Best of
Basketball

2016

Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant


Roland Lazenby - 2016
    What made Kobe Bryant tick so loud for so long? Lazenby shows you with a tour de force in reporting and an intimate inspection at Bryant's trials, accomplishments and tribulations." -- Jonathan Abrams, author of Boys Among Men "With the publication of Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant, it is high time we recognized author Roland Lazenby for what he has become: the finest sports biographer of our time. First with the astonishing Michael Jordan: The Life and now his having written an incredibly researched, beautifully written biography of this enigmatic Laker superstar, Lazenby has entered rarified air: one is wowed by what one learns and at the same time you can't wait to read what comes next." -- Peter Golenbock, author of ten New York Times bestsellers Eighteen-time all-star; scorer of 81 points in a game; MVP and a shooting guard second only to Jordan in league history: Kobe Bryant is one of basketball's absolute greatest players, a fascinating and complicated character who knew when he was a mere boy that he would be better than Jordan on the court. The debate about whether he achieved that is a furious one--but Kobe has surpassed Jordan on the all-time scoring list and has only one less championship than Jordan (5 to Jordan's 6). He is set to retire after the 2015/16 season, just in time for Roland Lazenby's definitive biography of the player and the man.The Lakers are the flashiest team in all of sports, and the context in which Bryant played is salacious and exciting. Provocative stories mixed with good old fashioned basketball reporting make for a riveting and essential read for any hoops fan.

The Legends Club: Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Valvano, and an Epic College Basketball Rivalry


John Feinstein - 2016
    Duke's new man was Mike Krzyzewski. The only problem was, no one knew who Krzyzewski was, he had a so-so record in his short time as head coach of Army, and worst of all, no one could even pronounce his name. The announcement caused head scratches . . . if not immediate calls for his head . . . and on this note his career at Duke began.      The table was set nine days later, when on March 27, 1980, Jim Valvano was hired by North Carolina State to be their new head coach. The hiring didn't raise as many eyebrows, but with the exuberant Valvano on board, two new coaches were now in place to challenge Dean Smith—and the most sensational competitive decade in history was about to unfold.      In the skillful hands of John Feinstein, this extraordinary rivalry—and the men behind it—come to life in a unique, intimate way. The Legends Club is a sports book that captures an era in American sport and culture, documenting the inside view of a decade of absolutely incredible competition. Feinstein pulls back the curtain on the recruiting wars, the intensely personal competition that wasn't always friendly, the enormous pressure and national stakes, and the battle for the very soul of college basketball allegiance in a hot-bed area. Getting to the roots of the NCAA goliath that is followed religiously by millions of fans today, Feinstein uses his unprecedented access to all three coaches to paint a portrait only he could conjure. The Legends Club is destined to be one of Feinstein's biggest bestsellers.

Boys Among Men: How the Prep-to-Pro Generation Redefined the NBA and Sparked a Basketball Revolution


Jonathan Abrams - 2016
      When Kevin Garnett shocked the world by announcing that he would not be attending college—as young basketball prodigies were expected to do—but instead enter the 1995 NBA draft directly from high school, he blazed a trail for a generation of teenage basketball players to head straight for the pros. That trend would continue until the NBA instituted an age limit in 2005, requiring all players to attend college or another developmental program for at least one year.   Over that decade-plus period, the list of players who made that difficult leap includes some of the most celebrated players of the modern era—Garnett, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Tracy McGrady, and numerous other stars. It also includes notable “busts” who either physically or mentally proved unable to handle the transition. But for better or for worse, the face of the NBA was forever changed by the prep-to-pro generation. In compelling, masterfully crafted prose, Boys Among Men goes behind the scenes and draws on hundreds of firsthand interviews to paint insightful and engaging portraits of the most pivotal figures and events during this time. Award-winning basketball writer Jonathan Abrams has obtained remarkable access to the key players, coaches, and other movers and shakers from that time, and the result is a book packed with rare insights and never-before-published details about this chapter in NBA history. Boys Among Men is a thrilling, informative, must-read for any basketball fan.

