Magazine

2023 READER AWARDS

DECEMBER 2023/ VOL 1

MICHAEL

JORDAN

GOAT

GRATEST OF ALL TIME

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TABLE OF CONTENT 1

New Curry 11 'Future Curry'

2

MVP Race

3

LeBron James is now the NBA’s oldest player.

4

Golden State Warriors 2022 NBA Champion

5

Offensive Antisemitic Material

6

Kevin Durant Achievement

7

James Harden

8

Lakers Superstar

9

Gun Incident

10

Editor's Note

11

Advertisement

Shoes

3 big-man battle is brewing at the top

The Kid from Akron

Finals Most Valuable Player Award “MVP” Stephen Curry

“SLIM REAPER”

“SLIM REAPER”

James Harden has disappeared on the 76ers

Lebron James #1 Jersey Sales

Ja Morant

Agpaoa, Latrell Aaron

Michael Jordan

New Curry 11 'Future Curry'

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.."

- Philippians 4:13 Stephen Curry

The Under Armour Curry 11 features UA’s Flow technology, which has been implemented into the Curry line since the Curry Flow 8.

Additionally, UA’s Warp upper technology, designed to mold to human form for performance benefits, also appears on the Curry 11 with an asymmetrical design completing Curry’s newest silhouette.

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SEASON 23/24

RACE OF THE 2023 MVP?

G I A N N I S

“Who Will Be the 2023 NBA MVP? Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid Lead the Race and Giannis Antetokounmpo”

NBA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD JOEL EMBIID For the third consecutive year, Joel Embiid is making a solid case to become the league’s MVP. The Philadelphia 76ers center averages a career-high 33.2 points on 53.5 percent shooting, 10.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals in 35.2 minutes per game.

He showed his offensive prowess in Monday’s game against the Indiana Pacers, scoring 42 points in the 147-143 win, per ESPN. The Sixers have benefited from Embiid’s stellar play, with Philly in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

A N T E T O K O U N M P O

3 BIG-MAN BATTLE IS BREWING AT THE TOP NIKOLA JOKIĆ The Denver Nuggets big man is the two-time reigning winner of the prestigious award, and he is once again ahead of the pack in this year’s race.

He has dominated the league all season, with the Serbian center averaging a triple-double (24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game). Jokic has amassed 25 tripledoubles this campaign.

Jokić led the league in triple-doubles.

He also dished the most assists per game ever for a center in a single season. His 70.1 percent true shooting was the highest true shooting a player has ever recorded in a single season while taking at least 1,000 shots.

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LeBron James is now the NBA’s oldest player.

LEBRON JAMES LeBron James was the youngest player on the floor when he made his NBA debut 20 years ago. He’s now the oldest player in the league. The Kid from Akron what James still calls himself isn’t a kid anymore, and the 38 years old enters this season as the NBA’s most senior player. He was only No. 3 on that list last season, behind Udonis Haslem (who played his last game two days shy of turning 43) and Andre Iguodala (who retired at 39).

James wasn’t the league’s youngest player as a rookie; Darko Milicic, the No. 2 pick in the 2003 draft and taken one spot behind James, is a few months younger than James. Milicic made his debut two days after James did.

Here’s a look inside the numbers as James is set to embark on his 21st NBA season, and first as the league’s eldest statesman: Chasing Kareem — again: Just like last year, when he was pursuing the league’s all-time scoring mark, James is chasing a scoring record held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

nba.com

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GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

2022 NBA Champion

The Golden State Warriors have won the 2022 NBA Championship following tonight’s 103-90 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden Arena in Boston, Mass. The Warriors join the Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers as the only NBA franchises to win seven-or-more titles.

NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award “MVP”

Stephen Curry nba.com

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Kyrie Irving posts Amazon link to movie filled with antisemitic conspiracies on Twitter Kyrie Irving apologized Thursday for sharing antisemitic material on Twitter, but he is still facing at least a five-game suspension for his behavior in recent days.

The Brooklyn Nets announced the suspension Thursday evening, one day after the team put out a joint statement with Irving promising large donations to organizations working to combat hate and provide community education.

