Tania Ganguli

Call My Agent, the Basketball Version

A few years ago, as I was reporting on Victor Wembanyama, I became fascinated by his agents and how they built their business. Here’s a story about two best friends who made it big. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/b...

The W.N.B.A. Gets More Attention Now. That’s Not Always a Good Thing.

During the WNBA Finals,
Ken Bensinger and I looked into the unwieldy world of WNBA misinformation and how it goes hand in hand with the hate speech from which the league is struggling to protect its players.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/b...

Did LeBron James Write for a Communist Paper? No, but China Said He Did.

There's a lot of love and money for the NBA and its players in China, but there are some risks. More from
@hvistendahl.bsky.social and me on that:

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/w...

How a Las Vegas Casino Mogul Helped Bring N.B.A. Games Back to China

I was in Macau for the NBA's first return to China since a 2019.
@hvistendahl.bsky.social and I dug into how Patrick Dumont, casino mogul and owner of the Mavs, helped them return and how the league will navigate potential political issues going forward.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/11/w...

Happy NBA opening day to everyone. Have been dealing with a personal matter, but wanted to pop back in here to share a few stories I've had run recently.

A Totally Spontaneous Expression of Joy, Contractually Sponsored by Moët & Chandon

As we get closer to the champagne showers, here’s my story about what a marketing moment the post-championship champagne celebration has become. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/b...

The N.B.A.’s Age of Dynasties Is Over. Will That Hurt Its Business?

Late to it, but really enjoyed @taniaganguli.bsky.social's story on to what degree the "small market teams in marquee games is bad for business!" argument is actually true: www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/b...

With how they’ve been playing and how well they are managed, could be! But dynasty building is never easy.

You could try reading a story before getting so upset? There’s no shame game here.

The N.B.A.’s Age of Dynasties Is Over. Will That Hurt Its Business?

As we head into a very small market Finals, here’s a story I wrote last week about the issue. Is it actually bad for the league’s business? www.nytimes.com/2025/05/26/b...

New York Liberty Unveil Practice Facility Amid WNBA’s Race to Attract Talent (Gift Article) In its next gambit to lure and foster talent, the New York Liberty are unveiling plans for a building in Brooklyn with state-of-the-art training facilities and child care rooms — as well as a zenlike ...

The New York Liberty are getting a new practice facility to open in 2027 in Greenpoint. It’s got all the high end amenities you’d expect and individual suites instead of traditional lockers. Their stars helped design the interior. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/27/b...

Buffalo Bills Fans Have It Tough, Especially in Antarctica Research scientists in remote locations need to get creative in order to follow their favorite teams, even when they don’t like the outcomes.

One Bills fan watched her team lose to the Chiefs form a ship on the icy waters just north of Antarctica. Here’s what it’s like to be a sports fan while living on the coldest continent. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/b...

Victor Wembanyama Prepares to Become ‘Genuine’ Face of the N.B.A. (Gift Article) As the N.B.A. confronts a fast-approaching time without LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, the 21-year-old Spurs star has embraced the idea that he is the league’s future.

What Victor Wembanyama has learned is that the best way to handle all of this is to just be himself. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/23/b...

Bonjour from Paris! Where Victor Wembanyama has delighted in sharing his home with his teammates. I spent some time with him a few weeks ago to find out how he thinks about his business interests and his marketing potential in the league. His ascent has come at the perfect time for the NBA.

Agreed. And there’s a real interest in understanding what’s happening, which is why the foundation is planning to commission studies on other regions in the future.

NBA Star Luka Doncic Debuts Foundation Focused on Youth Basketball (Gift Article) The N.B.A. star is worried that for too many youth basketball players, the sport is no longer fun. He’s trying to find ways to change that.

I wrote today about some interesting research Luka Doncic commissioned to figure out what’s wrong with youth basketball and why so many kids are burning out. Luka told me the game still brings him joy, and he wants that for kids around the world. www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/b...

Thank you, Howard! Yes, I am here (in large part because Howard says it’s like Twitter circa 2010 on this app!)