I'll start by saying, as I always do, that I haven't been particularly intrigued by SLAM's writing nor the general setup of the magazine. I think the little blurbs they do (where they make comparisons between players and actors) is flat and uninteresting. I also find their player profiles and stories to oftentimes be quite generic, though I've sensed a will to change that recently. The Old School section or the stories from contributing authors (not SLAM staff writers) seem to have best held my attention over the past few years.
With all that said, I've collected the magazine since '97. The quality of material with which they're made combined with their wide array of sharp pictures and the ability for them to be used as time capsules (if one ever feels like reading a blurb on an up-and-coming high schooler named Tracy McGrady) makes SLAM magazines easy to hang on to. Each issue is kind of like a miniature book, so I'd feel bad if I were to just throw it away. There's still something cool about seeing the new SLAM cover to me.
Now, my totally biased contribution:
I think it's cool when SLAM's covers aren't just players posing, seemingly upset with the world, while sitting on their Bentley with $2.5 million dollars worth the chains hanging from their neck. So NBA Finals covers tend to be winners for me, as they're action shots. Also, I thought the full red look was sweet, and I love the Pistons. Victory all around.