Thompson, Fader, Poe, Woike, Jones win top honors in 2023 Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest

March 18, 2024 — Marcus Thompson II, Mirin Fader, Julia Poe, Dan Woike and Gordie Jones have been named first-place winners in the 2023 PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest, which honors the best work by members of the Professional Basketball Writers Association between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.

Thompson, who covers the NBA for The Athletic, received top honors in the columns category for his reflections on the life and societal impact of Bill Russell, following Russell’s passing in the summer of 2022.

Fader, of The Ringer, won the magazine-length features category for her profile of Greg Oden, the former No. 1 overall pick, who has found a new calling as a college basketball coach after losing his playing career to injuries and addiction.

Poe, of the Chicago Tribune, won the moderate-length features category for her piece on Bulls veteran Andre Drummond’s quest to find balance after years of quietly battling stress and anxiety.

Woike, of the Los Angeles Times, placed first in the news category for his distinctive coverage of LeBron James breaking the NBA’s all-time scoring record.

Jones, of GordieJones.com, won the game coverage category for his account of the Boston Celtics’ pivotal victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 6 of the 2023 Eastern Conference semifinals.

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. During the 2023 calendar year, the PBWA had approximately 230 members, representing more than 80 outlets.

The writing contest is named after Dan Blumenthal, who worked as the PBWA’s secretary-treasurer from 1980 through 1983. The writing contest is named after Dan Blumenthal, who served as the PBWA’s secretary-treasurer from 1980 through 1983. The contest returned this season after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Results of the 2023 PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest

COLUMNS

1st place: Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, “The enduring legacy of Bill Russell, a monument to Black America”

Judge’s comment: This is an intelligent, sophisticated column worthy of its subject, Bill Russell. The author displays a terrific grasp of the sprawl of history and Russell’s place in the continuum of Black progress and American life, rather than just sports. The opinions expressed are forceful. The writing is sophisticated, descriptive and informative, with some lovely turns of phrase. An excellent all-around effort.

2nd place: Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic, “The Nets and their latest tumult means another day, another scandal”

Judge’s comment: A perceptive, wide-ranging dissection of the death spiral of a franchise, and how that franchise (the Brooklyn Nets) has only itself to blame because of the many Faustian bargains it made along the way. Names are named, decisions are called out, and the unflinching strong opinions expressed here are buttressed by reason. The result is an unsparing examination of how a seemingly can’t-miss assemblage of All-Star talent failed miserably.

3rd place: Tania Ganguli, The New York Times, “LeBron James Keeps the World Watching”

Judge’s comment: Good columnists find a way to go beyond what’s happening and assert what it all means. This column about LeBron James as he approached breaking the NBA scoring record does that. It’s a rumination on how LeBron changed what being a Modern Sports Star is, while somehow retaining his humanity and perspective about what’s important in life: his family, his friends, his community. The additional quotes the writer elicited from James — especially his admission that after two decades in the fishbowl he sometimes yearns to just be able to do “normal things” — poignantly reminds us there are costs to being famous since your early teens, as LeBron has been.

Honorable mention: David Aldridge, The Athletic, “Nets, grasping at straws, have many more problems than their head coach“

Judge’s comment: Many columns were written last season about Kyrie Irving’s social media post about a controversial film that states the Holocaust never happened, among other things. Though this column starts slowly, what elevates it by the end is the way the writer funnels the broader story down to a personal level — first by movingly describing why the author can respect Irving’s self-described “journey” to understand Black history while also insisting that “that search for knowledge cannot — cannot — include the calumny that the Holocaust didn’t happen,” or other hurtful tropes. By the end, there’s a call to action here for all of us to denounce discrimination against any of us.

MAGAZINE LENGTH FEATURE

1st place: Mirin Fader, The Ringer, “Greg Oden’s long walk home”

Judge’s comment: This was, simply, one of the most interesting, well-written and reported articles I have read in a long time. It had all the elements of a great read, beginning with a central character whose young life – so full of promise as the No. 1 NBA draft pick in 2007 – quickly descended into a trainwreck of career-killing knee injuries and chronic pain; addiction to painkillers and alcohol; debilitating insecurity and self-loathing fueled by failed expectations; enduring trauma caused by the death of a close friend and cousin amid his physical struggles. And yet Oden, selected ahead of No. 2 pick and future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant, finds his way out of the abyss and back to the gym and the game he still loves. His candor is astonishing. His anecdote, for instance, about a chance meeting with a gracious Durant years later is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. So, too, is the domestic violence incident where he afterward pleads for intervention. Apart from the beautiful prose, the author’s ability to extract almost mind-numbing details, to coax the subject to so freely reveal himself, makes this article truly exceptional.

