Basketball Books

I recently moved to Eugene OR where the mighty Ducks reign supreme and Mac Court is an institution! I really appreciate having Bryan Jones's SportSpectator brochures to give me instant "Cliff Notes" on court sports. I found the Basketball guide very easy to understand and fun to read. For me, the glossary was invaluable; I hear these terms used by sports announcers; but the game moves so quickly that I often can't pick up what's happened before it's over. This guide, like the others in the series is a great boon to the newbie! Thanks, Bryan Jones!

I recently started dating a basketball fanatic so I bought the SportSpectator guide to learn more about the game. I found the glossary and the section on common referee signals especially helpful, because I no longer have to drive my boyfriend and his friends nuts with "stupid" questions ("What does that mean?" "Why did he do that?" etc) So, for a mere five bucks, I gained a greater appreciation for the sport AND improved my relationship... priceless!

This most excellent, informative and easy to use pocket guide concisely explains the essentials of the game of basketball in direct, easy to understand language. I found the section explaining foul shots awarded by the referee after blowing his whistle and stopping play most helpful. I never understood the difference between team fouls and personal fouls, shooting fouls and not-shooting fouls, all made clear by Sport Spectator. I also found the description of player positions helpful in understanding the game, and now understand what the term "power forward" and "point guard" mean, and can follow developing plays with interest. I highly recommend this guide. SportSpectator is this "fan's best friend".

I agree with Jeffrey - Shawn Bradley is a rare jewel in the history of tall NBA players. Read all about him.

like Bradley himself, perhaps the biggest waste of space this side of George Mureshan...but second to none for the conversation starting/jokes

Come on people, we're talkin' about Shawn Bradley here. I don't think I need to say much more than that.

This is simply my favorite book ever. I have read approximately 100 sports books and no single book ever made me feel as the authors (Valenti and NYC high school coach Ron Naclerio) were so close to and affected by the actions of their subject. Daniels has been labled as one of the greatest high school basketball players ever and his legend is probably even larger. He came from a broken home and became a victim of drug abuse at such an early age that his career never amounted to anything close to what it should have been. He did eventually play in the NBA only after years of drugs and a critically wounding gunshot robbed him of the potential he had when he was young. I met him in a bar at the New Jersey shore (close to where he and his family now live) on a chance one night years after I read this and was still simply awed by him as a result of this book. If you are a sports fan, please read this.

MAGIC JOHNSON WITH A JUMP SHOT, that's what they called him, who am i talking about? Read on my friend. In this grippin and tear jerking story of street ball, we learn the true goods and evils of the game. In this story, the main character, Lloyd "Swee' Pea" Daniels, struggles against his addication to "the rock". This story will give you the true vision of what it takes to be a great, and the situations young urban kids have to go through to make their dreams come true.

Great book about could-have-been basketball legend Lloyd Daniels. A great inside look of how the glory of basketball corrupts youth. Inspirational because of Lloyd Daniels' limited success in the NBA and CBA. I loved this book because of its rags to seemingly riches to rags story about the Swee'Pea Lloyd Daniels.

THIS BOOK IS ABOUT THE MSU NCAA CHAMPS OF BASKETBALL IN 1979. LED MY MAGIC, JAY VINCENT, GREG KELSER AND COACH JUD HEATHCOTE THIS TEAM DOMINATED INDIANA STATE TO WIN THE FINAL GAME. THE AUTHORS INTERVIEW ALL THE PLAYERS AND COACHES AND WE GET THEIR INSIGHT INTO THAT SEASON ALONG WITH WHAT THEY ARE DOING TODAY. I AM AN OHIO STATE FAN BUT I REALLY FOUND THIS TO BE VERY WELL WRITTEN AND INTERESTING. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL SPARTAN AND COLLEGE HOOP FANS.

Being a die-hard Michigan fan, it's hard for me to admit that I enjoyed anything with the word "Spartans" associated with it. Based on a strong recommendation from a friend of mine, I decided to give this book a chance. I am very glad that I did. It offers a collection of wonderful stories masterfully written by two men who followed this team's every move through the 1978-1979 basketball season. Stabley and Staudt are then able to track nearly every member of the team down 25 years later for their own recollections of what was truly a "Magical" season. A must-read not only for every Spartan fan, but for anyone who appreciates the triumphant nature of the human spirit. I can't wait for the sequel: the story of Rumeal Robinson and the 1989 Michigan Wolverines!

