best nba biographies books

12 Best Basketball Books of All Time

February 1, 2024

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Step off the court and into the pages where the heartbeat of basketball is inked.

From legendary showdowns to personal triumphs, this lineup of must-read books is your courtside ticket to the real drama, strategy, and spirit of the game.

Ready to bounce into the best basketball books ever written?

Best Basketball Books:

• The Book of Basketball – The NBA According to The Sports Guy
• When the Game Was Ours – Magic, Larry, and the Golden Age of Basketball
• Eleven Rings – The Soul of Success
• A Season on the Brink – A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers
• The Breaks of the Game – Inside the World of Professional Basketball
• Drive – The Story of My Life
• My Losing Season – A Memoir
• Pistol – The Life of Pete Maravich
• The Last Shot – City Streets, Basketball Dreams
• Playing for Keeps – Michael Jordan and the World He Made
• Wooden – A Coach’s Life
• Showtime – Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s

Table of Contents

#1 The Book of Basketball – The NBA According To The Sports Guy

#2 when the game was ours – magic, larry, and the golden age of basketball, #3 eleven rings – the soul of success, #4 a season on the brink – a year with bob knight and the indiana hoosiers, #5 the breaks of the game – inside the world of professional basketball, #6 drive – the story of my life, #7 my losing season – a memoir, #8 pistol – the life of pete maravich, #9 the last shot – city streets, basketball dreams, #10 playing for keeps – michael jordan and the world he made, #11 wooden – a coach’s life, what are the best basketball books of all time, what is the best basketball book for adults, what are the best books for basketball fundamentals and strategy.

• ✍️ Author : Bill Simmons
• 📆 Year Published : 2009
• 📘 Genre: Biographies and Autobiographies, History, Strategy and Coaching

Dive into the thrilling world of basketball with “The Book of Basketball,” a masterpiece crafted by the renowned Sports Guy. This book takes you on an unforgettable journey through the NBA’s rich history, unfolding the strategic genius behind the game’s greatest moments.

Through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis, it explores the lives and legacies of basketball legends, offering a unique glimpse into their struggles, triumphs, and the unwavering passion that defines the soul of this beloved sport. Perfect for readers eager to understand the game beyond the court, this book promises to inspire, educate, and entertain.

• ✍️ Author : Larry Bird, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, and Jackie MacMullan
• 📘 Genre: Biographies and Autobiographies, History

Witness the golden era of basketball come to life in “When the Game Was Ours,” a captivating narrative that chronicles the legendary rivalry and friendship between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Authored by the icons themselves along with Jackie MacMullan, this book delves deep into their storied careers, the intense competition, and the mutual respect that redefined the NBA.

Through personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes insights, readers are transported to a time when these giants battled for supremacy, teaching lessons about perseverance, teamwork, and the transformative power of sports. A must-read for any fan looking to explore the heart and soul of basketball’s most celebrated era.

• ✍️ Author : Phil Jackson and Hugh Delehanty
• 📆 Year Published : 2013
• 📘 Genre: Biographies and Autobiographies, Strategy and Coaching

Step into the mind of the “Zen Master” with “Eleven Rings – The Soul of Success.” This insightful book, co-authored by Phil Jackson, one of the most successful coaches in NBA history, offers an unprecedented look into the philosophies and strategies that led to his astounding eleven championship rings.

Phil Jackson’s holistic approach, blending basketball strategy with life lessons, provides a unique perspective on leadership, teamwork, and personal growth. Engaging and transformative, this book is perfect for readers interested in the strategic intricacies of basketball and the wisdom it takes to build a culture of success.

• ✍️ Author : John Feinstein
• 📆 Year Published : 1986

Embark on an intense journey with “A Season on the Brink,” a riveting account of a year in the life of the fiery and enigmatic basketball coach, Bob Knight. Author John Feinstein offers an unparalleled glimpse into the high-stakes world of college basketball, capturing the emotional rollercoaster of a season with the Indiana Hoosiers.

This book takes readers into the heart of the action, revealing the pressure, the passion, and the strategic genius of one of the game’s most controversial figures. A compelling read for those intrigued by the challenges and triumphs that define the spirit of college basketball.

• ✍️ Author : David Halberstam
• 📆 Year Published : 1981

“The Breaks of the Game” is a masterful exploration of the complex, compelling world of professional basketball in the late 1970s. Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Halberstam takes readers behind the scenes of the Portland Trail Blazers, offering a vivid portrait of the players, coaches, and the turbulent era that shaped them.

This book delves deep into the personal struggles, the triumphs, and the raw emotions that make basketball more than just a game. A captivating narrative for readers, it sheds light on the human side of sports, the relentless pursuit of excellence, and the unbreakable bonds formed on and off the court.

• ✍️ Author : Larry Bird with Bob Ryan
• 📆 Year Published : 1989
• 📘 Genre: Biographies and Autobiographies

“Drive – The Story of My Life” offers an inspiring glimpse into the life and career of basketball legend Larry Bird. Co-written with Bob Ryan, this autobiography takes readers on a journey from Bird’s modest beginnings in Indiana to his rise as one of the greatest basketball players.

The book highlights Bird’s incredible work ethic, dedication, and the unyielding drive that led him to success on and off the court. A compelling narrative that embodies the spirit of perseverance and the love of the game, making it a perfect read for sports enthusiasts.

• ✍️ Author : Pat Conroy
• 📆 Year Published : 2002
• 📘 Genre: Biographies and Autobiographies, Youth and High School Basketball

In “My Losing Season,” acclaimed author Pat Conroy turns the spotlight on his own life, sharing the poignant story of his final season playing college basketball. This memoir is not just about the game but also about the lessons learned during a season marked more by defeat than victory.

Conroy’s exquisite storytelling vividly captures the essence of youth, the bittersweet moments of growing up, and the profound impact of sports on a young person’s life. An emotionally rich and deeply personal read, ideal for young readers who cherish the life lessons sports can teach.

• ✍️ Author : Mark Kriegel
• 📆 Year Published : 2007

“Pistol – The Life of Pete Maravich” is a captivating biography of one of basketball’s most enigmatic and talented players, Pete Maravich. Author Mark Kriegel paints a detailed portrait of Maravich’s life, from his childhood under the guidance of a demanding father to his spectacular career in the NBA.

This book takes readers through the highs and lows, the triumphs and struggles, encapsulating the spirit and passion of a man who lived and breathed basketball. A must-read for those who aspire to understand the complexities and driving forces behind a true basketball legend.

• ✍️ Author : Darcy Frey
• 📆 Year Published : 1994

“The Last Shot” is a compelling narrative that follows the dreams and realities of four young basketball players from Coney Island, New York. Author Darcy Frey provides a gripping account of the hopes, struggles, and harsh realities these young athletes face as they aspire to make it to the NBA.

This book offers a raw and eye-opening perspective on the intersection of sports, education, and society, highlighting the challenges and determinations of youth in pursuit of their basketball dreams. An essential read for young readers, offering valuable insights into the complexities of life and the power of perseverance.

• 📆 Year Published : 1999

“Playing for Keeps” delves into the phenomenal career and impact of Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. Renowned author David Halberstam chronicles Jordan’s journey from his early days in North Carolina to his iconic status in the global arena.

This book offers not just a biography of a basketball superstar but an insightful look into the culture and business of sports during Jordan’s era. It’s an inspirational tale for readers, filled with lessons about ambition, leadership, and the relentless pursuit of excellence both on and off the court.

• ✍️ Author : Seth Davis
• 📆 Year Published : 2014

In “Wooden – A Coach’s Life,” Seth Davis paints an intimate portrait of John Wooden, one of the most revered coaches in the history of sports. This biography goes beyond Wooden’s impressive record to explore his philosophy, his approach to coaching, and his influence on his players and the game.

Davis’s compelling narrative reveals the principles and integrity that Wooden embodied, making this book not just about basketball but about the lessons in leadership, character, and the pursuit of excellence. A profound read for readers interested in the deeper values that can be learned through sports.

#12 Showtime – Magic, Kareem, Riley, and the Los Angeles Lakers Dynasty of the 1980s

• ✍️ Author : Jeff Pearlman

“Showtime” offers an explosive and detailed account of the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1980s, a decade that redefined the NBA. Jeff Pearlman brings to life the charisma, drama, and brilliance of figures like Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and coach Pat Riley, who together formed one of the most entertaining and successful teams in basketball history.

This book captures the glitz, glamour, and sheer talent of the Showtime Lakers, making it a riveting read for fans interested in the golden age of basketball and the personalities that elevated the game to new heights.

After exploring basketball’s literary world, check out the best movies, series, and documentaries on basketball for visual storytelling that captures the essence of the game.

“The Book of Basketball,” “When the Game Was Ours,” “Eleven Rings,” “A Season on the Brink,” and “The Breaks of the Game” are the best basketball books of all time. These books provide comprehensive insights into the history, strategy, and legendary figures of the game.

“The Breaks of the Game” by David Halberstam is the best basketball book for adults, offering a profound look into professional basketball and its cultural impact during the late 1970s.

“Eleven Rings” and “A Season on the Brink” are the best books for basketball fundamentals and strategy, offering deep insights into the coaching philosophies and strategies of the game’s most successful figures.

For those inspired to start their own fantasy league after reading about basketball’s rich history, use our fantasy basketball team name generator to kick things off with a creative name.

Meet Rev, one of our dedicated team members who embodies the essence of sports passion. When he’s not immersed in the world of sports content creation, Rev is busy honing his skills in esports and exploring the great outdoors through activities like hiking and basketball.

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This is a great list. Additionally, I recommend Dream Team and 7 Seconds or Less by Jack McCallum, as well as The Soul of Basketball by Ian Thomsen and Loose Balls, which details the history of the ABA.

We appreciate the recommendations. We’ll explore these titles and consider updating the post accordingly in the future. Thank you!

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The Best Basketball Books – 20 Books You Need To Read!

You are a big basketball fan and you are looking for a new book to read? I got you covered!

Check out my favorite basketball books:

The Book of Basketball - Bill Simmons

There's also fun chapters like "The What-if game" where he goes into questions like: "What if Detroit took Carmelo Anthony over Darko Milicic?" or "What if Len Bias hadn't overdosed" and another one where he settles the argument: "Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russel?"

Pacific Rims - Rafe Bartholomew

Did you know that the Philippines are maybe the most basketball-crazy country on earth? Before I read this book I had no idea!​

"Pacific Rims" follows Rafe Bartholomew's journey through the island exploring its love for the game of basketball and coming up with really interesting insights into the culture of the Philippines.

