Introducing The Subby Gang Discord

The real subby gang is the friends we made along the way

Starting this substack has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my time covering the Pelicans. The absolute best part about this journey has been you guys. The thoughtful emails, comments, texts, and twitter discussion make everything enjoyable. It is a small, yet mighty community, and we are growing. The community is the whole reason I started this venture - and while I think we have had success in building it, it’s time to take it to the next level.

I want to provide a centralized space where like minded individuals can interact with each other on a regular basis. This space will not be dependent on my posting frequency (great news for you guys, I know). More importantly, it will be a place where we can all hangout and chop it up at any time. I am partnering with the good folks over at the Pelicans’ Discord to carve out an In The N.O. specific space.

The goal is to create the single best place for high level Pelicans discussion. I know for me, Twitter and other social media spaces can get tiring and toxic. They are unmoderated, and frankly, many interactions are unwelcome. Our space will be curated with quality discussion topics and allow all of you the freedom to drive the conversation. For folks seeking an additional casual setting - the greater Pelicans Discord server would be able to provide that outlet as well. This is why I partnered with them - to help grow an existing community and bring us together.

Here Is What I Have Planned For Us

• Exclusive Channels: Channels dedicated to the subby gang. Not only will these be a place for discussion, but you’ll be the first and often only group to experience my thought process on big picture questions. There are so many thoughts I have about team build and the NBA, what better group to bounce ideas off?

• ️Direct Line to Me: Forget faceless interactions - jump into bi-weekly voice chat sessions and ask me anything. Think spaces, but more curated. A regular fireside chat where we all get an opportunity to interact with each other.

• Powerhouse Discussions: Leave the shallow chit-chat behind. This server is for those who crave deep dives, insightful analysis, and intellectual sparring. You want analytical deep dives on niche topics? You want a forum to share your own findings with like minded nerds? This will be the spot.

• ️‍Insider Scoop: We aren’t called In The N.O. for nothing. You’ll be the first to have a pulse on the inner workings of the team from someone who covers them in a way others can’t.

How This Will Work

I’ve long thought about how best to go about this. Keeping the content on this substack FREE is my number one priority. I do not believe in paywalls, and I have never been in this for the money. Trust me, no one is getting rich off writing about shooter configurations in lineups. This substack will remain FREE for as long as I keep writing. We are, however, getting to the point where it would be fiscally irresponsible for me to not turn on the pledges. The pledges are completely voluntary from those awesome folks who want to support me.

So here’s how we’re going to do it. I am going to turn on paid subscriptions. The paid subscriptions will be completely voluntary and not necessary to read any of the posts on here or access any of the podcasts. The content will always be free. But the paid subscribers will get access to the discord and all the goodies that come with it. The paid subscribers will also be the only people allowed to ask mail bag questions. Don’t worry, I will still post my responses FREE. The content will remain FREE, I want to keep emphasizing this. The paywall will be there to ensure quality for the discord, but also give y’all a sense of ownership too. It is, after all, a place for you to hangout and discuss.

We will keep building out perks for the paid subscribers as this community grows, but for now, the focus will be on the discord channels. Starting Thursday 1/18 - I will turn on paid subscriptions. At this point, everyone who has pledged money will convert into a paid subscriber. I will send an email to all the paid subscribers with the invitation to the discord channel. If you are not a pledged subscriber, you can pledge at any time. If you are currently a pledged subscriber and no longer wish to be, you can revoke your pledge at any time! I want this to be completely voluntary and stress free for folks.

I have no idea how this journey will go, but I am a strong believer that even a small, tight knit community will be an incredibly fun group of people to interact with. I am excited to take this step with you and see where it all goes.

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Edit 1/19/24: THE DISCORD IS NOW LIVE. You will now need to become a paid subscriber for access. All pledges should have converted and given you the option to become a paid subscriber. New subscribers will need to choose their subscription plan.