Basketball Archives

Economics

How We Set Up Our Professional Athletes to Fail

For every Michael Jordan, there's at least one Keon Clark. Or an Allen Iverson. Or a Junior Seau. The machinery of professional sports churns through its athletes and spits them out on the other side.

Sam Riches

Social Justice

If You Want to Be in the NBA It Helps to Grow Up Rich

LeBron James was right, then, when he said: "I'm LeBron James. From Akron, Ohio. From the inner city. I am not even supposed to be here."

Lisa Wade

Economics

My Name Isn’t My Name

Aaron Gordon is a basketball phenom. Aaron Gordon is a Pacific Standard contributor. Aaron Gordon works for a public relations firm.

Aaron Gordon

Social Justice

In Defense of Diving, Flopping, and Cheating at Sports

When people are paid to win a game with a set of arbitrary rules, people will break the rules. We're almost always OK with that—except for one thing.

Ryan O'Hanlon

Social Justice

What We Talk About When We Talk About LeBron James

LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and the meaninglessness of being the best.

Ryan O'Hanlon

Social Justice

Is ‘Grit & Grind’ Fair to Memphis Sports?

A local historian certainly doesn't think so.

Ryan O'Hanlon

Social Justice

Sports No Longer Last Bastion of Homophobia

The NBA’s Jason Collins’ revelation of his homosexuality may seem revolutionary, but in fact it’s the culmination of a trend.

Tom Jacobs

Social Justice

NBA Player Jason Collins Becomes First Openly Gay Major American Athlete

The 12-year veteran makes his announcement in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated.

Ryan O'Hanlon

Social Justice

Jeremy Lin and the Post-Racial Playing Field

Linsanity has pointed out some residual glitches in the American psyche, in particular how the nation struggles to accept genuine racial diversity.

Sameer Pandya