Basketball

by R. Scott Frothingham (Author)

Get to know Dean Smith, the coach who recruited and coached basketball legend Michael Jordan, coached the US men's national basketball team to an Olympic gold medal and retired with 879 wins (4th most in men's college Division I basketball history). Not only did Smith lead his University of North Carolina Tarheels to 13 Atlantic Coast Conference tournament championships, appearances in 11 Final Fours, five national title games, and 2 NCAA championships, but more than 95% percent of Smith's players graduated. This little book was put together to given a "feel" for the man behind the legend. By primarily using Smith's own words and the words of others talking about him, you will be able to get a more personal look at Dean Smith. You will walk away with an intimate introduction to the man that some have referred to as the greatest college basketball coach of all time. "There are more exhaustive works on the personal and coaching life of Dean Smith, but this little gem is the best place to start."

by Bert Nelli (Author), Steve Nelli (Author)

In its 95-year history, the Kentucky Wildcats have won more games than any other college basketball team. Their winning percentage is the highest in the country. They share the record for the most 20-win seasons. They are second in all-time number one rankings. And despite no longer holding the record for winningest coach, Adolph Rupp will always be a giant in the pantheon of college basketball.

When The Winning Tradition first appeared in 1984, it was the first complete history of the Wildcat basketball program. Bert Nelli pointed out that, contrary to the accepted mythology, Adolph Rupp arrived at a program already strong and storied. Nor did Rupp bring an entirely new style of play to the Bluegrass. Instead he adopted--and perfected--that of his predecessor, John Mauer. What Rupp did bring was an ability to charm the news media and a fierce determination to turn out winning teams, making him the undisputed "Baron of Basketball."

This new and expanded edition of The Winning Tradition brings the history of Kentucky basketball up to date. Nelli and his son Steve turn the same unflinching gaze that characterized the honesty of the first edition on the scandals that marred Eddie Sutton's tenure, the return to glory under Rick Pitino, and a full accounting of Tubby Smith's history-making first year.

The start of basketball season is welcomed in the Bluegrass with an unmatched enthusiasm and intensity. Each year brings a new team, new stars, and new glory. Other books have documented individual seasons, individual players, or individual coaches. But The Winning Tradition remains the only complete and authoritative history of the most celebrated college basketball program in the world.

A book no fan can afford to be without, The Winning Tradition brings alive the agonies, frustrations, and glories of each season of Kentucky basketball, from the first team (fielded by women) to the surprising victory in the 1998 NCAA tournament.

Author Biography

Bert Nelli is a retired professor of history at the University of Kentucky. His son, Steve Nelli, a graduate of the University of Kentucky, is a vice president of First Union National Bank in Charlotte, North Carolina.

by Murry R. Nelson (Author)

The NBA has gained worldwide popularity with its high-flying stars and slam-dunking giants, but the early professional hoops game was played below the rim. This book provides the first history of the National Basketball League, which held court from the mid-1930s until its merger with the Basketball Association of America in 1949. Originally formed in Akron and Indianapolis, the league operated mainly in the Midwest but extended as far east as Rochester and Syracuse and west to Denver, building major franchises with hometown loyalties. Most of its stars were college graduates, a major change from previous professional leagues, and it was the first modern major professional league to integrate. Features include photographs, maps of league franchises, and tables of team standings, MVPs, and scoring leaders.

Author Biography

Murry R. Nelson is a professor emeritus of Education and American Studies at Penn State University. He is the author of a history of the New York Celtics, as well as biographies of Bill Russell, Shaquille O'Neal and Abe Saperstein.

by John Charles Thomas Ph. D. (Author)

The Winning Weekend Warrior aspires to enhance the participation, enjoyment, and success of the reader in all sports. It focuses on strategy, tactics and the "mental game." As it turns out, many of the strategies, tactics and techniques for the psychology of sports are similar regardless of the sport. In fact, many of these same techniques are useful in business and other aspects of life as well. This book is valuable for several reasons. First when it comes to winning, there is much in common among all sports. In terms of the mental game, the commonalities outweigh the differences. In terms of the physical game, there are also great similarities in terms of preparation. Obviously, different sports require specific skills but these are largely improved due to correct practice in the specific sport. You can practice a sport such as golf or tennis for many years and hardly improve at all. Time alone is not enough. You need correct practice and this book can help you make sure you practice correctly. A second reason to read this book is that even if you concentrate on one or two sports, chances are that you will participate occasionally in others. You may be a scratch golfer or a tennis star but occasionally find yourself in a basketball or baseball game. Even if your own days of playing hockey, tackle football and soccer are over, you might volunteer to coach these sports for kids, neighbors, or grandkids. In such cases, this book will help you translate the skills you already have in your main sports into these other domains. As you may have noticed, this is not always easy to do. Perhaps you managed to watch the basketball player, Charles Barkley (career average 22.1 points per game) struggle mightily to become a so-so golfer. You can also apply much of the advice in this book to business and other aspects of life far beyond sports. A third reason to read this book is that thinking about what it takes to win in sports in general, will reveal additional insights helpful in your particular sport or sports. This is because I will ask you to look at sports through a different lens. Rather than look at baseball through a "baseball lens" and tennis through a "tennis lens" I will ask you to look at these sports through a more general lens. The fourth reason is that reading this book provides an excellent foundation for understanding and using the information you may find in sports-specific books including future books in this series. By learning a general framework for thinking about all sports, other advice and tips will make more sense and be easier to remember and apply. Fifth and finally, this is one of the few sports books written by a winning weekend warrior. I love competing in sports, but I have never been a professional athlete. Of course, you are tempted to read a book written by a world expert in a sport. Aren't we all? There are several problems trying to improve your performance based solely on books written by world class athletes. 1) There is probably no way you can keep your day job and keep to the kind of training schedule they have. 2) Most professional athletes are in their 20's and 30's. As you age, even if you keep fit, you may have to play differently compared to a professional athlete. 3) Most professional athletes have so much skill in their sport that they no longer consciously remember what the real issues are for beginners and intermediates. Many of these same limitations apply when we listen to athletes being interviewed by the press after an important victory (or defeat).

