20 Best Books On Basketball (2023 Update)

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New york times bestseller – the nba according to the sports guy—now updated with fresh takes on lebron, the celtics, and more! foreword by malcom gladwell – “the work of a true fan . . . it might just represent the next phase of sports commentary.”—the atlantic bill simmons, the wildly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining basketball addict known to millions as espn’s the sports guy, has written the definitive book on the past, present, and future of the nba. from the age-old question of who actually won the rivalry between bill russell and wilt chamberlain to the one about which team was truly the best of all time, simmons opens—and then closes, once and for all—every major pro basketball debate. then he takes it further by completely reevaluating not only how nba hall of fame inductees should be chosen but how the institution must be reshaped from the ground up, the result being the pyramid: simmons’s one-of-a-kind five-level shrine to the ninety-six greatest players in the history of pro basketball. and ultimately he takes fans to the heart of it all, as he uses a conversation with one nba great to uncover that coveted thing: the secret of basketball.comprehensive, authoritative, controversial, hilarious, and impossible to put down (even for celtic-haters), the book of basketball offers every hardwood fan a courtside seat beside the game’s finest, funniest, and fiercest chronicler.

New york times bestseller – inspired by a major espn film series, this is an extraordinary oral history of basketball—its eye-opening untold history, its profound deeper meaning, its transformative influence on the world—as told through an unprecedented series of candid conversations with the game’s ultimate icons. this is the greatest love story never told. it has passion and heartbreak, triumph and betrayal. it is deeply intimate yet crosses oceans, upends lives and changes nations. this is the true story of basketball. it is the story of a canadian invention that took over america, and the world. of a supposed “white man’s sport” that became a way for people of color, women, and immigrants to claim a new place in society. of a game that demands everything of those who love it, yet gives so much back in return. to tell this story, acclaimed journalists jackie macmullan, rafe bartholomew and dan klores embarked on a groundbreaking mission to interview a staggering lineup of basketball trailblazers. for the first time hundreds of legends, from kobe, lebron and steph curry to magic johnson, dr. j and jerry west, spoke movingly about their greatest passion. former nba commissioner david stern and iconic coaches like phil jackson and coach k opened up like never before. those who shattered glass ceilings, from bill russell and yao ming to cheryl miller and lisa leslie, explained what it really took to lay claim to their place in the game. at once a definitive oral history and something far more revelatory and life affirming, basketball: a love story is the defining untold oral history of how basketball came to be, and what it means to those who love it.

It is not difficult to learn to play basketball. that's more, it can be really fun! bball basics for kids is a step-by-step handbook featuring "hoops," a playful, basketball-loving friend who shows kids of all ages the most important skills of the game. he applies his experience of having coached more than a thousand games to teach kids the basics of a sport that combines individual skills with the skills of teammates. for those who are just beginning to learn the game, coach kaplan shares practical tips on the fundamentals: – dribbling and passing- shooting and rebounding- playing defense- improving footwork on the court – included is a history of the game, inspirational stories, warm up exercises, a glossary of basketball terms, and a sixty-minute self-improvement practice plan to help young players refine their skills. – bball basics for kids not only teaches the basics of a great game played by millions around the world, but also educates young players about the enduring values of cooperation, respect, trust, sacrifice, and perseverance. – bball basics offers the unique opportunity for any basketball program to customize the handbook with their own personal photos.

Who's the greatest center of all time, wilt chamberlain or kareem abdul-jabbar? where does shaquille o'neal land in the rankings? would you pick tim duncan or charles barkley as the better power forward? who's your best sixth man? where does lebron james rank among small forwards? sports illustrated has polled its basketball experts, including jack mccallum, chris ballard, alexander wolff, lee jenkins, ian thomsen, chris mannix, and mark bechtel, to determine the top 10 in more than 20 categories. the rankings appear alongside stunning photography and classic stories from si's archives. this is the best of the best in the nba, or, more simply, basketball's greatest. by sports illustrated books [ 9781618930484 ]

