A
quick theory: When things are good, thinking about the future is fun. It can get
even better than this? Hell yeah—bring it on! And when things ain’t so good,
thinking about the future is trash. You mean, this could get worse? What would
that mean?
And that’s how I know that the world of basketball and its culture are in a pretty
incredible place right now, because when I think about the future, I only think amazing
thoughts: about the absurdly talented players who are coming up, about the growth
of the women’s game, about the way the internet is consistently changing the way
players are discovered and how they build audiences for themselves, about the way
basketball sneaker technology is rapidly advancing, and so on and so on. All of which,
by proxy, makes an issue like this one—the third annual SLAM Future Issue—a pleasure
to make.
In this issue, we’ve got stories about all of the concepts mentioned above, and I won’t
even waste your time listing them off. Just flip this page and check it out for yourself.
And hurry up, because the future is approaching pretty damn soon, like it or not.
Shit, it might be here by the time you finish reading.Peace,Adam FigmanPS—A couple of people would disagree with my reference to this issue being a
“pleasure to make,” and I’m gonna shout them out here whether they like it or not.
Susan managed to get this thing done despite the office’s internet going down during
the eye of the storm, and Lester celebrated his first print issue as Art Director by
having to design not one but two magazines (JORDANS VOLS. 1-3: THE TRILOGY is
available at shop.slamonline.com now!!), which were both finished during the very
same week. And they got it done. Two heroes.The Sixth Man
SLAM’s Associate Videographer/Editor Ciara Ingram is a filmmaker from
West Memphis, Arkansas. She moved to New York City to pursue her pas-
sion of telling stories through the lens of basketball culture, so being draft-
ed by SLAM is a dream come true. When she isn’t roaming around NYC’s
basketball courts searching for the next story to capture, she can be found
with her nose deep in books, at film festivals or art exhibitions looking for
inspiration. Ciara lives by the Mamba Mentality, but believes LBJ is the goat
thus far. Check out more of her work at http://www.ciaraingram.com.
Printed in U.S.A.
Copyright © 2019 by
SL AM Media Inc.
All rights reserved.2019 VOL.26 NO.PUBLISHER
Dennis S. Page
EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER
David Schnur
HEAD OF CONTENT/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Adam Figman
EDITORIAL
MANAGING EDITOR
Susan Price Thomas
SENIOR EDITOR
Ryne Nelson
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS
Arvind Pitchai, Joseph L. Sherman
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Franklyn Calle, Max Resetar, Alex Squadron
ASSOCIATE SOCIAL MEDIA EDITORS
Camille Buxeda, Ian Pierno, Drew Ruiz
DIRECTOR OF ESPORTS DEVELOPMENT
Duane Jackson
NEWS EDITOR
Marcel Mutoni
PROJECT MANAGER
Ann Akinnuoye
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Rajah Allarey, Habeeba Husain
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Ryan Jones, Abe Schwadron, Tzvi Twersky
BASKETBALL EVANGELIST
Rick Telander
CONTRIBUTORS
Russ Bengtson, Ben Collins, Danny Hazan,
Michael Pina, Vinay Krishnan, DeMarco Williams
ART
ART DIRECTOR
Lester Padilla
DESIGNER
Andy Han
JUNIOR DESIGNER
Patrick Bonoan
CONTRIBUTORS
Matthew Coughlin, Addison Foote, Jonathan Izquierdo,
Atiba Jefferson, Rob McEnaney, Ryan Young
VIDEO
SENIOR VIDEO PRODUCER
Eli Selva
ASSOCIATE VIDEO DIRECTOR, HS
Bryan LaRussa
ASSOCIATE VIDEO EDITOR/SHOOTERS
Sean Edwards, Ciara Ingram, Christian QuezadaBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
SENIOR DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SALES
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Spiro Maroulis
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CIRCULATION
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