He spends a complete season inside the locker room of a professional basketball team, talks to politicians who promise brand new basketball courts to poor areas in exchange for votes, and follows a traveling basketball show like the Harlem Globetrotters (except they don't play Globetrotters vs Generals but Midgets vs Transsexuals!!!)

The Last Shot - Darcy Frey

We follow four young basketball players who are blessed with a lot of athletic talent, discipline, and the ultimate will to make it out of the ghetto. It shows their struggle with inadequate schooling, desperate family situations, and the brutal world of college recruiting.

Brave Dragons - Jim Yardley

This is an intriguing look into Chinese society and what happens if one tries to bring American individualism to a country that is heavily shaped by communism where collectivism rules. This book is less about the day to day of a basketball coach and more about how different cultures and ways of thinking shape the game of basketball.

Can I Keep My Jersey - Paul Shirley

I first learned about Paul Shirley when he wrote a Blog during the 2004-2005 NBA season for the Phoenix Suns. As a twelfth player, he barely played but he provided an unbelievably entertaining and honest look behind the curtain of the NBA. He later wrote for Bill Simmons Page 2 on ESPN about teams, players, media, cheerleaders, and even topics outside of the athletic sphere.

In his first book "Can I keep my jersey" he tells about his life as a professional basketball player in countries like Russia, China, Greece, and Spain. He experiences different countries, basketball philosophies, and even a Russian Christmas party with two male strippers 🙂

The Mamba Mentality - Kobe Bryant

It's not a traditional biography but a collection of stunning photographs by the Hall of Fame photographer Andrew D. Bernstein with short self-contained stories. You'll learn about Kobe's steps to prepare mentally and physically, how he studied his opponents and how he played through injuries.

The Dream Team - Jack McCallum

Jack McCallum had the unique opportunity to ride along with the Dream Team and details what happened in practices, games, and locker rooms.

There are chapters on how the players were picked, why Isiah Thomas didn't make the team, and an account of the famous intra-squad game dubbed "The greatest game nobody ever saw".

Basketball (and Other Things) - Shea Serrano

His third book centers around questions like "What year was Michael Jordan the best version of Michael Jordan?", "Who's the greatest dunker in NBA history" or "How many points should [shot] actually be worth?" and gives unconventional, hilarious, and insightful answers.

SprawlBall - Kirk Goldsberry

Kirk Goldsberry combines stunning visuals, in-depth analysis, fun, behind-the-scenes stories, and gee-whiz facts to chart the modern basketball revolution.

If you are a basketball nerd like me and you enjoy statistics and analytics, then this is the perfect book for you!

The Breaks of the Game - David Halberstam

David Halberstam was a Pulitzer Prize-winner and wrote more than 20 books about American life and history - almost all of them bestsellers.

The "Breaks of the Game" focuses on one grim season (1979-80) in the life of the Bill Walton-led Portland Trail Blazers, a team that only three years before had been NBA champions. We follow Blazers Hall of Fame head coach Jack Ramsay trying to lead a declining team through injuries, player selfishness, salary complaints, team chemistry problems.

Miracle of St.Anthony - Adrian Wojnarowski

Back in 2006, he wrote one of the best basketball books chronicling Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley working miracles in St. Anthony High School trying to lead a dysfunctional team through a gripping and heartrending season.

Basketball: A Love Story - Jackie McMullan, Rafe Bartholomew & Dan Klores

There are chapters about the NBA, college basketball, women's basketball, and even the ABA is featured. These chapters are short and self-contained, you can pick up this book at any time and just read a few pages without being lost. If you are a basketball junkie you won't get enough of the inside stories from the greats of that era - you'll feel like you are eavesdropping on history.

Eleven Rings - Phil Jackson

In this book, Phil details each championship season from beginning to end and gives you a different perspective on what it takes to win a championship in the sports world. You'll learn about the similarities between Kobe and Jordan, the reasons for the Kobe / Shaq feud, and how Phil formed a bunch of individuals into championship teams.

You'll also get a look into the world of Zen Buddhism, Phil's leadership style, and how he handled the difficult personalities on his teams.

Tanking to the Top - Yaron Weitzman

Sam Hinkie was the general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers from 2013 to 2016 and oversaw what became famous as "the process".

For years, the team intentionally lost as many games using a bold plan to get to first by becoming the worst.

Ultimately, this strategy led to high draft picks that turned into superstars Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid , but also disappointing selections like Markelle Fultz or Jahlil Okafor.

Hinkie was pushed out less than three years into his reign by a demoralized owner, a jealous CEO, and an embarrassed NBA.

Loose Balls - Terry Pluto

Loose Balls is the definitive and most widely respected oral history of the ABA. It's a wild ride through some of the wackiest, funniest, strangest times ever to hit pro sports—told entirely through the words of those who played, wrote, and connived their way through the league's nine seasons.

Seven Seconds or Less - Jack McCallum

Jack McCallum spent the whole season as an "assistant coach" and provides a fascinating fly-on-the-wall look at how coach Mike D'Antoni and his staff led an injury-plagued team to the Western Conference Finals. Having access to everything from locker room chats to coaches' meetings allows us the get a unique look at how an NBA team really works.

The Three Ring Circus - Jeff Pearlman

The story of the Lakers dynasty from 1996 through 2004, when Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal combined—and collided—to help bring the Lakers three straight championships and restore the franchise as a powerhouse

In the tradition of Jeff Pearlman’s bestsellers Showtime, Boys Will Be Boys, and The Bad Guys Won, Three-Ring Circus is a rollicking deep dive into one of sports’ most fraught yet successful pairings.

The Jordan Rules - Sam Smith

In "the Jordan Rules" he wrote the inside story of the 1990/1991 season that changed everything for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. After losing in the playoffs to the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons for three consecutive years, the Bulls finally broke through and swept the Pistons in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals, on the way to their first NBA championship.

The candid portrayal of Jordan's relationship with teammates, his obsession with being the leagues leading scorer, and his refusal to pass the ball in crunch time created a lot of drama when it was released.

The Last Season - Phil Jackson

When the Garden was Eden - Harvey Araton

These are my favorite books about basketball! Did I miss a great one? Let me know, I am always looking for new and interesting books!

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20 Best Basketball Books (2024)

Explore the top 20 basketball books! From player biographies to strategic insights, find your next slam dunk read here.

Are you a basketball enthusiast looking to dive deeper into the game’s history, strategy, and culture? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the best basketball books ever written, offering a blend of insightful analysis, gripping storytelling, and invaluable wisdom from some of the sport’s most legendary figures.

Whether you’re a player, coach, or fan, these books are sure to elevate your understanding and appreciation of basketball and NBA.

Top 20 Best Basketball Books of All Time

1 – the mamba mentality: how i play.

A must-read for aspiring athletes and driven individuals, Kobe Bryant’s manifesto lays bare his relentless work ethic, competitive spirit, and unwavering dedication to self-improvement. His “Mamba Mentality” transcends basketball, offering life lessons applicable to any pursuit.

2 – The Jordan Rules

Delve into the inner workings of the Chicago Bulls during their championship reign in the 1990s, as journalist Sam Smith provides a behind-the-scenes look at Michael Jordan’s leadership and the team’s dynamic.

3 – The Book of Basketball

In this comprehensive tome, sports columnist Bill Simmons explores the history of the NBA, ranking players, teams, and moments while injecting his signature wit and pop culture references.

4 – Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success

Phil Jackson reflects on his career, detailing the principles of leadership and mindfulness that guided him to a record-setting eleven NBA championships as a coach.

5 – Sacred Hoops

Legendary coach Phil Jackson shares his spiritual approach to coaching and team dynamics, offering profound insights into the mindset and philosophy behind his success with the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.

6 – Drive: The Story of My Life

Basketball icon Larry Bird recounts his journey from small-town Indiana to NBA superstardom, offering candid insights into his unparalleled work ethic and competitive drive.

7 – Michael Jordan: The Life

A biography that follows the remarkable journey of basketball icon Michael Jordan. Written by Roland Lazenby, the book traces Jordan’s rise from his roots in North Carolina to becoming one of the most influential athletes in history. It explores his unparalleled success on the court, his drive for excellence, and his enduring legacy in sports and beyond.

8 – Dream Team: How Michael, Magic, Larry, Charles, and the Greatest Team of All Time Conquered the World and Changed the Game of Basketball Forever

Relive the magic of the 1992 Olympic Dream Team through the eyes of renowned sports journalist Jack McCallum, as he chronicles their journey to gold and the enduring legacy they left on basketball.

9 – When the Game Was Ours

Basketball legends Larry Bird and Magic Johnson team up with writer Jackie MacMullan to reminisce about their storied rivalry and friendship, offering a firsthand account of one of the NBA’s greatest eras.

10 – The Last Shot: City Streets, Basketball Dreams

Journalist Darcy Frey provides a poignant glimpse into the lives of high school basketball players in Coney Island, Brooklyn, highlighting the challenges and aspirations of inner-city youth pursuing their hoop dreams.

11 – Basketball: A Love Story

This oral history of basketball, compiled by a team of esteemed writers, features interviews with players, coaches, and personalities from all eras of the sport, offering a rich tapestry of stories and perspectives.

12 – Wooden: A Coach’s Life

Discover the life and legacy of coaching icon John Wooden, as sports journalist Seth Davis provides a comprehensive biography of the UCLA legend and his enduring influence on basketball and beyond.

13 – The Breaks of the Game

Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Halberstam goes behind the scenes of the Portland Trail Blazers’ 1979-1980 season, offering a compelling narrative of triumph and adversity in the world of professional basketball.

14 – Basketball Junkie: A Memoir

Former NBA player Chris Herren bares his soul in this candid memoir, chronicling his struggles with addiction and redemption journey, serving as a cautionary tale and source of inspiration.

15 – Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association

Sportswriter Terry Pluto delivers an entertaining and informative account of the ABA, the renegade league that revolutionized professional basketball in the 1970s, featuring colorful characters and memorable moments.

16 – The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball’s Most Improbable Dynasty

Follow sportswriter Adrian Wojnarowski as he embeds himself with the St. Anthony High School basketball team in New Jersey, chronicling their remarkable journey under the guidance of legendary coach Bob Hurley.

17 – Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective

Legendary Tennessee Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt shares her remarkable story, from her upbringing in rural Tennessee to her unparalleled success as one of the winningest coaches in NCAA basketball history.

