Some 'cool' basketball books

[PurpleHaze]

Any avid readers out there - like me? I read a couple new books each month, mostly non-fiction, but also novels, poetry, etc. Been doing it since about 6th grade and that was quite a few decades ago. Anyway, have been thinking about my all time favorite BASKETBALL BOOKS of which I must have read around 50 over the years. Good and not so good books on or by Wilt, Russell, MJ, Wooden, the Zen Master, etc etc. I wanted to compile a list of personal favorites for my 16-year-old nephew who is a hoop nut (like me!) and maybe gift him one or more this Christmas. THE LIST in no particular order - but my all time fave five w/ some comments:

A Season on the Brink: A Year With Bobby Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers by John Feinstein (dramatic, intense reading, for any college basketball fan or just about any sports fan as this book is impossible to put down once you start turning the pages)

The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team Players by Pat Riley (one of the most influential books of any kind I've ever read. Should be read by every coach at any level before ever calling a first practice. More to the point, should be read by managers of people, anywhere, anytime)

Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association by Terry Pluto. (basically a bunch of amazing short stories about the old pro league by players, coaches, fans, etc. Very fun reading about ABA life and players like Dr. J, Connie Hawkins, Charlie Scott, Larry Brown, David Thompson, George McGinness, etc)

Maravich by Wayne Federman: (best book on the legend, but "Pistol" an earlier book is also not bad. Federman seems to dig deeper with more facts and research - plus the family totally cooperated)

Reynolds Remembers: 20 Years with the Sacramento Kings by the honorable Jerry Reynolds (i guess it speaks for itself!)

 

[CaminoChaos]

Thanks Haze for the Link.

I want to add Pete Carrill's book "The Smart take from the Strong" Everything you love about him is in the book. Stories and thoughts on every aspect of the game from passing to recruiting. It's a fun read.

 

[coolhandluke]

[SIZE=-1]The Breaks Of The Game by David Halberstam: An exciting read of the author's experiences traveling with the Trailblazers team during 1979-80 season. You would get an intimate view of the lives of players and coaches during the period. I found it an interesting read because it is an excellent "time capsule" about the business of [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]NBA basketball.

Btw, Bill Simmons did a good piece on the book after Halberstam passed away in 2007.
[/SIZE]

 

[Jerryaki]

the only basketball books i've read are The Last Season (Phil Jackson) and Seven Seconds or Less (Jack McCallum). Neither were very interesting, though gave a cool insight to the inner workings of a team. I'll have to try out some of the other recommend readings above.

 

[LoungeLizard]

Can I keep my jersey? by Paul Shirley is quite entertaining. It's pretty much an inside look at a fringe NBAer trying to make it in the league. It details his experiences playing throughout Europe trying to score an NBA contract.

I picked it up after reading a few of his blog entries on ESPN.com.

 

[Rose2Thomas]

All I've read:

Playing for Keeps: pretty good MJ book.

Tao of Yao: terrible, terrible yao book

Life in Two Words: good Yao book

The Last Season: entertaining

Can I keep My Jersey: entertaining at first, slowly starts to drag on

Red Auerbach book, I think it was "Let Me tell you a story": probably the best basketball related book I've read. You really get a feel for both the kind of guy Red was and some insight on his thoughts about the Celtics.

 

[CaminoChaos]

All I've read:

Playing for Keeps: pretty good MJ book.

Tao of Yao: terrible, terrible yao book

Life in Two Words: good Yao book

The Last Season: entertaining

Can I keep My Jersey: entertaining at first, slowly starts to drag on

Red Auerbach book, I think it was "Let Me tell you a story": probably the best basketball related book I've read. You really get a feel for both the kind of guy Red was and some insight on his thoughts about the Celtics.

The Red book sounds good. I'd like to read a book by Red more related to his basketball strategies. Is there a book like that out there?

 

[GeraldWallace#3]

Can I keep my jersey? by Paul Shirley is quite entertaining. It's pretty much an inside look at a fringe NBAer trying to make it in the league. It details his experiences playing throughout Europe trying to score an NBA contract.

I picked it up after reading a few of his blog entries on ESPN.com.

Very good book enjoyed it very much would reccomend it.