Brian doyle himself explains it best: "a few years ago i was moaning to my wry gentle dad that basketball, which seems to me inarguably the most graceful and generous and swift and fluid and ferociously-competitive-without-being-sociopathic of sports, has not produced rafts of good books, like baseball and golf and cricket and surfing have . . . where are the great basketball novels to rival the natural and the glorious mark harris baseball quartet and the great bernard darwin's golf stories? where are the annual anthologies of terrific basketball essays? how can a game full of such wit and creativity and magic not spark more great books?""' why don't you write one?' said my dad, who is great at cutting politely to the chase." and so he has. in this collection of short essays, brian doyle presents a compelling account of a life lived playing, watching, loving, and coaching basketball. he recounts his passion for the gyms, the playgrounds, the sounds and scents, the camaraderie, the fierce competition, the anticipation and exhaustion, and even some of the injuries.

The mamba mentality: how i play is kobe bryant’s personal perspective of his life and career on the basketball court and his exceptional, insightful style of playing the game—a fitting legacy from the late los angeles laker superstar. – in the wake of his retirement from professional basketball, kobe “the black mamba” bryant decided to share his vast knowledge and understanding of the game to take readers on an unprecedented journey to the core of the legendary “mamba mentality.” – in his own words, bryant reveals his famously detailed approach and the steps he took to prepare mentally and physically to not just succeed at the game, but to excel. readers will learn how bryant studied an opponent, how he channeled his passion for the game, how he played through injuries. they’ll also get fascinating granular detail as he breaks down specific plays and match-ups from throughout his career. – bryant’s detailed accounts are paired with stunning photographs by the hall of fame photographer andrew d. bernstein, long the lakers and nba official photographer, captured bryant’s very first nba photo in 1996 and his last in 2016—and hundreds of thousands in between, the record of a unique, twenty-year relationship between one athlete and one photographer. – the combination of bryant’s narrative and bernstein’s photos make the mamba mentality an unprecedented look behind the curtain at the career of one of the world’s most celebrated and fascinating athletes.

From the leading expert in the exploding field of basketball analytics, a stunning infographic decoding of the modern nba: who shoots where, how well, and why. says nate silver: "if you want to understand how the modern nba came to be, you'll need to read this book." the field of basketball analytics has leaped into overdrive thanks to kirk goldsberry, whose spatial and visual analyses of players, teams, and positions have helped us all understand who really is the most valuable player at any position. sprawlball combines stunning visuals, in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes stories, and gee-whiz facts to chart a modern revolution. since the introduction of the three-point line, the game has changed drastically, with players like steph curry and james harden 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 presents a bold new vision of the game, giving readers an innovative, cutting-edge look at the sport based on the latest research, as well as a visual and infographic feast for fans. ¶"beautifully illustrated and sharply written, sprawlball is both a celebration and a critique of the three-point shot.

A vibrant, unconventional, highly opinionated guide to the triumphs, joys, struggles, and heartbreaks of the modern era of the game, for every obsessive basketball fan who loves to hate hot takes the joy of basketball celebrates the meteoric rise of basketball over the last quarter century by ignoring the bland, traditionalist binary of wins or losses. instead, the book's focus is on everything else. using text, charts, and illustrations that upend conventional jock wisdom, the book details the most incredible players in history, draft flops, long-limbed oddballs, superteams, the international talent wave, brawls, scandals, the rapid evolution of contemporary gameplay, coaching, fashion, crime, positional erosion, tragic tales, memes, and the sacred kardashian blessing. bouncing between witty graphics and keen sociopolitical observations, the joy of basketball is a subversive sports manifesto camouflaged as a colorful reference book for your coffee table.

