Mannix, Pina, Thompson, Edwards, Holmes and MacMahon win top honors in 2025 Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest

Nov. 18, 2025 — Stories by Chris Mannix, Michael Pina, Marcus Thompson II, James Edwards and a piece co-authored by Baxter Holmes and Tim MacMahon have been named first-place winners in the 2025 PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest, which honors the best work by members of the Professional Basketball Writers Association between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025.

Mannix, of Sports Illustrated, won the Moderate-Length Features category (under 2,500 words) with his expansive profile of Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs’ inquisitive and eclectic young phenom.

Pina, who writes for The Ringer, placed first in the Magazine-Length Features category (over 2,500 words) for his piece exploring the intuitive playmaking of Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic.

Thompson, a columnist for The Athletic, took top honors in Game Coverage for his richly reported account of Jalen Williams’ dominant performance for Oklahoma City in Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals.

Edwards, of The Athletic, won the Columns category for his piece capturing the elation of New Yorkers as the Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years.

Holmes and MacMahon, who cover the NBA for ESPN, placed first in News and Analysis for their oral history of the events that prompted the NBA to shut down in March 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Independent judges, all with extensive experience as writers or editors at major publications, evaluated the entries, one judge per category. The names of the authors and their outlets were redacted from all contest submissions before the judges received them for review.

Founded in 1973, the Professional Basketball Writers Association is a nonprofit membership organization for journalists who regularly cover the NBA and the WNBA for newspapers, magazines, wire services and online outlets. At present, the PBWA has approximately 230 members, representing more than 80 outlets.

The writing contest is named after Dan Blumenthal, who served as the PBWA’s secretary-treasurer from 1980 through 1983.

Results of the 2025 PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest

MODERATE-LENGTH FEATURE

1st place: Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated, “The Seeker: As a Rookie, Victor Wembanyama Took Over the NBA. His Journey is Just Beginning”

Judge’s comment: This fascinating profile of 7-foot-4 Victor Wembanyama combines excellent original reporting, laudable detail and strong writing to give us a nuanced look at how the Spurs’ 20-year-old  star is actively (and creatively) working to become a generational player, rather than just assuming it’s his destiny. The author expertly shows us how Wembanyama’s determination and inquisitiveness, intelligence and ambition have resulted in a sophisticated approach to chasing greatness, and how young Wembanyama’s eclectic off-court interests transfer to his unicorn game.

2nd place: Adam Himmelsbach, The Boston Globe, “‘We’ve got to do this’: How a week in the jungle with a chess prodigy helped Joe Mazzulla become the coach the Celtics needed”

Judge’s comment: This look-back story is a valuable excavation of the little-known, backstage moments that led to Joe Mazzulla moving from the brink of perhaps losing his Celtics head coaching job to winning the NBA championship a year later. It also shows how people at the highest level of sport don’t arrive there by accident; folks at the top share a lot of the same traits – in this case, a commitment to improvement via brutal self-examination, outside-the-box thinking, and huge amounts of hard work.

3rd place: Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, “Karl-Anthony Towns’ impact in Minnesota goes deeper than basketball as a promise is kept”

Judge’s comment: Trade stories are a staple of a sportswriter’s job, but in this story the writer doesn’t settle for some boilerplate look at how it often pains a player to have to say goodbye. With admirable reporting and a commitment to telling the rest of the story, the writer gives us a poignant look at the kind of person, not just player, that Karl-Anthony Towns is, and how his forced move to New York was a loss for both him and the Minnesota community he had to leave behind. It’s shot through with humanity.

Honorable mention: Jamal Collier, ESPN, “What’s fueling Tyrese Haliburton’s historic NBA playoff run?”

Judge’s comment: What elevates this story from just another look at a player using perceived slights to fuel his game is how the writer goes further, tying in Tyrese Haliburton’s existence in our social-media era with bracingly honest quotes about the related mental-health struggles that Haliburton faced. The writer did a nice job of eliciting the information from Haliburton and deftly describes how Haliburton overcame his challenges to triumph.

Honorable mention: Ramona Shelburne, ESPN, “Tyrese Haliburton, Caitlin Clark and the most powerful friendship in basketball”

Judge’s comment: The writer deserves credit for framing this story in an intelligent way and then delivering on the promise to show why Haliburton and Clark’s relationship isn’t just another buddy story. By lifting and leaning on each other, their friendship could explain how Indiana becomes the center of the NBA and WNBA universe as they simultaneously chase championships.

