Basketball

Memphis Testing Wings: Rookies and Role Players Battling for Minutes

Leonard Ellis
Memphis is in that early grind where every possession matters and every minute feels like an audition. With Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. easing back, the spotlight has shifted to the wings - a crowded mix of hungry rookies and proven role guys trying to stake their claim before the real season hits. The name getting the most buzz right now is rookie Coward, who’s been showing flashes that
Read More

NBA Returns to China Stage with Nets Preseason Games, Global Priority on Deck

Brandon Wagner
The NBA is back in China, and the timing could not be better. After Ja Morant’s massive summer success on Nike’s “Make Them Watch” tour, where crowds packed every stop from Beijing to Shanghai, the league is riding a new wave of international energy. The Brooklyn Nets’ preseason games in China mark more than just a return; they are a signal that the NBA’s global footprint is expanding again, and
Read More

From Sixth Man to Scoring Scientist: Why James Harden’s Greatness Deserves More Love

JayWill Coleman
Say what you want about James Harden, but history’s gonna have to circle back and give that man his flowers. We talk about scorers all the time - Kobe, KD, Steph - but what Harden did in his prime was something different. He didn’t just score; he engineered buckets. Every dribble, every hesitation, every step-back was calculated. It looked casual, but it was math in motion. What makes Harden special
Read More

Beale to the Bluff: Why Basketball Is Still Memphis’ Love Language

Trey Draper
When you talk about hoops in Memphis, you’re talking lifestyle, you’re talking culture and legacy. For generations, long before I started playing, Memphis was always known as a hoop city. They see grit and grind, they see we don’t bluff, but what they didn’t see was Larry Finch breaking the gap on hoop culture. Gaston Park, Orange Mound Community Center, Booker T. Washington High School, Hamilton High School, Mitchell High
Read More

Ray Allen Never Missed His Moment: Why His Legacy Deserves More Respect

Brandon Wagner
Before the game turned into spreadsheets and three-point percentages, Ray Allen was already the blueprint. He was the system before the system existed - the first to weaponize precision, conditioning, and timing in a way that shaped how modern basketball looks today. Everyone talks about “The Shot” in Miami, but that one moment only scratches the surface of a career built on discipline and mastery. Allen’s game wasn’t loud, but
Read More

Brandon Clarke Heads to the Knife: What This Means for Memphis’ Frontcourt

Jon Carter
Memphis been here before. Leaves start falling, bodies start healing, and the city asks its stars to hold the line a little longer. Brandon Clarke going in for an arthroscopic procedure on knee synovitis means six weeks before we even talk about a return. Stack that on Jaren Jackson Jr. sidelined with a toe issue for roughly a month and Zach Edey out another month or two as he ramps
Read More

Ja3 ‘Nike By You’ Craze Breaks the Internet – and Ja Joins In

JayWill Coleman
You know a sneaker moment hits different when the star himself has to step in. That’s exactly what happened when Nike flipped the switch on “Ja3 By You,” letting fans design their own versions of Ja Morant’s third signature sneaker. Within hours, timelines were flooded with wild colorways and creative tributes, from nods to Murray State to Memphis street art. But one story stood above them all: a fan posted
Read More

Raven Johnson Is at Her Best – Staley Sounds the Warning Shot

Brandon Wagner
Every Dawn Staley era has had a floor general who set the tone. Ty Harris ran the show during the rise. Destanni Henderson brought championship composure. Now, the keys belong fully to Raven Johnson and Staley is making it clear this is her time to lead. After a breakout tournament run and an offseason spent sharpening her shot and decision-making, Johnson enters 2025-26 not just as South Carolina’s point guard,
Read More

Grizzlies open camp missing key pieces, but still confident for surprises

Leonard Ellis
Memphis does not scare easy. Folks see Brandon Clarke heading for another knee procedure, Jaren Jackson Jr. still working his way back, and Zach Edey sidelined before his rookie year even starts. That is the headline everywhere else. Inside this city we see something different. We see opportunity. Training camp opened with the gym buzzing and fans glued to every update. Somebody goes down, and it is always next man
Read More

The business of hoops: NIL deals shifting power balance in women’s college ball

Tyrell Reed
The power map in women’s college basketball is changing, and it is not just about coaching or X’s and O’s anymore. NIL deals have become the new recruiting currency, and they are pushing programs to rethink how they sell themselves to the next wave of talent. For decades, the pitch was minutes, player development, and championships. Now, it is that plus brand partnerships, social media strategy, and personal business growth.
Read More