And fresh off the Warriors' third NBA championship in the last four years, his game has never been stronger.Off the court, Iguodala has earned respect, too--for his successful tech investments, his philanthropy, and increasingly for his contributions to the conversation about race in America. It is no surprise, then, that in his first book, Andre--with his cowriter Carvell Wallace--has pushed himself to go further than he ever has before about his life, not only as an athlete but about what makes him who he is at his core.The Sixth Man traces Andre's journey from childhood in his Illinois hometown to his Bay Area home court today. Basketball has always been there. But this is the story, too, of his experience of the conflict and racial tension always at hand in a professional league made up largely of African American men; of whether and why the athlete owes the total sacrifice of his body; of the relationship between competition and brotherhood among the players of one of history's most glorious championship teams. And of what motivates an athlete to keep striving for more once they've already achieved the highest level of play they could have dreamed.On drive, on leadership, on pain, on accomplishment, on the shame of being given a role, and the glory of taking a role on: This is a powerful memoir of life and basketball that reveals new depths to the superstar athlete, and offers tremendous insight into most urgent stories being told in American society today.

    The field of basketball analytics has leaped to overdrive thanks to Kirk Goldsberry, whose visual maps of players, teams, and positions have helped teams understand who really is the most valuable player at any position. SprawlBall combines stunning visuals, in-depth analysis, fun, behind-the-scenes stories and gee-whiz facts to chart a modern revolution. From the introduction of the 3-point line to today, the game has changed drastically . . . Now, players like Steph Curry and Draymond Green are leading the charge. In chapters like “The Geography of the NBA,” “The Interior Minister (Lebron James),” “The Evolution of Steph Curry,” and “The Investor (James Harden),” Goldsberry explains why today’s on-court product—with its emphasis on shooting, passing, and spacing—has never been prettier or more democratic. And it’s never been more popular. For fans of Bill Simmons and FreeDarko,SprawlBall is a bold new vision of the game, presenting an innovative, cutting-edge look at the sport based on the latest research, as well as a visual and infographic feast for fans.

    Since being drafted by the Portland Trailblazers with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Lillard has dazzled for Portland fans. In his time thus far in the league, Lillard has consistently been one of the best point guards in the entire league, and helped Portland contend every year in the difficult Western Conference. In the 2019 off-season, the franchise awarded him for his hard work, with a four-year extension effective in the 2021-2022 season. Pick up this unauthorized biography today to learn the inspiring story behind superstar guard, Damian Lillard! This is the perfect basketball book for kids or basketball fans of all ages. Here is a preview of what is inside this Damian Lillard biography book: Childhood and Early Life High School Career College Career Getting Drafted, Winning the Rookie of the Year Award, All-Star Seasons Franchise Player, the Snub Years, The Elite Damian Lillard Damian Lillard's Personal Life Lillard's Impact on Basketball Legacy and Future An excerpt from this Damian Lillard biography: Historically and no matter what era you look at, the point guard has always been arguably the most critical position out on the court when you talk about the NBA brand of basketball. Some of the greatest championship teams in the history of the league had a point guard that allowed them to perform well on both ends of the floor. The ‘50s and ‘60s Boston Celtics had the services of Bob Cousy, who is regarded as the pioneer at the point guard position because of his excellent ball-handling skills and passing ability. The ‘60s and early ‘70s era of the Los Angeles Lakers thrived under the hot shooting and playmaking of Jerry West, who was so good that he was used as the model for the NBA’s logo. The 1971 championship team of the Milwaukee Bucks had Oscar Robertson, who was putting up triple-doubles at a rapid pace a few years back when he was still in his prime handling the point and passing the ball to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And who could ever disregard Magic Johnson, the man responsible for the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty of the ‘80s and the playmaker regarded as the best to play at his position? The ‘90s and 2000s also saw their share of terrific point guards who may not have won titles because of the dominance of teams like the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls, Shaq, and the Big Three San Antonio Spurs that revolved around Tim Duncan. Such all-time great point guards are Penny Hardaway, Kevin Johnson, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash. Did you like this short excerpt? Then scroll up and buy a copy of this Damian Lillard biography today. Tags: Damian Lillard biography, Portland Trailblazers basketball, Damian Lillard book, books for basketball fans

    For Missy, that turned out to be the basketball team.Title IX had passed just three years earlier, prohibiting gender discrimination in education programs or activities, including athletics. As a result, states like Illinois began implementing varsity competition--and state tournaments--for girls' high school sports.At the time, Missy and her teammates didn't really understand the legislation. All they knew was they finally had opportunities--to play, to learn, to sweat, to lose, to win--and an identity: they were athletes. They were a team.And in 1979, they became state champions.With the intimate insights of the girl who lived it, the pacing of a born storyteller, and the painstaking reporting of a veteran sports journalist, Isaacson chronicles one high school team's journey to the state championship. In doing so, Isaacson shows us how a group of tomboys found themselves and each other, and how basketball rescued them from their collective frustrations and troubled homes, and forever altered the course of their lives.

    The slogan for the most successful era of Raptors' basketball was elevated to a new level with the stunning off-season acquisition of superstar Kawhi Leonard. Finally breaking through after years of knocking on the door of the Eastern Conference, the Raptors made history and brought the first championship home to Toronto since the Blue Jays in 1993. From an intriguing new coaching hire in Nick Nurse, to the Leonard trade, to a midseason addition of Marc Gasol, the 2018-2019 season was one of changing the identity of the team, building chemistry, and leading to the franchise's long-awaited first title. From making quick work of the Magic in the first round of the playoffs, to a Game 7 classic against the 76ers, to ripping off four straight wins versus the Bucks, the Raptors were destined to take down the defending champion Golden State Warriors on their way to becoming kings of the NBA. Packed with expert analysis and dynamic color photography, We The Champs: The Toronto Raptors' Historic Run to the 2019 NBA Title takes fans through the Raptors' historic and unforgettable journey, from Nurse and Leonard replacing Dwane Casey and DeMar DeRozan, to Pascal Siakam blossoming into a star, to Leonard's unbelievable four-bounce Game 7 game-winner against the 76ers. This commemorative edition also includes in-depth profiles of Leonard, Kyle Lowry, Masai Ujiri, and other fan favorites who played key roles in Toronto's extraordinary championship run.

    

    

    NOW!Like Hockey Now! and Football Now!, Basketball Now! has earned its place as an anticipated release, giving fans the inside stories about their favorite superstars.This third edition is packed with 130 action images and 50 profiles, including a fresh crop of young players whose swagger and skills launched them to league-wide stardom. Bona fide superstars, rim-rocking rookies and future Hall of Famers, plus the all stars of tomorrow, the best international imports and the underrated players that can change a game -- they're all here. Look out for elite names like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, James Harden, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and many, many more!Author Adam Elliott Segal gives readers an inside tour of all things NBA, including essays on the Draft, the Dunk Contest and the best clutch and playoff performances in the history of the league, as well as a summary of MVPs (regular season, All-Star Game and Finals) up to the end of the 2018-19 season. Mind-boggling athleticism, career-changing plays and pure magic -- Basketball Now! has it all, straight from the hardwood.

    In this fun top-ten book, readers will learn all about basketball's biggest stars! With exciting photos, interesting stats, and more, sports fans will find plenty to cheer about.