For three decades we’ve covered many amazing basketball characters, but some stand above the rest—not only because of their on-court skills (though those are always relevant), but because of how they influenced and continue to influence basketball culture, and thus influenced SLAM. Meanwhile, SLAM has also changed those players’ lives in various ways, as we’ve documented their careers with classic covers, legendary photos, amazing stories, compelling videos and more.
We compiled a group of individuals (programming note: 30 entries, not 30 people total) who mean something special to SLAM and to our audience. Read thefull list hereand order your copy of SLAM 248, where this list was originally published,here.
Paige Bueckers’ name is synonymous with greatness.
Gatorade Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, USBWA Player of the Year, Naismith Trophy winner, Wooden Award winner, Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award winner—the list could fill this entire page.
Her name is one that the world has become well accustomed to hearing, from her ninth grade phenom days all the way through to the Madness of March.
SLAM has been a part of Bueckers’ journey since the summer before her senior year, when SLAM high school videographers and photographers would pull up to her AAU tournaments and be amazed by what they were witnessing. It continued in the fall of her senior year, when the Minnesota phenom got her first feature in our iconic pages.
Not long after that, we got to see who Paige was not only as a hooper but as a person, through WSLAM’s first season of “All Eyes On Us”—a digital video series that follows a high school team through a full season—where Bueckers and the Hopkins Royals were on a mission to bring home the program’s first-ever national title. Through that series, the world got to see what our staff saw every time we sat to speak with her for an interview: a superstar.
She was a hooper with no fear of going for tough buckets who had ruthless handles that dropped defenders almost every game and a passing style so smooth that her coaches compared her to Magic Johnson.
But also, a person with an aura so special that she lifted up everyone around her, both on and off the court. We were with her when she copped a pair of Jordan XI Breds (a “must have” for sneakerheads, as she put it), and we were there when she jokingly messed with her teammates on the bus to away games.
Then the pandemic shut the world down just as Paige and her teammates were in the locker room preparing for their state championship game, and we witnessed the heartbreak of a potential historic season cut short. In the “All Eyes On Us” season 1 finale, Bueckers was raw and emotional about what that season meant to her and her teammates.
As Paige made history in Minnesota that season, she made history for SLAM, too, becoming the first high school girl to be featured on our cover (SLAM 226). It feels like I was in that gym just yesterday, watching the future superstar step onto the set wearing “Pinnacle” Air Jordan VIs. That day, everyone knew they were in the presence of greatness.
Her freshman year at UConn put the world on notice once again, when she won just about every award possible in NCAA women’s hoops, all while trying to recruit her best friend and the top prospect in the class of 2021, Azzi Fudd. Once Azzi locked in her commitment, we linked up with the backcourt duo and shot another historic cover, for SLAM 235, the “New World Issue,” a themed issue about the way the hoops world was changing in real time.
While Bueckers has cemented herself in history with all she’s achieved at the NCAA level, her story is just beginning. Paige is a competitor at heart, and in what could be her final season in Storrs, she has her sights set on bringing home a national championship. Bueckers will be eligible for the WNBA draft this spring, and whether she decides to go this year or use her last year of college eligibility, she’ll sooner or later become the future of the W.
Paige has meant so much to SLAM because of what we’ve built together over the years. From iconic covers to months of capturing her final season in high school, Paige is a legend in the SLAM halls—and I mean that quite literally. Her cover photo takes up a full wall inside SLAM HQ. She was the start of SLAM’s expansion into girls grassroots basketball, and we’ve gotten to witness her journey from the start. Whether this year or next, Paige will hear her name called at the WNBA Draft, and as she walks across that stage, you better believe we’ll already be cooking up an exciting way to document the next chapter of her journey.
Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast in the field of basketball, I have spent years immersing myself in the game and studying its various aspects. My knowledge and understanding of basketball culture, players, and their impact on the sport have allowed me to gain a deep level of expertise.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of witnessing the rise of numerous basketball characters who have left an indelible mark on the game. These individuals have not only showcased their exceptional on-court skills but have also profoundly influenced basketball culture as a whole. Their influence has extended beyond the court and has even impacted the renowned basketball publication, SLAM.
SLAM has played a significant role in documenting the careers of these extraordinary players. Through classic covers, legendary photos, compelling videos, and captivating stories, SLAM has chronicled the journeys of these players, thus becoming an integral part of their lives. The publication has not only celebrated their accomplishments but has also contributed to shaping their legacies.
In recognition of these remarkable individuals, SLAM has compiled a list of 30 entries (not 30 people in total) that hold a special place in the hearts of SLAM and its audience. Each entry represents a player who has made a significant impact on the publication and resonates with its readers.
One such player is Paige Bueckers, a name synonymous with greatness in the world of basketball. Throughout her career, she has amassed an impressive list of accolades, including Gatorade Player of the Year, AP Player of the Year, USBWA Player of the Year, Naismith Trophy winner, Wooden Award winner, and Best Female College Athlete ESPY Award winner. Her name has become well-known globally, from her exceptional performances as a ninth-grade phenom to her outstanding displays during the Madness of March.
SLAM has been a part of Bueckers' journey since the summer before her senior year. The publication's high school videographers and photographers were astounded by her skills when they attended her AAU tournaments. As her senior year began, Bueckers received her first feature in SLAM's iconic pages, marking the beginning of a special relationship between her and the publication.
Throughout her high school career, Bueckers showcased not only her exceptional basketball abilities but also her remarkable character. SLAM had the opportunity to get to know her both on and off the court through their digital video series, "All Eyes On Us," which followed her high school team's quest for a national title. The series revealed a superstar who fearlessly went for tough baskets, possessed incredible handles that left defenders in awe, and possessed a passing style reminiscent of Magic Johnson. Moreover, Bueckers' aura had a profound impact on those around her, lifting up everyone she encountered.
Unfortunately, the global pandemic disrupted Bueckers' journey just as she and her teammates were preparing for their state championship game. The heartbreak of a potential historic season being cut short was captured in the season finale of "All Eyes On Us." Bueckers' raw emotions and vulnerability showcased the depth of her commitment to the game and her teammates.
Bueckers' impact on SLAM reached a milestone when she became the first high school girl to be featured on the cover of SLAM (SLAM 226) during her historic season in Minnesota. The moment was a testament to her greatness and left an unforgettable impression on everyone present.
Her freshman year at UConn further solidified her status as a basketball phenom, as she collected numerous awards in NCAA women's hoops. During this time, SLAM had the opportunity to capture her journey alongside her best friend and top prospect, Azzi Fudd, resulting in another historic cover for SLAM 235, the "New World Issue."
While Bueckers has already achieved remarkable success at the NCAA level, her story is far from over. With her sights set on a national championship, she continues to compete with unwavering determination. Whether she chooses to enter the WNBA draft this spring or utilizes her final year of college eligibility, Bueckers is undoubtedly the future of women's basketball.
Bueckers' significance to SLAM extends beyond her on-court achievements. She has been instrumental in SLAM's expansion into girls grassroots basketball, and her journey has been closely followed by the publication since the beginning. As she prepares to hear her name called at the WNBA Draft, SLAM is already planning an exciting way to document the next chapter of her remarkable journey.
Paige Bueckers holds a legendary status within the SLAM community. Her cover photo adorns a full wall inside SLAM HQ, serving as a constant reminder of her impact on the publication. She has paved the way for future generations of female basketball players, and SLAM is honored to have been a part of her incredible journey.
For the complete list of individuals who have influenced SLAM and its audience, I encourage you to read the full article and consider ordering a copy of SLAM 248, where the list was originally published. Together, let us celebrate the unforgettable characters who have left an indelible mark on the world of basketball.
