Storyteller. Baller. Dad.
I'm a South Asian American, multiple Emmy-winning writer and producer, and a #1 Amazon Bestselling Scholastic author. My work has appeared in ESPN.com, NFL.com, The Wall Street Journal, The Orlando Sentinel, Sports Illustrated for Kids, Slam Magazine, and The Washington Post — including a viral essay on growing up as the son of "the real Apu."
Sports opened the door. Storytelling keeps me in the game.
Not making my middle school basketball team was a huge disappointment at the time. But looking back, it probably changed my life. Instead of playing the game, I started writing about it.
Five highlights. One long run.
How a Florida gas-station kid ended up courtside, on ESPN, at Tribeca, and on the Scholastic shelf. Roll the tape.
The Beginnings
A Jersey kid raised inside Florida gas stations and convenience stores, candy aisles, lottery tickets, baseball cards, and a million stories walking through the door.
The Press Pass
Fourteen years old. The Chicago Bulls walked into the high school gym. By the end of the week, I had a press pass and a plan.
The Career
The kid who grew up watching SportsCenter ended up making it, a decade at ESPN, four years at the NFL, and a full-circle return to the Orlando Magic.
The Books
Five years of writing. One graphic memoir. A middle-grade basketball trilogy. And a Scholastic deal that turned a kid's dream into a shelf.
Beyond Books
Storytelling kept expanding, into film, classrooms, and school assemblies. The most powerful stories still come from everyday people and places.
Still chasing stories.
Some happen in sports. Some happen in classrooms, bookstores, and film festivals. Some still begin in convenience stores. The goal has always stayed the same: tell stories that connect with people.
Meet the Books