18 – The Punch: One Night, Two Lives, and the Fight That Changed Basketball Forever

John Feinstein revisits the infamous 1977 altercation between Rudy Tomjanovich and Kermit Washington, exploring its lasting impact on the players involved and the NBA as a whole.

19 – Basketball (and Other Things): A Collection of Questions Asked, Answered, Illustrated

Writer Shea Serrano tackles a wide range of basketball-related questions with humor and insight in this entertaining and irreverent book, accompanied by illustrations from artist Arturo Torres.

20 – Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court

NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar reflects on his enduring friendship with coach John Wooden, offering a heartfelt tribute to the man who shaped not only his basketball career but also his life.

These 20 basketball books offer a diverse range of perspectives on the sport, from the exploits of NBA superstars to the trials and triumphs of high school and college teams. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a casual observer, there’s something on this list to pique your interest and deepen your appreciation for the game of basketball.

Related articles

The Ten Best Basketball Books of All Time

This year I'm thankful for basketball books. Seriously. I have shelves full of them and I read them all the time. (Unless you count a brief dalliance with toy elephants as a child, books about basketball are the only things I have ever collected.)

Honorable mention: I have read a million player and coach autobiographies, and they are all kind of fascinating and terrible at the same time. They are all about content more than form, and they all have long passages that could be summarized "I worked really hard at the gym," "my childhood was not easy," and "I played really well that night." But they're all fun to read and full of the kind of colorful detail that makes people think you really know a lot about sports. My favorites are Chamique (you think it's tough to grow up as a boy who's into sports?), Shaq Talks Back (no one understands the big fella, but he makes perfect sense after you read this), Bill Walton (decades ago Bill Walton's friend Jack Scott wrote a hard-to-find tell-almost-all, rich with tales of everything from homeopathic remedies to the FBI), the other Loose Balls by Jayson Williams (he wrote it with Steve Friedman, who is far more talented than your average ghost writer, and the book is crisp and funny--complete with a fantastic tale of Clifford Ray having sex in a hotel bathroom), Phil Jackson's The Last Season (funnier than ever now that he's reunited with Kobe Bryant, who gets short shrift in this book), Charles Barkley's I May Be Wrong But I Doubt It , and My Life by Magic Johnson. That last one is a pretty ordinary book--who dreamed up that fancy title?--but Magic Johnson's an extraordinary guy, and pretty frank. (For instance, he tells us that his name, Magic Johnson, was his nickname in the bedroom. Get it? Now you know why the people closest to him call him "Earvin" or "Buck.") When I first read this in college I made all my friends read it. I like to think we're all richer for the experience.

In any case, read in good health.

Happy Thanksgiving.

AWESOME HOOPS

5 best basketball books in 2024.

In a hurry? My choice for the best basketball book is The Mamba Mentality: How I Play (Kobe Bryant) .

With such a rich history, basketball is a sport that has endless stories to tell. From how the game has started to how the game is played today, I am always amazed by how many books about basketball that I can read. My favorites are the ones that document the lives of the greatest players who have played the game that we all love. They have influenced our culture and have shaped our everyday lives.

In this article, I’ll review the following best basketball books:

• The Mamba Mentality: How I Play (Kobe Bryant)
• Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty
• Stephen Curry: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball’s Sharpest Shooters
• Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Basketball
• The Ultimate Basketball Trivia Book: 600 Questions for the Super-Fan

Early biographical writings focus on specific persons and their historical importance to us. These days, biographies have moved to multimedia platforms and are more engaging in telling a compelling story than traditional written literature. Even with the advent of technology and modern ways of documenting athletes’ biographies, many of us basketball fans still prefer reading a good book over a cup of coffee. There are so many choices for us. From Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, their paths to success and the accolades they have accumulated paved the way for more interesting life and career stories of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry.

I have read several athlete’s biographies and have narrowed down the choices in this article based on the best books on basketball players that I have read. You can be assured that the recommendations here are worth your time and money. If you are buying the book as a gift for a basketball player or basketball fan, then I am quite certain that they won’t be able to thank you enough for the thoughtful present. Depending on their age and the basketball team that they are rooting for, I have listed the best options in this review that you will not regret purchasing.

With the passing of Kobe Bryant on January 26, 2020, the interest around his life and career has skyrocketed. Netflix also did a good job in reviving the hype around Michael Jordan and the golden era of the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. All these contributed to the increase in awareness and interest in the career success stories of professional basketball players.

Inspirational Reading

Different people have different motivations for reading books. For basketball lovers like us, the desire to motivate ourselves through reading inspirational sports success stories will serve as added motivation to strive harder and reach our basketball dreams. Be it in the NCAA or NBA, we have so many success stories of basketball players who have moved up in the society because of their income derived from playing the sports. Basketball is a huge industry and many people will derive motivation on the fact that being successful in basketball translates to huge monetary gain.

Basketball coaches and their techniques are also very inspiring and motivating to read. From Tex Winter’s perfection of the triangle offense to Vance Walberg’s dribble drive offense, the technical aspect of basketball play execution is something that is not limited to the hardwood court but is something that we can also apply even to the corporate world or even in our everyday life.

The politics of the game is an aspect that may not be as interesting but can be a source of discussion and debate for basketball lovers like us. General managers have their own fair share of difficulties in managing budget and player egos. Team owners can also have interesting and inspirational stories that go beyond just dollars and cents. The entire ecosystem of amateur and professional basketball in America and around the world is just fascinating and endless stories can be told and shared. And this is exactly the reason why basketball is so popular not just in the United States but all around the world.

Coffee Table Book

I love visuals and what better way to enjoy the game of basketball than to look at photos of great basketball moments in history . Coffee table books are not just great accessories to display but are actually quite fascinating to peruse leisurely on a weekend morning. Appreciating basketball stories through pictures is a great way to stimulate our eyes and minds while gaining insightful details on the sport that we all love and enjoy.

The hard cover and high quality images of a basketball coffee table book never fails to uplift my spirit every time I get my hands on one. The lively images transport me back in time and give me that feeling of being in an NBA arena watching the game live on a ringside seat. This experience is worth more than what I would pay for a hard cover high quality coffee table book on my favorite basketball player or team.

There are many options for great basketball books and coffee table books are a must for all basketball aficionados. This is also an excellent gift idea for basketball players, coaches, and fans. If you are in doubt of what types of basketball books to give your basketball loving friends, a coffee table book about the NBA is a safe bet to buy as a gift. Just make sure you get the ones with hard cover and from reputable publishers. Wrap it up nicely and it will surely be an unforgettable gift for any basketball fan.

5 Best Basketball Books

Now let’s take a look at my top choices for the best basketball books that are available to buy online.

1. The Mamba Mentality: How I Play (Kobe Bryant)

Kobe Bryant’s untimely passing on January 26, 2020 has evoked a sense of curiosity on his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers that is certainly worth a hall-of-fame award. This book is a great combination of Kobe’s insightful narrative and Andrew Bernstein’s brilliant photography skills. Kobe’s unique style of play and sky high confidence level are well documented in this book. Being one of the most cerebral professional basketball players, Kobe gave us a glimpse of what went through his mind and how he translated it into success on and off the court.

Being very dedicated to his craft, Kobe Bryant gave us an idea of the preparation he did both physically and mentally to perform at the peak and to compete at a high level consistently. Each step of the way is documented with high quality pictures by Andrew Bernstein who’s an NBA and LA Lakers official photographer. Kobe’s twenty-year career was documented extensively in photos which make this book a one-of-a-kind must-have basketball book for any athlete out there. Whether you are a Kobe fan or not, you will surely get inspired and motivated after reading this book.

2. Three-Ring Circus: Kobe, Shaq, Phil, and the Crazy Years of the Lakers Dynasty

Shaquille O’Neal’s and Kobe Bryant’s animosity towards each other as Lakers teammates and their unique love-hate relationship is comprehensively documented in Jeff Pearlman’s basketball book. Phil Jackson’s coaching brilliance brought three consecutive NBA championships to the Lakers despite the Kobe-Shaq infighting and sometimes public threats of trades from the two superstars.

I love this book for its extensive documentation of one of the greatest dynasties in the history of the NBA. This book reminds us of the struggles we encounter in our daily lives to achieve what others perceive to be impossible.

Phil Jackson’s character is on full display during the eight years that Shaq and Kobe played together for the LA Lakers. Their popularity skyrocketed globally and brought the Los Angeles Lakers franchise back to its old glory and dominance.

The cover of this book reminds us of the purple and gold Lakers jersey that has become such an icon. I would not hesitate to buy this as a gift for a dear friend who loves basketball and wants to have a good read on NBA greats. You must get the hardcover version as it is certainly worth its price.

3. Stephen Curry: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball’s Sharpest Shooters

This Stephen Curry book is a best seller and is a sure hit with basketball lovers of all ages. This book is one of my favorite inspirational basketball books because it documents the life of the current premier point guard that many look up to. Stephen Curry’s exceptional shooting ability is such a threat that he was able to transform the Golden State Warriors into a championship-caliber team.

His outside shooting consistency is admired and copied but his game keeps evolving and that makes his life and career such an interesting and motivating story. Being the first player in the history of the NBA to be unanimously voted the MVP is a testament to his greatness and star power.

No one doubts that Steph Curry will eventually be a future hall-of-famer so this book is a good read for basketball fans to inspire and motivate them to achieve what Steph has done in his successful career so far. This book gives us a glimpse of his childhood life, high school years, his college basketball years with Davidson, and his path to the NBA. His personal life and his rise to fame are really beautiful stories to tell that every athlete would love to read.

4. Legends: The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Basketball

Howard Bryant of ESPN meticulously documented and narrated the games and key moments of superstars in the NBA. You name it and Howard has covered them in this phenomenal book. Be it Michael Jordan or Magic Johnson, Stephen Curry or LeBron James, this book has great stories to tell.

What I love about this book are the top ten lists that can evoke endless debates with fellow basketball fans. The range of topics covered in this NBA book is very comprehensive. This book also covers glory days of great dynasties like the era of Celtics during Bill Russell’s dominance, the Lakers during Magic Johnsons’ time, the famous Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls dynasty, and the San Antonio Spurs with Tim Duncan at the helm.

This great basketball book is truly an incredible collection of the best of the best the NBA has to offer. The knowledge that you will gain about the NBA and the game of basketball from this book is so much so that you can elevate the quality of your basketball discussions after reading this book. The hardcover version is definitely a great buy and can also serve as a fabulous gift to give to your basketball-loving friend.

