Thomas, Katz, Bondy, Tomasson, Krawczynski and Charania win top honors in 2024 Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest

Nov. 14, 2024 — Stories by Louisa Thomas, Fred Katz, Stefan Bondy, Chris Tomasson and a piece co-authored by Jon Krawczynski and Shams Charania have been named first-place winners in the 2024 PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest, which honors the best work by members of the Professional Basketball Writers Association between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.

Thomas, of the New Yorker, placed first in the magazine-length features category for her textured profile of NBA superstar Nikola Jokic, after he led the Denver Nuggets to the 2023 championship.

Katz, a reporter for The Athletic, won the game coverage category for his detailed account of a wild New York Knicks playoff victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of their first-round series.

Bondy, who covers the NBA for the New York Post, received top honors in the columns category for his pointed criticism of Gregg Popovich, after the decorated San Antonio Spurs coach castigated fans for booing former Spurs star Kawhi Leonard last season.

Tomasson, who writes for the Denver Gazette, won the moderate-length features category for a piece revisiting the Atlanta Hawks’ selection of David Thompson with the No. 1 pick in the 1975 draft – the last time Atlanta held the top pick prior to this year.

The Athletic’s reporting team of Krawczynski and Charania placed first in the news category for their extensive report on the battle for control of the Minnesota Timberwolves, pitting current majority owner Glen Taylor against minority partners Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore.

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 2024 PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest

MAGAZINE-LENGTH FEATURE

1st place: Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, “How Nikola Jokic Became the World’s Best Basketball Player”

Judge’s comment: This is a well-written, sharply observed, entertaining profile that does a terrific job of showing what a unicorn Nikola Jokic is as a player and as a person. The sweep of reporting, descriptive writing, contextual info and explanatory passages all elevate this piece. The writer has an eye for meaningful detail, a keen ear for dialogue and humor, and a strong knowledge of the intricacies and history of the NBA game. Quotes from other top players, past and present, are also woven in throughout. The result is a profile that delivers on its promise to answer the question Julius Randle (and nearly everyone else) asks about Jokic at first sight: “Man, why is this dude killing [it]?” From start to finish, a fun and insightful read.

2nd place: Rob Mahoney, The Ringer, “With Tyrese Haliburton, All Things Are Possible”

Judge’s comment: It’s often said that the NBA is a superstar-driven league. But in this story the writer doesn’t tell us that – they show us, in convincing fashion, how one player (Tyrese Haliburton) can have a seismic impact on every facet of an organization, from the locker room to the court to the standings, from the front office to the draft room to free agency. Along the way, we get rich insights into Haliburton the person, too, and some beautiful phrasemaking and intelligent observations. We also learn a lot about why the Pacers play the way they do, how the Pacers think, and why teammates and opponents love and respect Haliburton.

3rd place: Brad Townsend, Dallas Morning News, “How the Mavericks Helped Dorian Finney-Smith Secure Father’s Parole”

Judge’s comment: The story of how Dorian Finney-Smith worked for the against-the-odds parole of his father, Elmer, who went to jail just 18 months after he was born, is affecting from the opening graphs where Dorian celebrates the news of his father’s impending release by saying, “It hasn’t set in; probably won’t until I see him out. I haven’t touched my dad since…ever.”  The rest of this tale – the bad legal advice Elmer got from his court-appointed attorney, how Dallas Mavericks officials remained committed to helping Finney-Smith secure his dad’s release even after trading him to Brooklyn, how they believe it was Dorian’s live testimony before the Virginia parole board that swayed the decision  to release Elmer after 28 years – is also moving. 

Honorable mention: Nick Friedell, The Ringer, “What Really Happened to Markelle Fultz”

Judge’s comment: This is a well-done story about how former No. 1 overall draft pick Markelle Fultz survived being wrongly tarred as a headcase while doctors were achingly slow to diagnose him with a very real physical ailment. Thoracic outlet syndrome in his right shoulder was handicapping his game, not a case of the yips. Fultz’s determination to hang on to his NBA career, to the point of thinking he would learn to shoot left-handed, is bracing. This story depicts him as a good man who survived a slew of mental and physical challenges to arrive at his own revised definition of “success.”

Honorable mention: Tom Haberstroh, Yahoo Sports, “A Closer Look at Michael Jordan’s 1988 DPOY Award Raises Questions about its Validity”

Judge’s comment: The intrepid original reporting in this piece is notable, and the statistical analysis that’s presented makes a persuasive (if highly circumstantial) case for the author’s premise: that Jordan’s stats seemed to be intentionally padded at home during the 1987-88 season to help him win his first Defensive Player of the Year award (an announced goal of Jordan’s at the season’s start). Alex Rucker, a former Vancouver Grizzlies statistician, is on the record here admitting that inflating stats for home team stars was rampant in general in the 1980s and 90s. The nagging omission is the principals around Jordan – his friend Bob Rosenberg, the Bulls statistician in question; Bulls and NBA officials, and Jordan himself – all declined comment and no teammates corroborate the suspicions, leaving us to infer what we will.