Author Biography

John Charles Thomas graduated summa cum laude from Case-Western Reserve, majoring in psychology, minoring in mathematics and drama. He received a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Michigan and managed a research project at Harvard Med School on the Psychology of Aging. He then joined IBM Research where he worked in Human Computer Interaction for the next dozen years including a two year stint at IBM CHQ where he spearheaded efforts to improve IBM's user experience. He left IBM to start the Artificial Intelligence Lab at NYNEX where he served as Executive Director for another dozen years. In 1998, he rejoined IBM Research to work in knowledge management and human computer interaction. For several years, he managed a group on the business uses of stories and storytelling. John was instrumental in the formation of ACM's Special Interest Group in Human Computer Interaction and has served on numerous organizing committees and program committees over the last 35 years. Most recently, he was on the program committee for ACM's Turing Centenary Celebration and currently is Adjunct Chair for Mentoring on the SIGCHI Executive Committee. He has over 250 invited presentations and publications in the fields of AI, HCI, and psychology. He is also inventor or co-inventor of patents in the areas of business process, mobile interfaces, creativity aids, software as a service, and information retrieval. He has worked on the user experience for tools/services for consultants, software developers, and consumers. John has taught courses and led workshops in such diverse topics as creativity, storytelling, the psychology of aging, statistics, cognitive psychology and human computer interaction. John has two active blogs: johncharlesthomas.sportsblog.com and petersironwood.wordpress.com John has enjoyed many sports including (in rough chronological order) baseball, badminton, soccer, table tennis, basketball, football, tennis, running, body building, golf, triathlon. The Winning Weekend Warrior is constructed on the intersection of personal experience in a wide variety of sports, a long career in research and management, and an understanding of cognitive psychology. Links to some of his professional writing can be found at http: //www.truthtable.com

by Bobby Kinzer (Author)

Praise for The Other Side of the Hoop: The European Basketball Experience

In talking about Basketball, it's on the same level as show business. There comes a time when we must move on and learn to do other things. I have been in it for 60 years. I learned years ago there are other things to do. So, in saying all of this, don't be one thing. Be many things and have another path to walk. Life is ever-learning. - Dr. Otis Williams of the Temptations

"The Other Side of the Hoop" is one of the few books about the European Professional Basketball experience. The stories shared in this book are not just for basketball enthusiasts; the rich lessons learned apply to all audiences. The book takes you on a journey through the highs and lows of stardom, fortune, and temptation. Through basketball championships and defeats, Bobby Kinzer reveals the journey's end at which he arrives, which will surprise you. - James Brown, CBS Hall of Fame Sports Broadcaster

Bob (Big BOB) Kinzer. We first met at the Boys & Girls Club on 9th & P streets in Washington, D.C. I believe you were home in between seasons from Europe. I've heard many stories of guys that went overseas to play professionally. But my curiosity has grown over the years as I've tried to imagine all the complexities that come with that experience. When I think of my experience transitioning into the NBA, it seems the challenge of making the adjustment going overseas may be even more difficult. This book will help players better understand the European Professional Basketball Experience should they decide to take the journey. It will also serve as a guide for non-basketball people to learn how to cope with life's everyday challenges. Of course, if you've learned the art of assimilation, it becomes a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, see the world, and experience a new culture. Much Success with The Other Side of the Hoop! - Phil Chenier, Former National Basketball Association Player/Champion, Washington Bullets

by Fred Gibbons (Author)

The story of how Valdosta State became a basketball dynasty, winning the Georgia Interscholastic Athletic Conference (GIAC) 11 times in 12 years between 1960-72.

by Murry Nelson (Author)

Was there really professional basketball before the NBA? Indeed there was. It was a rugged game but one that continued to evolve swiftly from its invention in 1891. The original Celtics were at the vanguard of this creation and development. The team began as a local group of young Irishmen from the Hell's Kitchen area of New York City in 1914. Through shrewd acquisitions of top players, they were transformed into the most powerful basketball team of their time. In the period from 1919 to 1928 the Celtics won over seven hundred games with fewer than sixty losses. This book chronicles the team, the players, the league seasons and the early era of professional basketball.

by Craig Leener (Author)

In the thrilling finale to the bestselling basketball trilogy, teen hoops star Zeke Archer is ready to fulfill a lifelong dream: running point for the best college basketball team in the country! But on what should be the best day of his life, things take a horrible turn. Zeke's truck has been completely dismantled, leaving him with no way to drive to a university 1,600 miles away. His on-again, off-again girlfriend has written him a letter that can only be heart-crushing. And Zeke's father is in critical condition, hanging on by thread in the VA hospital . . .

But to make matters absolutely worse, Zeke's nemesis and archrival Brock Decker is suddenly rich and famous-and appears responsible for a most insidious plan to alter the future of basketball's history. With barely any time to fix things, Zeke, together with his best friend Lawrence, will somehow have to break interdimensional barriers of time and space to return to the very spot where the game he loves was invented, all in an attempt to undo everything. But if the clock runs out, Zeke Archer and everything he loves will be gone!

by Craig Leener (Author)

In this coming-of-age novel, seventeen-year-old high school basketball star Ezekiel "Zeke" Archer has it all: a sweet jump shot, a full-ride scholarship to a Midwestern basketball powerhouse, and the brightest future. But when Zeke's temper gets the better of him in the city championship, he is expelled from school, has to forfeit his scholarship, and is left to ponder his once-hopeful future... While finishing his final high school days in the California educational system's version of purgatory, Zeke makes a stunning discovery. With the help of a young autistic classmate Zeke befriends, he learns that the mysterious 7th Dimension, which brought basketball to Earth more than a century ago, has decided to take the game away for good -- all because of the ugly event Zeke set into motion in his final game! As he embarks on the ultimate cross-country road trip to save basketball, Zeke must confront his unsettled past -- including a father he's not heard from in years and a brother fighting in a war half a world away -- in order to set his life on the right path and rescue the game he loves.

by Mark Pathfinder Epstein (Author)

Get inspiration for finding your path from one man's true story of life in the Deep South, a memoir lauded by Coretta Scott King's cousin, Christine Jackson, as "a book everyone should read!"

Growing up, Mark Epstein had dreams of playing basketball, but his lack of motivation sidelined him. Inspired after he read true civil rights stories about Black Americans, Epstein's secret dream was born. Personal heartbreak drove him to a new life in Charleston, South Carolina, where he found his mission to improve the world through sports.

