Author: harrisonfaigen

Hey everyone. I know I haven’t posted here in a while, but I wanted a place to round up my favorite stories I wrote this year without doing the obnoxious Twitter thread thing.

I want to give a serious thank you to all the editors, PR staffers and everyone else who made all these stories possible. I also couldn’t have done it without the support of my close friends, who understand I don’t get to have much of a social life and still stick with me anyway.

Anyway, here’s to a great 2018 and this was a fun look back for me at the year that was.

• My feature on David Nwaba begins with one of my favorite anecdotes I’ve ever gotten to write. One of the best people I’ve ever covered. Just a totally normal guy who happens to be an NBA player.
• This story started out with the weirdest tip I’ve ever gotten when a woman called me and told me her father, who was 61 years old, wanted to try out for the Clippers. I was dubious, but I’m glad I followed up because Calvin Roberts ended up having an incredible story that I hope I was able to do justice.
• Also from Las Vegas Summer League: I noticed that the Lakers had a problem — Lonzo Ball was so quick with his passes that he was hitting his teammates in the face. I talked to them about how it was adjusting to his quick-hitting feeds and I think it turned out as a fun read.
• Two on Kyle Kuzma, who seems like a genuinely good dude and is a fun interview because of how confident and sarcastic he is. On his love of giving back to the community, and how he’s adjusting to being the new face of the Lakers.
• The most recent story to make the list: On Thomas Bryant, who wants to be the best two-way big man in the league even if the Lakers want him to be patient.
• Two from the Daily Titan, where I spent God knows how many hours this year. This might be the most meaningful thing I’ve ever written, on the bond between Coben Swanson and the CSUF baseball team, and on a very different note Daniel Venzant, who is making an impact on the Titans without playing much.

Anyway, to all five of you who read all of this, thank you for your support and have an amazing 2018. Hopefully I can do a few more things to be proud of.

With another Las Vegas Summer League in the books, I decided I’d round up all of my stories from the trip in one easy place. I hope you all enjoy, and I appreciate everyone’s support:

• For SB Nation, on Calvin Roberts, a 61-year-old seriously trying to make an NBA roster
• Lonzo Ball’s passing is amazing, but it started out more dangerous for his teammates faces than his opponents.
• Kyle Kuzma justified the “backflips” the Lakers were doing when they found out they could draft him.
• Kuzma also showed that he might be right about being able to play any position for the Lakers.
• Thomas Bryant became the latest Lakers’ second-rounder to impress in Las Vegas, and then he joined our Locked on Lakers podcast.
• It only took one game for Brandon Ingram to show he was too good for summer league.
• The Lakers lost their first two games, but got their first victory without any of their “stars” as the team’s team-first approach finally paid off.
• Alex Caruso didn’t back down when given his opportunity, and because of it he earned the two-way contract he’s so excited about.
• Joey Buss shared his plans for synergy between the South Bay Lakers and the parent team.
• Ivica Zubac had a forgettable summer league, but he has ideas for how to improve and was happy the team succeeded anyway.
• When hype about Lonzo Ball’s shoes was at his peak, he explained why he decided to wear Kobes.
• After winning the summer league title, the Lakers were just focused on getting better.
• Vander Blue’s summer league play showed why he deserves a shot with the Lakers.

We’re done. A busy day of exit interview coverage is in the books, and I’m officially done covering the Los Angeles Lakers whirlwind regular season.

The season was almost as much of a whirlwind for me personally, which is why I wanted to take a few moments to thank a few people who made it possible for me to cover half of the Lakers home games, blog and podcast every day, help run the sports section at the Daily Titan and go to school while still making it to the end (relatively) sane.

Anthony Irwin, Drew Garrison and Seth Pollack: Without you guys and your willingness to work with and around my school/Daily Titan schedule this year, I never could have made all of this work. I’ll never forget how much you guys supported me and have taken chances on me — and let me take chances — time after time.

Special thanks to Anthony for picking up my slack at the site, and recording Locked on Lakers at all hours of the night. You are the best co-host I could ever ask for (and thanks to Dr. Jen for letting you help me out so much).

Hayley Slye and Bryant Freese: 

Hayley, you recruiting me to the Daily Titan is simultaneously the best and worst thing you’ve ever done for me. I’ll never get the sleep and free time I lost out on this year back, but working at the paper has made me so much better as a reporter, and your editing has made me a far better, more thorough and concise writer (despite the way this sentence has run on, and all the commas in it, making your eyes bleed).

Bryant, taking over Sports Desk with you has certainly kept us busy, but there are a select few people I’d always trust to have my back working together on a deadline, and after our New York news breaking experience I’m thrilled to say you’re one of them. You’re the best intern one of the best partners I’ve ever had in any endeavor.