5. The Ultimate Basketball Trivia Book: 600 Questions for the Super Fan

We all love quiz nights! Zoom quiz nights are still in and what better way to host an online quiz night than to have basketball trivias. This book is superb. With an overwhelming 600 questions, you will not run out of questions to ask your friends.

Sam Amico has covered the NBA and NCAA quite extensively with questions on the LA Lakers, Boston Celtics, and the Golden State Warriors. Even the UCLA Bruins, Duke Blue Devils, the UNC Tar Heels, and Kentucky Wildcats were not missed out. Judging by the questions I’ve seen, I think every era in the great history of the NBA is touched on. The book even has trivias on the WNBA. If Michael Jordan questions seem easy to you, why not try Bob Cousy or Moses Malone. Joel Embiid might seem like current events to you so Shaquille O’Neal or even Wilt Chamberlain trivias might tickle your mind.

This is no doubt the ultimate basketball trivia book that every basketball player must have. It will truly test your basketball knowledge. Sadly it doesn’t come with a hardcover but the paperback copy is so worth it.

The Awesome Choice

All the five books about basketball and the NBA that I have reviewed in this article are must-haves so it is really difficult for me to choose one. You can buy any of the five and I can assure you that you will absolutely not regret the decision.

However, with Kobe’s passing, his popularity has skyrocketed and the interest about his life and career has certainly increased. If I will have to pick only one basketball book, then I would recommend buying The Mamba Mentality: How I Play (Kobe Bryant) . Kobe’s insightful narrative combined with Andrew Bernstein’s brilliant photography skills make this the current best basketball book for me.

I am also part of several other affiliate sales networks. I receive commissions when you purchase through the links at no additional cost to you. This does not impact my reviews.

Best Basketball Books: The Top 25 List

Best Basketball Books: Perfect for Giving or Receiving

Whether you are looking for your next book to read or are looking to find a book for the basketball fan in your life, this list of basketball books is perfect for you.

The following list covers our favorite basketball books and our recommendations for you. The books on this list will cover basketball coaching, playing, life in general, and many other topics that apply to the sport of basketball. We are confident that you will find what you are looking for in our list of the top 25 basketball books.

From one basketball junkie to another, enjoy! Also, if you enjoy listening to books on audio, make sure you check out the Free Audible Trial that Amazon offers. This will allow you to listen to a couple of these basketball books free of charge!

Basketball Books: The Top 25 List

1. Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court

Recommended Basketball Book   For:  Basketball Players and Coaches

Book Price:  $8.38

About This Basketball Book:  Jay Bilas has always been one of the more outspoken college basketball commentators. He has been able to make a name for himself, giving good insights into the game of college basketball. Before that, though, he was also one of the great college basketball players to play under Coach K at Duke and was a part of two national championship teams. Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court will talk about the mental toughness that it takes on and off the court to be successful in basketball and life.

2. Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success

Recommended Basketball Book   For:  Basketball Coaches

Book Price:  $14.13

About This Basketball Book:  It is incredible to think that Phil Jackson was able to win 11 NBA championships. For this one fact alone, he is worth listening to when it comes to basketball. Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success is going to cover what went into Phil’s ability to be successful for so long in the NBA as a head coach . It will share stories from his time with some of the best basketball teams ever assembled with the Bulls and Lakers. Along with coaching some of the best teams ever, he also coached legends like Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal. Insights from Phil Jackson should not be missed.

3. Life is Not an Accident

Recommended Basketball Book   For:  Basketball Players and Fans

Book Price:  $6.52

About This Basketball Book:  Before Jay Williams became a basketball analyst, he was a promising NBA player who had one of the best college basketball careers of anyone ever to play the game. Life is Not an Accident will talk about his life after his motorcycle accident and how he reinvented himself, and how there is more to life than just basketball.

4. Tales from the Kentucky Wildcats Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest Wildcat Stories Ever Told

Recommended Basketball Book   For:  Basketball Fans

Book Price:  $19.95

About This Basketball Book:  Kentucky has one of the most storied college basketball programs of all time. Getting a look behind the scenes at this success has to appeal to any true basketball fan. Tales from the Kentucky Wildcats Locker Room includes stories from the players, coaches, and other members of the program that have been a part of this dynasty over the years. Whether you are a Kentucky fan or not, this book is sure to please.

5.   The Jordan Rules

Recommended Basketball Book   For:  Basketball Players, Coaches, and Fans

Book Price:  $13.08

About This Basketball Book:  Michael Jordan is widely considered the best basketball player ever to play the game, but there is always more than meets the eye. The Jordan Rules will give an inside look at MJ and some of the areas that he dealt with off the court in his first championship season with the Chicago Bulls. See what went into the making of one of the most iconic sports stars ever and get a better understanding and appreciation for what makes MJ who he is.

6. Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective

Book Price:  $7.68

About This Basketball Book:  You cannot create a list of the best basketball coaches of all time without including the name Pat Summit. She started coaching at the University of Tennessee when she was 21 and over the next 38 years won over 1,000 games. Sum it Up will give you the lessons that she learned along her journey as a head coach for the Vols. From tough times to good times in her career, this book is going to cover it all, and in a way that will keep you engaged as you read.

7. The Assist

Book Price:  $13.95

About This Basketball Book:  The Assist is going to center around a high school basketball team in the Boston area that competes for a state championship every year while also dealing with; race, social class, and other factors that go into living in the inner city. You will get an in-depth look into what makes sports so great and the barriers that sports can overcome.

8.   Bleeding Orange: Fifty Years of Blind Referees, Screaming Fans, Beasts of the East, and Syracuse Basketball

Book Price:  $15.09

About This Basketball Book:  You are not able to talk very long about a 2-3 zone defense in basketball without Jim Boeheim or Syracuse University coming up. Coach Boeheim has been a staple of college basketball over the years. Bleeding Orange is going to cover what he has learned in his 50 plus years at Syracuse University. If you enjoy learning from other basketball coaches, this is going to be the book for you.

9. Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich

Book Price:  $9.98

About This Basketball Book:  Pistol Pete Maravich was one of the most skilled players ever to play basketball. This book is about more than just his basketball accomplishments, though. In Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich, author Mark Kriegel discusses what it took for Pistol Pete to accomplish all of his success. He also covers what it cost him and his family along the way. The story of Pistol Pete is an interesting story that any true basketball fan would enjoy reading.

10. Wooden: A Coach’s Life

Book Price:  $22.25

About This Basketball Book:  You are not able to talk about college basketball coaching greats without bringing up the name John Wooden. At one point, he had an 88 game win streak and was a part of winning 10 NCAA championships in 12 years. This John Wooden book is expertly written by author Seth Davis and includes stories from over 200 different people that interacted with him over his life. With all of these personal accounts, you will be able to get a look at John Wooden like never before.

11.   When the Game Was Ours

Book Price:  $7.08

About This Basketball Book:  Larry Bird versus Magic Johnson was one of the best player rivalries of any sport. The competitiveness and desire to win that both players brought to the court every time they played reminisces a time when gladiators fought in the Coliseum. What started as a bitter rivalry turned into a lifelong friendship at the end. When the Game Was Ours is going to cover this period in the NBA and what it looked like from both players’ perspectives.

12. The Miracle of St. Anthony

Recommended Basketball Book   For:  Basketball Coaches and Fans

Book Price:  $16

About This Basketball Book:  Many basketball experts have labeled Bob Hurley as the best high school basketball coaches ever to coach the game. Some of his teams at St. Anthony’s are that of legend. This book will follow coach Bob Hurley through an entire season with one of his St. Anthony teams. In the book, he looks to lead his team to success while also making sure his players are taken care of outside the lines. If you enjoy learning and reading about other successful coaches and their teams, The Miracle of St. Anthony needs to be your next read.

13. Players First: Coaching from the Inside Out

Book Price:  $8.16

About This Basketball Book:  College basketball continues to turn into a one to two year stop for players with NBA promise, the turnover rate with new players becoming faster and faster. No one knows this better than John Calipari. Players First: Coaching from the Inside Out covers John Calipari’s first four years at Kentucky and the struggles of coaching a brand new team of 18-year-old players each season.

14. Fab Five

Book Price:  $27

About This Basketball Book:  The Fab Five is one of college basketball’s greatest stories, with five freshmen leading their team to the national championship game. When you mix in the off-court findings and the allegations of recruit tampering, the story gets even more interesting. This book will break down this epic run and the full story of the Fab Five of Michigan.

15. The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team Players

Recommended Basketball Book   For:  Basketball Coaches and Business Professionals

Book Price:  $12.25

About This Basketball Book:  Pat Riley is one of the most winning basketball coaches ever to coach the game. His book about winning from within is designed to help you be successful both in basketball and life. If you enjoy coaching books that are designed to challenge you and empower you to do more with your life, The Winner Within is going to be an excellent option.

16. Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization

Book Price:  $16.91

About This Basketball Book:  If you win ten national college basketball championships, you deserve to have more than one book listed in the top 25 basketball books. This specific John Wooden book will focus on creating a winning organization and the importance of being a great person in life. If you know anything about John Wooden, you know that as much as he was a great coach, he was a better person. This coaching book on leadership highlights who John Wooden was and how you can better emulate his character and coaching.

17. Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant

Recommended Basketball Book   For:  Basketball Players, Coache, and Fans

Book Price:  $10.98

About This Basketball Book:  Kobe Bryant is one of the most captivating sports figures of his generation. His work ethic alone is worth a book. Add in the success that he has had on the court and some of the off-court issues during his career, and you have a gold mine for a book. If you enjoy player biographies, this is one of the better ones to read.

18. The One Day Contract: How to Add Value to Every Minute of Your Life

Book Price:  $5.49

About This Basketball Book:  The One Day Contract: How to Add Value to Every Minute of Your Life was written by hall of fame coach Rick Pitino. It will focus not only on basketball-specific concepts but also on what it takes to have a successful life. You will be challenged to live every day as a one-day contract. This means waking up with a pursuit to be better and a pursuit to chase your dreams. So if you want to be challenged and pushed towards living your best life, give this basketball book a try.

19.   Leading with the Heart: Coach K’s Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life

Book Price:  $10.99

About This Basketball Book:  Leading with the Heart was written in 2001, but the teaching still applies today when it comes to coaching and living a successful life. This book will cover topics like; leadership, communication, dealing with pride, and the importance of trust. With Coach K arguably being the best college basketball coach of all time, it will be easy for you to buy into this book and the gameplan that he lays out for being successful in basketball, business, and life.