MAGAZINE-LENGTH FEATURE

1st place: Michael Pina, The Ringer, “The Genius of Jokic”

Judge’s comment: When anyone watches a Nuggets game, it’s easy to come away vastly impressed by all the things Jokic can do – especially because he seems like just a lumbering big man. The lede draws you in immediately, and the description of Mike Conley holding up a finger, shaking his head and smiling widely when discussing one certain Jokic play is excellent. I didn’t know there were stats that measure a player’s basketball IQ, and their use in this piece adds a ton of context. Using Jokic’s gamesmanship to drive home the basketball IQ point was pertinent. In short, this piece gave the reader a ton of extra (and relatively off-beat) knowledge about why Jokic is so dominant, and it did so in an entertaining manner.

2nd place: Adam Himmelsbach, The Boston Globe, “The making of AJ Dybsanta, the Most Exciting Basketball Prospect in Massachusetts History”

Judge’s comment: A great introduction to Dybsanta. It’s a well-written piece, with a lot of good detail about the family, Dybsanta’s moves for basketball and about Utah Prep. Good info on the agent search and Shaq’s input on that. Very nice ending, too. That it serves as a coherent and comprehensive intro to the player is impressive. Also liked that it didn’t go overboard discussing what he has done on the basketball court. There was enough mentioned about that to sate most appetites; a lot of “intro” stories go way overboard on that kind of information.

3rd place: Dave McMenamin, ESPN, “‘Randy’s been his co-pilot for 22 years’: Inside the life of LeBron James’ fixer”

Judge’s comment: I’ve probably read a literal ton of LeBron James stories over the past two decades, but this actually provided new info and new insight. Tremendous access to Randy Mims, as well as to James. While the piece started a bit slowly for me, it quickly gained steam. Excellent detail about the relationship, from the start to now. Good details about Mims and the “problems” with Heat front office. Overall, just an extremely well-reported piece.

Honorable mention: Fred Katz, The Athletic, “How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander forged his own path to the NBA MVP conversation”

Judge’s comment: Just a really entertaining read. Great background info on Gilgeous-Alexander’s basketball roots. Excellent details, especially from the high school science teacher; that was truly great stuff. Covered a lot of ground, yet it wasn’t that long. I actually wanted more, which isn’t always the case with this type of story.

Honorable mention: Michael Scotto, HoopsHype, “Embedded with the Pacers: A day with an NBA coaching staff”

Judge’s comment: Cool idea, and kudos to writer for getting Pacers to agree. Story structured so it’s easy to follow and nice use of quotes; I think a lot of writers would have gone overboard with the quotes (“Hey, look at this access: I have quotes on why they wear certain clothes!”). Entertaining read.

COLUMNS

1st place: James Edwards, The Athletic, “The New York Knicks, after 25 long, humbling and frustrating seasons, are back”

Judge’s comment: How do you start a column marking the Knicks’ return to the Eastern Conference finals after a 25-year absence? By cleverly reminding readers of all the misery and misjudgments that preceded the triumphant moment. The lede works perfectly and sets up a finely crafted piece that combines smart writing with some old-fashioned reporting, with the columnist wading through the postgame mayhem in and around the arena to get the full flavor of the celebration. “Knicks fans deserved this,” the writer concludes. And they also deserved this keepsake of a column.

2nd place: Gordie Jones, Liberty Ballers, “Allen Iverson took plenty of falls on and off the court, but he’s still standing at 50”

Judge’s comment: The writer takes a relatively small moment, Allen Iverson’s 50th birthday, and deftly turns it into a reflection on a one-of-a-kind player whose talent and imperfections “made him the perfect Philly sports hero.” Being his teammate, the writer notes, “could be complicated.” But also exhilarating. And for all the spills Iverson took on the court, the writer adds, he always managed to get back up and keep going. All the way to age 50, it turns out, where he remains as beloved as ever.

3rd place: Michael Grange, Sportsnet, “Don’t understand the shocking Doncic-Davis trade? Just follow the money”

Judge’s comment: It was an earth-shaking trade that momentarily left the basketball world speechless and searching for an explanation. This column provides one, and it is pretty intriguing in its insight. The issue, the writer argues, is a money explosion in the league that has made the value of teams skyrocket but has also put star players into a salary stratosphere that is, to put it mildly, kind of daunting. So, the writer contends, when faced with paying Luka Doncic nearly $70 million a year, Dallas said no thanks and dealt him to the Lakers.

Honorable mention: Michael Pina, The Ringer, “The NBA Is Desperately Missing a Voice Like Bill Russell’s”

Judge’s comment: Those who cover sports are often advised to keep politics out of what they are writing. In this instance, the writer does just the opposite, putting the issues of the day squarely at center court and wondering why there is no player in the N.B.A. now willing to speak out with the anger and conviction that the late Bill Russell so famously displayed when he starred for the Boston Celtics. You don’t have to agree with the writer’s political views to admire the passion he brings to this column. And to be grateful that this column is an eloquent reminder of just how forceful and courageous Russell was.

