Basketball is more than competition—it’s creativity, design, music, and a way of shaping culture. In this second part of our pilot episode, we explore the game’s influence through two stories that highlight its reach beyond the court:

Design, Vision & Influence: Tokyo’s Premiere Basketball Café
In 1990, Slam Dunk introduced a generation to basketball in Japan. Years later, its creator, Takehiko Inoue, painted the walls of Coast2Coast, a Tokyo café built entirely around the culture of the game. For owner Megumi Wakazaki, basketball isn’t just a sport—it’s a sense of belonging. Her café is more than a place to watch games; it’s a community hub where hoops, art, and design converge.

A Deep Dive into the NBA Live 2003 Soundtrack
The only video game soundtrack to ever go platinum, NBA Live 2003 set a new standard for how music and sports interact. Two decades later, Will Gendron takes us inside its legacy—how it shaped sports video game soundtracks, influenced pop culture, and laid the foundation for today’s hyper-immersive gaming experiences. With insights from those who crafted its release, we look back at a time when basketball video games were simpler, before they became full-fledged lifestyle brands.

The Team Behind the Franchise Podcast:

Produced by Big Beach and Franchise Magazine. 

Executive Producers: Kieron Banerji, Brittany Reeber, Michael B Clark, and Justin Montag

Marketing and Communications: _general population

Audio Production by Palm Tree Island

Contributors: Will Gendron, Megumi Wakazaki, and Thisanka Siripala

Creative: Samurai Snacks.