Cover Story

A nostalgic romp through modern NBA history as documented by basketball's most iconic and innovative magazine covers The best magazine covers have the ability to distill time and culture into one vivid image. They serve as touchstones, artifacts, and anchors of personal memory. In Cover Story, Alex Wong illuminates the stories behind some of basketball's most notable covers--those that made a statement, moved the needle, and minted players as not only elite athletes but pop culture superstars. Michael Jordan posing with Mel Gibson and Jerry Seinfeld for GQ's Man of the Year issue. Chamique Holdsclaw defiantly looking out from the cover of SLAM, the first woman ever to do so. A high schooler named LeBron James anointed as "The Chosen One" by Sports Illustrated. Each cover is a portal into hoops history as remembered by the players, writers, editors, and luminaries who made them possible. These stories combine to form an insightful portrait of a sport and the culture it's embedded in. Deftly reported narratives spotlight basketball's iconic characters and moments while offering an immersive look at the chaotic, singular world of glossy magazines during the golden age of print--and its later decline. Thoroughly sourced and featuring countless interviews with sports and media insiders, this engrossing read will appeal to basketball fans, pop culture aficionados, and keen observers of the changing media landscape.