COLUMNS

1st place: Stefan Bondy, New York Post, “Gregg Popovich’s Mid-Game Mic Grab Just Another Tired Act from Holier-Than-Thou Coach”

Judge’s comment: There is no burying the lead here. This entry has all the elements of an exceptional column: a controversial subject about the unseemly behavior of a Hall of Fame inductee and U.S. Olympic head coach; excellent writing that provides relevant background and specifics; priceless anecdotes that set the scene; and most impressively, an unmistakably powerful point of view. No one would mistake this column for a feature – a trap that ensnares many a talented writer. The author simply did a masterful job calling out Gregg Popovich, whose bullying, patronizing and unprofessional interactions with journalists is as legendary as the coach himself. Excellent job overall.

2nd place: Vincent Goodwill, Yahoo Sports, “Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla’s Unwillingness to Discuss Race is a Complicated Issue”

Judge’s comment: As the headline suggests, the column addresses the very complicated issue of race in the NBA, and specifically, race in Boston. The author begins by repeating Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla’s bizarre response when he was asked the significance of participating in an NBA Finals that, for the first time since 1975, featured two Black head coaches. Mazzulla’s reply – “I wonder how many of those have been Christian coaches” – stunned reporters. In a more subtle than heavy-handed commentary, the writer challenges the young, second-year head coach about his apparent unwillingness to acknowledge the city’s racial history and address, if not embrace, a powerful moment in NBA history. Instead, Mazzulla awkwardly injects his religious beliefs into the conversation. Say what? Yet there is no easy answer here, no obvious escape route. NBA coaches enjoy an elevated status and, in return, are expected to be leaders, which means their insights on race and related social issues will be solicited and considered. While acknowledging the sensitivity of the situation, the author deftly bolsters his argument by citing the low numbers (relative to players) of Black head coaches, incorporates poignant comments from Commissioner Adam Silver, and reminds readers of the era of discrimination, which even the great Bill Russell experienced during his seasons in Boston. This piece makes one think – and that’s a good thing.

3rd place: Eric Koreen, The Athletic, “Kevin Porter Jr. trade is a Step Back in Sports Confronting Domestic Violence”

Judge’s comment: First of all, the author addresses a topic – domestic violence – that impacts all socioeconomic segments of society, not the least of which is the high-profile domain of professional sports. This column clearly argues that while the NBA and other sports have increased fines and suspensions for players accused of battering women, enabling the Houston Rockets to trade Kevin Porter Jr., who was arrested for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend, undercuts the policy by financially rewarding the Rockets. It works like an escape plan, a get-out-of-jail free pass. The Rockets “get off a public-relations headache and save more than $4 million.” (The OKC Thunder obtained and immediately waived Porter). The more appropriate act, the writer insists, would be to release the player and absorb the financial hit, not allowing bad actors to be used as chips to improve a team’s salary-cap situation. Writing in powerful, concise prose, the author reminds readers about the infamous video of Ray Rice, the Baltimore Ravens running back who was caught on tape assaulting his current wife in an elevator, and its transformative impact on how leagues have strengthened their domestic violence policies. But permitting the Rockets to circumvent what in legal terms would be referred to as the “true intent of the law/policy,” as the writer says, is just “gross.” Bravo. 

Honorable mention: Tim Cato, The Athletic, “Luka Doncic is Only Hurting Himself with all this Complaining to the Referees”

Judge’s comment: So, finally, finally, someone addresses Luka Doncic and the on-court antics already tarnishing the reputation of one of the league’s transcendent stars. The Slovenian is a basketball savant, a future Hall of Famer who flourishes despite routinely being out of shape, injury-prone, and an incessant pain-in-the-ass with the referees. The author bluntly and astutely says out loud what so many think: Apart from Mavs fans, Luka is really hard to like. The author offers a thorough assessment of the guard’s marvelous skill set, details how he uses his powerful frame as a blunt-instrument offensive weapon, creates space by leaning into defenders and initiates contact that only he considers incidental. He is a triple-double machine who rebounds, can throw every pass, hit every shot. Unfortunately, his temper tantrums, along with his repetitious (and lame) vows to improve, continue to strain his relations with the officials and, one suspects, with his own teammates. The author deserves kudos for fine writing, providing context and background, and sharp, compelling commentary.     

