Digital Sports Desk

NEW YORK – (Staff Report from Official News Release of the PBWA) – Jason Quick, Baxter Holmes, Stefan Bondy and Bill Oram have been named first-place winners in the 2026 PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest, which honors the best work by members of the Professional Basketball Writers Association between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.

Quick, a senior writer at The Athletic, took top honors in two of the five categories. He placed first in Magazine-Length Features with a vivid profile of Dick Motta – the winningest retired coach not to make the Hall of Fame – and, as Quick writes, “one of the game’s most colorful and controversial figures.” Quick also placed first in Game Coverage, for his story on Spencer Jones becoming the Denver Nuggets’ unlikely hero in a playoff victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 5 of the first round.

Holmes, a senior writer at ESPN, took top honors in News and Analysis for his in-depth investigation into how infighting among members of the Buss family ultimately led to the surprising sale of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Bondy, who covers the Knicks for the New York Post, won first place in Moderate-Length Features for his colorful portrait of the relationship between Knicks star Jalen Brunson and his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.

Oram, of The Oregonian, won the Columns category for a piece capturing the shock and disappointment of seeing Chauncey Billups, the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coach, arrested for his alleged participation in an illegal gambling ring.

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. The PBWA has more than 200 members, representing 80-plus outlets.

The writing contest is named after Dan Blumenthal, who served as the PBWA’s secretary-treasurer from 1980 through 1983.

Results of the 2026 PBWA Blumenthal Memorial Writing Contest

MAGAZINE-LENGTH FEATURE

1^st place: Jason Quick, The Athletic, “For Dick Motta, the Hall of Fame ‘was never my goal.’ Only the work mattered”

Judge’s comment: Dick Motta lost more games than he won in his three decades as a vivid and combative NBA coach. He is also in his 90s, and a little bit ornery, even wondering out loud why he has agreed to be interviewed. Still, as the writer notes, “He won’t stop talking.” And what emerges is a skillful and poignant portrait of a man who grew up on a farm and who forever has had “dirt under his fingernails” and “basketball in his blood.”

2^nd place: Jared Weiss, The Athletic,“What is CLA, the revolutionary coaching method used by Victor Wembanyama and other top athletes?”

Judge’s comment: CLA stands for Constraints-Led Approach, a mouthful of a name that suggests the writer is going to have a tough time explaining what this new, and increasingly popular, coaching method is all about. But that is not what happens here. Instead, the piece convincingly lays out what’s behind an approach that trains players to deal with the unpredictable. In doing so, the author almost makes CLA sound as simple as ABC. Not quite, but almost.

3^rd place: Logan Murdock, The Ringer, “Who is the Real Chet Holmgren?”

Judge’s comment: This piece begins with a remarkably adept anecdote about Chet Holmgren extending his reach at the age of 4. It concludes with a strikingly perceptive quote from Holmgren, who is now 24, on just what his ceiling is supposed to be. They are the bookends to a very solid and smart look at one of the more unusual stars of the NBA – a player, the writer notes, who has armed himself with a “careful charisma.”

Honorable mention: Dan Woike, Sam Amick and Mike Vorkunov, The Athletic, “What we know about ‘Uncle Dennis’: A central figure in the Kawhi Leonard, Clippers investigation”

Judge’s comment: This is a tough-minded, illuminating piece that takes on a key figure in the Kawhi Leonard/Clippers saga, but also gives readers a glimpse of what goes on when a player’s representative meets with a team and all sorts of “asks” can fill the air. The figure in question is Dennis Robertson, who is Kawhi Leonard’s uncle and was his unofficial agent when all sorts of improprieties occurred. Robertson declined to be interviewed for this article, but in his absence, the (writers are) diligent in providing context for Robertson’s actions. “Uncle Dennis” may have been outrageous in what he asked teams to do for his nephew, but other agents, at times, can be almost as brazen.

Honorable Mention: Adam Himmelsbach, The Boston Globe, “‘Does he even have enough money?’ Bill Chisholm closed the deal of his life when he bought the Celtics”

Judge’s comment: Team owners are not necessarily endearing figures, but it’s hard not to find Bill Chisholm pretty likeable after reading this colorful account of his somewhat frantic, but ultimately successful, attempt to purchase the Boston Celtics, a team he had passionately rooted for since he was old enough to bounce a basketball. The writer smartly begins and ends this tale with Chisholm’s now-annual treks along the Appalachian Trail. He goes by himself, equipped with a tent and a portable stove. It’s hard to think of another NBA owner, or any team owner, doing something similar and it gives this piece a perfect extra touch.