Ben Rosales, Blake [last name redacted] and Dene Preston a.k.a SoCalGal: 

Thank you three for taking a chance on me all those years ago when I joined the blog, and for being nice about doing the brain surgery required to make my words publishable at that time. I’ll never forget how you got me started.

Eric Pincus, Mark Medina, Serena Winters, Shahan Ahmed, Ty Nowell and Joey Ramirez:

There are too many people on the Lakers beat to thank individually, but I’ll always appreciate Eric, Mark, Shahan and Ty for taking me under their wings from day one. From Shahan making sure I didn’t break rules by taking photos in the wrong places, to Mark for giving me editing tips and career guidance starting after my first game, to Ty making sure I knew where I was supposed to be and when (and giving me so many good Twitter avatar photos), I would have been lost without you guys.

Serena, you basically talked me out of quitting blogging last summer and I’ll always remember that. How much and how hard you work is both inspiring, and frankly a little scary (but in a good way).

Joey, you let me talk your ear off at D-Fenders games and are always happy to give me career advice, and I’ll always appreciate you for it.

The Lakers and D-Fenders staffs:

I don’t think you all want me to name you, but you definitely didn’t have to let a blogger with no college degree into two of the most in-demand buildings in pro sports, and I’ll always be grateful you did. Thank you for helping make my job so much easier and helping me grow along the way.

My family and friends:

Mom, Dad, I never could have made it through this year without all your support, both financially and emotionally. My schedule has been crazy so I feel like I barely see you, and I’ll always appreciate you understanding that.

Malcolm, Montgomery and Forrest, you guys are the best little brothers I could have. I’m so proud of who all of you are becoming and grateful you’re happy to talk to me when I’m free and understanding when I’m not.

Jethro, you can’t read this because you’re a dog, but you’re THE BEST dog. Good boy.

I’m not going to call out all my friends by name, but special thanks to Duncan and Emily for all your support and love this year. Watching the Bachelor with you guys (sadly) was the highlight of my week for a while, and I appreciate you two forcing me to have some semblance of a social life.

Anyone who has read anything I’ve written, listened to the podcast or followed me on Twitter:

You’re the real MVPs. I’d be talking to myself (or worse, just Anthony) without you.

Now that I’ve blathered on for quite a while finally, I’m proud to announce that I actually did like a few of the things all of your support allowed me to write about the Lakers’ this season. Yes, it was hard to find five.

Yes, it was hard to find five.

Here are my favorite pieces I wrote this year:

1. Jordan Clarkson and the Lakers are ready to create their own magic
2. David Nwaba is living his dream and trying to make a mark on the Lakers
3. Ivica Zubac is determined to show he can help the Lakers this year, and beat his teammates in FIFA
4. Brandon Ingram’s finishing at the rim has shown the Lakers they have something special
5. The Lakers’ Energizer Bunnies are becoming a devastating bench unit

Thanks again, everyone.

Best,

Harrison

I covered the Rio Olympics (mostly for SB Nation) over the last couple of weeks, and I rounded up most of my work here:

For SB Nation:

• Serbia almost pulled off a miraculous comeback against Team USA
• France lost, 87-66, and they might not be as good as we thought
• Klay Thompson can’t miss as U.S. hangs on for 100-97 win
• Team USA may be undefeated, but it needs to experiment with lineups
• Can Spain make some noise in the knockout round?
• The United States has found a lineup that’s good on both ends

 

For Basketball Victoria:

• Thoughts on the Australian National Team from an enemy abroad

 

I was on location for the entirety of Las Vegas Summer League, and on the Lakers beat for the majority of my time there. In addition to discussing the team’s power forward dilemma from a gondola for my Locked On Lakers podcast, I also followed the Lakers at each game as well as their practice, and wanted to round up my coverage of the event here:

‘Bash Bro’ Zach Auguste is showing the Lakers he’s the real deal at Las Vegas Summer League

Ivica Zubac got his first taste of being dunked on, but the Lakers’ 7-footer isn’t dead yet

Anthony Brown is the Lakers’ biggest question mark after Las Vegas Summer League

Larry Nance, Jr.’s injury shouldn’t obscure his great summer league play for the Lakers

The Lakers lost their game and their power forward on an unfortunate night in Las Vegas

The Lakers like their new offense, but want to make sure Russell finds the right mix in it

The young Lakers had nothing but love for each other after their 85-65 win over the Pelicans

 

 

This is my personal site for me to post personal musings as well as getting my resume out there. I plan to post here periodically if I feel the need to talk about things outside of basketball or my normal areas of coverage, but it will mostly serve as a constantly updating wall where you can find all of my best work in one spot. Please take a look around at some of my best samples under the “writing” tab in the menu, or check out my CV on the “About Harrison” one. Thanks for visiting!