Honorable mention: Barbara Barker, Newsday, “Stop Criticizing Female Athletes for Critiquing Female Athletes”

Judge’s comment: This column hits all the notes and was so interesting – and so impassioned – that I was left wanting to read more. The topic itself lends itself to a never-ending conversation: Caitlin Clark. How good is she going to be in her rookie WNBA season? Is she overrated? Underrated? The writer jumps on the story in its early phase, when three WNBA superstars who were asked to assess the rookie’s prospects had the temerity to suggest the Iowa star, while immensely talented, would nonetheless experience first-year struggles. The Debbie Downers? The Caitlin haters? How dare they be so petty? The reaction from many in the sports universe was absurd and, frankly, absurdly typical. After noting the historic viewership of the NCAA Championship, the author adds, “yet the catfight-driven coverage of the event shows that female athletes – and women in general – are still held to some sort of weird standard where they are expected to be nurturing and supportive at all costs.” The writer clearly appreciates that Clark has introduced a whole new audience to women’s basketball, yet understands there are lessons to be learned; many of the WNBA’s biggest fans are newbies and new to the idea that all professional athletes – male and female – are scrutinized nightly, their skills rated, their performances judged. That comes with the job. Congrats to the author for telling it like it is – or like it should be.    

MODERATE-LENGTH FEATURE

1st place: Chris Tomasson, Denver Gazette, “David Thompson, the Atlanta Hawks and the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft”

Judge’s comment: This is a really good story that I liked a lot. Legit news peg with the Hawks having the first pick in the draft for the first time since ’74. Solid reporting, stylish writing. And the premise that losing a player of Thompson’s stature to the ABA caused the NBA to “sue for peace” and accelerate merger talks is entirely plausible.    

2nd place: Ric Bucher, Fox Sports, “Zach Edey’s NBA future: Why is his Draft Stock Surging, and Will His Game Translate?”

Judge’s comment: I’m sure everyone who has seen, heard about or read about Zach Edey during his college career has wondered about his prospects in an ever-changing NBA. Even if the answer is no more definitive than “we’ll see,” this story gathers and weighs the pros and cons from a variety of sources and promotes an intelligent, informed discussion. Not sure why so many of those sources had to be anonymous, but a very solid job nonetheless. 

3rd place: Adam Himmelsbach, The Boston Globe, “In This Gym, He’s Just Dad: A Night of Wellesley High Basketball with Brad Stevens”

Judge’s comment: Another good story that really humanizes a guy who has been a prominent presence in the NBA for more than a decade, but who has managed to keep his personal life under the radar. I felt like I was sitting in the stands with the Stevens family, and some nice “once a coach” touches elevated the writing. Very enjoyable read.  

Honorable mention: Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, “Bronny James is Ready to be Himself, but the NBA Still Sees LeBron James Jr.”

Judge’s comment: Well, he’s both of course, but this story does a nice job of raising the question of would he be one without the other. There’s a bit of legit skepticism, but no cynicism or snark. I liked the way this story was approached, including the writer’s handling of Bronny’s near-death experience that looms over everything. 

Honorable mention: Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “How Giannis Antetokounmpo Learned to Get Over Himself to Play the Best Basketball of his Career”

Judge’s comment: Not sure why Giannis attracts so much soap-opera coverage. Upon first read, I thought this was just another example. But as I read it again, I came to appreciate how much work went into explaining his emotional/psychological growth and development and why it’s so important. Quality reporting and writing throughout.

NEWS

1st place: Jon Krawczynski/Shams Charania, The Athletic, “A-Rod, Marc Lore and Glen Taylor Clash Publicly over Wolves, Lynx Ownership Spat: ‘It is Now Personal’”

Judge’s comment: A very well-organized and well-written account of the bitter dispute that has erupted over ownership of the Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. All three principals in this saga were interviewed on the record, and the fact that they didn’t hold back in what they had to say really propels the story along. The writer(s) smartly laid out the charges and countercharges without necessarily drawing any conclusions. And (they) very deftly used the construction of a lavish owners’ suite as a metaphor for the entire blowup. That suite is right there in the first paragraph, and it immediately draws the reader into the article. And from there, it’s an absorbing read straight through to the final sentence.

2nd place: Marc Stein, The Stein Line, “Mark Cuban to sell Major Stake in Mavericks to Miriam Adelson”

Judge’s comment: A solid, and significant, scoop that caught the competition flat-footed. The story is understandably on the shorter side, considering the pressure to get something posted as quickly as possible, but it has the essential facts and a good amount of context – particularly that Mark Cuban will retain operational control of the Mavericks despite being left with just a minority stake in the team. If there is one more sentence that could have been added to the story it would have been to identify Miriam Adelson as not just a Las Vegas billionaire but also a Republican megadonor and a significant figure in Israeli politics. But no story is perfect and so this one isn’t, either. But it’s very good and deserving of its award.

