Sports content creator Justin Leusner had wrestled with the idea for years. Every time the NBA schedule was released, he wondered if it was finally the right time.
Eventually, he decided it was.
Leusner, who has built a YouTube following of more than 223,000 subscribers, put a plan in place in October to attempt something no NBA fan has publicly accomplished — visit all 30 NBA arenas in 30 days.
Advertisement
The challenge came with strict guidelines: Attend every game from start to finish, collect physical proof of attendance and raise $100,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Leusner, 23, arrived in Memphis on March 18 as his 22nd stop. He picked a good night to visit — the Grizzlies snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating the Denver Nuggets 125-118.
Sports content creator Justin Leusner is at FedExForum while attempting to visit 30 NBA arenas in 30 days
There was little time to enjoy it. He was scheduled to head to New Orleans next, followed by stops across Texas and the West Coast.
Even by NBA standards, the journey is extreme.
“If I had the time, that would be something to do,” Grizzlies rookie Cedric Coward said. “Shoutout to him. Put me on your YouTube channel.”
Advertisement
“I might have to take a nap during the game or something like that,” Jaylen Wells said with a laugh. “Yeah, I’m not doing that.”
Inside the journey to Memphis
Leusner arrived in Memphis from Charlotte, North Carolina, after attending a Hornets game. Now more than three weeks into the trip, the toll is evident.
He has lost 10 pounds of muscle. He’s dealing with headaches and congestion. Sleep often comes in short bursts — sometimes as little as an hour.
As Leusner explains it, a challenge like this isn’t possible alone. With help from his team and Make-A-Wish, he raised roughly $80,000 to cover flights, rental cars and other travel expenses. The NBA also has been helpful with coordinating events in some arenas.
Advertisement
For the most part, the plan held — until Day 18.
A travel disruption in Atlanta caused Leusner to miss the first half of a game in Toronto.
“We tried everything — flights, nearby cities, driving, train, even private jet options,” Leusner said. “Nothing worked.”
The delay forced a complete reset. After spending 10 to 12 hours mapping out a precise 30-day schedule, Leusner had to reshuffle his route. Memphis became his 22nd stop on Day 23.
At one point in Toronto, he considered giving up.
“Every Make-A-Wish kid we ask says ‘Never give up,’ ” Leusner said. “So we kept going. We adjusted the route, rebooked everything, and we’re continuing.”
Advertisement
Doing it for a cause
The driving force behind Leusner’s journey is his fundraising goal for Make-A-Wish.
He has already raised more than $32,000 but is aiming for $100,000.
“And the biggest thing is they grant wishes during games,” Leusner said. “That’s perfect for content. In San Antonio, we saw a kid get his wish, and the whole arena was chanting his name. His parents were crying.”
Still, the uncertainty of fundraising has been the most difficult part.
“That part is tough because I can’t control it,” he said. “I can control the content and effort, but not donations.”
Originally, Leusner also hoped to set a Guinness World Record. After the Toronto setback, that goal seemed out of reach.
Advertisement
But on March 18, Guinness informed him the record is still attainable — as long as he completes the journey in under 90 days.
Leusnar plans to go back to Toronto and catch the start of a game before ending his trip.
Sports content creator Justin Leusner is at FedExForum while attempting to visit 30 NBA arenas in 30 days
Memphis impressions
After 21 stops, Leusner has seen a wide range of NBA arenas. Still, FedExForum stood out.
The Vancouver throwback jerseys, unique hardwood design and Chick-fil-A Fan Deck were among his favorite visual elements.
“I love when arenas aren’t just bland and they have art,” Leusner said. “There’s a lot of art here.”
His favorite Grizzlies player is Cam Spencer, whom he met during All-Star Weekend. He described the rookie guard as “so chill.”
Advertisement
Leusner arrived in Memphis early in the afternoon, appearing on local TV before grabbing a burger and heading to the arena.
Before leaving, he had a few goals: snap a selfie with Grizz, the team mascot, and try the city’s arena-famous food.
After searching for the best item at a Grizzlies game, he settled on Rendezvous’ BBQ nachos.
They didn’t disappoint.
“The nachos were so scrumptious,” Leusner said. “I was very impressed. I don’t even love barbecue sauce, but it rebuilt a lot of trust. The barbecue-to-queso ratio was excellent, and the chips weren’t stale like in other arenas.”
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies host NBA YouTuber attempting Guinness World Record