GAME COVERAGE

1^st place: Jason Quick, The Athletic, “Spencer Jones saved the Nuggets’ season. Then he had to wait for a ride home”

Judge’s comment: The idea of a highly paid NBA player, even a fringe player, not owning a car is almost unfathomable. The writer does a great job of using that fun fact to weave through the ups and downs of Jones’ journeyman career, culminating in a rare star turn in a tense playoff setting. I smiled after reading the lede and kept smiling through the 40 grafs that followed. This was a delightful story and a great read.

2^nd place: Chris Herrington, the Daily Memphian, “These Grizzlies need patience. Does a ‘joy’-less Ja Morant have any to give?”

Judge’s comment: It might not be possible to dissect Ja Morant’s mercurial career in one game story, but this one comes close. Electrifying talent, offset by problematic personality, as reflected in his performance on this night. The game, and this account, also raises the question of whether the Grizzlies can ever build a winning team around him. Tough, smart, insightful story.

3^rd place: Ramona Shelburne, ESPN, “What to make of Victor Wembanyama’s unbelievable Game 1 performance”

Judge’s comment: He’s considered a generational talent, and it’s no exaggeration. Still, the playoffs are a different ballgame, and how Victor Wembanyama would respond to that challenge was a legitimate question. This account of his playoff debut answers it, with some nice historical perspective on the Robinson-Duncan legacy, the Popovich culture, where LeBron stood at a similar stage of his career, etc. Lots to digest here. Nicely done.

Honorable Mention: Joseph Casciaro, theScore, “A walk-off dime was the perfect way for LeBron’s streak to end”

Judge’s comment: For as long as there has been basketball, 10 points – double figures – has been recognized as a solid contribution. Though it’s not an official statistic, LeBron James’ streak of double-figures games is one of his more remarkable achievements. That it ended with him passing up a chance to extend it and instead setting up a teammate for a game-winning bucket speaks to who LeBron has always been as a player. This story makes that point with style, clarity and insight.

Honorable Mention: Gordie Jones, Liberty Ballers, “Sixers finally find themselves, but can they find a way to win Game 7?”

Judge’s comment: This is classic NBA writing: fast-paced, take-us-there descriptive, packed with insights you’d never get off TV, clever and colorful phrasing. Traditional “gamers” have sort of been devalued in today’s media ecosystem, and it’s a pleasure to come across one that’s done this well.

NEWS AND ANALYSIS

1^st place: Baxter Holmes, ESPN, “How Buss family infighting drove the $10B sale of the Lakers”

Judge’s comment: This story is a terrific achievement: original reporting, sharp insights, never-before-told anecdotes, and stunning detail that shows how tensions among Jerry Buss’s six children (by two different mothers) resulted in the soap-operatic twists that led to the abrupt sale of the team. Everything the Lakers have ever been, want to be, but no longer are, is present here, along with a bracing amount of info about the internecine bickering, hurt feelings, nasty double crosses, family secrets, and backstage machinations. Given the Lakers’ gold-plated image, readers might be surprised to know the franchise skimped on staff and scouting, analytics and player care. The profile that emerges of Jeanie Buss, especially, is not a flattering one. But never does this story rely on hearsay. Principles are quoted directly. The tale that emerges is a finely drawn look at a family and once-exemplary franchise that disintegrated in lockstep.

2^nd place: Dan Devine, Yahoo Sports, “The Luka Dončić trade was the ultimate mistake, but plenty went wrong for Nico Harrison since the Mavs made the Finals”

Judge’s comment: It was obvious that Nico Harrison’s time was probably short in Dallas the minute he traded away Luka Dončić, but this piece still stood out for its strong blend of reporting and analysis once Harrison was fired. The writer adeptly shows how the Dončić trade was the most glaring error Harrison made, but there were plenty others that left Harrison open to charges of “malpractice.” The writer points out Harrison lasted just nine months after the trade, and just 18 months or so after Dallas made the NBA Finals. The bottom line: The Mavs’ downward spiral was breathtakingly swift and feels like it could take years to recover from. Did it have to happen?

3^rd place: Bill Oram, The Oregonian, “Tom Dundon levels challenge to Trail Blazers as he takes over as franchise’s owner”

Judge’s comment: Texas billionaire Tom Dundon was a curiosity from the moment he joined the NBA’s ownership club. This story stands out for several reasons. It not only analyzes the news but breaks some: The writer got Dundon to commit to keeping the Trail Blazers (the city’s greatest “civic asset”) in Portland if the city and state come through with some promises. The writer also took the admirable approach of confronting the controversial new owner to his face about the things people say about him, the cheapskate moves he makes, and his belittling treatment of interim coach Tiago Splitter. Reporter: “Are you the hard-ass everybody says you are?” Dundon: “I think so.” Should people be scared of you? Dundon, chewing on a strawberry: “My expectations are consistently unrealistic. I want people like that. If that’s not the environment you thrive in, then it’s going to be hard…I am not flexible about my standards.”

