section of any bookstore. You mi…
Irene Natoli ∙ 14 LIKES ∙ 4 RESTACKS
Isiah Christie's avatar
Isiah Christie
Such a great read...I feel like these are the type of articles that cover subjects I never think about, but prompt me to think further. The NBA's globalization is such an interesting case because it feels like each country that was involved had a completely different relationship with the sport, and Italy is definitely underappreciated in that regard. A lot of greats have played there too (shouting out Bob McAdoo).
Great stuff as always Irene 👏🏾
Roland Lazenby's avatar
Roland Lazenby
Thank you, Irene.

NBA Fandom: The Clock is Ticking

An NBA trade happened that angered me. But the bigger picture of what is happening to us as basketball fans had me frightened for other NBA fan bases as well.
Tyler Rucker ∙ 21 LIKES
David Baker's avatar
David Baker
Great Work Ruck
MO's avatar
MO
As you say ......one of the worst things is when owners decide they cannot afford to keep a championship roster together for another run .....this the historical foundation of the NBA ....or at least it used to be. Sorry state of affairs.

Two-Way
Jul 31

Kaunas Calling

Valančiūnas' NBA chapter is over. His best basketball might not be
The EuroLeague transfer window remains open, but it’s already safe to call Jonas Valančiūnas’ return to Europe—specifically to his native Lithuania to play for the country’s ultimate powerhouse—one of the off-season’s defining moments. It carries immense weight given that Valančiūnas possessed the pedigree to name his destination. Despite Žal…
Two-Way ∙ 1 LIKES

Rmag
Aug 1

The 1976 ABA-NBA Merger Leads to a Gold Mine...for 2 Outsiders

Raking in $800 million on a phantom team
The Spirits of St. Louis, an ABA franchise that played only 2 seasons from 1974-76. Following the ABA-NBA merger, Owners Ozzie and Daniel Silna dissolved the team in exchange for a financial interest in the NBA.
Gill Schor ∙ 9 LIKES
Josh Hanna's avatar
Josh Hanna
Incredible story. Thanks for sharing.


The Global Basketball Map

Understanding the global landscape and how it relates to NBA scouting.
One of the most common questions I get asked is how the global basketball landscape actually works — which leagues stack up, which are best for prospects, etc. As the game has grown globally, understanding the importance of each region, fostering real relationships and becoming an expert has become more and more valuable. The reality is there are very …
Eric McAlister ∙ 7 LIKES



SPURFECT
Jul 30

The Spurs Found Their Championship Chess Piece in Billy Donovan

The Hall of Fame coach brings the leadership, creativity, and playoff experience needed to help finish the job.
Recently, the offseason has been quiet in terms of NBA news. But the San Antonio Spurs made a signing that was a quiet but important splash. By signing 2025 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Billy Donovan as the lead assistant coach under Mitch Johnson, San Antonio didn’t hire someone as a placeholder; they hired someo…
Carolina Teague ∙ 2 LIKES
Andrew Sandoval's avatar
Andrew Sandoval
Good job CT

The Knicks Have a New (Streaming) Home

Plus, Ray Marcano has "5 Questions" with the foremost NYC streetball historian.
Good morning! Big thanks to the GREAT Ray Marcano, not only for today’s double barrel newsletter, but also for joining me on this week’s special edition of the KFS Pod ranking the Top 5 Trades in Knicks history.
Jonathan Macri ∙ 17 LIKES
Peterobin Sunshine-fuhry's avatar
Peterobin Sunshine-fuhry
Fantastic interview - I wanted more!
Ken's avatar
Ken
Frazier versus Brunson comes down to defense for me. Plus, when the game got to ight I was always looking for Clyde and not Willis. So as clutch as Brunson. But delighted with either.



