basketball
The world of Basketball detailed by the voices of the unathletic. Discussing play, culture, and, of course, who's the best. Trust the Process.
What If Michael Jordan Never Existed? LeBron Still Would Not Own the GOAT Throne
In 1991, the Bulls swept the Pistons in the Eastern Conference Finals. Remove Jordan from that roster, and Detroit probably comes out of the East. The Lakers face a different Finals opponent. Magic does not get Jordan’s MVP trophies handed to him. History does not work like a spreadsheet.
By Jina day ago in Unbalanced
When Did She Stop Trusting Her Shot?
I don’t know about you, but I’m glad it’s over. If Caitlin Clark is Charlie Brown, and the basketball is the football, then Lucy is the WNBA. You know the bit. She holds it. He runs. She pulls it away. He ends up on his back, staring at the sky, wondering what he did wrong this time.
By Mark Elliott 4 days ago in Unbalanced
Kevin Durant Is Still a Great Scorer. That Was Never the Whole Job.
This season, the Rockets put Durant back into a familiar script. He played almost every regular-season game. At thirty-six, with a ruptured Achilles and years of knee and ankle injuries behind him, he played eighty-one games and averaged thirty-seven minutes. Udoka could not rest him. Houston’s offense stalled without him. Şengün needed Durant’s gravity on the weak side. Green needed Durant’s spacing at the top. VanVleet needed Durant as the last option in the pick-and-roll. Durant started on time, scored, got back on defense, and posted up again.
By Jin8 days ago in Unbalanced
They Stood for Their Flag. They Heard the Wrong Anthem.
When North Korea’s anthem played before South Korea’s match The wrong melody On September 18, 2026, South Korea’s men’s field hockey team lined up for its Group A match against Bangladesh at Green Stadium in Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture. The players placed their hands over their hearts. The anthem began.
By Jin19 days ago in Unbalanced
Japan’s Trash Talk Is Loud. The Scoreboard Is Louder.
Pre-Match Words, Points on the Table At the mixed zone of the Nagoya training hall, Sora Matsushima stood in front of the microphones. A reporter asked for his thoughts on the Chinese team. He paused, then said: "The Japanese team is very strong right now. I think even if we only play at 50 to 60 percent, we still have a chance to beat China."
By Jin19 days ago in Unbalanced
A Korean Athlete Took One Photo of a Bus Driver. It Exposed the Nagoya Asian Games.
The bus stopped on the side of the road. The driver did not hold the wheel. He looked down, both hands spreading a paper map across his lap. The map covered part of the steering wheel. The navigation screen was on. The route on it was empty.
By Jin19 days ago in Unbalanced
Most Valuable Scorer
How do you name a pattern without calling it a plot? Last time I wrote what an MVP is supposed to be, and why Clark sits closer to that word than Mitchell — without taking a thing away from Mitchell. I cannot prove a room sat down and decided Clark would not get the trophy. I can do math.
By Mark Elliott about a month ago in Unbalanced
The Clippers Lost 10 Picks and $30M—Kawhi Paid $700K
September 3, 2026. The fax machine in the league office spat out a single sheet. White paper, black type, red seal. The day the Clippers got the fine, wildfire ash drifted over Los Angeles, settling on car roofs like a thin dusting of salt.
By Jinabout a month ago in Unbalanced
There Can Be Only One
What’s an MVP? Best and most valuable are not the same thing. You can be the best in the league at one box on the sheet and still not be the most valuable player on your own team. Most valuable is not a scoring title with better stationery.
By Mark Elliott about a month ago in Unbalanced