Honorable mention: Dwight Jaynes, A Few Words From The Godfather (Substack),

“NBA has normalized teams throwing games — is this the look the league wants?”

Judge’s comment: Sometimes, people become resigned to a bad situation. Sometimes an entire sports league does. And then along comes someone who bangs on the table and declares: “Wake up! This isn’t right.” The writer had watched two visiting teams come into Portland in March and not bother to compete in the fourth quarter of a close game. In each case, the visiting team was too busy tanking. The NBA has learned to shrug at this behavior but, to his credit, this writer was having none of it. And the result is a very good piece of writing.

NEWS & ANALYSIS

1st place: Baxter Holmes and Tim MacMahon, ESPN, “‘He’s got it’: An oral history of the NBA’s COVID-19 shutdown — and how it changed sports forever”

Judge’s comment: Initially I was put off by the length – but once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. The detailed reporting, the meticulous re-creation, the orderly presentation … a remarkable and important piece of work. In a strong field overall, this was the clear-cut winner. One quibble: It would have been helpful to reidentify the  various sources quoted. I had to go back to check that Mike Elliott, for example, was the Jazz Vice President of Health and performance at each reference to “Elliott.” But that ‘nit’ does not detract from the value and effectiveness of an outstanding piece.

2nd place: Jason Quick, The Athletic, “As Gregg Popovich steps away from coaching, here’s what made Spurs great a ‘generational leader’”

Judge’s comment: It’s an appreciation, or even a tribute, but it’s also a clear-eyed, comprehensive look at a truly transformative NBA figure. Great anecdotes – Steve Kerr sitting on the floor – and the quotes from Kerr, Erik Spoelstra and others whose careers paralleled Pop’s offer good insight into why he was so successful. Nicely done.

3rd place: Gordie Jones, Liberty Ballers, “Doug Collins is a Hall of Famer — and he made sure to soak up the moment”

Judge’s comment: The writing carried this one. I thought at first it might be a little too feature-y, but the Hall of Fame induction was a legitimate news peg. The writing, then, not only took you there, it gave you a great sense of Doug Collins: talking too long (and not caring), meandering from topic to topic … but always getting back to an inextinguishable love for the game that gave him his life. Vintage Doug Collins. A sweet piece, and I mean that as a compliment.

Honorable mention: Alex Schiffer, Front Office Sports, “The NBA Stars Fueling the NIL Arms Race”

Judge’s comment: I liked the originality – don’t believe I’d read of this anywhere else, and there’s definitely news value with NIL money becoming a defining issue in college sports. The headline is a bit misleading – for every James Harden who is fueling the race, there’s a critic who’d rather give money for facilities or scholarships than payments to players. Those differing viewpoints helped make for an interesting piece. 

Honorable mention: Chris Herrington, Daily Memphian, “After trade deadline, Grizzlies playoff team is ‘on the floor’”

Judge’s comment: Several entries tried to break down what various teams did or didn’t do at the trade deadline. This was a deep dive that offered true knowledge of roster construction, sharp insight as to why moves were (or were not) made and some devilishly clever writing. Followers of the Grizz were well-served by this piece. 

GAME COVERAGE

1st place: Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic,“Jalen Williams’ NBA Finals breakout powered by years of hard work and conviction”

Judge’s comment: This entry is a masterful example of game coverage that recognizes and adapts to how much the industry has changed. Cable TV, streaming, social media, the internet, etc., and the ability to watch events in real time, transformed the landscape. Today, writers are compelled to provide context, insight and back stories – in a focused, non-meandering manner – that take readers behind the scenes. This superbly crafted article on Jalen Williams accomplishes all of the above. Within the framework of the Oklahoma City star’s playoff-career high 40-point NBA Finals effort, the author offers revealing anecdotes about his late growth spurt and development, nurtured both by his unique backcourt and basketball-playing parents; provides examples of his tremendous work ethic, drive and competitive nature fueling his emergence; and includes interesting, timely quotes that enhance the story. Two elements stuck with me the most: the way the writer incorporated details of Williams’ performance, seamlessly accompanied by a description of his specific skill set. This paragraph was particularly effective: Jalen Williams keeps a full tank. He’s 6-foot-6, 220 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He’s 24 years old with a motor that doesn’t shut off. He dribbles with a point guard’s ease, shoots it well spotting up and on the move, with cotton candy touch around the basket. Beautifully done.

