2022 marked another transformative year for basketball around the world. 

The Golden State Warriors reminded fans why they are the preeminent dynasty of the last 15 years, returning to glory with an NBA championship. Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces finally arrived, winning their first WNBA title in franchise history behind an MVP campaign from A'ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray's historic postseason.

Kansas captured a men's national championship and South Carolina reach the women's mountaintop. Spain outdueled superstars en route to a EuroBasket title. And we've now flipped back around to an NBA season with the most superstar and team parity the league has seen in ages.

Of course, this year also reminded us of basketball's intersection with facets — and flaws — of our society. Robert Sarver is out as owner of the Phoenix Suns after an investigation revealed a toxic workplace environment spearheaded by his own disciminatory acts. Ime Udoka is serving a coaching suspension with the Boston Celtics for his own team infractions involving a relationship with another member of the organization.

Brittney Griner spent 10 months in a Russian prison on minor drug possession charges before the U.S. government arranged an exchange to bring her home — a story rooted in tragedy, though we finally celebrated her return earlier this month.

Basketball News was there for it all, and captured the stories, highlights and nuances of the sport with feature reporting, film analysis, podcast storytelling and more. Take a look at some of our staff's best work this calendar year:

FEATURE STORIES AND PROFILES

Tyrese Haliburton won't let trade 'resentment' define new era with Pacers — by Alex Kennedy

Growing apart together: Caleb and Cody Martin have flourished on their own — by Mark Schindler

How sports nutrition and biometrics are evolving NBA training — by Ethan Fuller

Jeremy Sochan, a 'citizen of the world,' sets course for the NBA — by Ethan Fuller

Outwork everybody: Two-way rookie Jamal Cain catches you sleeping — by Spencer Davies

Changing of the guard: The future of screening is here — by Nekias Duncan

After benching, Mavs' Josh Green is 'more motivated than ever' — by Alex Kennedy

PLAYER EXCLUSIVES

Wendell Carter Jr.: Turning up his game and turning up Orlando — by Mark Schindler

Omer Yurtseven's 'crazy' work ethic fits perfectly with the Heat — by Drew Maresca

Reggie Bullock hopes to take career resurgence into NBA playoffs — by Dorothy J. Gentry

Trey Murphy III ready to make his presence felt in Year 2 with Pelicans — by Ethan Fuller

The Connector: Malik Monk's infectious energy breathes life into Kings — by Spencer Davies

Real-deal rookie: How Andrew Nembhard has already wowed the Pacers — by Spencer Davies

Izaiah Brockington hopes his unique journey culminates in NBA success — by Spencer Davies

Through her eyes: How Chelsea Gray sees what you can't — by Nekias Duncan

Jakob Poeltl: The San Antonio Spurs' newest watchful protector — by Mat Issa

Marcin Gortat: 'A lot of people owe John Wall an apology — by Etan Thomas

Hornets' Jalen McDaniels thriving after 'taking the long route' to NBA — by Alex Kennedy

FILM BREAKDOWNS

2021-22 All-NBA Teams: Praising this season's 15 best players — by Nekias Duncan, Jackson Frank and Mark Schindler

Stephen Curry's defense continues to shine for the Warriors — by Jackson Frank

Shakira Austin is showing out for the Washington Mystics — by Mark Schindler

Screen Time Vol. 1: Highlighting the NBA's best and worst screeners — by Nekias Duncan

There are no good answers for the Chris Paul-Deandre Ayton duo — by Nekias Duncan

Introducing the 2021-22 NBA Superlative Awards — by Nekias Duncan

How to slow down Giannis Antetokounmpo: Is the wall still the way? — by Mat Issa

DATA-CENTRIC ANALYSIS

NBA Stats Notebook: A deep dive into the Celtics' dominant offense — by Ethan Fuller

Evaluating how 10 NBA superstars have changed as creators over time — by Ethan Fuller

NBA Stats Notebook: Immanuel Quickley's unusual shot diet can work — by Ethan Fuller

Should Suns give Deandre Ayton a max deal? Positional value says no — by Evan Sidery

NBA Study: Is the top scorer typically the best player on the team? — by Mat Issa

Which markets deliver the highest TV ratings for national NBA games? — by Alex Kennedy

