What's the best basketball related book you've read? I'll start.

[Faptastrophe]

'Loose Balls' by then All-Star PF Jayson Williams (unfortunately now in jail). Williams tells some funny stories and gives insight into NBA life in the late 80s and early 90s. He addresses groupies, fights, trash talk, and binge drinking with Charles Barkley. Really fun read.

[knightfall88]

'Loose Balls" from a guy in jail:applause:

[Dengness9]

'Loose Balls' by then All-Star PF Jayson Williams (unfortunately now in jail). Williams tells some funny stories and gives insight into NBA life in the late 80s and early 90s. He addresses groupies, fights, trash talk, and binge drinking with Charles Barkley. Really fun read.


DUDE!!!! Can't believe you started with this book. I was gonna post it too! Except its #3 on my list.

I became a big fan of Jayson as a person when i read this the year it came out. I was so shocked when that shit went down with his limo driver. It was actually really sad. Jayson adopted both his sister's kids, because they both died from HIV/AIDS i think if i remember correctly???

#1 Book for me is Playing for Keeps by David Halberstam. Such an amazing Book about the Bulls franchise, players, coaches, all before the Bulls dynasty, during, and a little after.

There is a great chapter about Phil Jackson's life before the Bulls that i enjoyed so damn much. And the chapters covering MJ and Pip's life as kids through HS and into College is f'ing unreal. MUST READ FOLKS!

#2 Book for me is Jordan Rules by Sam Smith

[JMT]

FOUL: The Connie Hawkins Story by David Wolf. Wolf wrote the magazine article in 1969 that finally cleared the Hawk of the point shaving charges that got him thrown out of Iowa (where he never played a single second of varsity ball but got set up to take the fall) and relegated him to the ABL , Globetrotters and ABA before the NBA paid him 1.3 million cash settlement and reinstated him to the league. Traces every step of the story, from his childhood in Bed Stuy to his best years in the NBA. An incredibly well written book about a humble, class man.

The Wizard of Westwood: Coach John Wooden and His UCLA Bruins (1973) by Dwight Chapin and Jeff Prugh. A detailed biography written when he was at the peak of his career. Wooden wasn't crazy about some parts of it, saying it revealed more about thim than he cared to, long before he achieved the (well deserved) legendary status that most people are familiar with.

Can I Keep My Jersey?: 11 Teams, 5 Countries, and 4 Years in My Life as a Basketball Vagabond (2007) by Paul Shirley Bill Simmons says it's like "if one of our friends was in the NBA...sort of". For every Michael Jordan there are 100 Paul Shirley's; guys living for 10 day contracts, playing in empty gyms in countries they can't spell, wondering if the owner is going to be able to afford to fly them to the next game. Funny, an easy read. Hard to put down. A VERY smart guy in a sport filled with lots of dummies.

Or you could read stories from a soulless douchebag like Jayson Williams, who didn't even write the best book called "Loose Balls".

That would be Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association by Terry Pluto.

[9512]

Free Darko books.

It's a panel of bloggers who had their work published. It has interesting art, statistics, kooky writing style, and overly candid if not bluntly harsh stories on players.

[schism206]

I liked Rodman's book, but honestly it's the only BBall book I've ever read so I don't really have anything to compare it to. Though I didn't really care for him griping about being underpaid in the book, but in fairness he said he was underpaid "comparatively" to the other NBA players. He just talked about it a little too much.

[KBryant24]

http://mittenlit.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/bird.jpg

[Mr. Incredible]

Jordan Rules hands down. Couldn't put it down once I started.

[chips93]

Free Darko books.

It's a panel of bloggers who had their work published. It has interesting art, statistics, kooky writing style, and overly candid if not bluntly harsh stories on players.

this

ive probably read them like 5 times each. they are so original

i gotta read jordan rules, playing for keeps, and that ABA book - loose balls

[Crown&Coke]

as much as I don't like Bill Simmons, his book "Book of Basketball" was pretty legit. He put guys in his book from the 60's, that gave some insight to me.

"Breaks of the Game" about the late 70's Blazers was a great read. Gives you an inside look on how pro ball was before the mega contracts, when real men played ball.

Pistol, was about Pistol Pete Maravich, would read again any day. Pistol Pete was a G

[KelticForce1349]

"Can I Keep My Jersey?" by Paul Shirley :roll: :bowdown: :rockon:

[Rake2204]

'Loose Balls' by then All-Star PF Jayson Williams (unfortunately now in jail). Williams tells some funny stories and gives insight into NBA life in the late 80s and early 90s. He addresses groupies, fights, trash talk, and binge drinking with Charles Barkley. Really fun read.
I read this at least ten years ago. I used to be a moderate Jayson Williams fan too. I thought he was pretty funny at times (other times a little forced). I remember one time he told a late night host the Nets saved on travel expenses by faxing Kerry Kittles from city to city.

On the other side of things, I seem to remember at least two anecdotes in Williams' book touching on gun play. I totally can't remember the details though. I thought one involved Jayson coming scary close to shooting then New York Jets receiver Wayne Chrebet in the face and the other may have involved Jayson's dad shooting someone in the lower torso. Totally can't remember though. I just remember thinking it was a haunting foreshadowing experience.