Honorable mention: Nick Friedell, The Athletic, “Steve Kerr can leave the Warriors, but can he leave Steph Curry?”

Judge’s comment: The writer starts out stating a good premise that turned out to be accurate – neither Kerr nor Curry did leave each other – and the writer does a good job of showing some insights into the relationship between Kerr and Curry, them and the franchise. The idea that Kerr might want to leave because his social justice remarks cause internal frustration and he has felt “stifled” at times was an interesting aside. The best part of this piece was the anecdote that really showed us how the affection between Curry and Kerr is genuine: Asked if he’d lobby for Kerr to stay on, Curry demurred and instead said, “I want Coach to be happy.”

Honorable mention: Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, “Angel Reese Wants the Sky to do more in Free Agency: We can’t settle for what we have this year.”

Judge’s comment: Reese’s remarks in this piece are extraordinary critiques that pro athletes rarely voice out loud. The impression left by the wording in this story is Reese told these remarks to this author alone, which would deserve big points for original reporting. What holds this story back is the need for stronger analysis: Were Reese’s comments accurate, or the remarks of an egotistical crank who’s not below selling out teammates? We also need to hear what team insiders and other players thought of Reese’s candor, and the very long list of things she wanted regarding the front office, head coach, style of play, facilities, and construction of the roster. The answer came later: She’s now playing in Atlanta.

MODERATE-LENGTH FEATURE

1^st place: Stefan Bondy, New York Post, “Rick Brunson molded Jalen Brunson into a Knicks ‘killer’ – inside the roller-coaster journey that made an NBA star”

Judge’s comment: Above all else, prescient – writing about Jalen Brunson and his dad eight months before Brunson took over the spotlight in the NBA Finals; by then, everyone and his cousin was writing the story. Great background on Rick Brunson and his teaching “methods.” I assume Rick Brunson always is a straight shooter, but still some great in-depth stuff. (And if he’s NOT usually a straight-shooter, incredible job by the writer getting him to talk about it.) Nice job weaving in a lot of background info without pounding the reader over the head with it. One genuinely great line: “It emboldened the father to continue his strategy of torment.” Nice quote ending, too.

2^nd place: Joe Freeman, The Oregonian, “Blazers’ Deni Avdija ends unlikely journey with ‘long weekend’ at historic All-Star game”

Judge’s comment:Nicely written piece, with ending tying back into the lede. Rather in-depth for a story ostensibly about Avdija’s first All-Star Game appearance. Nice job talking to the journalist in Tel Aviv for some insight on Avdija’s popularity in Israel. Some great quotes from Avdija (I’m one of those who think a lot of great quotes come from the right questions being asked), including one that made me laugh out loud, when Avdija was talking about learning English from “classic” TV shows like “iCarly” and “Drake and Josh.” Story adroitly wove in key stats while not overwhelming the piece with number after number. One minor issue was that only two people were quoted – BUT didn’t bother me because the piece still covered a lot of ground.

3^rd place: James Edwards, The Athletic, “Inside NBA Sneaker Culture: Why some players burn through 60 pairs a season and Jarrett Allen won’t”

Judge’s comment: Great idea about one player and his sneakers. Enjoyable read, too, especially the idea that an NBA player is willing to buy used shoes online. Sort of unreal – and memorable, as well. And nice insights from players about their sneaker habits. Just a fun piece to read, with interesting information. Would think it appealed to those who truly care about what sneakers a player wears, as well as those who couldn’t care less about sneaker brands.

Honorable mention: Eric Koreen, The Athletic, “How Jamal Shead became the Raptors’ leader and life of the party”

Judge’s comment: A lot of great info, especially the quotes from Kelvin Sampson about his ex-player, and flows well.

Honorable mention: Chris Hine, The Minnesota Star-Tribune, “NBA veteran Mike Conley has a personal greeting for teammates, friends and staffers that requires a lot of muscle memory”

Judge’s comment: I have read A LOT on Conley in the past 15-plus years, but this was a new angle. Enjoyable stuff.