In this inspiring memoir of an educator, Epstein shares the magic of befriending some of the greatest athletes in history as well as students and parents in the public school system. From desperate circumstances to a twenty-seven-year career in education and coaching, They Call Me Pathfinder is the story of how one lost soul from Massachusetts found his way to a life that became an American dream come true.

by McElwain (Author)

Iowa six-player girls' basketball was the most successful sporting activity for girls in American history, at its zenith involving more than 70 percent of the girls in the state. The state tournament was so popular--regularly drawing fifteen thousand fans, more than the boys' tourney--that officials declined a lucrative broadcasting offer from ABC's Wide World of Sports rather than forfeit the Iowa Girls' High School Athletic Union's control of the game. The Only Dance in Iowa chronicles the one-hundred-year history of this Iowa tradition, long a symbol of the state's independence and the people's rural pride. Max McElwain shows how, well before the passage of Title IX in 1972, Iowa six-player girls' basketball was, as Sports Illustrated gushed, "a utopia for girls' athletics." He also demonstrates how, ironically enough, the fallout from Title IX in many ways led to six-girl basketball's demise. Through interviews, careful ethnography, and detailed historical analysis, McElwain exposes the intricate political, sociological, and historical dynamics of this cultural phenomenon. His book reveals how six-girl basketball, flourishing with the passionate support of Iowa's small towns, school districts, and media, came to represent the state's strong traditional beliefs and the public school system's determination to maintain its identity in the face of national educational trends. The Only Dance in Iowa is as much a study of this disappearing culture as of the game it claimed as its own.

Author Biography

Max McElwain, an assistant professor of communication arts at Wayne State College, is a former sportswriter for several Midwestern newspapers.

by Craig Leener (Author)

ˇ˛In the thrilling finale to the bestselling basketball trilogy teen hoops star Zeke Archer is ready to fulfill a lifelong dream: running point for the best college basketball team in the country! But on what should be the best day of his life things take a horrible turn. Zeke's truck has been completely dismantled leaving him with no way to drive to a university 1 600 miles away. His on-again off-again girlfriend has written him a letter that can only be heart-crushing. And Zeke's father is in critical condition hanging on by thread in the VA hospital . . .

But to make matters absolutely worse Zeke's nemesis and archrival Brock Decker is suddenly rich and famous-and appears responsible for a most insidious plan to alter the future of basketball's history. With barely any time to fix things Zeke together with his best friend Lawrence will somehow have to break interdimensional barriers of time and space to return to the very spot where the game he loves was invented all in an attempt to undo everything. But if the clock runs out Zeke Archer and everything he loves will be gone!

by David A. F. Sweet (Author)

One. Two. Three.

Author Biography

David A. F. Sweet is the author of Lamar Hunt: The Gentle Giant Who Revolutionized Professional Sports. He launched columns for WSJ.com and NBCSports.com and has written articles for the Chicago Sun-Times, the Los Angeles Times, and other publications. He lives outside Chicago with his wife and three children. He can be followed on Twitter @davidafsweet.

by Craig Leener (Author)

Lawrence Tuckerman is a fan of probabilities - well, any numbers and math, really. It's an interest that goes hand-in-hand with his autism. It's also how he met his best friend Zeke, who is off fulfilling his dream of playing basketball at the University of Kansas. Now Lawrence expects his life in Los Angeles to become even less social and more routine - just the way he likes it. He plans to finish high school as he pursues his own far-off dream of manning Earth's first mission to Mars ... Then the improbable happens: Lawrence is recruited for a top-secret mission of cosmic proportions! The whole operation relies on him realizing the full potential of his 1-in-6-billion mind - without freaking out. The rocket-science math is a no-brainer, but is he made of the right stuff to manage the communication and cooperation of a team effort ... without his best friend?

by Amanda Ottaway (Author)

Unlike the stories of most visible Division I college athletes, Amanda Ottaway's story has more in common with those of the 80 percent of college athletes who are never seen on TV. The Rebounders follows the college career of an average NCAA Division I women's basketball player in the twenty-first century, beginning with the recruiting process, when Ottaway is an eager, naive teenager, and ending when she's a more contemplative twentysomething alumna.

Author Biography

Amanda Ottaway attended Davidson College where she played basketball and majored in English. Her writing has appeared in Glamour, the Washington Post, espnW, VICE, Christian Science Monitor, The Nation, and elsewhere. She works as a journalist.

by John Christgau (Author)

Before the jump shot, basketball was an earth-bound game. In fact, inventor James Naismith did not originally intend for players to move with the ball. The inspired invention of the dribble first put the ball handler in motion. The jump shot then took the action upward. But where, when, and how did the jump shot originate? Everybody interested in basketball knows the answer to that question. Unfortunately, everybody knows a different answer. John Christgau delves into basketball's evolution, following the supposed inventors of the jump shot to the games in which they first took to the air. He discovers that a number of pioneer players, independently but from the same inspired possibility, can each claim credit for inventing the jump shot. John Christgau is the author of several books including Spoon, winner of the Society of Midland Authors Best Fiction Award. He played basketball for three years at San Francisco State University and was named to the All-Conference team twice.

Author Biography

John Christgau (1934-2018) is the author of several books including Spoon, winner of the Society of Midland Authors Best Fiction Award. He played basketball for three years at San Francisco State University and was named to the All-Conference team twice.

by Paul Westhead (Author)

As a coach at Loyola Marymount in California, Paul Westhead designed his highly unusual signature run-and-gun offense that came to be known as "The System." The Speed Game offers a vibrant account of how he helped develop a style of basketball that not only won at the highest levels but went on to influence basketball as it's played today. Known for implementing an up-tempo, quick-possession, high-octane offense, Westhead is the only coach to have won championships in both the NBA and WNBA. But his long career can be defined by one simple question he's heard from journalists, fellow coaches, his wife, and, well, himself: Why? Why did he insist on playing such a controversial style of basketball that could vary from brilliant to busted?

