Columbus

Columbus serves as the primary setting for Abdurraqib’s upbringing and for much of the book’s high school basketball narrative. It is depicted as a city of real hardship but also of vibrant community, where local players, coaches, and fans create networks of support and belonging. Abdurraqib uses Columbus to explore both the challenges of growing up there and the formative experiences that shaped his understanding of basketball, community, and identity.

Cleveland

Cleveland is depicted through the lens of its relationship with the Cavaliers and the rise of LeBron James. Abdurraqib explores the city’s collective hopes, disappointments, and celebrations, showing how sports function as a focal point for community identity. LeBron’s career is used as a way to trace Cleveland’s emotional landscape, from the elation of his early success to the sense of loss when he left, and finally to the catharsis of...