Storytelling at
The Players’ Tribune
As founding editor at The Player’s Tribune, a publication started by Derek Jeter in 2014, I produced, edited and collaborated with hundreds of pro and college athletes on written, audio and video stories.
Here are some of the pieces I’ve edited:
Everyone is Going Through Something with Kevin Love, an essay about mental health struggle and stigma. Following the piece, Kevin Love became the leader of a national conversation on mental health, and his story led to the creation of a mental health and wellness program within the NBA.
Privileged with Kyle Korver, an essay about racial bias in the NBA and Korver’s path to coming to terms with his own biases. The piece was the most trafficked essay of all time on The Players Tribune, and received coverage in many national outlets, including the New York Times, ESPN, CNN, Sports Illustrated, The Nation, and on the NBA’s own site. It was featured on Longform, selected as one of the three best personal essays of 2019 by Pocket and for the “Best Writing of 2019” collection by The Athletic.
What I Found in Standing Rock, with Bronson Koenig, where the Native American college basketball star chronicled his journey to the front lines of the Dakota Access Pipeline protests in 2016.
More Than 3000, with Derek Jeter, a Hall of Famer’s tribute to his teammate Ichiro Suzuki on reaching a baseball milestone.
Write Your Story, Baby Girl, with WNBA star Essence Carson, a memoir-style essay about how music and family propelled her journey from Paterson, New Jersey, to the best women’s basketball league in the world.
Where Is My Mind?, with Ben Gordon, an essay and video about the former NBA All-Star’s struggles with mental health. The video earned the 2020 Hashtag Sports award for Best Athlete Storytelling.
My Rookie Year, with Yao Ming, on memories of the adjustment to life in the NBA in his first year in the new league and a new culture.
Here’s some of the video content I’ve produced:
On the multimedia side, I’ve produced video interviews, short films and photo shoots — branded and not — with dozens of athletes, including:
NBA player James Harden on the moves that made him an MVP.
NBA player Gordon Hayward in The Return, a six-part docuseries about his road to recovery after ACL surgery.
NBA player Larry Sanders on walking away from the NBA at age 26.
NBA player Jamal Crawford on the origin of the shake-and-bake.
NBA player Scottie Pippen on how the ‘90s game has evolved.
Boxer Regis Prograis on what it takes to stay on top.
NBA teammates Kevin Love and Channing Frye on mental health in pro sports.
UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon on why college athletes deserve to be paid.
NBA player Allen Iverson on the myths and legends that follow him.
NBA player Cam Reddish on his decision to play for Coach K at Duke.
NFL wide receiver Mohammed Massaquoi on the experience of losing his hand in an accident that ended his playing career.
I also produced videos with sports figures on cultural themes, including a series of personal stories by 32 of the world’s best soccer players ahead of the 2018 World Cup, a video with the 2018 USC volleyball team about body acceptance in women’s sports, a video with NBA player Karl-Anthony Towns on his charity work, and videos with Dominique Wilkins, Steve Kerr, Markelle Fultz, Diana Taurasi, Eddie Curry, CJ McCollum, Hassan Whiteside, and more.