How the NBA became a social-media juggernaut — by Alex Kennedy

TOPICAL ANALYSIS

We need to talk about Ben Simmons — by Mark Schindler

The truth about 'player empowerment' in the NBA — by Imman Adan

Why teaming up with Bronny could be LeBron James' greatest accomplishment — by James Posey

End of an Era: A salute to the defiance of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum — by Bryan Fonseca

How the NBA's Play-In Tournament made winners of us all — by Moke Hamilton

NBA Expansion Mock Draft: What would a new expansion team look like? — by Evan Sidery

Delving into the significance of Summer League for NBA teams, prospects — by Nekias Duncan

Reflecting on weight-related jokes in sports and the harm they cause — by Alex Kennedy

Is it ethical for the media to pay NBA employees for leaked footage? — by Etan Thomas

Howard Beck explains differences in Donald Sterling, Robert Sarver cases — by Etan Thomas

HISTORICAL REFLECTION

Understanding Stephen Curry's gravity and a 2015 Finals MVP gaffe — by Imman Adan

Here's the story of the time the Nuggets traded me and didn't tell me — by James Posey

Blazing the Trail: Chris Webber, the read-and-react king — by Mat Issa (be sure to check out all 10 parts of his Blazing the Trail series)

Did you know Michael Jordan was an MVP candidate with the Wizards? — by Bryan Fonseca

25 years ago, the Mavericks scored just 2 points in an entire quarter — by Bryan Fonseca

ABCD Camp: The mecca of high school basketball circa 2001 — by Matt Babcock

NBA and WNBA FINALS

How the Warriors stymied Celtics' two-point creation in NBA Finals Game 2 — by Ethan Fuller

Breaking down 7 plays that defined the Warriors' Game 5 victory — by Jackson Frank

How Andrew Wiggins changed his career trajectory with Warriors — by Evan Sidery

Enjoying the journey, through the lens of Jayson Tatum — by Nekias Duncan

Bidding adieu to the 2021-22 NBA season: Final(s) Thoughts — by Mark Schindler

WNBA Finals: How will Aces and Sun attack each other in half-court? — by Nekias Duncan

WNBA Finals: Curt Miller on Game 1 ending, Sun's strategy vs. Aces — by Nekias Duncan

Becky Hammon's coaching influences showed in Aces' WNBA title run — by Nekias Duncan

NBA DRAFT AND SCOUTING

Experience or upside? Weighing pros, cons of older NBA Draft prospects — by Alex Kennedy

How NBA Draft prospect Jake LaRavia got 2 years younger overnight — by Alex Kennedy

David Roddy keys in on NBA glue-guy role after Colorado State breakout — by Spencer Davies

2022 NBA Draft Q&A: Ohio State's Malaki Branham leans on resilience — by Matt Babcock

2022 NBA Draft Q&A: Alabama's Keon Ellis on path from JUCO, his game — by Derek Murray

2022 NBA Mock Draft: June 17, 2022 — by Matt Babcock

Is Purdue's Jaden Ivey a star in the making? — by Matt Babcock

2022 NBA Draft: Pre-Tourney look at A.J. Griffin — by Blake Hairston

HoopHall Classic recap: Class of 2022 — by Matt Babcock

PODCASTS

Legendary 'Coach K' Mike Krzyzewski talks Duke, USA Basketball, more — The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins

Bob Costas discusses Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, crazy ABA stories, more —The Rex Chapman Show with Josh Hopkins 

Tracy McGrady on his Hall-of-Fame career, the NBA's Age Limit, Kobe Bryant Stories, the Ones League, More — The Alex Kennedy Podcast

Ice Cube on The Big3's Growth, his dream signing, his NBA Mount Rushmore, More — The Alex Kennedy Podcast

Ten* Things with Zach Lowe — The Dunker Spot

2022-23 NBA season prediction time with Doris Burke — The Dunker Spot

Brittney Sykes + NBA Finals Game 2 thoughts — The Dunker Spot

Rabbi Harry Rozenberg on antisemitism, Kyrie Irving's suspension, Nets' six steps to return, ADL — The Rematch with Etan Thomas

NBA Hall-of-Famer, Georgetown coach Patrick Ewing talks Knicks days, Hoyas' turnaround, Oakley — The Rematch with Etan Thomas

Who are the 10 best undrafted players in NBA history? — The Goods

Bayou Bully — Clipps and Drew Episode 260

Wembanyama wows, rough draft of 2022-23 NBA season predictions: Keepin' It 94