20. The Hoops Whisperer: On the Court and Inside the Heads of Basketball’s Best Players

Recommended Basketball Book   For:  Basketball Coaches and Trainers

Book Price:  $8.26

About This Basketball Book:  Idan Ravin has worked with players like; Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and many other high-level players. The Hoops Whisperer will break down some of the basketball drills and techniques that he uses with these elite level players. If you are a basketball trainer, this book is a must-read. However, even if you aren’t a trainer though, this is still an interesting ready that will have you appreciating Idan Ravin’s skill as a trainer.

21. The Golden Whistle: Going Beyond: The Journey to Coaching Success

Book Price:  $14.99

About This Basketball Book:  The coaches that have endorsed The Golden Whistle are; Coach K, George Raveling, and John Calipari. The book is going to cover ten different learning opportunities that a young coach finds himself confronted with. You will not only find truths to help you become a better coach, but also a better person as well. And, whether you are a young coach or not, this coaching book is still going to be an excellent read for all basketball fans.

22. Stuff Basketball Player Should Know

Recommended Basketball Book   For:  Basketball Players

Book Price:  $13.47

About This Basketball Book:  Stuff Basketball Players Should Know is a must for every player that is serious about their game. The book breaks down the different concepts that basketball players should know into bite-sized pieces. This is going to make it easy to understand and apply for players of all different levels. So if you are a basketball player, this is going to be a must-read book. Also, if you have a young basketball player in your life, this would make an excellent gift.

23. My Losing Season

Book Price:  $9.90

About This Basketball Book:  “We are either winning, or we are learning” is a pretty common phrase that coaches use. If you are learning from your losses, you really can never lose in the grand scheme of things. My Losing Season covers the lessons that Pat Conroy learned when he played college basketball at the Citadel. In the book, Pat will cover all of the different lessons he learned through his losing season. The book is well written and would be a good read for any basketball coach or fan.

24. Practical Modern Basketball

Book Price:  $7.25

About This Basketball Book:  This is the third and final John Wooden book, and it is just as good as the other two. Practical Modern Basketball will cover philosophy, skill development, and a ton of other coaching keys. So if you are more into the strategies and philosophy of John Wooden, this will be the book for you. You will be able to get a peek behind the curtain and see some of the keys that helped John Wooden win 10 NCAA National Championships.

25. The Last Shot

Book Price:  $4.85

About This Basketball Book:  The Last Shot will cover the story of an up and coming basketball player from NYC. It will give you a glimpse into the culture of New York City basketball and allow you to be a part of one player’s journey. If you are fascinated by New York City streetball (who isn’t?), this book is a must-read. It will open the door to a whole new brand of basketball and a culture that is just as unique.

Best Basketball Books: Honorable Mentions

This list had to cap at some point, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t more than 25 great basketball books out there. So if there is a basketball book that you think others would appreciate, we would love to hear about it in the comments below. Also, here are some other basketball books that deserve an honorable mention for this list and are excellent reads.

Honorable Mentions

• Heaven is a Playground
• Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA
• Hanging On To My Dreams: Bouncing Back From All Rejections
• Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the ABA

7 Responses

This list is a sad joke and most of the books nothing much — self-centered self-help, vanity works, glorified quickie biographies, and so forth. Off the top of my head, in no particular order, here’s a list of excellent books about basketball: Loose Balls (Terry Pluto), Tall Tales (Terry Pluto), Foul! (David Wolf), The City Game (Pete Axthelm), A Season on the Brink (John Feinstein), The Book of Basketball (Bill Simmons), Go Up for Glory (Bill Russell), Second Wind (Bill Russell), Miracle on 33rd Street (Phil Berger), Confessions of A Basketball Gypsy (Rick Barry, Bill Libby), The Breaks of the Game (David Halberstam), Love in the NBA (Stan Love, Bob Rapoport), The Short Season (Bob Powers), The Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball (app. twenty-four versions, 1975-1999) (Xander Hollander), The Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball (two or three versions, early seventies) (Jim O’Brien), Caught in the Pivot (Tom Meschery), Life on the Run (Bill Bradley), Maverick: More Than A Game (Phil Jackson, Charles Rosen).

Of course, I’ll think of more I love the instant I post this.

Outside Shooter: A Memoir is a book about growing up in Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana during late fifties/early sixties, during the early stages of civil rights, when basketball was a significant player. From the MIlan/Muncie game (captured as the final game in “Hoosiers”), through losing games against Oscar Robertson, being a teammate of Wilt Chamberlain at Kansas, the narrator ends his career at LSU. About the book (published by the University of Missouri Press) one commentator says, “From Indiana to Louisiana, the narrator sees the ordeal of racism reveal character–including his own–at depths beyond the illumination even of competitive sport.”

See also by same author, two books of sports poetry: Hoosiers: the Poems and Headhunting and Other Sports Poems

College basketball lovers would really enjoy Walk-On Warrior: https://amzn.to/2zL66h3 The book has been in the top 3 of the college basketball category on Amazon for the past year.

I’d add “The Last Amateurs” by John Feinstein, “Players and Pretenders” by Charley Rosen, “Eagle Blue” by Michael D’Orso, “Counting Coup” by Larry Colton and “Tall Tales” by Terry Pluto.

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Big Game, Small World by Alexander Wolff is the best basketball book ever written

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Best Selling NBA Books

By Andrew D

May 13, 2022

There have been so many books written about professional basketball that it’s enough to make your head spin. Former players and coaches who were writing in their own words or with assistance from professionals. Those books that were written by basketball fans, sports psychologists, and all manner of other individuals with hoop dreams. The bandwagon is a wide one and it does not seem to be slowing down. Jump onto it by all means. There will always be a basketball junkie who will sacrifice yet another part of their personal life to read what you’ve got to say.

There are a truly terrifying number of books to consider. If you want some assistance sorting the wheat from the chaff, then check out our article -‘NBA players who wrote books’ for our own personal favourites and some interesting reads that you may not have yet encountered.

Here, we look at the best sellers. Those that have shifted the most units and no doubt been given as presents, wanted or otherwise, to basketball fans all over the country.

In countdown order from 20th place then:

DWIGHT HOWARD: THE INSPIRATIONAL STORY OF BASKETBALL SUPERSTAR DWIGHT HOWARD

Bill redban, 2014 – estimated 10k+ copies sold.

The Inspirational Story of Basketball Superstar Dwight Howard  is an unauthorized biography that was written 9 years into his career. It appears to have sold like the proverbial hot cakes.

Howard is an eight-time NBA All-Star, eight-time All-NBA Team honoree, five-time All-Defensive Team member, and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. He was part of the gold medal-winning U.S. Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Howard was also the first player in NBA history to be named Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) for three seasons in a row.

Dwight Howard was certainly very highly-rated early in his career and still plays to this day. Dradfted by Orlando Magic in 2004 he set numerous franchise records for them and they made the NBA Finals in 2009.

Howard’s reputation as an awkward locker-room presence goes before him and he has moved around a fair bit as a player. In the words of his own website:

HOWARD FACED CHALLENGING MEDIA AND PUBLIC PERCEPTION THAT BEGAN TO OVERSHADOW HIS EARLY CAREER ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF HIS PEERS, FANS, AND PREDECESSORS.

Howard is an international ambassador for the NBA and tours the globe and works hard to expand the league’s charitable reach.

There have been debates as to whether Dwight Howard deserves to be in the top 75 NBA players of all time. We’ll leave that up to you to decide. Suffice it to say that the author of this book certainly thinks so.

SUM IT UP: 1,098 VICTORIES, A COUPLE OF IRRELEVANT LOSSES, AND A LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE

Pat head summit & sally jenkins, 2013 – estimated 20k+ copies sold.

In all of NCAA basketball history, no coach won more than Pat Summitt.

For 38 years she broke all the records. Coached a team through an undefeated season. Was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Named Sports Illustrated’s ‘Sportswoman of the year’. Co-captained the 1st women’s Olympic team. Oversaw more winning games than any coach in history.

In this book, Pat Summitt tells us the story of her remarkable resilience and will to win. Her personal struggles and glorious triumphs. She learned how to be strong and do what needed to be done from her strict father. Being a mother herself taught her how to maintain discipline whilst nurturing and supporting her athletes. She became a great coach and role model for so many of them.

Summitt also talks openly about her greatest battle to date – with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

THIS IS AN ESSENTIAL READ FULL OF HUMOUR AND LOVE

Life is not an accident: a memoir of reinvention, jay williams, 2017 – estimated 10k+ copies sold.

It’s hard to describe the profound, moving nature of Jay Williams’ autobiography without welling up again at the sheer tragedy of it all.

Williams was 2nd pick in the NBA Draft in 2002. He had been described by some as the most promising player of a generation and looked poised to set the NBA alight. He was picked by the Chicago Bulls as their first choice and they even gave him Michael Jordan’s locker!

The dream was over almost as soon as it began, sadly. Williams lost control of his high-powered motorcycle and the accident ended his career there and then.

Those of you who have ever seen  Million dollar baby  will know the feeling of a sledgehammer blow that it gives you. Well, this is the same. Except it’s true.

WE CAN’T SUGARCOAT IT. THIS IS AN INTENSE READ

Williams talks candidly about the accident and how it changed his life forever. There are some very dark times ahead of him at the very moment that he gets onto that motorcycle. He talks of his depression and the vivid memories of what happened. He fears he may never escape them.

Williams also speaks out about the inherent corruption in the NBA. He describes it as being rife in every aspect and corner of the sport. We see glimpses of the dark underbelly of the sport we love in the form of stories about sex, drugs, gambling, and all manner of other vices and crimes. Again, he claims that those are endemic in the league.

As with many people who suffer unimaginable trauma and heartbreak, they can find themselves with a kind of resigned peace and a fresh outlook on life. Luckily, Williams did not succumb completely to his crippling depression and now commentates regularly on ESPN. He has other, entrepreneurial projects that engage him and fill his time. We should not weep for Jay Williams any more than any other youngster who has a life-altering accident and is changed forever. He is luckier than most.

But this remains an autobiography that will break your heart into a thousand pieces

YOU SHOULD READ IT ANYWAY

Qaddafi’s point guard: the incredible story of a professional basketball player trapped in libya’s civil war, alex owumi & daniel paisner, 2013 – estimated 10k+ copies sold.