Author Biography

Paul Westhead has been a basketball coach and offensive innovator with forty-plus years of experience at all levels. Westhead guided the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA championship in 1980 and brought his high-scoring offense to the Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, and Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder. He took his fast-break style to the college game at Loyola Marymount and also to the WNBA, where his Phoenix Mercury team won the championship in 2007.

by Daniel Pinkwater (Author), Jill Pinkwater (Illustrator)

What's small and round and smells like knackwurst, and is very, very scary?
The Werewolf Club is about to find out! After a stop at the Local Yokel Diner to eat jitterbugs (you don't want to know), the young werewolves are off to Basketball Hall, the ancestral home of their teacher Mr. Talbot's uncle, Hugo Basketball. Generations of Basketballs have been cursed by their servants, the peculiar Barrymores, (it's so hard to get good help) not to mention by monstrous Hound of the Basketballs.
Who better to vanquish the frightful hound, Hugo figures, than a pack of werewolves? So with the moon full (and their belies full of knackwurst and sauerkraut) our intrepid heroes are once again risking their young lives to rid the world of evil.
But what about the haunted pastrami?

by Jamie Graham Duprey (Author)

Six years after experiencing what a boys' state basketball championship did for her small prairie town on the Montana Hi-Line, Jamie Graham, fourteen years old, embarks on her own journey to bring that joy and excitement back to her town. Jim--Jamie's dad and respected teacher and coach--coached the boys' championship team and inspires her to choose the goal of winning State. Jim's unwavering belief in Jamie provides her with confidence and motivation to persevere--no matter the obstacle.

When Jamie begins her high school basketball career as a freshman, Coach VanDyke pushes Jamie and her teammates to become the best players and team possible. She promises that practicing the discipline that high school athletics demands will teach them not only what it means to be good players, but good people and leaders who will contribute positively to the world.

Through her four-year high school journey, and together with her teammates, Jamie experiences the exhilaration of winning, the agony of defeat, and the complicated layers of love, friendship, and grief. She learns what it really takes to set and achieve goals, all while navigating adolescence and high school with its inevitable confusion, heartbreak, and the highs and lows that produce powerful life lessons.

by Steve Marantz (Author), Susie Buffett (Foreword by)

In the spring of 1968, the Omaha Central High School basketball team made history with its first all-black starting lineup. Their nickname, the Rhythm Boys, captured who they were and what they did on the court. Led by star center Dwaine Dillard, the Rhythm Boys were a shoo-in to win the state championship. But something happened on their way to glory.
In early March, segregationist George Wallace, in a third-party presidential bid, made a campaign stop in Omaha. By the time he left town, Dillard was in jail, his coach was caught between angry political factions, and the city teetered on the edge of racial violence. So began the Nebraska state high school basketball tournament the next day, caught in the vise of history. The Rhythm Boys of Omaha Central tells a true story about high school basketball, black awakening and rebellion, and innocence lost in a watershed year. The drama of civil rights in 1968 plays out in this riveting social history of sports, politics, race, and popular culture in the American heartland.

Author Biography

Steve Marantz is an Omaha Central graduate and the author of Sorcery at Caesars: Sugar Ray's Marvelous Fight. A researcher for ESPN Content Development and E:60, and a coeditor of sportsmediaguide.com, he formerly covered sports, government, and politics for the Kansas City Star, the Boston Globe, and the Boston Herald. Susie Buffett, a 1971 graduate of Omaha Central, is the eldest of Warren Buffett's three children and runs the not-for-profit Sherwood Foundation.

by John J. Fontanella (Author)

Drain three pointers, slam dunk easily, and sink that buzzer beater from half court with the help of simple science. Your coach, physicist John J. Fontanella, shows how you can improve your game if you take advice from Isaac Newton. As you read, relive some of the great moments in the game--this time with a scientist and diehard basketball fan as your color analyst.

Find out why you ought to put spin on the ball. Get tips on how to improve your free throw and increase your percentage from the charity stripe. You'll even learn how to shatter the backboard, if that's something you've always dreamed of doing.

With photographs and simple high school formulas, physics professor Fontanella--who played in college against Pittsburgh and Syracuse--reveals the key pieces of physics that underscore basketball. He covers almost every aspect of the game, weaving in stories from games he's played and games he's seen, and tales from basketball history and folklore. Physics comes alive as you see how Kobe Bryant, Wilt "the Stilt" Chamberlain, Michael Jordan, Becky Hammon, and J. J. Reddick do naturally the things that Isaac Newton says they should.

Author Biography

John J. Fontanella is a physics professor at the United States Naval Academy.

by Craig Leener (Author)

In this coming-of-age novel seventeen-year-old high school basketball star Ezekiel "Zeke" Archer has it all: a sweet jump shot a full-ride scholarship to a Midwestern basketball powerhouse and the brightest future. But when Zeke's temper gets the better of him in the city championship he is expelled from school has to forfeit his scholarship and is left to ponder his once-hopeful future... While finishing his final high school days in the California educational system's version of purgatory Zeke makes a stunning discovery. With the help of a young autistic classmate Zeke befriends he learns that the mysterious 7th Dimension which brought basketball to Earth more than a century ago has decided to take the game away for good -- all because of the ugly event Zeke set into motion in his final game! As he embarks on the ultimate cross-country road trip to save basketball Zeke must confront his unsettled past -- including a father he's not heard from in years and a brother fighting in a war half a world away -- in order to set his life on the right path and rescue the game he loves.

by James Cadogan (Editor), Ed Chung (Editor)

Leading lights of the NBA on why the fight for social justice and racial equality matters to them--and to all of us

"At the root of this coalition, what binds and joins us together is a shared desire to fight for everyone to be treated with dignity, no matter their race, education, religion, sexual orientation, or economic situation."
--CJ McCollum, president, National Basketball Players Association, and guard, New Orleans Pelicans

Professional basketball players are famous for their otherworldly athletic talents and accomplishments--but many of them also are deeply committed to using their platform to improve their communities and shed light on injustice. In 2020, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), and the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) harnessed this commitment and created the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition--a nonprofit dedicated to advancing social justice and combating racial inequality.

The Power of Basketball is a book of essays written by members of this coalition and other leaders across the NBA and WNBA community--players, coaches, and executives who are committed to promoting voting rights, meaningful police reform, transforming the criminal justice system, and creating community safety. Each essay delves into a particular issue at the heart of the author's activism and tells the personal story and motivation behind the cause they champion. With contributions from players including CJ McCollum, Malcolm Brogdon, and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt; coaches including Doc Rivers, Caron Butler, and Jamahl Mosley; and team governors including Steve Ballmer, Vivek Ranadivé, and Clara Wu Tsai, The Power of Basketball reveals the authenticity of the drive that NBA players, coaches, and executives bring to the fight for social justice even when the bright lights of NBA games are not shining.

With contributions from:

Steve Ballmer, chairman, Los Angeles Clippers, and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

J.B. Bickerstaff, head coach, Cleveland Cavaliers, and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Malcolm Brogdon, guard, Portland Trail Blazers, and founder, Brogdon Family Foundation

Caron Butler, assistant coach, Miami Heat; founder, 3D Foundation; board of trustees, Vera Institute of Justice; and author, Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA

James Cadogan, executive director, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Ed Chung, Vice President of Initiatives, Vera Institute of Justice

Tre Jones, guard, San Antonio Spurs, and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

CJ McCollum, guard, New Orleans Pelicans; president, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA); and founder, CJ McCollum Dream Centers

Jamahl Mosley, head coach, Orlando Magic, and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Larry Nance Jr., center-forward, New Orleans Pelicans; founder, Zero Hunger Challenge; founder, Athletes vs. Crohn's & Colitis (AVC); and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Vivek Ranadivé, owner and chairman, Sacramento Kings, and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Glenn "Doc" Rivers, head coach, Milwaukee Bucks, and founding board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, guard, Washington Mystics, Los Angeles Sparks (ret. 2022)

Clara Wu Tsai, governor, New York Liberty; owner, Brooklyn Nets; vice chairman, BSE Global, and founder, Brooklyn Social Justice Fund

Author Biography

James Cadogan is the Executive Director of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Ed Chung is the vice president of initiatives at the Vera Institute of Justice. He lives in Washington, D.C.

by Scott Ellsworth (Author)

The true story of the game that never should have happened--and of a nation on the brink of monumental change.

Author Biography

Scott Ellsworth is the New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Game, which was the winner of the 2016 PEN/ESPN Award for Literary Sports Writing. He has written about American history for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Los Angeles Times.

by Pete Carril (Author), Dan White (Author), Bob Knight (Introduction by)

"The strong take from the weak, but the smart take from the strong." So said Pete Carril's father, a Spanish immigrant who worked for thirty-nine years in a Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, steel mill. His son stood only five-foot-six but nonetheless became an All-State basketball player in high school, a Little All-American in college, and a highly successful coach. After twenty-nine years as Princeton University's basketball coach, he became an assistant coach with the NBA's Sacramento Kings. In 1997 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Coach Carril inspired his teams with his own strength of character and drive to win, and he demonstrated time and again how a smart and dedicated team could compete successfully against bigger programs and faster, stronger, more athletic players.

His teams won thirteen conference championships, made eleven NCAA Tournament appearances, and led the nation in defense fourteen times. Throughout his reflections on a lifetime spent on the basketball court and the bench, Carril demonstrates deep respect for the contest, his empathy and engagement with the players, humility with his own achievements, a pragmatic vision of discipline and fundamentals, and an enduring joy in the game.

This is an inspiring and wonderful book, even for those who never made a basket.

Back Jacket

On March 14, 1996, before a national television audience, Pete Carril's Princeton University Tigers defeated the heavily favored defending national champion UCLA Bruins, 43-41, in the first round of the NCAA tournament. To the casual observer, it was a shocking upset. But to those in the basketball world, Princeton's triumph was no surprise. For twenty-nine years, Pete Carril had led his teams to more than 500 victories and thirteen Ivy League championships. After the victory over UCLA, Carril announced his retirement from the ranks of college ball, but not before penning this witty, memorable, and insightful collection of vignettes espousing his philosophy of the game. In this era of basketball as raw athleticism, size, and power, how was Pete Carril able to maintain such a level of success throughout his career? In The Smart Take from the Strong, Carril lays bare his philosophy for basketball success. A great teacher and a terrific motivator, Carril has shown that practice, hard work, and determination help shape a winning basketball squad; Carril's teams have demonstrated that even in an age of skywalkers and long-range bombers, there is still merit in discipline, intelligence, and the ageless patterns of the game.

Author Biography

Dan White is an award-winning freelance writer, the author of eight books, and a contributor to the New York Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Detroit Free Press. Bob Knight won three NCAA titles as men's basketball coach at Indiana; he currently coaches at Texas Tech.

by Robert G. Price (Author)

The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Basketball is the most comprehensive and up-to-date basketball-specific training guide in the world today. It contains descriptions and photographs of nearly 100 of the most effective weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises used by athletes worldwide. This book features year-round basketball-specific weight-training programs guaranteed to improve your performance and get you results.

No other basketball book to date has been so well designed, so easy to use, and so committed to weight training. This book will have players increasing strength, power, agility, and overall quickness on the court, leading to an increase in rebounds, steals, blocked shots, and overall defensive efficiency. You will build the strength and power needed to dominate the post and under the basket and you will build the stamina and endurance needed to go strong until the final whistle.

Both beginners and advanced athletes and weight trainers can follow this book and utilize its programs. From recreational to professional, thousands of athletes all over the world are already benefiting from this book and its techniques, and now you can too!

About the Author

Rob Price is a first class certified personal trainer and a former fitness consultant at the University of Wisconsin. He is a national weight lifting champion and state bench press record holder who has been featured in newspapers and magazines all over the world, including the USA Today and Muscle & Performance magazine, for his sports-training expertise. Rob is a contributing author to Golf Fitness Magazine, Swimmer's World Magazine, US Bowler Magazine, and OnFitness magazine and is the founder and head trainer of SportsWorkout.com's e-Training service. In addition to being an internationally recognized fitness expert, Rob also holds a Juris Doctorate from The Ohio State University where he was honored as one of ten Moritz Scholars.

by John Taylor (Author)

A BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN ACCOUNT OF THE NBA'S GLORY DAYS, AND THE RIVALRY THAT DOMINATED THE ERA

Author Biography

John Taylor, a journalist for more than two decades, has been a contributing editor at New York magazine and a senior writer for Esquire. He is the author of four books, including, most recently, The Count and the Confession, a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and Falling, which Entertainment Weekly ranked as one of the five best nonfiction books of 1999. He lives in East Moriches, New York, with his wife, Jeannette Walls.

by Steve Sefner (Author)

2022 will be the 20th Anniversary of the 2001-2002 Kent State Men's Basketball Team's great run to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. One of the greatest runs in NCAA College Basketball History by a Mid-Major School. This team put Kent State on the College Basketball Map.

- Best season in program history 30-6 record.

- Advancing to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament field of 64.

- Defeating 7th seed Oklahoma State.

- Upsetting 2nd seeded Alabama and 3rd seeded Pittsburgh before falling to eventual National Runner-Up Indiana.

