What’s shakin’, bacon? Specifically, we’re asking Dwayne Bacon. We desperately hope he’s reading, but he may be too busy hooping in Dubai . 🇦🇪 

Today’s Lineup

❤️ Kids Seek Hoops Amid Congo’s Conflict

In Goma, a city on the Congo–Rwanda border, bursts of gunfire echo as the Congolese army battles the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels. But when the streets finally quiet, kids grab their sneakers and head to Promo Jeune Basket (P.J.B.), a youth basketball academy that’s been running for more than 20 years.

P.J.B. isn’t your typical AAU program. It’s 11 cracked concrete courts tucked between tin-roofed houses and volcanic rock walls. On a normal day, about 1,500 kids show up to hoop, from little ones still learning to dribble to 22-year-olds squeezing out one last run. The rhythm of basketballs on pavement has become the city’s own version of background music, and the dozens of Congolese children weaving, passing, and shooting is its dance.

The academy’s most famous alum is Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga, whose mural now watches over the courts. But the real mission isn’t producing pros. Founder Jean-Claude Merlo runs things with a simple rule: no school, no hoops. Scholarships go to the best students, and the game becomes a way to keep kids locked in on their education.

Of course, life in Goma makes that harder than most of us could imagine. Some players have had to flee across borders, others lost family members, and a few never returned after joining the Congolese Army. Yet, through it all, the courts stay busy.

Basketball in Goma doesn’t erase the conflict, but it offers something essential: stability, focus, and hope. And in a city where consistency is rare, the sound of a ball hitting concrete has become its own kind of anchor.

The New York Times wrote a great story on this topic recently, and we highly recommend reading it as a deeper way to appreciate our game and what it can bring to people around the world!

🐴 Jokic Wins Another (Horse) Award

Once again, Nikola Jokic is a champion. Champagne? Flowing. Tears? Streaming. But this time, he’s not holding the Larry O’Brien. He’s celebrating a horse race in Serbia.

Jokic’s prized steed Demon Dell’Est absolutely dusted the competition at the Duzijanac event in Serbia, one of the country’s biggest races 🐎. The win was so dominant, it felt like watching the equestrian version of Jokic’s 30/20/20 game this year .

Once his Demon cemented the win, Jokic burst into tears and couldn’t stop hugging the horse and jockey, who could probably fit in Jokic’s pocket 😭 

It’s hilarious that the best basketball player in the world by a country mile is a 7-foot horse dad whose proudest championship moment might’ve come with hooves rather than hoops.

And more power too him! Because no one can question his work ethic or passion for the game. You don’t become this good at anything without a generational drive for greatness. 🚀 

After weeks of scrimmages, official play for EuroBasket 2025 tips off this Wednesday. It’s basically Europe’s version of March Madness, just with more accents and fewer brackets.

Spain 🇪🇸 are the defending champs after beating France in 2022, but all eyes are on Serbia 🇷🇸, led by Nikola Jokić. The Serbian MVP will bang in the low post against his new Nuggets backup, Jonas Valanciunas, and a deep Lithuania 🇱🇹 squad.

Giannis and Luka have absolute carry jobs ahead of them for Greece 🇬🇷 and Slovenia 🇸🇮. France 🇫🇷  is hot off their Olympics silver medal, while Germany 🇩🇪 looks to build on its 2023 FIBA World Cup title. But who do you got?

Signing Off

Thanks for giving us a few minutes of your Sunday! Obviously this will be the highlight of your day (duh), but we hope the rest is equally great! ✌️🫡 

Conor Geelan