Nigerian-born Alex Owumi went undrafted by the NBA after graduating from Georgetown University and was forced to ply his trade overseas. Bizarrely, he ended up in Libya playing for a state-run athletic club. The club happened to be funded by the family of one Muammar Qaddafi.

Owumi was living in Libya and playing for Al-Nasr there when the Libyan uprising and subsequent civil war erupted. He was held captive in his apartment in Benghazi for more than two weeks. No food, phone, internet, or hope. Weakened and in enormous danger, Owumi was eventually able to escape Benghazi and get out of the country. He was smuggled to a refugee camp in Egypt. In another bizarre twist, he was then contacted by an Egyptian basketball team who hoped to acquire his services.

Owumi finished that same year by helping lead them to a league championship and was even named league MVP in the process!

Qaddafi’s Point Guard  is a remarkable book that tells a story that is almost beyond belief. His triumph over adversity is one that is markedly different from the standard one we see about poor kids who grow up to be superstars. Superb.

THE DANDY DONS: BILL RUSSELL, K.C JONES, PHIL WOOLPERT, AND ONE OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL’S GREATEST AND MOST INNOVATIVE TEAMS

James w. johnson, 2009 estimated 10k+ copies sold.

The story of the Dandy Dons is a truly remarkable one by anybody’s measure. It sounds like the stuff of movie drama but is all true. It was the middle of the 1950s and racial tensions and inequality could not have been more present in the United States.

A white, former prison guard named Phil Woolpert, who was completely new to the concept of basketball coaching, led a team from a small university in California to the national title.

In and of itself, that is a remarkable story.

Try throwing into the mix the fact that the team also contained 3 black guys at that period in American history, and you have a genuinely ground-breaking story.

The Dandy Dons literally and metaphorically paved the way for all the black players that followed and transformed the sport.

Not only did they transcend previous barriers of race and equality but they also kicked some serious butt on the court too. Their tactics were new and alien to a lot of teams. They played a much more ‘vertical’ system. Defended centrally and were aggressive and intimidating. And boy did it work.

COURT SENSE: WINNING BASKETBALL’S MENTAL GAME

John m. giannini, 2008 – estimated 10k+ copies sold.

The first half of this book discusses the basic attributes and mindset that a player must have in place, both on the court and off it, to give themselves the best chance of success. The second half of the book lays out what the author feels are the key tenets of performance. He does this in the form of “Six Cs” and says that all high-flying coaches and players displayed them on their rise to the top.

You’ll have to read the book for the 6 but they represent good advice that is crowbarred into a convenient vehicle for delivering them.

Overall, a worthwhile book that can teach anyone how to discipline themselves and give of their all at every opportunity.

Author John Giannini is a former collegiate player and veteran coach. He has a PhD in sport psychology and is not just making this stuff up on the fly to sell copies. He backs up his findings and suggestions with real-life examples and stories shared by some of the league’s top coaches. It couldn’t hurt any aspiring player to read this. Not one bit.

THE FIRST TIP-OFF: THE INCREDIBLE STORY OF THE BIRTH OF THE NBA

Charley rosen.

Charley Rosen takes the reader on a roller-coaster journey through every aspect of the NBA’s first-ever season. The book is brimming with rare photographs from long-forgotten archives and features some fascinating, exclusive interviews.

The First Tip-Off  gives life once again to a cast of characters the like of which the world will never see again. From “Jumping” Joe Fulks, the former Marine who became basketball’s first real superstar to Chuck Connors, the loveable clown of the BAA. As Rosen breathes life into them we can almost imagine the setting and the sense of adventure they must have felt in their knee pads and scratchy jerseys.

The season itself was filled with drama and Rosen guides us through it expertly. Even those of us too young to have lived through that time can get a feeling for how it was back then. Some would say simpler times. Players were happy to get a hot shower and take home $60.

A lovely step back in time that will endear all who read it to the pioneering players of the time and the values they held in high regard.

ON THE COURT WITH LEBRON JAMES

Matt christopher & stephanie peters.

Another unofficial biography of an NBA megastar. A detailed look at King James’ early life in Akron, Ohio and how he dazzled all before him even before reaching high school.

Walkthroughs of LeBron’s biggest moments and challenges. Some stats and career highlights with colour photographs. They take up space and give the appearance of substance. Literally nothing you haven’t seen or read about LeBron James 1,000 times before.

THE SIXTH MAN: A MEMOIR

Andre iguodala & carvell wallace, 2019 – estimated 10k+ copies sold.

Andre Iguodala, the sixth man of the Golden State Warriors, offers up his autobiography in 8th place. The man is respected both on and off the court and his life story makes for an entertaining, affecting read.

We learn about who Iguodala is in his heart and how he was able to push himself ever further in the pursuit of excellence.  The Sixth Man  tells us the story of Andre Iguodala’s journey from his Illinois hometown childhood to his stellar career and luxurious life in the Bay Area.

As with so many NBA autobiographies, the spectres of racial tension and inequality are ever-present. This is a powerful book that holds a mirror up to the society that provided him with the opportunity to make the best of his talents while simultaneously treating him and his family as second-class citizens. Compelling.

(Image credit: Tim Shelby) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kobe_Bryant_2012_(5).jpg

TIP-OFF: HOW THE 1984 NBA DRAFT CHANGED BASKETBALL FOREVER

Filip bondy, 2007 – estimated 10k+ copies sold.

To this day, the 1984 NBA draft remains one of the most controversial events in NBA history. Tanking wasn’t a term that anybody had ever had to address before but in 1984 teams were losing a suspicious number of games during the regular season. It just so happened that this improved their NBA Draft positions accordingly. Go figure, as they say.

This happened to be a season when, not only was Michael Jordan up for grabs but so were John Stockton, Charley Barkley, and Hakeem Olajuwon. All 4 are now in the top 50 NBA players of all-time. Michael Jordan is at the top…

It was a crazy experience all round. Houston picked Olajuwon over Jordan. Portland Trailblazers fans then witnessed their selectors choose Sam Bowie. They already had Clyde “the Glide” Drexler on their roster so I guess they figured it was a good move to take the injury-prone Bowie. Wow

In this recounting of that whole crazy story, Bondy talks to general managers, coaches, and players. He gives us the entire back story of the NBA Draft and talks about events we may have missed.

Trades that never happened. Assesments of players like Barkley and Stockton that were wildly inaccurate.

All-in-all it makes for fascinating reading. Maybe not if you’re a Trailblazers fan…

LEGENDS: THE BEST PLAYER, GAMES, AND TEAMS IN BASKETBALL

Howard bryant.

A book about the best of the best. It features top ten lists. A timeline of key moments in NBA history and lots and lots of snippets and interesting facts and figures. All the biggest names are here. ESPN’s Howard Bryant gives us a snappy, easy read that can be picked up again and again.

WALK-ON WARRIOR: DRIVE, DISCIPLINE, AND THE WILL TO WIN

John willkom, 2018 – estimated 10k+ copies sold.

Walk-on warrior  takes the reader on a unique basketball journey. It is the story of John Willkom and gives us his first-hand account of some remarkable life events From spending a season at Marquette college to a summer with Hall of Fame coach, Rick Majerus.

Willkom watched, listened, and learned. He soaked up everything he could. Sitting courtside with the Milwaukee Bucks and learning their workout routines and health regimens. It was all exciting and new for a rural Wisconsin boy who had only ever heard that he would never get anywhere near that world.

As John’s hard work and diligence began to pay off, he found himself moving among the elite of the NBA and his life and mindset changed forever. This telling of his story will leave you feeling inspired to create your own journey. To go that extra distance when you feel defeated. Face your fears. Become tough and emotionally stable. This account will help you to do those things and entertain you while it does so. Recommended.

WHERE TOMORROWS AREN’T PROMISED: A MEMOIR OF SURVIVAL AND HOPE

Carmelo anthony & d. watkins, 2021 – estimated 20k+ copies sold.

In 4th place, we find Carmelo Anthony’s autobiography. For our detailed thoughts on this (clue, it’s in our list of favorite basketball books) please read our article – ‘ NBA players who wrote books ‘. Here we will simply say that this is at times an uncomfortable read. But it is an essential, uplifting one.

SHOOT YOUR SHOT:

A sport-inspired guide to living your best life, vernon brundage jr., 2018 – estimated 20k+ copies sold.

This book takes a close look at the steps that the most successful NBA players of all time took to elevate themselves to superstardom. The principles that they followed and the mental and physical disciplines that were required to do so.

As a guide to emulating their styles, and hopefully achievements,  Shoot your shot  identifies those key principles and breaks them down. It is entertaining and addictive to read.

The principles contianed in the book aren’t only suitable for gaining basketball superiority. They can easily be applied to all aspects of one’s life and are suitable for almost anyone. Age, gender, background notwithstanding.

WHO WAS KOBE BRYANT?

Ellen labrecque, who hq & gregory copeland, 2020 – estimated 20k+ copies sold.

This biography of one of the most famous sporting superstars ever to walk the Earth sits at number 2 on the list of best-selling NBA books of all time.

Kobe Bryant was a young basketball player, only 18 years old and still in high school when he entered the NBA Draft. He was the 13th pick by the Charlotte Hornets. They traded him to the Los Angeles Lakers. The rest, as they always say, is history.

20 straight seasons at the top of his game. A world leader in the psychology of sports. How to focus. How to stay motivated. His work ethic is something that will stand as one of his greatest legacies.

5 NBA Championship rings. Twice NBA Finals MVP (most valuable player). 2-time scoring champion. 18 time NBA All-Star. The list just goes on and on. Bryant was, without question, one of the greatest players ever to step foot on a basketball court.

The authors lead us through the most impactful moments and games of Bryant’s career here. All the important milestones are present and correct.

The intensity of focus on Kobe Bryant was always going to be huge. Of course, that increased exponentially due to his untimely demise in 2020.

Does this book set to cash in on that added interest? Possibly, but there is clearly a market for it so who are we to complain?

BASKETBALL JUNKIE: A MEMOIR

Chris herren & bill reynolds, 2012 – estimated 50k+ copies sold.

Profiled by Rolling Stone magazine. Interviewed by 60 minutes. Adorned the cover of Sports Illustrated. Heavily coveted and recruited by major universities. Written about in an acclaimed book.

This was the life of Chris Herren

WHILE HE WAS STILL A TEENAGER…

It’s almost impossible for most of us normal folks to imagine what it’s like to attract that kind of attention as a teenager. If you’re old enough, look back at who you were then and ask yourself if you would have been able to handle it? We certainly wouldn’t.