The team set school and Mid-American Conference records for 30 overall wins in a season and 17 conference wins. The team's 21 game winning streak set both the MAC and team records for a single season.

This book will capture that magical season, 20 years later with emotion, relationships, and stories people never heard before. It will go behind the scenes to capture how this team was built, how this team rallied after a bumpy start to the season, how it came together for one of the greatest runs in College Basketball History, and how it brought the entire community together.

by Bill O'Neill (Author)

Are you looking for a one of the NBA best basketball books? One that is chock full of sports stories, like how the ABA influenced today's NBA game? Or maybe random facts about the 1992 NBA Dream Team?

by Dennis King (Author)

The window is brief. The seeds of athletic talent must fall on fertile fields at just the right time in a young baller's life. THE DAILY B'ALMANAC is a compendium of basketball knowledge and life skills written specifically for the millions of serious young basketball players world-wide. Formatted as a daily journal/devotional, the brief instructional paragraphs touch on virtually every basketball skill and situation encountered in this global sport. More importantly, THE DAILY B'ALMANAC provides strategies and language for sensitive issues that arise in every young athlete's life and is designed to help them navigate through the confusion of adolescence. Many of these topics have never been addressed with the concise honesty offered in this book and frankly, could be applied at any level of competition.

by James Naismith (Author), Douglas Stark (Editor)

James Naismith invented the game of basketball as a physical education instructor at the International YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts. That December of 1891, his task was to create a game to occupy a rowdy class during the winter months. Almost instantly popular, the game spread across the country and was played in fifteen countries by the end of the century. And yet basketball never had an overriding presence in Naismith's life, as he was also a minister, doctor, educator, and coach.

Author Biography

Douglas Stark is the museum director at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. He is the author of four books, including When Basketball Was Jewish: Voices of Those Who Played the Game (Nebraska, 2017) and Wartime Basketball: The Emergence of a National Sport during World War II (Nebraska, 2016).

by Walter the Educator (Author)

Known for being one of the world's most popular sport, The Little Basketball Poetry Book is a rare collectible book by Walter the Educator that includes unique poems representing basketball topics associated with the lovable game, making it the perfect gift for the basketball lover. Creating a poetry book about basketball can be a unique way of exploring the game. Poetry can give a fresh perspective and bring an imaginative approach to understanding and appreciating the game of basketball. Moreover, it can bridge the gap between sports and art and appeal to a larger audience. Overall, a poetry book about basketball can be an appealing and creative way to engage with the game that so many people love.

by Jack L. Sutter (Author)

This book is written by a former college basketball coach of 22 years who picked the Top 75 basketball players of all time based on ten criterion. Coach Sutter list his Top 75 players and ultimately names his choice for The G.O.A.T. (greatest of all time) based on these ten criteria. As a former coach, his picks, and the reasons for those picks offers the reader a totally different perspective. The book has a bio of each one of the 75 players and a little known "gem" about each one. The author, who has been an NBA fan for 70 years, also picks the All-Decade Teams from the 1950's to the current decade. This book is written for the casual basketball fan, as well as, the hard core fan. Is it possible to pick the 75 best basketball players of all time? Join Jack Sutter in his quest to find the best!

by Nikole Ray (Author), Aadil Khan (Illustrator)

Meet Niyah! She loves basketball and gets into a little trouble when her school work starts to lack. Niyah's mom gives her a choice and it's up to her to make the right decision. What will be her decision?

by Giorgio Gandolfi (Author)

COACH YOUR TEAM TO PLAY BETTER, FASTER, AND WIN, WITH INNOVATIVE DRILLS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE

"Simply fantastic! The Complete Book of Offensive Basketball Drills is a treasure trove of information from around the world. I can honestly say that I have not seen nor read a more complete drill book on one topic that is better than this. Giorgio Gandolfi has outdone himself."
- Kevin Sutton, Head Coach, Montverde Academy, and Assistant Coach for the Gold Medal USA Jr. National Team

All coaches look for an edge that will help put their team over the top against their rivals. The Complete Book of Offensive Basketball Drills helps you take your team to the next level with the most effective offensive drills from the world's best coaches. Run practice sessions that can produce dominant players using these elite instructional workouts taken from around the globe. You'll bring a fresh perspective on the game to your players, all while teaching solid fundamentals, improving offensive performance, and driving up the score with teams at any level.

Covering everything from basic footwork to fast breaks, with advanced variations for more experienced players and teams, author Giorgio Gandolfi has collected more than 150 drills from the best-of-the-best to equip you with the necessary skills to:

• Decide which drills are appropriate-and adapt them to meet each team's needs
• Teach fast breaks, screens, post play, and rebounding
• Prepare teams to shoot, pass, play the boards, and run
• Train players to shoot and score under pressure

"Gandolfi offers a truly global sampling of the finest thinking on how to attack the basket or get a shot off against a tough defender. . . . If it's effective in helping a player improve his pull-up jump shot or make a power move to the basket, it's here. Gandolfi has done the game a huge service--and made Planet Basketball a more intimate place--with this timely and invaluable book."
--Alexander Wolff, Sports Illustrated senior writer and author of Big Game, Small World: A Basketball Adventure, from the Introduction

"Simply fantastic! This is a treasure trove of information from around the world. I can honestly say that I have not seen nor read a more complete drill book on one topic that is better than this book. Giorgio Gandolfi has out done himself with this book. . . . Great job!"
--Kevin Sutton, Head Coach at Montverde Academy and Assistant Coach for the Gold Medal USA Jr. National Team

"This book is one of the best. . . filled with valuable basketball information that has been tested and proven to help coaches and players alike. Giorgio Gandolfi has dedicated his life to helping improve the game and this is just another part of his continuing journey to provide the best basketball information out there!"
--Kevin Eastman, Assistant Coach, Boston Celtics, 2008 NBA World Champions

Author Biography

Giorgio Gandolfi, who has spent 30 years in the international coaching world, amassed a unique collection of drills from his own experience as a coach, an organizer of camps and clinics around the globe, working with the Converse Shoe Company, and as a participant in clinics from Europe, to United States, to South America, and Asia, with the top US high school, college, NBA and international coaches. Since 2003, he has been the Editor-in-Chief of Fiba Assist, the Official Technical Magazine of FIBA, the International Basketball Federation. Gandolfi is also the author of three technical books in the US: NBA Coaches Handbook, Prentice Hall, 1986; Hoops-The NBA Players Association Guide for Playing Basketball, McGraw-Hill, 1987; and NBA Coaches Playbook, Human Kinetics, 2008.

by John Feinstein (Author)

America's favorite sportswriter takes readers on a thrilling and unforgettable journey into the world of college basketball in this national bestseller.
Like millions who love college basketball, John Feinstein was first drawn to the game because of its intensity, speed and intelligence. Like many others, he felt that the vast sums of money involved in NCAA basketball had turned the sport into a division of the NBA, rather than the beloved amateur sport it once was. He went in search of college basketball played with the passion and integrity it once inspired, and found the Patriot League. As one of the NCAA's smallest leagues, none of these teams leaves college early to join the NBA and none of these coaches gets national recognition or endorsement contracts. The young men on these teams are playing for the love of the sport, of competition and of their schools.