2nd place: David Aldridge & Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, “Marvin Gaye’s iconic NBA All-Star Game national anthem: ‘He turned that thing into his own.'”

Judge’s comment: As I started reading, I quickly wondered: Was the author in the Forum on that unforgettable Feb. 13, 1983 afternoon? They had to be, right? Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, Jose Feliciano have all regaled audiences through the years with their own unique renditions. But they all owe Marvin. He introduced the NBA — introduced the world — to a new musical genre, one where it is ok to rock the anthem with rhythm and soul, to celebrate your interpretation. The author completely and brilliantly captures both the scene and cultural significance with lively, lovely prose, and excellent reporting that includes interviews with several of the All-Stars. The backroom drama — the anecdote about the young Laker marketing employee (Lon Rosen) who coaxed Gaye to perform, only to fear that he was going to lose his job afterward due to the public backlash — was priceless. The description of the main event — and it wasn’t the game — brought back memories and gave me chills. This was a beautiful, powerful read and, more than anything, an appreciation for the artist who finally put Black musical culture in its proper place: on the main stage, forevermore.

3rd place: Chris Ballard, Sports Illustrated, “Post play is a lost art. What happens to those who still believe in it?”

Judge’s comment: This was a thoroughly enjoyable trip down memory lane. The author skillfully crafts a crash course on low-post play, the once-dominant era of the NBA big man, the amazing footwork, agility and athletic artistry of the man with a million moves: the underappreciated Hakeem Olajuwon. While the topic could have resulted in a wonky, tiresome recitation of X’s and O’s, the author instead offers fascinating anecdotes, glimpses into LeBron James and Kobe Bryant’s quest to acquire low-post skills, the legacy of Pete Newell and his big man camp, and the grace and generosity of Olajuwon. Perhaps most impressively, the details bring the reader into the gym and onto the floor to see Olajuwon’s footwork, feel his body leaning, angling for position, hear his invaluable insights. One is left with an appreciation of the past and curious about a future where the game’s MVP Nikola Jokic, a crafty center with sublime skills, torments defenders both outside and in the post. Will he continue to fly solo in the post or someday be joined by the young Wembys and Holmgrens of the world?

Honorable mention: Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, “An NBA security guard went viral. How he got to that moment is even more remarkable”

Judge’s comment: This was a wonderful article, and though the lead struck me as a bit forced, I was hooked as soon as the author delved into the security guard’s background. Who doesn’t relate to a youngster who can’t afford a ticket to Timberwolves games and sneaks into the Target Center for years before getting caught? This was truly a fun, original, uplifting read. The author does a good job describing the security guard’s journey from the impoverished Chicago neighborhoods to better surroundings in Minneapolis, and ultimately, to a full-time position with the Wolves security crew. But the charm of this piece resides inside the arena: A young Pierre Frelix and his pals scheming to keep a door slightly ajar to ensure their entry. How they walked around, scouting for empty seats to occupy after halftime, when the security guards no longer checked for tickets. The way they charmed ushers and arena workers, who were impressed with the well-behaved — and familiar — youngsters, and assumed they had tickets. The moment they were finally caught and taken to a loading dock, petrified that they would be arrested, was a classic setup. Instead of reaching for the handcuffs, the Wolves head of security sternly scolded the boys, then handed them a stack of tickets and his phone number. No more break-ins; all they had to do was call. The chance encounter helped Frelix land a part time job in the arena, and 24 years later, a full-time position with the team security. Really cool story.

Honorable mention: Jared Weiss, The Athletic, “How Marcus Smart’s support for cancer patients transformed children’s hospitals”

Judge’s comment: Besides being well-written, informative and topical, this article strikes a powerful emotional chord with its audience. Who among us hasn’t lost a friend or loved one to cancer? Marcus Smart has lived with this brutal disease since elementary school, when his brother was diagnosed with leukemia. His mother was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer years later. Both eventually succumbed to the disease. Yet instead of avoiding hospitals and the pain of those similarly afflicted, Smart embarked on a mission to soften the blow, most notably for children. His commitment is nothing short of extraordinary. The author takes the reader on Smart’s visits with ailing youngsters, reveals how he jokes, plays games and offers comfort. Most impressively, the details reveal how Smart — upon learning there were too few iPads to accommodate the number of young patients — created and funded “Smart Carts,” a mobile system to charge, distribute and store the devices. As a result, kids have easy access to Zoom and can stay connected with friends and family members throughout their hospital stay. Really appreciated this piece, and Smart.