Can I Keep My Jersey?: 11 Teams, 5 Countries, and 4 Years in My Life as a Basketball Vagabond (2007) by Paul Shirley Bill Simmons says it's like "if one of our friends was in the NBA...sort of". For every Michael Jordan there are 100 Paul Shirley's; guys living for 10 day contracts, playing in empty gyms in countries they can't spell, wondering if the owner is going to be able to afford to fly them to the next game. Funny, an easy read. Hard to put down. A VERY smart guy in a sport filled with lots of dummies.
Just went ahead and bought this on a whim. I forgot it existed. I meant to read it three or four years ago.

[KevinNYC]

When the Game Was Ours was really good. I really enjoyed the bit about when Magic and Bird were on the same team in college. It was an All-Star team that was assembled to play against European teams doing a tour of the states.

Bird and Magic were both on the bench. The coach was Joe B. Hall from Kentucky and started all the Kentucky guys over them. So Rick Robey was on the starting five, but Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were not. They said they used to kill them in practice and every time they did get into the game, they usually had a burst of points and then were taken out of the game.

Someone on here quoted that Jayson Williams book about the first time he played Larry Bird. He has a funny story about how Bird was torching Barkley, so they put Armon Gilliam on him and Bird torched him and Williams begged the coach to put him, that he could cover him and Bird scored 14 points in six minutes on him and he went back to the bench not wanting to play basketball again. The only thing he wanted to do was kill Larry Bird. And the next time the coach needed someone to cover Bird, Williams wouldn't even look at the coach.

The Art of a Beautiful Game is a really good basketball book. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the game, usually focusing on one player. It really shows what separates the elite players from the rest.

[jlip]

King of the Court: Bill Russell and the Basketball Revolution

[1987_Lakers]

'Loose Balls' by then All-Star PF Jayson Williams (unfortunately now in jail). Williams tells some funny stories and gives insight into NBA life in the late 80s and early 90s. He addresses groupies, fights, trash talk, and binge drinking with Charles Barkley. Really fun read.

Amazon review...

By
keith van horn

Coming from someone who knows Jayson very well, this book is all he said it was going to be! I've heard these stories a thousand times....and each time they get better! I didn't think I would react the same way to the stories beacuse his delivery is so unique, but I was wrong. I laughed just as hard as I did when I heard them the first time. I did worry a bit because I knew I was going to be in the book, but I even had to laugh at myself. This book is a must-read for sports fans of all kinds!

http://www.amazon.com/Loose-Balls-Money-Fouls-Laughs/dp/0767905695/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325827941&sr=1-1

:oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

[Tenchi Ryu]

For the Love of the game.....

Was like 6 years old, the big images were awesome, and was able to look at all of jordan's best plays. Childhood memories

[AngelEyes]

For the Love of the game.....

Was like 6 years old, the big images were awesome, and was able to look at all of jordan's best plays. Childhood memories

Nice post. I thought it was an awesome looking book when I first got it. Another one I'd add is Rare Air. It had some large, rare photos. It gave me that behind the scenes feel.

[kingBynum]

"How to play defence by Flopping" by Blake Griffin....:oldlol:

"Looking for the open man" by Kobe Bryant :oldlol:

[AngelEyes]

Loose Balls by Terry Pluto about the ABA is another good one.

[Roundball_Rock]

Simmons' Book of Basketball.

[Mr. Jabbar]

The Bible

Its a book that talks about kobe.

[KBryant24]

"Can I Keep My Jersey?" by Paul Shirley :roll: :bowdown: :rockon:
lol this was actually a pretty good read

[BankShot]

http://28.media.tumblr.com/XrjW1CdrKnuegrcoTTw6SfIfo1_500.jpg

[9512]

For the Love of the game.....

Was like 6 years old, the big images were awesome, and was able to look at all of jordan's best plays. Childhood memories

I was lucky I picked up this book (hardcover version) at a second hand store.

Instead of paying $40 some for it, I got it for less than $10.

Jordan reminds me that my teen years were okay when I watched him and the bulls winning their rings.

There were many candid things he said and he never sugar coated anything. From his quarrell with Horace as teammates, his grudges against opponents, and his stint in baseball.

[CelticsDraftee]

Amazon review...

By
keith van horn

Coming from someone who knows Jayson very well, this book is all he said it was going to be! I've heard these stories a thousand times....and each time they get better! I didn't think I would react the same way to the stories beacuse his delivery is so unique, but I was wrong. I laughed just as hard as I did when I heard them the first time. I did worry a bit because I knew I was going to be in the book, but I even had to laugh at myself. This book is a must-read for sports fans of all kinds!

http://www.amazon.com/Loose-Balls-Money-Fouls-Laughs/dp/0767905695/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325827941&sr=1-1

:oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

Man, that'd be awesome if it's really Keith :oldlol:

Where is he nowadays anyway?

[CelticsDraftee]

When the Game Was Ours was really good. I really enjoyed the bit about when Magic and Bird were on the same team in college. It was an All-Star team that was assembled to play against European teams doing a tour of the states.