The Evolution of LeBron James

When it comes to talking about the greatest athletes to ever live, only a small handful can stand alongside LeBron James.
When it comes to talking about the greatest athletes to ever live, only a small handful can stand alongside LeBron James.
The Culted Playbook

Two-Way
Jul 28

A New Era

International basketball is undergoing its biggest transformation of the century
The new era has arrived. The future has officially taken shape. We may not yet see its fully finished face, but we know something new is on the horizon. By shifting the financial model of its collegiate sports system, the NCAA ended up restructuring the entire pipeline of international basketball development. Nobody knows for sure what will c…
Two-Way ∙ 2 LIKES

TRENDS // Maybe Basketball is My Gender, After All

Basketball is a sport, basketball is an art form, basketball is an intimacy, yes, but it’s also a culture. It’s about style, about a way of being in the world to the point that I can walk into a room, and someone will say, Oh, let me guess, you play basketball? Even now, fourteen years post-grad, this still happens when I wear my Drexel practice jersey …
just femme + dandy and Mac Crane ∙ 14 LIKES ∙ 1 RESTACKS
Emma Marotta's avatar
Emma Marotta
This resonated with me. The concept of wanting an individualized version of a gender. 👏


5 Out Offense X's & O's

5-Out Offense Masterclass 2.0 & 5-Out Resources
My 5-Out Offense Masterclass is back for year 2! I have been studying, teaching, installing and running 5-Out offense for over 15 years, the last 3 as a head coach. Not only did we have to turn a pro…
Half Court Hoops ∙ 6 LIKES

The Rebirth of the "Philadelphia Monster"?

Or, are the 1976-77 Philadelphia 76ers being reconstituted?
In the days since LeBron James announced what he called his “final decision,” I saw numerous commentators liken his signing with the 76ers to Moses Malone’s decision to do the same in 1982. It’s an intriguing comparison—an established veteran who migrates east to provide the Sixers, after years of snake-bitten heartache, with the missing piece of the ch…
Luke Epplin ∙ 9 LIKES ∙ 2 RESTACKS
Allan Konopka's avatar
Allan Konopka
Love the George McGinnis shout-out. Grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana high school Mr. Basketball, played ~6 seasons for Indiana Pacers (ABA & NBA versions). Definitely an Indiana legend. Agree the McGinnis/Erving pairing -- his time with 76ers was always fraught. Note that he preferred to be a New York Knick but commissioner voided his contract with them
Sam B.'s avatar
Sam B.
First of all, "Moses and the Doctor" was excellent!
As a Sixers fan, I was very happy when I heard about the LeBron James signing. However, I'm not sure it's quite like the Moses situation since he was at or still close to his prime when he joined the.1982-83 Sixers. I don't think it will resemble the other extreme either - it's more likely that it will fall somewhere in between.

Women as mirrors, men as absolutes

There isn't more drama in the WNBA, there is just more scrutiny of and for women.
How many things can be true at once? Two, four, 20? If truth is in the eye of the beholder, then it’s more like 8.3 billion, roughly the current population of earth. And then, can truths change? Better still, how good are we at giving them room to?
Katie Heindl ∙ 48 LIKES ∙ 8 RESTACKS
Nick's avatar
Nick
Great article. Australian here and can confirm the euphemism is heard regularly for sports people seemingly favoured by officials, especially in AFL for players who aren't suspended for incidents. I hadn't thought of it as a racial slur but I'm White so that makes sense and I now know better. Agree that impact overrides intent. Seems like this situation was handled well? It's a shame as you say that it gets criticised as drama rather than an example of handling it maturely and restoratively. But not surprising as a reflection of society and gender expectations. Compare how well this was handled to Adelaide Crows handling of a homophobic slur last year (which then played out again this week). Agree with all you've written, thank you

The Only League That Said No to America

WNBA Is the Only Pro League to Refuse the USA 250 Patch — And Their Excuse Is Exactly What You'd Expect
Every major professional sports league in America — the NFL, the NBA, MLB, the NHL, MLS — agreed to wear the USA 250 patch this season to mark the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding. Every league except one.
Patrick Dennis ∙ 30 LIKES ∙ 5 RESTACKS
Bryon's avatar
Bryon
Wow...what a dumb shit answer instead of being proud for all the progress we've made. She should thank God. She lives in the United States and not some third world country. Trying to figure out what to eat tomorrow.
Mary Jo Nieson's avatar
Mary Jo Nieson
Complete idiots