Kyrie Irving made a reckless decision to post a link to a film containing deeply offensive antisemitic material. While we appreciate the fact that he agreed to work with the Brooklyn Nets and the Anti-Defamation League to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, I am disappointed that he has not offered an unqualified apology and more specifically denounced the vile and harmful content contained in the film he chose to publicize. nba.com

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BROOKLYN NETS

4xAll-NBA 2nd Team 6xAll-NBA 1st Team

“SLIM REAPER”

KEVIN DURANT

All-Rookie 1st Team

2xAll-Star MVP 1x Most Valuable Player 2xFinals MVP Rookie of the Year

NBA All-Star Kevin Durant nabbed several scoring titles with the Oklahoma City Thunder before winning back-to-back championships with Golden State Warriors.

After just one year of college basketball, Durant declared himself eligible for the 2007 NBA Draft. In June of that year, he was chosen second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics. Around that same time, Durant signed a $60 million, seven-year endorsement deal with Nike, a major deal at the time, exceeded only by LeBron James's Nike contract. nba.com

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James Harden has disappeared on the 76ers

James Harden has taken his war with the 76ers to the next level.

After requesting a trade many times over, Harden, who planned to make things “uncomfortable” with Philadelphia until he is traded, no-showed practice on Wednesday, The Athletic reported.

He has not been present with the team since Sunday, according to the report, and it is unclear “when and if” he will return to the team as he awaits a trade.

JAMES HARDEN nba.com

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Lakers Superstar OCTOBER 2023 | 1

Lebron James

#1 Jersey Sales

LeBron's jerseys were flying off the shelves in Cleveland, Miami, and now Los Angeles because he led his teams to eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances in addition to dominating the best-selling list in the 2010s. His name is also listed on the NBA's best-selling jerseys of all time.

When determining which NBA jerseys are the best of all time, there are numerous ways to define the term "best." There is the finest in terms of design and style, and then there is the best in respect to prominence and how fast (or consistently) those jerseys have flown off shelves.

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MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES REPORTEDLY COVERED UP JA MORANT PROBLEMS BEFORE GUN INCIDENT

Ja Morant Memphis Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant will spend the first 25 games of the 2023-24 NBA season watching his team play.

That’s due to a suspension handed down from the league after Morant was seen waving a gun in a social media video just months after he was suspended for a similar incident at a Denver night club.

Throughout that 2021-22 season, during which Morant was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player, a pattern emerged whenever the Grizzlies traveled,” the report states. “After landing, a Sprinter Van would often be waiting at the team hotel to shuttle Morant out for the evening with friends and family, whom he had flown into that city on a private jet, according to team sources. Morant would cover their lodging and foot the bill at establishments they visited. In some instances, team sources said, it wasn’t unusual for Morant to appear hungover, or to be late to team events the next day

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EDITOR’S LETTER In this edition, we celebrate the spirit and finesse of one of the world's most beloved sports - basketball. From the rhythmic dribble to the soaring slam dunks, basketball has an unrivaled ability to captivate hearts and inspire greatness.

Our pages are adorned with stories that chronicle the journeys of athletes who have dedicated their lives to mastering this dynamic game. We delve into the tactical brilliance of coaches who mold raw talent into cohesive teams, and the unwavering dedication of fans who form an integral part of this global phenomenon.

Throughout these articles, we explore the intricate dance between strategy and spontaneity that defines basketball. It's a game that demands both meticulous planning and the ability to seize the moment, reflecting the complexities of life itself.

We also pay homage to the cultural impact of basketball, transcending borders and uniting people from all walks of life. Its influence extends far beyond the court, shaping narratives of resilience, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence.

As you navigate through these pages, let the essence of basketball resonate with you, reminding us all that success is born not only from talent, but from the relentless pursuit of improvement and the strength of collective effort.

Enjoy this issue, and may it ignite your passion for the beautiful game.

Warm regards, Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey.

Together, let's celebrate the the long weekend.

With warmest regards, AGPAOA, LATRELL AARON Editor in chief Aaron Magazine nba.com

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History of Basketball James Naismith, a Canadian American physical educator and innovator, invented the game of basketball in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1891 to keep his students active during the winter. The game was an immediate success and the original American sport spread instantly to other colleges and YMCAs. Naismith is pictured here with his wife Maude Evelyn Sherman Naismith.

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