2nd place: Logan Murdock, The Ringer, “The Unshakable Cool of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander”

Judge’s comment: In another example of dramatic, compelling game coverage, the writer provides the audience with a well-written story about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, whose 31-point, 10-assist, four-block performance against Indiana brought Oklahoma City within a victory of the franchise’s first NBA title. But the article goes far beyond statistics and game heroics. The box score info is woven gracefully into the text, with a few key sequences noted, and is merely one element in a narrative that sets up the Finals finale and what soon will be SGA’s finest moment. Indeed, the writing is excellent, both descriptive and insightful, and the quotes are judicious and effective. The author also provides the necessary context, taking the reader through SGA’s two years with the LA Clippers and fateful trade to Oklahoma City, the Thunder’s early struggles as GM Sam Presti methodically and brilliantly assembled a championship-caliber roster, and finally, the emergence of the young guard as a league MVP and postseason standout. Excellent work.

3rd place: Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, “What’s it like to face Nikola Jokić on a 61-point triple-double night? ‘Bruh, oh my God’”

Judge’s comment: The angle is very creative, so let’s start with that, but the author also does something that can be hard for anyone with a laptop: the discipline to stay out of the way on those rare occasions when the quotes are so insightful, so appropriate and impactful, that they should dominate the story. This account of Nikola Jokic’s spectacular effort in the Denver Nuggets’ losing effort against the Minnesota Timberwolves – mostly conveyed through the blunt, candid words of those who attempted and ultimately failed to contain the league’s best player – cleverly takes the reader into the Wolves’ locker room, capturing the mood that acknowledges the victory but swings quickly to the awestruck, unfiltered acknowledgement of what greatness looks like. The writer notes the significance of these Nuggets-Wolves clashes for playoff positioning, cites the absence of key Nuggets players, but most importantly, lets the Wolves tell the story of Jokic’s ridiculous moves, superb skill set, ferocious competitiveness. Young Anthony Edwards, never one to praise opponents, summed up the night with this priceless quote: “Nikola Jokic, bruh, oh my God. He might be the best basketball player I’ve ever seen close up. Besides myself to myself. Bro, he’s incredible.”  Very well done.

Honorable mention: Kelly Iko, The Athletic, “Rockets learn tough lesson about playoff mentality, now face intriguing offseason”

Judge’s comment: In this well-written piece, the author skillfully accomplishes the following: quickly conveys the mood and a succinct postmortem of the Houston Rockets’ all-too-familiar Game 7 collapse against the Golden State Warriors, summarizes their tortured playoff history against Steve Kerr’s club, and places the latest matchup into context of both the recent past and the unknowable, unpredictable future. These are two very different franchises, which the writer also addresses. The Warriors are aging wonders, stewards of the beautiful game, with their exquisite passing, movement, skill, pace. The writer gives them plenty of flowers, then shifts the emphasis to who the Rockets are, why they failed yet again, and what they can learn from their conquerors in closeout games. The description of Game 7s is particularly noteworthy: Game 7s aren’t tactical battles. Game 7s are about endurance. Not physically – four of the Warriors starters are older than 32, compared to Houston’s youth. Mentally. There’s psychological advantage the Warriors have mastered, and which the young, inexperienced Rockets must acquire through losses like this. And as painful as being eliminated in the first round can be for a No. 2 seed, the long-term lessons, the ultimate payoffs, are better engraved in defeat. Really enjoyed this piece.

Honorable mention: Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic, “Knicks fans inside, outside Madison Square Garden stunned by Game 1 collapse”

Judge’s comment: Remember Reggie Miller? Yep. Those damn Indiana Pacers did it again, albeit, three decades later. The article brought back memories of Reggie’s late-game heroics, Spike Lee’s misery, and the New York Knicks’ continued championship futility since Reed, DeBusschere, Bradley, Frazier and the Pearl. This is strictly a New York story. Powerful and poignant, the author does an excellent job describing the Knicks’ collapse, the pivotal sequences and Aaron Nesmith’s back-breaking three-pointers, the stunned-silent reaction of the crowd, and the context of a defeat that was eerily, devastatingly familiar. The author brings the reader into Madison Square Garden; this paragraph that describes the postgame mood is especially effective: It (the silence) will endure as long as this night haunts the New York Knicks and their battered fan base. Thousands of people all in one place, under one roof, barely able to utter a word. It was a wake in real time for a loss that felt so unexpected and so painful it could only be met by that ineffable feeling of a broken heart, tongues tied by fatigue and incredulity. The writer really makes the reader – even non-Knicks fans – feel the pain.