Author Biography

John Feinstein is the author of many widely acclaimed and bestselling books on sports, including One on One, Moment of Glory, Are You Kidding Me?, Living on the Black, Tales from Q School, Last Dance, Next Man Up, Let Me Tell You a Story (with Red Auerbach), Caddy for Life, Open, The Punch, The Last Amateurs, The Majors, A Good Walk Spoiled, A Civil War, A Season on the Brink, Play Ball, and Hard Courts. He is also the author of five sports mystery novels for young readers. He writes for the Washington Post, Washingtonpost.com, and Golf Digest, and is a regular commentator on The Golf Channel.

by Bill O'Neill (Author)

Are you looking for a one of the NBA best basketball books? One that is chock full of sports stories, like how the ABA influenced today's NBA game? Or maybe random facts about the 1992 NBA Dream Team?

Well, look no further. Proudly presenting The Great Book of Basketball, a book full of trivia questions that deal with six decades of stories that will make for fun reading and maybe create a couple of bar bets or two. And hopefully, maybe settle one or two in your favor.

This is sure to be one of the best NBA basketball books out there, whether you're in the mood to learn about how Julius Erving shifted the landscape of the ABA, digging in on the Celtics dynasties of the 1950 and 1960s, this book has a little bit of everything and goes beyond the surface of simply what was popular.

And did we mention trivia questions? Of course we did! And they aren't your run of the mill, everyone knows the answer off the top of their head sports trivia. You'll be challenged, you'll kick yourself for not knowing an answer or two, but you definitely won't be bored by these questions.

Whether it's learning about "The Dunk of Death" or a little more about the early pioneers of the NBA, The Great Book of Basketball has a little something for everyone who is a fan of the orange roundie. From MJ to Magic and from LeBron to Larry Legend, there's some stories and stats that will make you think and make you laugh.

So get your copy of The Great Book of Basketball today!

by David Bobker (Author)

✔ The Greatest Basketball Players Legend of All Time book is one of the sports inspirational ones that sets an amazing example for readers to learn more about the career and each life milestone of Kobe Bryant.

✔ Luckily, you meet this book and let's get the allure from the basketball and idol book. Bryant's life meaningful and everlasting lessons are not frivolous but practical not only in basketball but all aspects of our life and even further.

✔ The book is an outstanding and indispensable one for you that one of the NBA legends' stories and struggles would absolutely optimize your mind in the better and more unique ways.

by Giggles and Kicks (Author)

The Coolest Most Awesome Basketball Coloring Book For Kids

Boys And Girls That Enjoy Basketball Will Have Hours Of Fun With This Cool Coloring Book

Large Size 8.5" by 11"

Each Fun Basketball Design Is On One-Sided Paper So there Is No Bleed Through When Coloring

Appropriate For Young Children

What A Great Gift Idea Or Party Favor Idea

Buy One Or More Today!

by Andy Grachuk (Author), Steven a. Roseboro (Author)

In "The Golden Age of Basketball - Volume I" Sports Photojournalist Steven A. Roseboro presents a words-eye view of the most exciting Decade in the History of the NBA, the Eighties. The Book chronicles the remarkable rivalry between Earvin "Magic" Johnson's Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Bird's Boston Celtics, who won a combined 8 of 10 NBA Championships in the Decade. The competitive excellence of Bird vs. Magic changed the landscape of the league and laid the foundation for the global explosion of Professional Basketball. Volumes I (1979-1984) and II (1985-1989) feature over 500 action photos as Bird, Magic, the Ageless Kareem Abdul Jabbar, the Spectacular Julius "Dr. J" Erving, and Isiah Thomas' Bad Boy Detroit Pistons all battled for League supremacy. Volume I also profiles Hall of Famers Moses Malone, Robert Parish, Kevin McHale, James Worthy and George Gervin, who left their indelible imprints on the Decade. Relive Magic Johnson's "Magical" 42 point, 15 rebound, 7 assist masterpiece in Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals, Larry Bird leading the 1981 Celtics back to their customary perch atop the NBA, the go-go World Champion Lakers of 1982, Moses Malone's "Fo-Fo-Fo" Philadelphia 76ers bringing Julius Erving his first NBA title, and the emotionally charged 1984 NBA Final, a seven game classic first meeting between Bird's Celtics and Magic's Lakers. Boston's hard-earned title sets the stage for Volume II, introducing the NBA and the world to the player taken second in the 1984 NBA Draft, the man that would take the game from the floor to above the rim, Michael Jordan.

Author Biography

Steven A. Roseboro lived a double life as a Physical Therapist and Sports Photojournalist. He covered the NBA for International Publications in Italy, Spain, and England from 1981-1990. His work has been prominently displayed in the United States in Inside Sports magazine, Players Magazine, California Sports, Hoop Magazine, Basketball Digest and Petersen's NBA Yearbook. Follow Steven on Facebook/thegoldenageofbasketball Blog: goldenageofbasketballblog.thegoldenageofbasketball.co

by Al Figone (Author)

Commercial aspects of college football and basketball during the mid- to late 20th century were dominated by a few "get rich quick" schools. Though the NCAA was responsible for controlling such facets of college sports, the organization was unwilling and unable to control the excesses of the few who opposed the majority opinion. The result was a period of corruption, rules violations, unnecessary injuries and overspending. These events led to the formation of larger conferences, richer bowl games and rules intended to preserve the "money-making" value of college football and basketball.

This book explores gambling, academic fraud, illegal booster activity and the single-minded pursuit of television contracts in college sports, as well as the NCAA's involvement--or lack thereof--in such cases.

