I'm Daniel Waddleton, and This is The Fast Break Forum

Hey there! I’m the mind behind The Fast Break Forum -- a senior at the University of South Carolina, majoring in Sport and Entertainment Management, and a lifelong basketball fanatic.

 

Basketball is in my blood. My grandfather and father both played college ball, and while I didn’t live up to their on-court legacy, I had my own playing career. From driveway drills with my dad to AAU weekends and high school games, basketball was my childhood. But it was more then just playing for me, I’ve always had a deep fascination with this beautiful game.

 

Growing up on the East Coast, I remember staying up way too late watching my Portland Trail Blazers on ESPN, only to drag myself onto the bus the next morning. My 10-year-old self felt sleeping through the first 15 minutes of math was a small price to pay, Damian Lillard was must-see TV.

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As a young teenager, I thought sports broadcasting was my future. Those classic Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy calls left an impact on me. My first glimpse into the sports industry was the sports broadcasting camp I attended in high school. In college, I explored the sports business world, attending industry conferences, worked at the Masters Tournament, and recently interning at FOX Sports in Los Angeles, where I got a behind-the-scenes look at how live sports are scheduled and produced.  

 

Yet no matter where I was or what I was doing, I always made time for the NBA. If a big game interfered with homework or a Friday night out, League Pass was my first stop the next morning. Whether it’s listening to podcasts, watching film breakdowns, or reading basketball books, it’s beyond just fandom, I’m obsessed with understanding the game.

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I realized in the spring of 2023 that modern basketball coverage doesn't always do the game justice. Hot takes are fun, and big-picture legacy debates always draw attention, but I don't think we get beneath the hood enough. I wanted a space where I could blend traditional NBA discourse with a sharper focus on film study and analytics.

 

That’s why I started The Fast Break Forum. I first launched the blog in the fall of 2023 but quickly realized my writing needed work. So, I took a step back, spent the last year taking journalism classes, and sharpened my skills. Now, I’m back and ready to dive into the NBA from every angle -- big-picture narratives, film analysis, on-off splits, betting odds, and everything in between.

 

If you love thoughtful basketball conversation, I hope you’ll stick around. Welcome to The Fast Break Forum!