Thinking Basketball


Ben Taylor - 2016
    Explore how certain myths arose while using our own cognition as a window into the game's popular narratives. New basketball concepts are introduced, such as power plays, portability and why the best player shouldn't always shoot. Discover how the box score can be misleading, why "closers" are overrated and how the outcome of a game fundamentally alters our memory. Behavioral economics, traffic paradoxes and other metaphors highlight this thought-provoking insight into the NBA and our own thinking. A must-read for any basketball fan -- you'll never view the sport, and maybe the world, the same again.

The Curse: The Colorful & Chaotic History of the LA Clippers


Mick Minas - 2016
    Author Mick Minas goes behind the scenes-- interviewing players, coaches, and front office personnel--to create the first in-depth look at the history of the Clippers.The Curse is filled with drama: the unauthorized relocation of the franchise that led to the NBA filing a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Clippers, the disruption of the team's first playoff appearance by the Los Angeles riots, the bold but unsuccessful attempt to sign Kobe Bryant at the peak of his career, and the scandal that ultimately resulted in owner Donald Sterling being banned from the NBA for life. Featuring some of basketball's biggest names, including World B. Free, Elgin Baylor, Danny Manning, Doc Rivers, Larry Brown, Dominique Wilkins, Elton Brand, Baron Davis, Blake Griffin, and Chris Paul, The Curse delves into the disasters of the past and the complications of the present. This is the definitive history of the NBA's most dysfunctional franchise.

The Boys of Dunbar: The Story of the Greatest High School Basketball Team


Alejandro Danois - 2016
    For poor kids from the housing projects, the future looked bleak. But basketball could provide the quickest ticket out, an opportunity to earn a college scholarship and perhaps even play in the NBA.Dunbar High School had one of the most successful basketball programs, not only in Baltimore but in the entire country, and in the early 1980s, the Dunbar Poets were arguably the best high school team of all time. Four starting players—Muggsy Bogues, Reggie Williams, David Wingate, and Reggie Lewis—would eventually play in the NBA, an unheard-of success rate. In The Boys of Dunbar, Alejandro Danois takes us through the 1981-1982 season with the Poets as the team conquered all its opponents. But more than that, he takes us into the lives of these kids, and especially of Coach Bob Wade, a former NFL player from the same neighborhood who knew that the basketball court, and the lessons his players would learn there, held the key to the future.Drawing on interviews with Coach Wade, Muggsy Bogues, and others, The Boys of Dunbar is a remarkable testament to the power of dedication, inspiration, and teamwork. It is an ode to an extraordinary coach, a father figure who had lived the life of his players years before and who turned a dream into reality.

The Right Steph: How Stephen Curry Is Making All the Right Moves—with Humility and Grace


Mike Yorkey - 2016
    Likable, humble, soft-spoken, and living out his faith—using words only when necessary—Stephen Curry is one of those nice guys you’d want to meet or have your kids emulate. We feel like we’re on a first-name basis with the young man, so much so that he’s now known by the diminutive form of his first name: Steph. In this fun, fact-filled biography, veteran author Mike Yorkey describes how Steph Curry has taken over a popular game that brings together a basket, a leather ball, and a flick of a wrist from beyond the three-point line—all the while with his family cheering him on.

