HOOPS — NBA MONTHLY: JANUARY SNAPSHOT By Georgie Ramaube COVER STORY THE PRESENT vs. THE FUTURE Giannis Antetokounmpo. Victor Wembanyama. One league. Two timelines. Headline Story History in a Loss January belonged to youth and fireworks. Rookie sensation Cooper Flagg dropped a jaw-dropping 49 points, setting a new NBA record for a teenager. Even in defeat, it was a moment that stamped his arrival and had the league buzzing about the next generation taking over. Giannis: Carrying the Weight of Now There is no mistaking it when Giannis Antetokounmpo steps on the floor, the league still bends around him. January reminded everyone why. Even as Milwaukee navigates uncertainty, Giannis remains a force of inevitability: downhill power, relentless pressure, and an expectation that every night is his responsibility to dominate. But this season feels heavier. The Bucks aren’t just chasing wins they’re chasing clarity. Every Giannis performance sparks the same question across the le...
THROWBACK HOOPS — D. ROSE: The Windy City Assassin By Georgie Ramaube COVER STORY Derrick Rose: From MVP to Immortal Chicago stood still as Derrick Rose’s jersey rose to the rafters. More than a number retired, it was a full-circle moment for a hometown hero who changed the game with speed, grace, and heart. The youngest MVP ever. A symbol of what could be, and what endured. Injuries bent the story, but they never broke it. Rose didn’t just inspire a city he inspired a generation. HARDWOOD HISTORY The Bad Boy Pistons: Built to Be Hated No team embraced villainy like the late-’80s Detroit Pistons. Physical. Relentless. Unapologetic. They didn’t ask for respect they took it, knocking off legends and redefining toughness. Love them or hate them, their back-to-back titles cemented one truth: pretty basketball doesn’t always win championships. A FINAL BOW Larry Bird’s Last Season By his retirement year, Larry Bird was running on will and wisdom. The body had slowed, but the mind neve...