The phrase represents a standard sort of puzzle immediate encountered whereas finishing a crossword. The topic of the clue is an athlete who performs skilled basketball within the Nationwide Basketball Affiliation and is related to one of many groups situated throughout the geographical boundaries of a significant American metropolis. For instance, a attainable reply could possibly be “LIN,” referencing Jeremy Lin’s time with the New York Knicks.
Such a clue gives a number of benefits to the puzzle creator. It combines readily understood classes a selected sport, a geographical location, and a sort of particular person. This permits for a variety of potential solutions relying on the particular constraints of the puzzle grid. It additionally faucets right into a available physique of data, as many people are aware of skilled sports activities groups and their gamers. The historic significance lies within the enduring recognition of crosswords and the fixed presence of sports activities figures in standard tradition, making a pure intersection for clue creation.