in this issue
the sixth man
DESPITE WHAT plenty of social media analytics companies will tell you—and this isn’t to discredit any of them whatsoever—but a brand’s true “heat” is tough to measure. Damn near impossible. You can track things like follower growth, engagement, Comscore numbers, view counts, and of course revenue increases, but at the end of the day, heat is an intangible. You know it when you feel it, and you can tell when it doesn’t exist. So while I can use this space to drop numbers and stats that explain why SLAM’s current temperature is hotter than it’s been in a very hot minute, I’d rather give some examples of situations that can tell the story for me. At this very second, we’ve got: —The world’s top high school players hitting the @SLAM_HS DMs…
trash talk
Eduardo Pardo via YouTube We’ll see what this crew can do. It’s tough to put them against the 76ers and the Raps…this Celts team is comparatively small. But, small ball is the thing now’a’days right? Also Vic O. coming back into the fold should probably keep them up at night….especially if Vic and TJ can start developing chemistry. Anthony via slamonline.com Mark my words: Paige Bueckers will take the women’s game to the next level. 286mic via YouTube Been a huge Clippers fan and I love these three because how they were underestimated and surprised people. Ethan Wellington via YouTube Who do you think will win ROTY? I think Ja Morant will. He is both a great scorer and team player. Do you think there will be anyone else to be the candidate above Ja? Could Zion…
the opening tip
NOYZ>> The SLAM Presents CHI LOVE newspaper that circulated all over Chicago during All-Star Weekend was given rave reviews. If you missed out, there are still a few copies available at shop.slamonline.com…In Les We Trust…L BOOGZ IS UP NOW…Stephon Marbury is one of the most down to earth hoopers. Massive respect to the kid from Coney Island… ARE YOU BUMMED OUT by the current NBA season? Do you think there’s too much calculated sitting of star players by coaches who believe the only thing that matters is having your studs rested and injury-free for the postseason? Do you think this season is boring? Well, buck up. Things are actually pretty great in the NBA. We have mourned and eulogized the late Kobe Bryant, whose tragic death, with hoops-loving daughter Gigi, brought us…
glow up
NOYZ>> S/O to all members of the #OneLegSleeveSociety…Big props to our guy Yaron Weitzman on his new book, Tanking to the Top, out now!…Let’s go, Swaggy…As we write this, everything from March Madness to NBA Finals to the Olympics looks like it could be threatened by the suddenly scary potential impact of Coronavirus. Here’s hoping it comes and goes quickly… “THIS CAN become the coolest club in the world,” says Sylvain Francisco, the 22-year-old point guard for Paris Basketball. Led by David Kahn, the former President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Paris Basketball was founded in 2018. The team currently plays in LNB Pro B, the second division of France. The vision? To establish a prominent franchise and brand in one of the most recognized cities in the world. “I joined Paris…
where i’m from
POLO G IS ALL ABOUT showing love tho those who have next. Born Taurus Bartlett, the 21-year-old Windy City native created the Chicago Grizzlies, a travel AAU program, to make a positive impact through hoops in the community. We recently linked with him to talk about the organization, being a positive role model in his hometown and more. SLAM: How did the whole concept of the Grizzlies start? POLO G: The concept, as far as me picking a name and everything, I came up with that because of the Chicago Bears. I know bears are, like, a Midwest animal and that was the inspiration for that. But just [creating] a new opportunity for the kids in my neighborhood. SLAM: Aside from basketball, what other resources do the Grizzlies provide for kids? PG: An open ear…
elissa cunane nc state 6-5, c
NOYZ>> Our YouTube series “Point ’Em Out” is pure jokes. Go check it…The agency takeover of the NBA continues…Are we approaching the Summer of Ant Man?…By the time you read this, @SLAM_HS will have just hit 1 million followers, @SLAMKicks will be at 850K and @LeagueFits will be at half a mil. Only the beginning…Our office’s fantasy basketball league is a disgrace… WHEN ELISSA CUNANE scores, she smiles. When she grabs a rebound, she grins. When she blocks a shot, she beams. The 6-5 sophomore center for NC State plays with so much uncontainable joy that TV analyst Debbie Antonelli dubbed her, “Big Smile.” “I just try to have fun with everything and it just shows through,” Cunane says. “The team and coaches just feel like family. I really feel comfortable around…