COLUMNS

1^st place: Bill Oram, The Oregonian, “If allegations prove true, we are all victims of Chauncey Billups’ fraud”

Judge’s comment: This was an extremely competitive year for the column category, but I selected this entry because it struck an emotional chord and had all the elements of a terrific column. It was unique, compelling, powerful, thoroughly researched and beautifully written. The tone was pitch-perfect and the detail was lethal. It offered a strong opinion. The author speaks as if sitting in the living rooms of stunned Portland Trail Blazers fans who woke up one morning to discover their respected head coach, Chauncey Billups – the man fondly known as Mr. Big Shot – shot a brick that fractured the façade of the Moda Center. Chauncey Billups? One of the good guys! Hall of Famer! Well, maybe not so much. Billups goes to trial in March 2027 on charges relating to his participation in a multi-agency gambling probe that involved rigged poker games and illegal sports betting, generating obvious questions about integrity, character and complicity. The author notes that Billups thus far is only guilty of bad judgment, but reminds readers that, almost three decades ago, the former Blazers head coach settled a civil suit filed by a woman who claimed she was raped by Billups, Ron Mercer and Antoine Walker. Perhaps a clue was badly missed by the Blazers organization, who hired him anyway? The author concludes with a clever, crushing, appropriate blow: “If the indictment is to be believed, he (Billups) is a cheat. He is a $100 million man with the world at his fingertips and, apparently, a card up his sleeve. That is how he will be remembered.”

2^nd place: Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, “The Jaden Ivey debacle is another embarrassing failure for Artūras Karnišovas and the Chicago Bulls”

Judge’s comment: This is another superb, intensely personal opinion column that left me wishing there was a 1-A and 1-B grading system. The writer introduces themself as “a queer person” covering the Chicago Bulls during the tumultuous past few years, then delves right into the controversy involving Jaden Ivey, the former Bulls guard who profanely eviscerated the league for scheduling annual LGBTQ+ pride nights (He was waived shortly thereafter). The author deftly chronicles Ivey’s increasing religious extremism and his negative impact on locker-room dynamics, and presents the bigoted rant as a reflection of all that ails the Bulls. The argument is convincing: the litany of failed draft picks and trade decisions; the front office with plenty of time to fix the problems but not enough basketball savvy to rescue the team; and amid the miscues, a lack of accountability by vice president Artūras Karnišovas and his front office. The suggestion that Karnišovas could have foreseen the incident is rudely dismissed. Rather, the columnist cites another ill-advised signing last season of Joshua Primo, the former San Antonio Spurs reserve who had been suspended for exposing himself to female staffers. Though Primo never suited up for the Bulls, his mere presence begs the question: Why would the Bulls a year later invest so heavily on a talented, but obviously troubled player who, as the writer says, “became increasingly insistent on pushing his faith into his professional life. He lost the ability to provide basic answers … without redirecting the topic to religion. He pressed staffers and teammates with uncomfortable questions. All this information was publicly accessible.” And to be clear: This is not an anti-religion column. The writer explicitly points out that NBA teams historically welcome religious leaders and provide chapel services before games. Tough balance, excellent column.

3^rd place: Sharon Brown, Memphis Flyer, “LeBron Said it Out Loud. Memphis Felt Every Word”

Judge’s comment: This is a truly memorable column about an NBA city – Memphis – that keeps hearing it shouldn’t be an NBA city. I went back and read this entry multiple times, impressed by the prose and impassioned defense of a place that LeBron James suggests should be expunged from the NBA map. Nashville, he said, is the place to be – a sentiment shared by many of his colleagues. Clearly, offense was taken. LeBron and his peers’ feelings notwithstanding, the writer slaps right back and makes a compelling case for leaving the Grizzlies right where they are. Memphis is portrayed as an entertainment mecca, the site of exquisite blues performances on Beale Street and the National Civil Rights Museum. Dr. Martin Luther King was murdered at the Lorraine Hotel, a mere mile from the Grizzlies’ FedExForum. The writer depicts the franchise as a slice of civic pride, a source of self esteem and essential to the region’s economy. Ushers. Servers. Valet staff. Cooks. Maintenance. Cleaning staff. “Memphis is not a city that reveals itself in passing,” the author writes. “It requires proximity and engagement, whether through the energy that fills FedExForum or the neighborhoods that surround it. Without that proximity, the understanding remains partial.” Beautifully done. Makes one want to give Memphis a closer look.

Honorable Mention: Marcus Thompson II, The Athletic, “Anthony Edwards delivers a Mother’s Day gem for mom, the Wolves and all of us who’ve lost”

Judge’s comment: This was a very sweet column that humanizes NBA stars – in this case, examining Anthony Edwards’ bond with his late mother and the annual holiday that reminds him of how much he loved and how much he lost.

Honorable mention: Madeline Kenney, New York Post, “Nneka Ogwumike is an indispensable WNBA leader – with landmark CBA and beyond”

Judge’s comment: Nneka Ogwumike retired a few months after this column was written; and with keen insight, lovely prose and a detailed, comprehensive account of her influence on the WNBA, the writer bids her adieu with a flourish.