The Solomon Brothers: The Complete Series


Leslie North - 2016
     Wireless Star quarterback Marcus Kingston lives and breathes football. He’s trusted his abilities and instincts to get him this far, but an injury last season nearly ended his career. When his coaches want him to wear biofeedback technology to analyze his game, Marcus can either agree to participate, or be benched—permanently. Clare Wynifred, the scientist behind the project knows nothing about sports, and she quickly gets under his skin. She never imagined her wearable tech being used to improve someone’s game, but its success with the team could get her a military contract. Clare may be too late to save her brother, but her technology could save the lives of countless soldiers. She just has to make it work with the stubborn quarterback… Celi-bet NBA star Chase Holbrook’s reputation with women is as legendary as his court stats. But his best scores have always come when he's focused on his jump shot, not on the ladies. With a teammate putting up close competition for the offensive record, Chase needs to prove that he was worth every penny of his high-dollar trade. To be the top-scoring player, Chase accepts a team bet to steer clear of women. The team mascot Willow “Bolt” Bend has always been one of the guys. So it’s no surprise when she’s asked to help ensure the integrity of the bet. Willow doesn’t want to get involved, but her hesitation is sidelined by her desire to learn if Chase is as shallow as she thinks. The perky cheerleader has always gotten under Chase’s skin, but with the celi-bet well underway, Willow’s starting to get to Chase in ways no one expected. As the spark between them begins to ignite, the bet keeping them apart may just be the thing that pulls them together. Fearless MMA fighter Henry Lorenz relies on discipline as much as strength to get through life. With his former mentor’s boxing gym now in his hands, Henry is busy training a new generation—including the troubled teen who reminds him of his own past. Despite the spirited Guidance counselor Maggie Kavanaugh’s attempts to intervene, Henry won’t stop grooming the kid for success. The counselor is as stubborn as she is beautiful, but perhaps he can prove to her that there’s more to fighting than knowing how to throw a punch. While Henry is trying to right old wrongs, Maggie is determined to shape the future. But as their attraction grows, a dark moment from Henry’s past threatens to come between them.

Glory Hounds: How a Small Northwest School Reshaped College Basketball. And Itself.


Bud Withers - 2016
    Eighteen years later, they haven’t stopped, going to the big dance every season and stringing together an eight-year run of victories in it. A few years after the men’s program took off, the GU women joined in -- with the help of fans who couldn’t get tickets to the men’s games. A surge to the national top 15 in attendance accompanied their surge to prominence. “Glory Hounds” is the story of how it all came together at Gonzaga for both men and women, how it changed the school, and how -- in a turbulent time of here-and-gone players in college basketball -- it continues.

Days of Knight: How the General Changed My Life


Kirk Haston - 2016
    Containing previously unknown Knight stories, anecdotes, and choice quotes, fans will gain an inside look at the notoriously private man and his no-nonsense coaching style. Which past Hoosier basketball greats returned to talk to and practice with current teams? How did Knight mentally challenge his players in practices? How did the players feel when Knight was fired? In this touching and humorous book, Haston shares these answers and more, including his own Hoosier highs—shooting a famous three-point winning shot against number one ranked Michigan State—and lows—losing his mom in a heartbreaking tornado accident. Days of Knight is a book every die-hard IU basketball fan will treasure.

"Bad News": The Turbulent Life of Marvin Barnes, Pro Basketball's Original Renegade


Mike Carey - 2016
    A standout at Providence College, where he averaged 20.7 points and 17.9 rebounds per game, he was an All-American with the world at his fingertips.Although Barnes enjoyed two highly successful years in the American Basketball Association with the Spirits of St. Louis (winning Rookie of the Year honors and twice being named an All-Star), his career fizzled in the NBA as he wore out his welcome with the Detroit Pistons, Buffalo Braves, Boston Celtics, and San Diego Clippers in four years. His immaturity, as well as a chronic losing battle with drugs and alcohol, turned a potential superstar into a has-been by 1979. By then, his swagger was gone. So too was his game.Written by Mike Carey, who opened his house to Barnes later in his life, this is the story of a supremely gifted athlete whose self-destructive nature led to him living on the mean streets of East San Diego for three years as a panhandler and pimp. Eventually he would serve a total of five years in prison for various felony charges, including the sale of cocaine.Throughout his life, every time it appeared that “Bad News” had turned the corner, his demons reappeared and succeeded in luring him back into becoming a conniving dope fiend.On September 8, 2014, Barnes finally hit rock bottom, passing away due to acute cocaine and heroin intoxication. He was sixty-two years old.With stories and quotes from Julius Erving, Bill Walton, Larry Brown, Mike D’Antoni, and many others who crossed paths with Barnes, as well as a foreword from former Spirits announcer Bob Costas, “Bad News” is the story of a squandered talent who could never defeat his inner demons.

