Durant Named BUCKETS’ Baller of the Year

Since Basketball Insiders launched in January, Brad Graham has collaborated with the editorial team on both our Trade Deadline and 2014 NBA Draft magazines as the brand’s Creative Director of Publications. But before joining the Insiders family, Brad could be found producing his own magazine, a passion project titled BUCKETS.

As a print publication romantic, Brad recently announced that there will be a new glossy, 100-page edition of BUCKETS Magazine available in time for the 2014-15 NBA season. Not only will this release look back on everything that mattered in 2014, it forecasts 2015 a little bit too.

At the conclusion of last season, Brad emailed the Basketball Insiders team (in tandem with inviting a few outside voices) to offer their take on the campaign that was. Taking his hoops analysis very seriously, Brad created 50 categories — covering the best and worst of the culture — to help steer what he dubbed the year’s Award Winners. The results of all that polling will finally be available in his soon-to-be-released print publication.

While the majority of results remain a closely guarded secret, we can announce that Kevin Durant has been named BUCKETS Magazine’s 2014 Baller of the Year. While certain San Antonio Spurs and LeBron James fans may feel upset, Brad tells Basketball Insiders that Durant is the worthy recipient and the magazine’s editorial explains why. With an emphasis on aesthetics, the Award Winners edition of BUCKETS Mag is also enveloped with a billposter inspired cover because, as Brad tells it, “everything K.D. related is now treated like a major event.”

In addition to the Durant spotlight, the magazine also includes: detailed breakdowns of all 30 NBA franchises as they prepare to battle for the Larry O’Brien trophy (or preferred lottery position); a look at San Antonio’s supremacy; the recent FIBA World Cup; celebrations of David Stern and Allen Iverson; and a focus on all the individuals who want to claim Durant’s “Baller of the Year” title.

As a parter of Brad’s latest project, Basketball Insiders’ readers are entitled to save $5.00 (on the RRP) with every pre-order. You can head over to the BUCKETS online store and secure your copy today.

The 8.5 x 11 inch magazine is ad free (so when it says 100 pages of content, that’s exactly what it means) and Brad informs Basketball Insiders that the cover price has been established to off-set the various creative, editing and production costs. Point being, this is an independent product in spirit, not production value.

The upcoming edition of BUCKETS Magazine will be printed on demand and on quality paper stock. Every pre-order includes free shipping and the first print run will commence on Wednesday, Oct. 1 — the magazine’s official release date — so you’ll have your copy in time for the late October season tip-off.

The pre-order window will remain open until the magazine officially goes on sale: Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014. If you have any questions, you can email Brad anytime at bgraham@basketallinsiders.com or tweet him @BackpackBaller.

Here is an early look at the magazine: