Hoop Town, USA: We Need To Talk About Chicago Basketball

Illustrator: Andrew Gragg

When you're talking about basketball, it's not just a game — especially in Chi-Town. Basketball reflects life, from the courts nestled into small nooks of each neighborhood to the grand stages where the pros rein. No city embodies the essence of hoops better than my hometown: Chicago. 

Home to some of the game's greatest legends, it's an undebatable truth: Chicago is a veritable hoops Mecca. The culture of basketball is a language spoken worldwide, and Chicago's influence on this culture is indelible. It's the flair, the grit, the passion that we see echoing from the city's asphalt courts to the bright lights of Wintrust Arena and the United Center. 

Chicago is known for many things — pizza of a certain depth, a giant mirrored bean statue — but one thing often overlooked is its rich basketball history. Basketball has been a part of the city's fabric for over a century and has produced countless talented players. The sport has been a source of pride and community for Chicagoans, with the city being home to some of the best high school and college basketball teams in the country. 

Chicago is also home to some of the country's most talented high school basketball players. The Chicago Sun-Times All-City Team has recognized the city's top high school basketball players for over 50 years, and many of these players have gone on to have successful college and professional careers. From Lenny Wilkens to Antoine Walker, many of the best basketball players in the country come from Chicago.

Chi-Town has gifted the world some true hardwood royalty. I'm talking legendary (albeit now somewhat controversial) names like Derrick Rose, the youngest MVP in NBA history, who personified resilience like no other. I'm talking the unibrow wonder Anthony Davis, and the versatile Candace Parker, who both redefined their positions with extraordinary play. And let's not forget Isiah Thomas, who showed us that Bad Boys come in all sizes.

However, the Windy City's influence isn't limited to producing star athletes. The competition within Illinois high school basketball is some of the fiercest, rawest basketball you'll find anywhere. Games are not just games; they're battles, trials by fire where only the best rise to the top. This fierce competition has cultivated an environment that primes players for the challenges of professional basketball. No wonder the transition from high school to pro is seamless for many of these athletes.

Let's talk about why I believe that is: the fierce environment and the inherent toughness of Chicago hoopers — they're more formidable than any collection of individuals I've ever encountered. See, Chicago's the biggest small town in America. So, if someone hoops at a certain level, their name rings out. People hear about them before they even see them play around here; maybe that's why the competition is so high.

It could be those playground battles where kids from all over the city would have to go to war to rule their local courts. It could be those winter tournaments in youth league and high school, where the best of the city clashed with the best of the suburban teams. It could be the open gyms that housed fans' roars, all packed in to watch then-future legends Cappie Poindexter, Evan Turner, or Pat Bev. I can't call it, but it's here, it's real, and it's oozing out the pores of every kid from here who laces up a pair of sneakers.

Think about it: If you're someone like Chicago native Doc Rivers, here's who you had to play against for most of your life before you even hit college: Isiah Thomas, Terry Cummings, Maurice Cheeks, Mark Aguirre, Darrell Walker. That's every year. That's called Chicago basketball.

Now, we can't talk about Chicago basketball without mentioning the Bulls. The team that painted the town red and black; they were the only NBA expansion team to reach the playoffs their first year. From day one, they set the tone. 

Spearheaded by His Airness, Michael Jordan, the Bulls didn't just win — they changed the game. They didn't just dominate — they defined a new era. It goes without saying that MJ's impact is unparalleled, but I'll say it anyway. The man made the NBA a household name in places where debutante balls were the only balls they knew or cared about. The city embraced the Bulls because it recognized they were willing to show up every day, ready to work harder than anyone else. The '90s Bulls showed the world what happens when you play with heart, win or lose. We embraced them because they served as a representation of our community spirit and exported it to the world. I mean, Dennis Rodman alone showed the league what happens when you refuse to let anyone put you in a box. That's Chicago hoops. The Bulls defied the Rules and transcended the sport, taking the NBA global in a way it had never been before. 

What started in Chicago has inspired billions. On the court, basketball united our city. Off the court, Chicago basketball ignited a culture.