Swee'pea: The Story of Lloyd Daniels and Other Playground Basketball Legends


John Valenti - 2016
    “Swee’pea” they called him. His rep on the court traveled all the way to the Bronx, and across the country, earning him enthusiastic comparisons to the likes of Magic Johnson. Swee’pea was sure to make it to the big time and out of a New York City where drugs and violence had gripped many of its neighborhoods. And eventually he did, leaving the city’s asphalt courts for the shiny hardwoods of NCAA programs, minor pro-leagues, and eventually the NBA. He took with him, however, a drug habit, a learning disability, and a reputation for self-destruction. With Swee’pea, Newsday reporter John Valenti and celebrated New York City high school basketball coach Ron Naclerio brilliantly capture how an athletic phenom becomes both a product of his environment, and his own worst enemy. Supplementing Daniels’s enigmatic story are profiles of basketball successes like former NBA stars Kenny Anderson, John Salley, and Mark Jackson—and tragedies like Earl “The Goat” Manigault, Richie Adams, and Tony “Red” Bruin—who never made the league. Timeless, gritty, and hard-hitting, Swee’pea is a classic tale that illuminates why so many of basketball's best players throw away multimillion dollar careers, and a journey back to a time when the humble playground courts of New York City were giving rise to some of the finest players in the world.

Glory Hounds: How a Small Northwest School Reshaped College Basketball.and Itself.


Bud Withers - 2016
    For the first time, the Gonzaga Bulldogs won games in the NCAA tournament of 1999, going all the way to the Elite Eight. Then they validated their arrival with Sweet 16 appearances the next two years.Unlike other unheralded programs that have emerged to make national headlines, the Zags didn't go away. They have stacked solid season upon solid season and as they enter 2016-17, they boast an 18-year streak of playing in the NCAA tournament -- a run of success that includes eight straight years of March Madness victories.A few years after the men's program took off, the Gonzaga women also reached unprecedented heights -- partly with the help of a fan base that couldn't get tickets to the men's games, but pushed the women to a top-15 national ranking in attendance."Glory Hounds" is the story of how it all came together at Gonzaga for both men and women, how it changed the school, and how -- in a turbulent time of here-and-gone players in college basketball -- it continues.The Gonzaga story is woven deeply into the longevity of head coach Mark Few and his choice to stay at the school in the face of multiple offers to move elsewhere. "Glory Hounds" takes a close look at Few, his small-town roots and his decision to stay put.The book explores the rise of Few's longtime assistant, Tommy Lloyd, and his recruiting acumen overseas that has made Gonzaga one of the most popular destinations for foreign players. It documents the almost zany events that led to the construction of a new arena on campus in 2004; the unforgettable season of Adam Morrison in 2006; and the heartbreak and redemption of Josh Heytvelt. It chronicles the redshirt-year growth that has aided the program, and it details the paradox that keeps Seattle from becoming a productive recruiting pool for the Zags.Gonzaga's women authored their own rise to prominence, and "Glory Hounds" recounts that ascent, as well as the wizardry of the best women's player in school history, Courtney Vandersloot."Glory Hounds" is the first attempt to bind together the various elements that, in a span now stretching into a generation, have made the Gonzaga story so compelling.

The Road to Madness: How the 1973-1974 Season Transformed College Basketball


J. Samuel Walker - 2016
    In this fast-paced, in-depth account, J. Samuel Walker and Randy Roberts identify the 1973-74 season as pivotal in the making of this now legendary postseason tournament. In an era when only one team per conference could compete, the dramatic defeat of coach John Wooden's UCLA Bruins by the North Carolina State Wolfpack ended a decade of the Bruins' dominance, fueled unprecedented national attention, and prompted the NCAA to expand the tournament field to a wider range of teams. Walker and Roberts provide a richly detailed chronicle of the games that made the season so memorable and uncover the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that set the stage for the celebrated spectacle that now fixes the nation's attention every March.