MODERATE LENGTH FEATURE

1st place: Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, “Therapy helped Chicago Bulls’ Andre Drummond regain his peace — and purpose: ‘I felt myself crying for help. But I didn’t know how to ask for it.’”

Judge’s comment: Well-written piece on a topic that gets more notice these days — but still not enough. The writer deserves a ton of credit for getting Drummond to talk about his mental health. This wasn’t surface-level drivel, either; the writer elicited some … well, deep thoughts. The comments from the doctor and especially DeRozan added extra layers. Just an all-around excellent piece. It wasn’t overwritten, and given the subject matter, it easily could have been. Writer did an excellent job of keeping the story in its lane.

2nd place: Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated, “NBA Challenge Guys: ‘All You’re Thinking Is, I Better Get This Right.’”

Judge’s comment: Great topic. For all the talk on basketball, baseball and football telecasts about plays “going to review,” I had yet to read anything regarding the folks who actually make the “yes, go to review” calls in any of those sports. Getting a handful of them to talk was impressive. (I especially liked the question about which players they listen to and those they’re skeptical of.) Overall, the quotes used gave a solid overview of what goes into deciding whether to challenge or not. A highly entertaining piece. It flowed well and left me wanting more at the end.

3rd place: Shaun Powell, NBA.com, “How Pau Gasol made Kobe Bryant’s family his own”

Judge’s comment: I’ll freely admit that when I picked up the entry and saw the headline, I thought to myself, “Geez, what the hell is left to write about Kobe?” Well, I was wrong. I knew a bit about the Bryant-Gasol relationship, but this focused piece — it did not wander, and it surely could have, given the topic — gave me a greater appreciation of Gasol. One slight nitpick: I would’ve liked to have heard from Vanessa Bryant on what Gasol means to her and her daughters. (But perhaps she didn’t want to talk, and adding something in about that would have been jarring, I admit.)

Honorable mention: Tania Ganguli, The New York Times, “Victor Wembanyama Has Always Done Things Differently”

Judge’s comment: Writing about Wembanyama starting in 2022 (and earlier) was a given. But going to France added a bunch of extra layers to the story. Talking to a teacher and a youth coach on their turf obviously helped elicit good anecdotes and good quotes. A lot of interesting non-basketball stuff in there, which presented a different aspect of Wembanyama. I thought it was a bit overwritten, but still an enjoyable read and a great final quote that ties everything together.

Honorable mention: Vinny Benedetto, Denver Gazette, “‘Air Joker’ sounds pretty damn cool: Why Nike has no plans for a Nikola Jokic signature shoe”

Judge’s comment: Another interesting topic and another entertaining read. Interesting fact about each NBA MVP having a signature shoe between the MVP wins by Nowitzki and Jokic. Good info about European fans not being as shoe-crazy as their U.S. counterparts. Good quotes from Jokic and Gordon, too. (Gordon has a shoe but Jokic doesn’t? Man …) And dropping in some shoe history pre-2000 was a nice touch. Also liked the chart at the end listing all the shoe tie-ins. Early in the story, I was wondering which current players had shoe deals, and there it was at the end. Just a nice all-around look at the situation.

NEWS

1st place: Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, “How LeBron James claimed the NBA’s scoring crown, step by step”

Judge’s comment: This was a truly innovative approach to a story that had dozens of possible iterations. This one worked really well. The research/reporting was impressively thorough, and the writing was illuminating and entertaining, providing good context for LeBron’s accomplishments and longevity. Excellent story.

2nd place: Ramona Shelburne, ESPN, “Draymond Green suspended for Game 3 – How his absence looms large in Warriors-Kings, beyond”

Judge’s comment: What makes this story stand out is a recurring, effectively used subtext: Has Draymond become more trouble than he’s worth? Reporting is very solid, writing conveys real knowledge of the issue. This was a fairly ordinary news story taken to a level that really served the readers.

