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Welcome to the end of the week edition of The Baseline!

Every Friday morning, I break down what you missed in basketball culture. 

This 3-minute read shares the latest marketing and creator insights across the industry.

Let’s jump right into it…

FAST BREAK

Here’s what you missed this week:

☘️ Jaylen Brown hosted the "741 Frequency Fest" as a farewell celebration for his fans in Boston. During the event, he received a key to the city and a dedicated street sign, and he offered free musical performances and giveaways.

🏆 The WNBA unveiled its new logo for the 2026 WNBA Finals and shared the details behind the design.

🎙️ Kevin Durant, co-founder of Boardroom, sat down for an exclusive interview with the media company’s newest on-air talent and host, Speedy Morman.

1️⃣ Jordan Brand crowned its newest high school hooper as the winner of The One, their annual global summer 1v1 tournament to find the best grassroots hoopers in the world.

🏀 Fresh from his retirement, Russell Westbrook is stepping into a Chief Strategy Officer role with the new Project B startup basketball league.

🐜 Anthony Edwards and Adidas Basketball are hosting a 1v1 "Believe That" Challenge in Atlanta, where a player can win a year's worth of AE shoes.

🎬 Stephen Curry’s historic 4,000th 3-pointer will have its own documentary made by ESPN Films and directed by Gotham Chopra, and will premiere exclusively in IMAX theaters on October 9.

🚲 Canyon was commissioned to build a one-of-a-kind Grizl CF bike with 32-inch wheels for LeBron James, a bike fit for the king.

🗽 NBA champion, the newest And1 athlete and New York City's very own Jose Alvarado graced the cover of SLAM Kicks 29.

🇯🇵 Jamal Murray and New Balance Basketball kicked off their brand's global tour in Japan, where the All-Star visited local basketball courts, dined at restaurants, and immersed himself in the local culture.

👟 On his 37th birthday, James Harden unveiled his new adidas Harden Vol. 11.

🎮 Andre Drummond and Labaron Philon Jr. got locked inside the NBA 2K League Truck while fans watched until they scored 1,000 points against them.

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THE POINT FORWARD

This is the section of our newsletter where I point out one thing worth sharing with someone in your network—whether it’s a job, a resource, or just an idea or inspiration.

Forward this to your Los Angeles Clippers friends:

Investigative journaling like this — good or bad for sports?

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POST-GAME

Thanks for reading! Here are a few ways we can stay connected:

🤝 Partner With Me: I work with brands, athletes and creators across their brand strategy, digital media, creator programs, partnerships, and marketing growth. Interested in working together? Get in touch here.

📊 Be First: I’m building Future Blueprint Sports — the definitive discovery and intelligence platform for sports marketing and creator culture. Get early access today.

👋 Stay Connected: Enjoyed this newsletter? Share it with a friend or colleague. Also follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok for more sports marketing and creator insights.

Thanks and see you next week!

- Jeff Chen | 🏀💡👨🏻‍💻