I’ve spent a long time working on this. New story: Utah Jazz 1997–98: The Other Side of The Last Dance (Part 1): deepbenchchronicles.com/2026… Locker-room tensions, injuries, strange incidents, and the turbulent road to the 1998 NBA Finals.

EXCLUSIVE: Over the last three months, I spoke with PJ Hall, his parents, Clemson HC Brad Brownell and more to learn what makes the Hornets’ two-way standout tick. PJ’s story is one of injury, resilience, family, faith… and his mom’s cookies. My first-ever feature profile: si.com/nba/hornets/onsi/char…

With NY on the verge of a title, a deepish dive on the 72-73 Knicks: -Not well-remembered, even by Clyde -Pearl after winning the title: "this shit's done, let's get room service" -Reed was the fulcrum -They almost blew it v BOS -Who deserved Finals MVP? hoopsanalyst.com/revisiting-…

Really interesting interview. As is often the case, these NBA veterans, former role players, are some of the best people to listen to if you want to learn more about the league’s history. Often more interesting than former stars, who can be a little too comfortable reshaping the truth. Plenty of great stories here: Team USA in China in the late 70s, his “fiasco” draft with the Bucks and Don Nelson, the arrival of the Mailman in Utah… A great conversation, and more excellent work by Adam.

I can only recommend this documentary on Reeves youtu.be/cMhM-8D-Q1o?si=8ZIW…

Remembering Dražen Petrović today. October 22, 1964 – June 7, 1993. I recently received Dražen: The Years of the Dragon by Marjan Crnogaj and Vlado Radičević. Probably a reading note coming later on Deep Bench Chronicle

🚨 New story on Deep Bench Chronicles Tom Chambers is one of the strangest Hall of Fame blind spots in NBA history. 20,000 points, 4 All-Star selections, ASG MVP, 2 All-NBA teams. I wrote about the career and the case of “Tommy Gun.” 🔗deepbenchchronicles.com/2026…

Wembanyama reaches the NBA Finals in his third season. He is right on schedule with the great centers: Mikan and Russell made it in Year 1. Olajuwon, Kareem and Ostertag in Year 2. Shaq, Unseld and Walton in Year 3. Cowens in Year 4.

🆕Pendant 10 ans, les Pistons ont enchaîné les erreurs de management, les paris ratés et les saisons cauchemardesques. Retour sur une décennie qui a plongé Detroit dans l’une des plus longues traversées du désert de la NBA. run-and-gun.ghost.io/detroit…

Lo vi, con retransmisión de Montes y Daimiel, en la habitación de mi hermano. Iba con los Rockets, y hubo un momento que parecía hecho para Houston. Así que entonces me llevé una decepción. Casi 30 años después, y después de haber visto muchísimos partidos de los Jazz de esos años, pocas celebraciones me emocionan más. Años de batallas tremendas al límite (séptimo partido contra Sonics en el 96), con medios más precarios que otros equipos (muchos jugadores no querían ir a Utah). Por cierto, comportamiento intachable después de cada derrota, felicitando al rival, atendiendo a los medios y prometiendo volver a intentarlo. Y llega el tiro de Stockton (en realidad todo el último cuarto) y ocurren cosas que nunca habían pasado. La sonrisa de Sloan, la explosión de alegría del banquillo, el abrazo de Hornacek/Stockton/Malone. Emocionante por lo excepcional, dada la sobriedad marca de la casa. Ya lo he comentado alguna vez, pero soy fanático retrospectivo de aquel equipo. El baloncesto que más he aprendido a apreciar.

🚨 New story on Deep Bench Chronicles Paul Westphal’s most enjoyable coaching season came unpaid, at a tiny Bible college, with a team full of players almost nobody remembers. His most difficult one came in the NBA, with a late-90s Sonics locker room that became nearly impossible to manage. I wrote about A Tale of Two Seasons. 🔗 deepbenchchronicles.com/2026…

Per request, a deep dive on the Shawn Kemp-Vin Baker trade: -Why was Kemp so mad at SEA? -Could SEA have kept Kemp? -What other trades were available for Kemp? -Who won the actual trade? -Much more here: hoopsanalyst.com/revisiting-…

🚨 New story on Deep Bench Chronicles This one is a little different. I rewatched Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals and went back through the story around it: the buildup, the matchup, the aftermath, and the night everything fell apart for the Knicks. 🔗deepbenchchronicles.com/2026…

🆕Nouveau format avec CONTEXT. Premier épisode consacré à Tiny Archibald. On revient sur ses stats, son héritage, sa place dans l'histoire et bien d'autres digressions que m'inspire son cas. run-and-gun.ghost.io/context…

OKC does a lot of things beautifully, no argument there. But in the hierarchy of basketball flaws, some are easier to accept than others. Too physical? Fine. Talks too much? Annoying, but fine. Systematic deception of officials as part of the identity? That's the line. Nobody likes watching that.

Really useful work by Tom Haberstroh here. The SGA/flopping conversation needed more than viral clips. What does the NBA reward, and what happens if whistle manipulation becomes part of a winning culture? I wrote about that here: 🔗deepbenchchronicles.com/2026…