Blake Murphy Sports Writing

Title: ‘You’re really not far’: A week in the NBA’s minor league, where a moment could change everything
Date: February 17, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I spent a week with Raptors 905, the minor league affiliate of the Toronto Raptors, writing about what life is like in the G League and why so many players fight through such a tough grind with slim chances at achieving their dream. Read an excerpt!

Title: How Fred VanVleet became the face of AND1’s quest to reestablish position in the sneaker market
Date: February 7, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Fred VanVleet becoming the new face of AND1 and everything that went into that process. Read an excerpt!

Title: ‘That’s my one guy that I put up on a pedestal’: Death of Kobe Bryant hits Raptors and Spurs players hard
Date: January 26, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis: In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about the Raptors and Spurs playing through the loss of Kobe Bryant, Bryant’s impact on the roster, and the bonds basketball creates. Read an excerpt!

Title: Joey Votto on 25 years of Raptors fandom, whether he can still dunk, the greatest Raptor debate, and more
Date: January 15, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I interviewed Joey Votto about his 25 years as a Raptors fan, what it meant as a Canadian athlete to see the Raptors win the championship, whether he can still dunk, and more. Read an excerpt!

Title: The Oral History of the night Donyell Marshall hit 12 threes for the Raptors
Date: January 6, 2020
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote the oral history of Donyell Marshall’s record-setting 3-point shooting night for the Raptors in 2005. Read an excerpt!

Title: Q&A: Chuck Swirsky on 25 years of Raptors, salami & cheese, Vince Carter’s legacy, the greatest Raptor, and more
Date: December 27, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I interviewed former Raptors broadcaster Chuck Swirsky about his time with the team, watching the championship from afar, and more. Read an excerpt!

Title: How the Raptors brought Tyler Ennis home to recover, with hope for an NBA return
Date: December 5, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I wrote about Tyler Ennis’ comeback trail, from a fringe NBA career to a gruesome injury in Turkey to the doorstep of his hometown team. Read an excerpt!

Title: Book Excerpt: The inside story of Canadian Carl English’s heartbreaking 2003 NBA Draft night
Date: December 3, 2019
Original Source: The Athletic
Synopsis:  In my latest for The Athletic Toronto, I posted a chapter from the book I helped write, Chasing a Dream: The Carl English Story, about Carl English’s draft night in 2003. Read an excerpt!