3rd place: Baxter Holmes, ESPN, “‘When are others going to be held accountable?’: Allegations of Suns misconduct extend beyond Robert Sarver”

Judge’s comment: This is a pretty deep and effective dive into why the league came down so hard on Robert Sarver, and it makes the point that he wasn’t the only perp. Most any organization of any size has a “Do you know who I am?” jerk near the top, but the treatment of the pregnant employee and brushing off the incident in Mexico City are truly shameful. It’s very solid work, although the use of so many unnamed sources made it hard to follow at times.

Honorable mention: Chris Mannix, Sports Illustrated, “The Nuggets Are Must-See TV. Too Bad Most Denver Fans Haven’t Been Able to Watch”

Judge’s comment: As good and attractive as the Nuggets have been, it was surprising to learn that most of their home-market fans can’t watch the games on TV. This story explains why, and does so in a very thorough, even-handed manner with helpful context. The dispute may be between the Kroenkes and Comcast, but the real losers are Nuggets fans.

Honorable mention: Chris Fedor, The Plain Dealer, “Cavs not looking at ‘sweeping changes’ despite disappointing playoff exit”

Judge’s comment: End-of-year wrap-ups can be deadly dull in the best of times, but this one avoids that trap by clearly laying it out: Here’s where the Cavs are, here’s how they got here and here’s what they need to do to keep progressing. Koby Altman is a talkative fellow, and some of his quotes tend to run on a bit. But they’re direct answers to direct questions and definitely not boilerplate. If you picked up this story knowing nothing about the Cavs, you’d be pretty well-informed by the time you finished reading.

GAME COVERAGE

1st place: Gordie Jones, GordieJones.com, “Sixers Miss Their Shot, As Jayson Tatum Finds His”

Judge’s comment: It takes considerable skill to write a relatively concise game story that combines what took place 40 years ago with what occurred in Game 6 of a second-round, 2023 playoff series between the Sixers and Celtics. But the writer doesn’t miss a beat or waste a word; and the reader, no matter how far back one’s NBA memories may stretch, is left with an instant appreciation of how much history there is between these two teams. Deftly done, with just the right amount of humor as well.

2nd place: Tim Cato, The Athletic, “Luka Dončić, NBA history and trying to make sense of greatness”

Judge’s comment: As with the winning entry’s approach, it takes a certain amount of daring and confidence to do what the writer does here. Which is to pose a significant question — How Does Luka Dončić Do Such Amazing Things? — and then let Dončić provide the answer with three simple words: “I don’t know.” It may not have been the answer the reader was anticipating, one that might have been saturated with stats, but it is the answer that gives this piece its wisdom. As the writer concludes: “It’s just that he can’t explain it any more than the rest of us, and so he doesn’t try. He just lets it happen and that’s all he should ever be asked to do.”

3rd place: Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, “Klay Thompson’s ejection is about much more than a beef with Devin Booker”

Judge’s comment: This is a smartly crafted look at Klay Thompson and his ongoing battle to become the player he once was before two serious injuries sidelined him for more than two seasons. At the heart of the piece is, of course, a game — this one between the Warriors and the Suns, a game in which Thompson loses his cool and tosses insults at Devin Booker and his Phoenix teammates and ends up suffering the first ejection of his career. The immediacy of the confrontation gives the story its drama; the additional reporting gives the story its depth.

Honorable mention: Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, “Where have you gone, Rudy Gobert?”

Judge’s comment: A late-December game between two teams playing undistinguished basketball served as the setting to pose some tough questions about Rudy Gobert and why he was having trouble living up to expectations as a heralded, and expensive, new member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thirty-four games into the 2022-23 season, the writer of this piece wasn’t being alarmist, just informed and observant. As he watched the 7-foot-1 Gobert get outplayed by a bunch of smaller Miami Heat backups, the writer knew Gobert’s grace period was over and that there needed to be a real assessment of just what the heck was going on.

Honorable mention: Yaron Weitzman, FOX Sports, “The 76ers fell apart quickly, and the fall probably isn’t over yet”

Judge’s comment: The first-place entry looked at Boston’s Game 6 playoff victory over the Sixers, in Philadelphia, and how a resilient Jayson Tatum just kept taking shots until he finally started making them. This piece examines Game 7, in Boston, and how the Sixers, unlike Tatum, were more defeated than determined right from the outset and got trounced, 112-88. “How did this happen?” the writer asks at the start of the fourth paragraph. “How can a team that at different points throughout the season looked like a championship contender be so thoroughly outclassed?” What follows, at length, is a thorough and sober look at everything that went wrong.