Jared Ebanks

This story appears in SLAM 260. Get your copy now. It takes a lot to make it as an NBA referee. We’re talking years of blowing the whistle in college and the G League before even stepping onto the NBA hardwood. You’ve got to know the rule book and hundreds of terms like the back of your hand. There’s a specific way your eyes scan every movement, and every play. There’s a determined place to stand like an actor hitting their mark, and different responsibilities based on where they do.

This story appears in SLAM KICKS 28. Available now. We’re back, and we’re better—just like this past NBA season’s on-court footwear. For years, the KICKS Awards have served as that ultimate stamp of approval for those who are constantly cooking in heaters. And during the 2024-25 season, we saw more diversity than ever. OGs and rooks alike reignited the idea of rocking grails on the hardwood; see Peyton Watson, P.J. Tucker and Ron Holland II for specifics.

This story appears in SLAM KICKS 28. Available now. Every day, Andrew Dutton shows up to school with the coldest kicks in his classroom. They’re probably the cleanest across the school district. Actually, scratch that. He might be the most fitted teacher in all of Utah. Hoodies, jeans, graphic tees, cargos and fitted caps, all color-coordinated to complement what he’s got on-foot. Fragment Design x Air Jordan IIIs. Jae Tips x Saucony collabs. “De La Soul” Nike SB Dunks.