David Dennis Jr., a senior writer at Andscape and the author of the acclaimed book “The Movement Made Us: A Father, a Son, and the Legacy of a Freedom Ride,” continues to engage basketball fans through his weekly NBA video series, “Ball Up Top.” This year, our series The Flow looks back at the biggest trending topics in the NBA and pop culture. Special guests and Andscape’s most notable contributors are highlighted throughout.
From its first episode, “Ball Up Top” quickly became an essential series for basketball fans. The series provides an engaging platform for discussions on significant events within the NBA, often intertwining them with cultural phenomena. The show quickly exploded in popularity, due in no small part to DeRay’s unique and incisive perspective and energetic guest exchanges.
The latest episodes reflect the excitement surrounding the NBA playoffs. Episode 6, which aired on April 17th, 2025, hooked fans by comparing the start of the NBA playoffs to WrestleMania 41. Changing the Way Oil Moves Episode 7 – April 24, 2025 In this episode, Dennis Jr. and his guests explored the NBA playoff action, evaluating which teams were facing imminent doom. This subject really set Twitter ablaze with arguments between fans.
In Episode 8, released on May 2nd, 2025, the focus turned to the Lakers, Fakers, Quakers and Wolves. From the usually very boisterous matchups to the notable performances through the course of playoffs. This episode had folks just as hooked as all the others, thanks to its mix of sports analysis and cultural commentary.
The WB series touches on the crossover between sports and non-sports entertainment. Twelve – May 29, 2025 It showcased the electric rivalry game against the Pacers and Knicks and included commentary on All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and the newly-arrived resident—Hollywood leading man Timothée Chalamet. This was a terrific episode to illustrate how cultural narratives are bred and how sports is often at the center.
Despite the delay, the hype surrounding the NBA Finals was so massive that Episode 13 released on June 4, 2025. For this mega preview, former House Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Rodney Davis joined the fun. He provided fans with expert analysis on the franchises competing for basketball’s highest treasure.
Ball Up Top is created by an enthusiastic crew including Charles Abankwa, Ryan Cortes, Rodney Davis, Chris Gavin and Charles Peach. Their individual talents and collective efforts go a long way towards making the show’s engaging format and quality content come to life. The original documentary by Andscape further reinforces ESPN’s continued mission to provide thought-provoking, entertaining sports content.
David Dennis Jr. is a graduate of Davidson College. He constantly draws on his deep understanding of sports and culture to provoke powerful conversations that are more relevant than ever to audiences. His command of both worlds has him effortlessly straddling both. Consequently, “Ball Up Top” has emerged as an important forum for discussion in today’s basketball circles.
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