This is my favorite basketball book too. I was just a kid when those guys were in their prime so I didn't get to experience much. The book is awesome and details a lot of things I never knew (and I consider myself a big Celtics fan).

My favorite part was the chapter on the dream team and how all the egos coexisted.

[Faptastrophe]

The Bible

Its a book that talks about kobe.

You mean when there were women raped repeatedly? That sick bastard killed and raped an entire town and then wanted more virgins, so he hid beside the road to kidnap and rape some more.

Yeah sounds like Kobe. :lol

[JMT]

Amazon review...

By
keith van horn

Coming from someone who knows Jayson very well, this book is all he said it was going to be! I've heard these stories a thousand times....and each time they get better! I didn't think I would react the same way to the stories beacuse his delivery is so unique, but I was wrong. I laughed just as hard as I did when I heard them the first time. I did worry a bit because I knew I was going to be in the book, but I even had to laugh at myself. This book is a must-read for sports fans of all kinds!

http://www.amazon.com/Loose-Balls-Money-Fouls-Laughs/dp/0767905695/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325827941&sr=1-1

:oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

Awesome! Can't wait to read the one about how he's a drunk show off, bullying the limo driver who's the only non-celebrity at the house, then shoots the guy and kills him!

It's so hilarious when he tries to make it look like a suicide, then tries to convince the cops that he didn't do it, but the laughs really start to roll when he fights the guys family in court over financial restitution for murdering their husband and father.

Do yourself one favor. If you're determined to read it, buy it used on eBay, Amazon, etc so that wretched waste of air doesn't make a penny.

[Miserio]

Sacred hoops - Phil Jackson.

[fos]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51071XGBGYL._SS500_.jpg

SPOILER ALERT!
Pretty much consists of three steps: Don't be a homosexual, don't do heroin, and stay away from Magic Johnson. If you absolutely cannot refrain from getting ****ed in the ass or shooting up, have your partner wear a condom and don't share needles. If somehow you cannot effectively avoid Magic Johnson, do not engage in homosexually butt-****ing him/getting homosexually butt-****ed by him and NEVER share a needle with him. By far the best book by a former NBA player on the subject of AIDs avoidance.

[Phong]

The Loss of the Ring ~ L.R. James

[Derka]

"Drive" by Larry Bird
"When the Game Was Ours" by Jackie MacMullen
"Basketball Junkie" by Chris Herren & Bill Reynolds

[Faptastrophe]

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/sm/custom/275a279a8a.gif

[LemonMan]

"Can I Keep My Jersey?" by Paul Shirley :roll: :bowdown: :rockon:

:bowdown: :applause: :applause:

also black man can't shoot by Scott N. Brooks, read it for my sociology class
http://www.slamonline.com/online/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/brooks-211x211.jpg

[Rake2204]

If you're a Detroit Pistons fan, The Franchise is a must read. And if you're merely a fan of the NBA, I'd still recommend it. The writing style felt just a tiny bit cheesy at times (author constantly refers to GM Jack McClosky as "the man with gunmetal hair") but you get used to those small quirks and the book as a whole seems at least a little bit unfiltered. For instance, you'll read about Rick Mahorn telling a reporter to suck his snake. Or, you'll find out that when Adrian Dantley shook hands with Isiah Thomas at midcourt in his first return to the Palace since being traded to the Mavericks, instead of reconciling, Dantley was actually whispering, "I'll never forgive you for this."

On top of everything else, it's a fun time warp, going back to an era where Buck Williams and Kiki Vandeweghe were hot commodities on the trade market and "Mony Mony" still really got people going at the arena. It's an excellent look back at the NBA and in particular, the Bad Boys.

http://airjudden2.tripod.com/books/images/franchise.jpg

[ripthekik]

"Confessions of a PED user" by Lebron James
"2011 Finals: A choke to remember" by Lebron James

[Rake2204]

Not the best I've ever read, but I'll recommend Foul!, the Connie Hawkins story. Sorry for mentioning it in two separate threads, but I thought it might be fitting to post here.

It took me a while to work my way through it (after ignoring it on my own shelf for years) because the first 100 pages slogged a bit. It felt like the same old "from the streets of New York, then greatness, and tragedy". But after Hawkins reaches the professional ranks, I got pretty engrossed.

If nothing else, it gives great insight to the NBA at the time (around '70) and it's interesting to see all sort of familiar names pop up, but often in much earlier forms than we've grown accustomed (Cotton Fitzsimmons, the Colangelo family, Johnny Red Kerr, Paul Silas, Gail Goodrich, etc).

On top of everything else, I only knew the core basics about Hawkins and his ban from the NBA. This cleared a ton of things up. Good stuff.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51YOgj-Hk-L._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

[JimmyMcAdocious]

Those fake Amazon reviews are the best.

This is one of my favorites.

http://www.amazon.com/review/R3BX31F8PW9B3W/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=0195183428&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=#wasThisHelpful

This as well
http://www.amazon.com/review/R6PAMGK0Y6WMT/ref=cm_cr_pr_cmt?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B003G4IM4S&linkCode=&nodeID=&tag=#wasThisHelpful

[outbreak]

play their hearts out