Chris Herren wasn’t able to handle it either and this is his story of the madness.

The Boston Celtics eventually acquired him on their roster and he lived the dream. Except it wasn’t a dream, it was a nightmare. His alcohol and drug abuse spiralled into chaos. Even though 20 years later, he was married to his childhood sweetheart with 3 kids, he was also a heroin addict. His basketball career was finished. Ravaged by his addictions. Jobless and without skills, he was a man on the slide towards an undignified and wasteful death. In fact, Herren did die for a few minutes until he was resuscitated by paramedics and revived.

In this powerful, moving account, Chris Herren tells us in graphic detail how he nearly lost everything and everyone he loved. Luckily, this is a tale of redemption and recovery. Herren fought his way back from the brink of total destruction and found a way to reclaim and cope with his life. This is a brutally honest book but one that will grip you from start to finish.

MICHAEL JORDAN: THE LIFE

Roland lazenby, 2015 – estimated 50k+ copies sold.

Basketball journalist Roland Lazenby spent the better part of 30 years covering Michael Jordan’s career. From his dominance in college to his rocket ship rise to stardom and invincibility in the pros.

He saw Jordan transform from the skinny rookie he was at the beginning to the global brand in just a few short years.

There’s never been a biography that so fully and analytically explored the 2 sides of Jordan’s character and gave us such an honest view of the icon.

Michael Jordan: The Life  explores this in-depth but also shows us the side of Jordan’s personality that we are less familiar with seeing. There can be few, if any, journalists with a closer relationship with Michael Jordan and that is very apparent here. This is a detailed, full and robust analysis of the greatest player of all time and is fascinating from start to finish. Lazenby draws from interviews with friends, family members, and Jordan himself.

We all feel as if we know Jordan intimately. Nobody walked away from  The last dance  feeling as though they didn’t know MJ intimately themselves but this is different. Lazenby clearly adores Jordan. He talks glowingly of his achievements and accolades. Yet this is so much more than mere toadying. He gives us a view of the man and his drive and appetite for competition and success like no other.

AND IT IS GLORIOUS

A to z: an uncensored encyclopedia of life, basketball, and everything in-between, kevin garnett & david ritz, 2021 – estimated 50k+ copies sold.

NBA champion, fifteen-time All-Star Kevin Garnett gives us one of the most unfiltered autobiographies we’ve ever read. Famously outspoken as a player, he has ramped that up a thousand times here. Endlessly controversial. Always entertaining.

Garnett looks back over his career and does not mince his words here.

Garnett first blew up in the headlines with his decision to skip going to college and become the first player in 20 years to join the NBA Draft straight from high school. This paved the way for the likes of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James to do likewise. He became somewhat of a ground-breaking player for the NBA, as his ability to both a) be big and b) play on the perimeter evolved into a strategy that almost every NBA team now has in their pocket tactically.

Kevin Garnett has stories galore here. Tales of playing against some of the legends of the game and, of course, the zenith of his career, an NBA Championship win with the Boston Celtics.

No topic is off bounds for Garnett. He gives us his feelings on other aspects of his life and American society in general. From the importance of family values and the sometimes dangerous trappings of fame and fortune to the constant blight of racism and economic disparity.

Kevin Garnett has managed to transfer some of that exciting, inspirational energy he displayed on court onto the pages of this book.

THE MAMBA MENTALITY: HOW I PLAY

Kobe bryant, andrew d. bernstein, phil jackson & pau gasol, 2018 – estimated 100k+ copies sold.

It should come as no great surprise to anyone to find this book sitting at the top of the best selling list. Given the sheer athletic class of Kobe Bryant and his sporting legacy, it is a small wonder that this hasn’t actually sold more copies. For our detailed look at his autobiography, please see our article ‘ NBA players who wrote books ‘.

Here, we need only say that this is a handbook on how to think and behave like a winner. There is no better guide on how to approach a basketball game. How to build a career and a strong mental attitude. Kobe Bryant reveals his methods and his feelings in a way that can continue to inspire and lead long after his death.

ELEVEN RINGS: THE SOUL OF SUCCESS

Phil jackson & hugh delehanty, 2013 – estimated 200k+ copies sold.

This fantastic book also makes it to our list of favourites in the article ‘ NBA players who wrote books ‘ and the full review and synopsis can be read there. Here, we will just add that there will be few occasions in life where you can get a true glimpse into the mindset of a truly great coach.

Jackson had a plan and he executed it. Again and again. Yes, he had one of the greatest rosters that professional basketball has ever seen. But he had to guide the players and give them vision.

And that’s what it comes down to.

PHIL JACKSON WAS A VISIONARY

He saw things that no coach had ever even considered looking at before. He treated his players as fellow humans that needed to be communicated with and understood as such. Not just as assets to be assessed and given instructions. ‘Wind them up and let them go’ was never a part of Phil Jackson’s coaching mantra. Help them to prepare mentally and the world is your oyster.

Read all about it in the number one best-selling basketball book of all time.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Books about topics as popular as basketball are a curious thing.

There are those written by the main protagonists that offer a look behind the curtain that almost nobody else can offer.

There are those that opportunists write when they see an angle that hasn’t been exploited. Or just piggyback on the fame of others and try to squeeze some juice out of them.

Not all are well-written. Not all are interesting. But they are all about our favorite topic and just about any basketball books interest us more than those on any other subject. Basketball fans will find something here to hit the spot because the choice is so diverse.

You want to read about bad guys that turned good? Check.

Successful pairings and locker room bromances? Check.

Big game team players and those who let NBA stardom affect them adversely? Check.

Those who made NBA history winning three straight championships? Check

Those who play basketball for the sheer love of it and despise losing games? Check

That’s why we love to read about sports history so much. NBA history is our favourite by default because it is our game of choice. But the struggles and principles displayed by those who have been made and broken by the sometimes brutal world of professional basketball are often the same as in other walks of life.

Perhaps it is just that in the rarified atmosphere of the elite sports world they are intensified and highlighted to a degree that most of us simply cannot begin to imagine.

Whatever the reason, they continue to fascinate and engage us.

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Best NBA Biographies/Books

Going on vacation for 11 days out of the country and was looking to pick up a few books to kill the nine-hour flights to and from Italy as well as while out on the beach. Saw the post about how Craig Sager saved Dennis Rodman's life so I'm getting Rodman's biography off of Amazon, but could probably get a few more. Was thinking about grabbing Basketball: A Love Story, but could use any suggestions.

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Elon Musk's daughter Vivian slams Walter Isaacson's Musk biography, saying it portrays her as her father's 'villain backstory'

• Elon Musk's daughter Vivian criticized Walter Isaacson's Musk biography over its portrayal of her.
• She called the book "one of the most humiliating experiences of my entire life."
• She also said Isaacson didn't reach out to her directly when he was writing the book.

Vivian Wilson, Elon Musk's daughter, isn't happy with how she says she was depicted in Walter Isaacson's best-selling biography about her father.

Wilson slammed the biography in a series of social-media posts Sunday night.

"To Walter Isaacson, you threw me to the wolves in what was one of the most humiliating experiences of my entire life," Wilson wrote in a series of Threads posts.

Wilson said Isaacson's book portrayed her "in a light that is genuinely defamatory" and positioned her and her father as opposing forces.

"I was treated as a VILLAIN BACKSTORY-ORIGIN to excuse or explain away his behavior," Wilson wrote.

Representatives for Musk, Wilson, Isaacson, and his publisher, Simon & Schuster, didn't respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.

Wilson and Musk's strained relationship was mentioned several times in Isaacson's book.

Musk told the author that his disagreements with Wilson, who is transgender, "became intense when she went beyond socialism to being a full communist and thinking that anyone rich is evil," according to the book.

Isaacson wrote that Musk learned of Wilson's transition from a secondhand source.

"I've made many overtures but she doesn't want to spend time with me," Musk told Isaacson in the book, adding that the rift with his daughter was as painful as the death of his firstborn son , Nevada.

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Wilson legally changed her name in 2022, citing a desire to better reflect her gender identity and to no longer "be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form."

On Sunday, Wilson also wrote on Threads that Isaacson didn't contact her directly for comment after spending months trailing Musk as research for the book. Wilson said she learned about the book a month before its September release last year.

Isaacson told NBC News in July that he'd reached out to Wilson via family members.

Isaacson's book contains quotes about Wilson from Musk's then-partner, Grimes ; his brother Kimbal's wife, Christiana; and Musk's right-hand man Jared Birchall — but there are no quotes from Wilson.

She has had plenty to say recently, though, about her father.

Last month, in an interview with NBC News' David Ingram, Wilson said Musk was a cruel and absent father.

"He was cold," Wilson said. "He's very quick to anger. He is uncaring and narcissistic."

The interview with Wilson was published days after Musk made anti-trans comments about her on July 22, saying she was "dead, killed by the woke mind virus ," and repeatedly misgendering her.

"I think he was under the assumption that I wasn't going to say anything and I would just let this go unchallenged," Wilson told Ingram. "Which I'm not going to do, because if you're going to lie about me, like, blatantly to an audience of millions, I'm not just gonna let that slide."

Watch: How Elon Musk makes and spends his billions

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‘Hollywood Squares’ host and Broadway star Peter Marshall dies at 98

FILE - Host Peter Marshall appears at the 45th annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Pasadena Civic Center on Sunday, April 29, 2018, in Pasadena, Calif. Marshall, who spent 16 years as host of “The Hollywood Squares,” has died at 98. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Tom Bergeron, left, rests his head on Peter Marshall’s shoulder as they present an award at the 45th annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Pasadena, Calif., on April 29, 2018. Marshall, who spent 16 years as host of “The Hollywood Squares,” has died at 98. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Peter Marshall, the actor and singer turned game show host who played straight man to the stars for 16 years on “The Hollywood Squares,” has died. He was 98.

He died Thursday of kidney failure at his home in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, publicist Harlan Boll said.

Marshall helped define the form of the smooth, professional, but never-too-serious modern game show host on more than 5,000 episodes of the series that ran on NBC from 1966 to 1981.

But he was often closer to a talk show host, and the tic-tac-toe game the contestants played, while real, was all an excuse for a good time. The questions Marshall posed to regulars like Paul Lynde, George Gobel and Joan Rivers were designed to be set-ups for joke answers before the real ones followed.

“It was the easiest thing I’ve ever done in show business,” Marshall said in a 2010 interview for the Archive of American Television. “I walked in, said ‘Hello stars,’ I read questions and laughed. And it paid very well.”