Profiles of the very best nba players and a definitive history of the game. the spectacular success of the nba is based on its stars, their performances and personalities, which excite fans game after game, championship after championship. michael grange has profiled 50 of the greatest and most electrifying players in the league's history in this newly updated edition of basketball's greatest stars. they're all here: the score-at-will centers, the quick-dishing guards, the take-it-to-the-hoop power forwards and the three-point shooters. the book also features a chapter on future greats who are starting on the nba hardwood now. grange's insightful essays cover the leading men and defining moments that have shaped the sport, the international game, the rise of the three-point shot and the changing nature and importance of statistical analysis. as an added bonus there are profiles of all 30 nba franchises — the organizations that have orchestrated the league's rise to greatness. some of the current nba stars featured in this fourth edition are: demarcus cousins stephen curry anthony davis kevin durant paul george james harden kyrie irving lebron james kristaps porzingis russell westbrook some of the nba stars of yesteryear are: kareem abdul-jabbar charles barkley larry bird wilt chamberlain walt frazier magic johnson michael jordan karl malone shaquille o'neal bill russell. jam-packed with terrific photographs that celebrate each superstar and capture the excitement on the court, basketball's greatest stars is a superb book for every fan.

A hardcover edition featuring new content for fans of the #1 new york times bestseller any fan of shea serrano's unconventional, hilarious, and insightful writing will want to add this hardcover edition of his wildly popular basketball (and other things) to their collection. the book will feature a new cover and two new chapters as well as removable art that showcases serrano's trademark creativity and arturo torres's inimitable illustration style. first released as a paperback in 2017, the book went on to become a #1 new york times bestseller. this edition will be a keepsake for serrano fans and basketball fans alike.

Michael jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. but his pre-eminence is more than just extraordinary athletic ability: the lessons of his life-such as focus, passion, hard work, perseverance and accountability-have shaped him into one of the most revered celebrities of the 20th century. fascinating anecdotes and quotes from those who know michael best provide a glimpse into a persona as sweeping and immense as any generation has ever witnessed. readers from all walks of life can appreciate and aspire to living life like a champion.

From larry bird and michael jordan to the hottest new legends such as lebron james, this step 5 step into reading early reader offers tons of facts about the best players in the game, what they were best known for, and how they got their start! step 5 readers tell stories in chapters using longer paragraphs, for children who want to take the plunge into chapter books but still like colorful illustrations and photography.

Basketball is the most popular participatory sport in the united states. as simple as the game often seems—throwing a ball through a hoop—there are many aspects of the game that go unnoticed. but with basketball for dummies, second edition, you’ll get the inside scoop on hoops. whether you’re a player, a fan, or a coach, basketball for dummies, second edition will get you better acquainted to the game, so you can play it better, coach it smarter, or appreciate it more as a spectator. former notre dame head coach digger phelps begins with the fundamentals and quickly moves up court from there. from playing a pick-up game to watching march madness on tv to the excitement of the nba playoffs, phelps has come up with a game plan that shows you how to have fun with the game, while you become familiar with it. by the final buzzer, you’ll have pulled down pointers on how to play the game, how to look good on the court, how to coach it, how to watch it, ho w to strategize, and even how to talk trash on the playground. within these pages, you’ll also discover how to: suit up for the court get into basketball shape play effective offense and defense use signature moves from nba greats shoot quality free-throws join fantasy leagues and get great stuff online from the basics to the latest coaching drills and techniques, this friendly reference offers you expert advice on the plays, strategies, and moves on and off the court—from high school to college hoops, to the wnba, and beyond.

Continuing sports illustrated's tradition of producing best-selling coffee-table books for the holiday season, si presents the basketball book, a lavish celebration of the athleticism and pageantry of both the college and professional game. with the same kind of unforgettable photographs and award-winning writing that propelled the baseball book, the football book and the anniversary book to the new york times best-seller list over the past three years, this volume brings to life the legendary players, the classic action and the great rivalries of the court. in 294 oversized pages, the basketball book commemorates the epic teams and characters, the personalities and performances and artifacts that have created legions of passionate fans since dr. james naismith nailed up a peach basket and devised the original 13 rules of the game more than 100 years ago.

Continuing sports illustrated's tradition of producing best-selling coffee-table books for the holiday season, si presents the basketball book, a lavish celebration of the athleticism and pageantry of both the college and professional game. with the same kind of unforgettable photographs and award-winning writing that propelled the baseball book, the football book and the anniversary book to the new york times best-seller list over the past three years, this volume brings to life the legendary players, the classic action and the great rivalries of the court. in 294 oversized pages, the basketball book commemorates the epic teams and characters, the personalities and performances and artifacts that have created legions of passionate fans since dr. james naismith nailed up a peach basket and devised the original 13 rules of the game more than 100 years ago.

