There’s Always This Year by Hanif Abdurraqib

There’s something magical about the squeak of sneakers on a polished court, the swish of a perfect shot, the roar of a hometown crowd. Basketball has a way of weaving itself into the fabric of communities, becoming more than just a game—it’s a shared language, a cultural touchstone, a beacon of hope. In “There’s Always This Year,” Hanif Abdurraqib dribbles effortlessly between personal memoir, cultural criticism, and a love letter to his home state of Ohio, using basketball—and the towering figure of LeBron James—as the through-line that connects it all.

The Lay of the Land

Abdurraqib, known for his lyrical prose and keen cultural insights, brings his poetic sensibilities to the world of hoops. This isn’t your typical sports book filled with stats and play-by-plays. Instead, it’s a deeply personal exploration of what basketball means to a place, a people, and one writer’s journey through life.

The book is structured loosely around the career arc of LeBron James, from his high school days as a phenom in Akron to his eventual return to Cleveland as a conquering hero. But LeBron is more of a gravitational center than the sole focus. Abdurraqib uses this framework to explore wider themes of talent, expectation, success, and what it means to be from somewhere.

Highlights from the Court

Some of the book’s most powerful moments come when Abdurraqib delves into his own experiences:

• His memories of watching local high school stars like Kenny Gregory, weaving their stories into the larger tapestry of Ohio basketball lore.
• Reflections on his father, and the singular time he saw him shoot a basketball.
• The community that forms around neighborhood courts, where reputations are made and dreams take flight.

Abdurraqib has a gift for finding profound meaning in seemingly small moments. A missed free throw becomes a meditation on pressure and expectation. The trajectory of a jump shot mirrors the arc of a life.

More Than a Game

While basketball is the connective tissue, “There’s Always This Year” touches on so much more:

• The economics of hope in struggling Rust Belt cities
• Race, class, and the complex dynamics of who gets to “make it”
• The weight of being a hometown hero
• The bittersweet nature of leaving a place you love

Abdurraqib’s prose soars when he explores these deeper themes. He has a knack for finding the universal in the specific, making readers feel the pulse of Ohio life even if they’ve never set foot in the state.

The LeBron Effect

LeBron James looms large throughout the book, but Abdurraqib resists the urge to simply lionize or criticize. Instead, he presents a nuanced portrait of what LeBron means to Ohio:

• The immense pressure placed on a teenage phenomenon
• The complex emotions surrounding “The Decision” to leave for Miami
• The catharsis of the 2016 NBA Championship

Abdurraqib captures how LeBron’s journey became intertwined with the hopes and dreams of an entire region.

Slam Dunks and Airballs

What Soars:

• Abdurraqib’s prose is, as always, a thing of beauty. His ability to blend poetry and cultural criticism is unmatched.
• The personal anecdotes ground the larger narrative, making it feel intimate and relatable.
• The book offers fresh perspectives on well-trodden ground, finding new angles to explore LeBron’s impact.
• It captures the essence of Midwest basketball culture in a way few writers have managed.

Room for Improvement:

• The non-linear structure can occasionally feel disjointed, making it challenging to follow the chronology.
• Some readers might crave more straightforward basketball analysis alongside the poetic musings.
• A few sections meander, losing focus on the central themes.
• The book assumes a certain level of basketball knowledge that might leave some casual readers feeling lost.

The Final Buzzer

“There’s Always This Year” is a slam dunk for fans of Abdurraqib’s previous work like “A Little Devil in America” or “Go Ahead in the Rain.” It’s also a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of sports, culture, and place. While it may not satisfy hardcore stats junkies, it offers something far richer—a deeply felt exploration of what basketball means to a community, and how the dreams we pin on athletes reflect our own hopes and fears.

Abdurraqib’s writing shines brightest when he’s weaving together seemingly disparate threads. He’ll start with a memory of a high school game, zoom out to discuss economic anxiety in the Rust Belt, then bring it all back to a single moment of transcendence on the court. It’s in these connections that the true magic of the book lies.

“There’s Always This Year” is a beautiful, thoughtful book that will stick with you long after the final page. It’s not without its flaws—the occasionally meandering structure and assumption of basketball knowledge might frustrate some readers. However, the sheer poetry of Abdurraqib’s prose and the depth of his insights more than make up for these minor quibbles.

For Fans Of:

• “Friday Night Lights” by H.G. Bissinger (for its exploration of sports and community)
• “The Breaks of the Game” by David Halberstam (for its literary approach to basketball)
• “Between the World and Me” by Ta-Nehisi Coates (for its blend of personal narrative and cultural criticism)

A Timeout for Reflection

Reading “There’s Always This Year” feels like sitting on a porch with a wise friend, watching a pickup game as the sun sets. Abdurraqib’s voice is so distinct, so steeped in both love and clear-eyed criticism of his home state, that you can’t help but be drawn in. He makes you care about Ohio basketball even if you’ve never watched a game in your life.

The book serves as a reminder that sports are never just about what happens on the court. They’re about community, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and where we come from. In Abdurraqib’s hands, a missed shot becomes poetry, and a championship run becomes a metaphor for an entire region’s struggles and triumphs.

Beyond the Arc

While “There’s Always This Year” is ostensibly about basketball, its true power lies in how it uses the sport as a lens to examine broader issues. Abdurraqib touches on race, class, and the complex dynamics of talent and opportunity in America. He explores what it means to be from somewhere, and the bittersweet reality of leaving a place you love.

The book doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. Abdurraqib grapples with the violence that sometimes touches basketball communities, the economic realities that shape young athletes’ choices, and the weight of expectation placed on teenage shoulders. These heavier moments are balanced by genuine joy and moments of transcendence found on blacktops and in arenas.

The Sixth Man: You, the Reader

One of the book’s greatest strengths is how it invites the reader to reflect on their own relationship with place and community. Even if you’ve never set foot in Ohio or picked up a basketball, Abdurraqib’s writing taps into universal experiences of belonging, hope, and the search for meaning.

As you read, you might find yourself thinking about the local legends from your hometown, the community gathering spots that shaped your youth, or the dreams you pinned on long-shot chances. It’s this ability to make the specific feel universal that elevates “There’s Always This Year” from a simple sports book to something far more profound.

Closing Thoughts: More Than a Game

“There’s Always This Year” is a testament to the power of sports as a cultural force. It’s about basketball, yes, but it’s also about so much more. It’s about the stories we tell ourselves, the heroes we create, and the places that shape us. Abdurraqib has crafted a love letter not just to LeBron James or Ohio basketball, but to the very idea of home and what it means to belong somewhere.

While the book occasionally loses focus or assumes too much prior knowledge, these are minor fouls in an otherwise spectacular game. Abdurraqib’s prose soars, his insights cut deep, and his love for his subject matter shines through on every page.

For anyone who’s ever found meaning in a game, felt the pull of home, or grappled with the complex emotions of leaving and returning, “There’s Always This Year” is a must-read. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most profound truths can be found in the arc of a jump shot or the squeak of sneakers on a worn court. Abdurraqib has given us more than just a book about basketball—he’s given us a poetic exploration of the human experience, filtered through the lens of a simple orange ball and a hoop.