“The Hollywood Squares” would become an American cultural institution and make Marshall a household name. It would win four Daytime Emmys for outstanding game show during his run and spawned dozens of international versions and several U.S. reboots. Not only was it a forum for such character actors as Charlie Weaver (the stage name of Cliff Arquette) and Wally Cox, but the show attracted a range of top stars as occasional guests, including Aretha Franklin, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Ed Asner and Janet Leigh.

Marshall had a warm rapport with Weaver, Lynde and others, but said that Gobel, the wry comedian, actor and variety show host, held a special place, tweeting in 2021 that it’s “no secret he was my closest friend on Hollywood Squares and my absolute all-time favorite Square!”

Marshall had lived nearly an entire show business life before he took the “Squares” podium at age 40.

He had toured with big bands starting as a teenager, had been a part of two comedy teams that appeared in nightclubs and on television, appeared in movies as a contract player for Twentieth Century Fox, and had sung in several Broadway musicals when the opportunity came up after Bert Parks, who hosted the pilot, bowed out.

“I am a singer first I am not a game show host,” Marshall told his hometown paper, the Herald-Dispatch of Huntington, West Virginia in 2013, “that was just a freak opportunity. I had been on Broadway with Julie Harris and was going back to Broadway when I did the audition, and I thought it was a few weeks but that turned into 16 years.”

“The Hollywood Squares” was more strait-laced when it began, but early in its run a producer suggested they write jokes for Lynde, the ever-snarky comic actor who occupied the center square and would become as identified as Marshall with the show.

The first joke would set the template for the years that followed:

Marshall: “Paul, why do motorcyclists wear leather?”

Lynde: “Because chiffon wrinkles.”

“That changed the whole thing,” Marshall told the TV archive. “I had been a straight man. So working with comics was easy for me.”

Born Ralph Pierre LaCock in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Marshall would move around the state as a child, living in Wheeling and Huntington.

His father died when Marshall was 10, and he would live with his grandparents as his mother and sister, the actress Joanne Dru, moved to New York to pursue her career in show business. Marshall would soon join them.

At 15, he toured as a singer with the Bob Chester Orchestra. He also worked as an NBC Radio page and an usher at the Paramount Theater. He was drafted during World War II and stationed in Italy, where he made his first forays onto the airways as a DJ for Armed Forces Radio. In 1949 he formed a comedy duo with Tommy Noonan, appearing in nightclubs, in theaters and on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

He became a movie contract player in the 1950s at Twentieth Century Fox, appearing in films including 1959’s “The Rookie” and 1961’s “Swingin’ Along.”

Major starring roles eluded him in Hollywood, but he would find them in musical theater.

He starred opposite Chita Rivera in “Bye Bye Birdie” in London’s West End in 1962 — Lynde had played a major role in the Broadway version that he would reprise in the film — and played his first starring role on Broadway in “Skyscraper” with Julie Harris in 1965.

He would also appear in Broadway versions of “High Button Shoes,” “The Music Man” and “42nd Street.”

After “The Hollywood Squares,” Marshall would host a few other short-lived game shows, but mostly resumed his career as a singing actor, starring in more than 800 performances of “La Cage Aux Folles” on Broadway and on tour, and singing in the 1983 film version of “Annie.”

He was married three times, the last to Laurie Stewart in 1989.

The couple survived a bout with COVID-19 early in 2021. He was hospitalized for several weeks.

His four kids include son Pete LaCock, a professional baseball player for the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. Marshall is also survived by daughters Suzanne and Jaime, son David, 12 grandchildren, and nine great-great grandchildren.

Children's Books About Zendaya and Harry Styles Are Available for Preorder Now — And They're Just $6

While targeted for 4-year-olds to 8-year-olds, these charming books are perfect for fans of all ages.

Harry Styles and Zendaya have massive talent, undeniable fashion sense and serious star power, but that's not all they have in common. Now, both of the artists are subjects in the latest release of Little Golden Book Biographies. 

We believe no one is too young to become a fan of Styles or Zendaya. While you may have already introduced your kid to Styles' hit tunes or Zendaya's roles in the Spider-Man franchise  — now, with the help of Golden Books, you can share the stories about their rises to fame, too. Perhaps the best part about these illustrated books is that they're each just $6.

Harry Styles: A Little Golden Book Biography  comes out on September 3, 2024, and is now available for preorder.

Harry Styles: A Little Golden Book Biography

To Styles' birth in England to his audition on X Factor and breaking out on his solo career, this biography is informative and beautifully illustrated.

Also hitting shelves on September 3, 2024, is  Zendaya: A Little Golden Book Biography , which is now available for preorder at Amazon.

Zendaya: A Little Golden Book Biography

Starting with Zendaya's early career, even before her work at Disney, and her transformation into a global star, this illustrated biography covers it all.

Each picture book biography has 24 pages filled with easy-to-read personal stories and colorful illustrations.

Little Golden Books is no stranger to telling the story of our favorite stars. Other Little Golden Books biographies feature  Beyoncé ,  Simone Biles ,  Dolly Parton  and Willie Nelson . Taylor Swift's Little Golden Book  quickly sold out after it was released last year, so we recommend securing your Zendaya's or Styles' biography (or both) while you can.

While the Little Golden Book biographies are technically geared toward young children, we think any fan of Harry Styles or Zendaya would want this true tale on their bookshelf. Buy a copy for yourself or your little one today. 

Updates on Celebrity News, TV, Fashion and More!

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Elon Musk Is Using X to Push His Views, and Donald Trump

Mr. Musk has become a vocal supporter of Mr. Trump. It wasn’t always that way.

By Kate Conger

• Aug. 12, 2024

Elon Musk is all in for Donald Trump’s campaign.

The billionaire endorsed Mr. Trump shortly after the attempt on his life last month. He’s helped form a political action committee to financially support the Trump campaign, and he’s bashed the former president’s political rivals online.

And on Monday, Mr. Musk planned to host a live appearance with Mr. Trump on X, his social media platform.

Mr. Musk, now more than ever, is using X to promote his personal political views. With more than 193 million followers, his account is the biggest on the platform and Mr. Musk has filled it with praise for the former president. He also accelerated attacks on President Biden over the past year, and he’s recently stepped up criticism of Vice President Kamala Harris.

By endorsing a presidential candidate, Mr. Musk has broken with other heads of social media companies , who typically try to avoid public endorsements.

Mr. Musk hasn’t always been so outspoken about his political opinions. SpaceX, his rocket company, receives contracts from the federal government, and Mr. Musk had incentive not to burn relationships with either political party. Tesla has also benefited from tax credits for electric vehicles and other government incentives. But as SpaceX and Tesla have become more dominant in their respective industries, Mr. Musk has faced less pressure to appease political leaders.

Mr. Musk’s use of X as a political megaphone has led to speculation that he is stifling accounts that promote Democratic causes. When an official account for the Harris campaign was caught in a spam filter and was temporarily blocked from receiving new followers, users blamed Mr. Musk for the glitch.

The European Union recently placed restrictions on social media companies under the Digital Services Act that require them to remove misinformation from their platforms. It has opened an inquiry into whether X has violated the act.

Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner, sent Mr. Musk a letter on Monday warning him that he was responsible for moderating misinformation during the livestream with Mr. Trump.

“We are monitoring the potential risks in the E.U. associated with the dissemination of content that may incite violence, hate and racism in conjunction with major political — or societal — events around the world, including debates and interviews in the context of elections,” Mr. Breton wrote.

Linda Yaccarino, X’s chief executive, wrote on the platform in response that the letter was “an unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the U.S.” She also pushed back on the idea that X is biased toward any political party, agreeing with an employee who called the platform a “swing state.”

Mr. Musk promoted the upcoming interview. “This is unscripted with no limits on subject matter, so should be highly entertaining!” Mr. Musk posted on Sunday evening.

Ryan Mac contributed reporting.

Kate Conger is a technology reporter based in San Francisco. She can be reached at [email protected]. More about Kate Conger

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Basketball Biographies for Kids: The Greatest NBA and WNBA Players from the 1960s to Today (Sports Biographies for Kids) Paperback – April 26, 2022

Get to know the game with inspiring basketball player biographies for ages 8 to 12

Basketball is filled with inspiring stories of world-class athletes working hard and overcoming challenges to shine on the court. Discover the most talented players from each position with Basketball Biographies for Kids ! This lineup shows you what it takes to be a WNBA or NBA superstar with the amazing stories, stats, and achievements of the best players from the last 60 years.

Legends of the leagues ― Learn about the players who changed the game, like Lebron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Sue Bird.

Key career stats ― Each biography covers the player's history, as well as important info like games played, points, rebounds, assists, and blocks.

Draft your own all-star team ― Evaluate the statistics and create your ideal team by filling out the starting lineup sheet at the back of the book.

Brush up on your basketball knowledge with the ultimate, slam-dunk collection of sports biographies!

• Part of series Sports Biographies for Kids
• Print length 160 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 4 - 6
• Lexile measure 1100L
• Dimensions 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• Publisher Callisto Kids
• Publication date April 26, 2022
• ISBN-10 1638783799
• ISBN-13 978-1638783794
• See all details

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About the author.

MATT CHANDLER is a former newspaper journalist and six-time New York Press Association award winner. The author of more than 55 nonfiction books, he has written extensively about all types of sports and athletes. His Sports Illustrated Kids book, Side-by-Side Baseball Stars: Comparing the Game’s Greatest , was selected by the American Society of Journalists and Authors for its 2015 Young Adult Outstanding Book Award. Learn more about his work at www.mattchandlerwriting.com.

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Callisto Kids (April 26, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1638783799
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1638783794
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 5 - 10 years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1100L
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 4 - 6
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.4 x 9 inches
• #552 in Children's Basketball Books (Books)
• #1,034 in Basketball (Books)
• #1,122 in Children's Sports Biographies (Books)

About the author

Matt chandler.

My name is Matt Chandler and I am a children's book author from New York.

My passion for writing is tied to my love of storytelling. I enjoy talking with people, learning about their lives, and sharing it in a fun and entertaining way with my readers.

Writing children's books is a ton of fun and my kids thinks the fact that they can go visit their school library and check out my books is about the coolest thing in the world.

My favorite part about being a children's book author is that I visit thousands of students in elementary schools each year for "author visits." I spend a day (or two or three) with the students exploring the incredible world of books and (hopefully) fueling a passion for reading and writing!

To see more of my work, visit my Website, www.mattchandlerwriting.com

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