In Inua Ellams’s new play, “The Half-God of Rainfall,” the gods play thunderous games of basketball in the heavens. Basketball hasn’t just been on the playgrounds of New York City this summer. While basketball is not as popular as, say, American football, its cultural reach surpasses that of other American team sports because its players are among the most publicly recognizable. “Watching a basketball game is the same excitement I get from watching great theater,” said Taibi Magar, the director of “The Half-God of Rainfall.” “It’s like embodied conflict. When you’re watching Broadway, you feel just like you’re watching N.B.A.

---

Persons: Rajiv Joseph’s “ King James, ”, LeBron James, Basketball hasn’t, Taibi Magar, “, It’s, you’re Organizations: Forbes Locations: Arkansas, New York City