For man on a mission, Memphis Grizzlies were part of something bigger

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. 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. 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.