In July, a round of layoffs at Vice hit the media company’s Vice Sports vertical particularly hard. Several employees who worked in that division, including editor-in-chief Jorge Arangure, lost their jobs, but Vice is still committed to the production of compelling videos that feature the off-the-court lives of pro athletes. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it has partnered with the NBA for a multi-year deal that will begin with a series called The Way We Ball.
In The Way We Ball, up-and-coming NBA players will return to the courts they grew up on and will have an opportunity to reconnect with their roots. Athletes who will be featured in the series will include the phenomenal young superstar Joel Embiid and Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (pictured above). Episodes will go live across the Vice Sports distribution network, which remains active in spite of the recent layoffs. The latest video on the vertical’s YouTube is a look into the home life of another NBA star, Jimmy Bulter.
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“The NBA has done a great job of positioning itself at the forefront of global sports, both on and off the court, and as we continue to expand our content offering in the sports space, it’s an incredibly exciting league to partner and grow with,” said Vice Sports publisher Will Kiersky. “Exploring global youth culture and sports through the lens of NBA players will make an amazing series.”
The Way We Ball is expected to premiere sometime this fall. The NBA will return for its next season on October 17.