Author Biography

The late Al Figone was a writer who specialized in the fields of psychology of sport, history of sport and the sociology of sport. He lived in Folsom, California.

by Latoya Jordan (Author), World Of Kidz (Illustrator)

THE LITTLE BASKETBALL STAR: In a small city, a little girl named Olivia dreamed of becoming a basketball star. Inspired by the local games, she practices diligently at the park, facing challenges and self-doubt. One day she joins a group of kids playing basketball, where she learns the importances of teamwork and friendship.

During the championship game, Olivia gets nervous but remembers her practice and the support of her teammates. With determination, Sorry readers, you will have to purchase a copy to learn what happened next lol.

by Delbert Prince (Author)

Great stories about the work of Coney Island Basketball in the 1980's and 1990s. Basketball was a very important activity in different levels such as playground, playing in basketball leagues and amateur level. There are interesting stories of certain players that would surprise us about their situation.

by Deana Riddle (Illustrator), Kevin Sivils (Author)

Coaches: Win more games by teaching your players the fundamental skills, intangibles and finer points of the game that other coaches don't know. Help your players eliminate costly turnovers by learning to read the defense, score more points by fine tuning your fast break and improve your offensive attack skills. Players: Take your game to another level by learning the skills and details of the game the elite players know. Learn how character issues can impact a player either positively or negatively. Gain insight into the minds of coaches and learn to think like a coach on the court. Fans: Have a deeper appreciation of the game beyond just recognizing the type of defense or offense being used. Impress your fellow basketball fans with your knowledge of the finer points of the sport and become a true connoisseur of the game of basketball. "There has never been a book before for coaches, players and fans like The Game of Basketball. For the coach, this book is about moving a player's game to a higher level. For the player, the information in this book can make the difference between being an average player and a good player or even a great player. For the fan who wants to appreciate the sport and the nuances of the game, this book provides many of tiny details the average fan is never aware of." Rusty Rogers - 2 Time NAIA Div. II National Championship Coach and 2 Time National NAIA Coach of the Year "Once again Kevin Sivils has produced a book that ought to be in every coach's library. Too often, we fall into the trap of thinking that Xs and Os are the holy grail, but Coach Sivils reminds us of the truth articulated by John Wooden over 50 years ago, "It's not what you do, it's how well you do it." I've never seen a better compilation of the little things that can turn a basketball player into a "Player". Coach Doug Porter - Head Coach Olivet Nazarene University Women's Basketball - 8 Time Coach of the Year

Author Biography

A 24 year veteran of the coaching profession, with twenty-two of those years spent as a varsity head coach, Coach Kevin Sivils amassed 464 wins and his teams earned berths in the state play-offs 19 out of 22 seasons with his teams advancing to the state semi-finals three times. An eight time Coach of the Year Award winner, Coach Sivils has traveled as far as the Central African Republic to conduct coaching clinics. Coach Sivils first coaching stint was as an assistant coach for his college alma mater, Greenville College, located in Greenville, Illinois. Coach Sivils holds a BA with a major in physical education and a minor in social studies from Greenville College and a MS in Kinesiology with a specialization in Sport Psychology from Louisiana State University. He also holds a Sport Management certification from the United States Sports Academy. In addition to being a basketball coach, Coach Sivils is a classroom instructor and has taught U.S. Government, U.S. History, the History of WW II, and Physical Education. He has served as an Athletic Director and Assistant Athletic Director over the years of his career and has also been involved in numerous professional athletic organizations. In addition to being the author of this book, Sivils has published fourteen previous books including Game Strategy and Tactics for Basketball: Bench Coaching for Success, published by Dog Ear Publishing. Sivils is married to the former Lisa Green of Jackson, Michigan, and the happy couple are the proud parents of three children, Danny, Katie, and Emily. Rounding out the Sivils family are three dogs, Angel, Berkeley, and Al. A native of Louisiana, Coach Sivils currently resides in the Great State of Texas.

by Russell Sneddon (Author)

This is story about a Basketball that lives in Sportsville - a town filled with all the different sports balls. He is a happy basketball that loves telling jokes and making himself laugh. He becomes famous for his jokes and thinks fame makes him happy. He soon finds out he can't tell anymore jokes and is humiliated. Sad, he runs away into the lost fields of Sportsville. It is there, where he meets a special friend that reminds him why he loved jokes and helps him make a triumphant return to Sportsville. Only this time he never forgets what matters, happiness.

by James Bren (Author)

Dive into the exhilarating world of basketball with "The History of the NBA" by James Bren, a comprehensive journey through the evolution, triumphs, and iconic moments that have shaped the National Basketball Association into the global sporting phenomenon it is today.

by Kesia Alexander (Author), Kayla Alexander (Author)

One dribble, two dribbles, three dribbles, four. One step, two steps, in the basket, score! When Kayla is first introduced to the game of basketball, she quickly learns that there is more to the sport than learning how to play. Kayla discovers that basketball is magical, and gives many gifts along the way! Written in rhyme, this book is inspired by the true story of a young Canadian girl who used an orange basketball to live out her dreams. 'The Magic of Basketball!' encourages children to recognize all of the gifts and opportunities that sports can provide. It teaches young girls and boys that the opportunities are endless when you work hard and follow your dreams.

by Stephen H. Provost (Author)

She was the first player to sign a contract in the first women's professional basketball league, paving the way for the WNBA. She set records for the most points in a season, in a game, and in a playoff game that still stand four decades later. Yet few people know the story of Molly Bolin. Her shooting stroke evoked comparisons to Stephen Curry and earned her the nickname "Machine Gun Molly." She appeared in a movie with Pete Maravich and in a poster that made her the sports world's answer to Farrah Fawcett. But perhaps most impressively, she overcame the odds time and again through hard work and dedication. This is the story of a young girl from a small town in Iowa who had a dream, pursued it and made it come true. This is the legend of Molly Bolin.

by Wiley Deon Jr. Smith (Author)

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched-they must be felt with the heart.

by Hank Patton (Author)

Are you ready to embark on an epic journey through the heart-pounding world of basketball?

Alonzo Mourning needing a kidney to continue his championship quest.The Butler Bulldogs making a Cinderella run.An NBA referee gambling on games, then spilling the beans on the league.Ray Allen saving the Big 3 from a disappointing NBA Finals.Larry Bird making one spectacular play to kick-start his legendary status.