The Baron and the Bear: Rupp's Runts, Haskins's Miners, and the Season That Changed Basketball Forever


David Kingsley Snell - 2016
    The game, played in the middle of the racially turbulent 1960s—part David and Goliath in short pants, part emancipation proclamation of college basketball—helped destroy stereotypes about black athletes. Filled with revealing anecdotes, The Baron and the Bear is the story of two intensely passionate coaches and the teams they led through the ups and downs of a college basketball season. In the twilight of his legendary career, Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp (“The Baron of the Bluegrass”) was seeking his fifth NCAA championship. Texas Western’s Don Haskins (“The Bear” to his players) had been coaching at a small West Texas high school just five years before the championship. After this history-making game, conventional wisdom that black players lacked the discipline to win without a white player to lead began to dissolve. Northern schools began to abandon unwritten quotas limiting the number of blacks on the court at one time. Southern schools, where athletics had always been a whites-only activity, began a gradual move toward integration.   David Kingsley Snell brings the season to life, offering fresh insights on the teams, the coaches, and the impact of the game on race relations in America.

Basketball and Football


George Thomas Clark - 2016
    We also peer into the minds of legends LeBron James, Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant, John Wooden, Adolph Rupp, and numerous others.On the gridiron Clark reveals the talent and tragedy of Donald Rogers, an All American at UCLA and a star for the Cleveland Browns, the challenges of attending a Seahawks game in Seattle, the thoughts of brilliant but tormented Bill Walsh, the glory and horror of O.J. Simpson, major college football players being exploited by the NCAA and university bureaucrats, the rise and fall of the USC Trojans, issues of alcoholism, substance abuse, and domestic violence, and more.Half the stories are straight nonfiction and others are satirical pieces guided by the unwavering hand of an inspired storyteller.

Larry Bird: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Forwards (Basketball Biography Books)


Clayton Geoffreys - 2016
    Larry Bird had a profound impact on the Boston Celtics’ franchise throughout the 1980s, leading the franchise to three NBA Championships. With an extraordinary ability as a two-way player, Bird was gritty, full of heart, and the definition of a superstar. Since retiring from professional basketball, Bird has served many roles, as a head coach and president of basketball operations for the Indiana Pacers. He has continued making history in post-retirement, as he is the only individual to be league MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year. Read on to learn Bird’s inspiring story. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Childhood and Early Life High School Career College Career Larry Bird’s NBA Career Getting Drafted Rookie Season The Dawn of the Boston Big Three, First NBA Title Falling Short First MVP, Finals Battle with the Lakers, Second NBA Title Second MVP, Finals Rematch with the Lakers MVP Three-Peat, Third NBA Championship 50-40-90 Season, Last Finals Appearance Second 50-40-90 Season, End of the Reign as the Kings of the East Injury Season Return from Injury, First Round Exit Injury-Prone Season, Beginning of the End of a Legendary Career Final NBA Season 1992 Olympics: The Dream Team Life After Retirement Rivalry with Magic Johnson Larry Bird’s Personal Life Larry Bird’s Impact on Basketball Larry Bird’s Legacy An excerpt from the book: If there were a player in the history of the NBA that deserves to be called a legend, that man would be none other than Larry Bird. All-Star appearances, clutch plays, highlight moments, personal awards, MVP’s, and championships. You can name any accolade in the NBA, and Larry Bird has achieved them all in his truly stellar 13-year NBA career. Just looking at all those achievements and his career averages of 24.3 points, ten rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.7 steals, you would immediately understand why he is a legitimate NBA legend. Larry Bird is also considered as one of the best shooters in the history of the league. In Bird, you have a guy standing almost 6’10” who could shoot the lights out of the basketball. He has the size of a power forward but with the shooting touch of an off guard. No wonder he has a career shooting percentage of 49.6% from the floor, 37.6% from the three-point line, and 88.6% from the foul stripe. With those shooting numbers, Larry Bird was a two-time member of the 50-40-90 club.

Coaching Youth Basketball: Offensive Strategies


Jordan Lyons - 2016
    Develop and hone your players’ passing, dribbling, screening, and cutting skills with a collection of “skill drills.” Then, you’ll be be set up for success as this book walks you through written and visual descriptions of four basic youth basketball offenses that your team can run no matter the age or skill level.Coaching Youth Basketball: Offensive Strategies has everything you’ll need to build a solid team on offense this basketball season.