Basketball Superstars c. 1980s

Jack Davis, born in 1924, created this caricature of “Basketball Superstars.” Davis worked during a time of significant change in American sports, as basketball was becoming increasingly popular and integrated. The work captures the larger-than-life personas of basketball icons. Davis exaggerates the physical traits of the players to emphasize the entertainment and spectacle of the sport. The decision to depict them as caricatures suggests the societal pressures placed on athletes, reducing them to simplified versions of themselves for public consumption. During this time, basketball became a stage where issues of race, class, and identity were negotiated in a very public way. While celebrating individual achievements, Davis's caricature also hints at the cultural dynamics and stereotypes that surrounded these athletes. The image captures the energy and enthusiasm associated with the sport, but also hints at the complex narratives that lie beneath the surface.