For players, coaches, writers, and fans, basketball is a science and an art, a religious sacrament, a source of entertainment, and a way of interacting with the world. in lost in the game thomas beller entwines these threads with his lifetime's experience as a player and journalist, roaming nba locker rooms and city parks as a basketball flaneur in search of the meaning of the modern game. he captures the magnificence and mastery of today’s most accomplished nba players while paying homage to the devotion of countless congregants in the global church of pickup basketball. he shares his own stories from the courts, meditating on basketball’s role in city life and its impact on the athlete’s psyche as he moves from youth to middle age. part journalistic account, part memoir of a slightly talented player whose main gift is being tall, lost in the game charts the game’s inexorable gravitational hold on those who love it.

Basketball analytics is a must-read for any sports analytics enthusiast or student of the game of basketball. authors stephen shea, ph.d. (professor of mathematics) and christopher baker (software engineer) utilize their unique skill-set to introduce original metrics for analyzing player performance, team style and team construction in the nba. while demonstrating an awareness of the industry's best ideas, the authors present original, objective and efficient strategies for understanding how teams win. new player performance statistics include offensive efficiency (oe), efficient offensive production (eop), defensive stops gained (dsg), and approximate value (av). oe reflects a player's ability to make the most fundamental offensive decisions. eop adjusts a player's points and assists based on his efficiency. dsg gives a complete measure of a player's defensive contributions, without relying on individual player statistics like blocks and steals. av is a measure of total player performance that rivals any publicly available statistic. basketball analytics introduces groundbreaking metrics on player involvement in the offense. point, rebound and assist balance aggregate player usage in these critical statistics. new studies on the nba show whether teams should strive for balance or unbalance. an nba draft pick value study determines the average value of each pick and the likelihood of landing a star or role player with each draft position. the results of this study are used to discuss topics including the biggest draft blunders and steals, the draft success of each nba team, and the quality of each draft class dating back to 1977. this valuable understanding of the nba draft creates a foundation for discussing various approaches to team development and construction. additionally, the authors discuss redefining the positions on the court, unpredictability in the game, data visualization, and applications of spatial tracking technology. there are many intensely debated questions surrounding the nba today. who are the most valuable players, and how do they compare to past greats? which players have the greatest impact on their team's defense? should kobe bryant be concerned with getting his teammates involved in the offense? how do offenses differ in the clutch, and which players thrive in these situations? how difficult is it for a team to rebuild through the draft? basketball analytics introduces new statistics and new concepts to explore these questions and more.

Stuff good players should know may very well be the best book ever written for basketball players. it is conversational and easy to understand, yet filled with subtle insights into the game of basketball. stuff is page after page of creative concepts, common sense, and special tips that can not be found anywhere else. how do you guard a stronger player? how do you set up a game-winning steal? how do you strip? a rebound? how do you score with a strong-handed dribble while going to the weak side? how do you practice shooting for maximum game effectiveness? how do you recognize defensive changes? stuff is like having a coach right beside you, in your room, discussing the fine points of the games. how do you think in the minutes of the game? how do you react to mistakes? what is your attitude about fouls? eating? superstitions? injuries? all this and more makes stuff a book that players will find indispensable. basketball fans will enjoy it, but players won't do

Stuff good players should know may very well be the best book ever written for basketball players. it is conversational and easy to understand, yet filled with subtle insights into the game of basketball. stuff is page after page of creative concepts, common sense, and special tips that can not be found anywhere else. how do you guard a stronger player? how do you set up a game-winning steal? how do you strip? a rebound? how do you score with a strong-handed dribble while going to the weak side? how do you practice shooting for maximum game effectiveness? how do you recognize defensive changes? stuff is like having a coach right beside you, in your room, discussing the fine points of the games. how do you think in the minutes of the game? how do you react to mistakes? what is your attitude about fouls? eating? superstitions? injuries? all this and more makes stuff a book that players will find indispensable. basketball fans will enjoy it, but players won't do