3rd place: Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic, “The Caitlin Clark Business is Booming. Here’s How Her WNBA Sponsorships are Lining Up”

Judge’s comment: This is a well-constructed, comprehensive look at the marketing phenomenon otherwise known as Caitlin Clark. There are a lot of good voices in this piece and just enough financial information to help tell the story. And the writer wisely begins the piece with a revealing anecdote that underscores just how coveted Clark is, regardless of where she is playing in the WNBA. As well, the story directly addresses the tricky issue that is at the forefront of women’s basketball – whether standout college players may actually end up taking a pay cut when they turn pro. The answer in Clark’s case is a definitive no, and the piece very clearly explains why.

Honorable mention: Sean Highkin, The Rose Garden Report, “Damian Lillard Requests a Trade from Trail Blazers: How They Got Here and Where They Go”

Judge’s comment: When it was disclosed on July 1, 2023, that Damian Lillard was asking the Portland Trail Blazers to trade him, the writer of this piece got to work. Less than six hours later,  a comprehensive and insightful analysis of what finally led Lillard to ask out from the only NBA team he had ever played for was published online. It’s a strong narrative that also adds some nice touches to the two protagonists – Lillard and Blazers general manager Joe Cronin. Lillard, the writer observes, was the unusual superstar who “wasn’t itching to leave for a bigger market.” Cronin was the well-liked “Blazers lifer” who had survived a bunch of front-office overhauls and risen to the top of the organization. At first, there was a partnership between the two, and then, slowly but surely, it dissolved. The story carefully documents just what went wrong.

Honorable mention: James Herbert, CBS Sports, “Knicks’ Donte DiVincenzo Ineligible for Most Improved Player Under New Criteria After Missing Only One Game”

Judge’s comment: This is a scoop that makes you shake your head a little bit in disbelief. Thanks to some mind-numbing fine print, the Knicks’ Donte DiVincenzo ended up being ineligible for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, despite being a dynamic offensive player who missed only one game all season. And for that matter, despite averaging 38.2 minutes per game from Jan. 29 through the end of the season – the third-highest mark in the league during that time frame. The writer does a very good job in deciphering what the fine print actually says and how it managed to trip up DiVincenzo. At the same, the story very nicely lays out why the whole episode was basically absurd.

GAME COVERAGE

1st place: Fred Katz, The Athletic, “Chaos at the Garden: Knicks Top 76ers in Exact Environment They Want Most”

Judge’s comment: An informative look at the final 27 seconds of an important game. Excellent detail, good narrative, quotes that add context to the description. Good lead, excellent ending. I liked that the focus was extremely narrow. And some nice lines in there, too, including the ones about the Colosseum, the description of what Game 3 could be like for the 76ers and the disarray/script comparison.

2nd place: Ramona Shelburne, ESPN, “The Backbreaking Strategy That Has Driven Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks to the Brink”

Judge’s comment: An informative overview of a series, emanating from the outcome of one game. Really nice lead. Nice weaving in of stats; too often, their use can bog down a story. Appreciated the way it was pointed out that the Celtics’ use of the 3-pointer wasn’t like other teams’ because there is not just one player expected to be “the” guy from the outside. Nice use of quotes; none were extraneous, with each moving the story along.

3rd place: Chris Hine, Minnesota Star-Tribune, “Anthony Edwards’ Dunk Makes a Memory in Timberwolves Win over Jazz”

Judge’s comment: Truthfully, the idea of reading an NBA game story in March – especially one when the NCAA Tournament is under way — would be a stretch for me. But an intriguing lead would catch my interest, even during that time frame, and this certainly would’ve. A game in month six of the season likely would be hit-or-miss in terms of interest, but the writer had something interesting to write about (mention of the game itself basically was limited to the final score) and took full advantage. Great quotes from the Wolves’ players, especially the “dead body” quote from Anderson. While it can be difficult to get truly good quotes, the writer in this instance presumably went to players known to provide them, an extremely underrated trait these days. This was just a fun story.

Honorable mention: Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic, “Tyrese Maxey Has His Signature Moment, Saving 76ers in Madison Square Garden”

Honorable mention: Vincent Goodwill, Yahoo Sports, “Jaylen Brown Has Met the Moments That Make Champions — and Superstars”

Honorable mention: Jason Quick, The Athletic, “Toumani Camara’s Improbable Rise in Portland: From 52nd pick to Trail Blazers Starter”