A must for all true Spartan fans as well as basketball fans. The book comes out 25 years after the Spartans' 1979 NCAA championship season and is comprised of many short stories dealing with the players, coaches, media and fans from that season. The stories include the battles the coaches went through to recruit the MSU players including Earvin "Magic" Johnson. It's interesting to see where all 13 players are these days and what they've done in the last 25 years. The battle between Michigan State and Indiana State changed college basketball forever and the book touches the memory banks of those who played in the game. It's a fun read and enjoyable for fans of all ages.

You've read, digested and implemented Jim Thompson's Positive Coaching materials. Now take a Graduate Course.

Bruce Brown's book is filled with wonderful ideas on how to create a sports culture where individuals and teams maximize the personal growth that is possible through athletics.

Personal favorites include sections on the qualities of "Great Athletes" - successfully introduced to players as young as 11 (and, more importantly their parents) - about the choices that athleted make. Similarly "Great Teams" explores the qualities found in the most successful teams. "Positive Conditioning" is an eye-opener (imaging what happens when the winning team in a game at practice does 20 extra push-ups) as well as great team-building exercises such as "Spotlighting". The section on how parents can be helpful participants in the process is also worthwhile.

Run, don't walk (can you do that on-line?) to get this book.

Easily worth the money, this book is amazing. It poses great questions to coaches about why they coach and what they hope to accomplish, methods to teach character traits, and a wonderful section on using conditioning positively, to name a few sections. The book is geared primarily towards junior high or high school programs, and really has some great ideas for a sports program.

This book is essential for every coach in any sport. Bruce Brown does an excellent job of hitting on the issues of what coaches need to think about, but so often get missed in the whole scheme of things. Coaching is so much more than just knowing the particular x's and o's, and reading this book helps the present or future coach realize that. I would recommend Teaching Character Through Sport to any coach of any sport!!

Toby Wheeler loves basketball and playing pickup games with his best friend TJ, but lately TJ's been acting like he's too busy for Toby, and it will once get worse once basketball season begins at their junior high, because TJ's the star of the team and Toby is nothing special at sports. When the coach offers Toby a chance to join the team he's eager to prove he can keep up with his friend - until he begins to realize he's just a benchwarmer not destined for fame. Romance changes the bigger picture in this fine story of athletic challenges.

First, disclosure: I know the author. In spite of this personal knowledge, I laugh aloud each time I pick up this book. He captures the angst and poignancy of early adolescence so well. I love that Toby did the right thing with the ball during the big game. A great group of fictional kids who can teach real ones how to help each other along the way.

Life is simple. Toby Wheeler is just a gym rat playing pickup ball at the rec center with his best buddy JJ. But, things seem different lately. JJ is spending more and more time with his new friends instead of Toby.

Determined to hang onto his buddy, Toby joins the school's basketball team at the encouragement of the new coach. Maybe this way, he'll get to see more of JJ, since he's a basketball star. But, it seems like the only person Toby is seeing more of is the coach's daughter, Megan.

Other players on the team are encouraging Toby to stay away from Coach's daughter if he wants to be anything but a benchwarmer. This seems like good advice, except that Megan is the only girl he can talk to without turning into a clumsy, awkward fool.

This debut novel will definitely score with its readers, as Toby is just the kind of clueless but lovable character that middle-schoolers are sure to identify with. He navigates everything from losing friends and figuring out how to deal with girls to relearning things he thought he already knew.

Basketball fans will get their fair share of trash talk when Toby faces off against his rival, Vinny Pesto, on the court and off. Toby may be clueless in some areas, but when the clock runs down, he knows it's time to take a shot.

Heldring's style is easy and fun to read. I look forward to more books by this fabulous new author!

Reviewed by: Julie M. Prince

Ben Cook clearly is an expert on this matter. I bought Total Basketball Fitness along with NBA Power Conditioning and Strength Training for Basketball. I found that Cook's book was the most comprehensive and scientific of the three.

This is a not a "for dummies" book. The information was relevant and put forth in an intelligent manner to help reader's understand the science of basketball conditioning. Cook's highlight is his 52 week plan, which in my estimatation is worth the price of the book. The plan can serve as a specific workout routine for 365 days or a general guideline for those who cannot dedicate their lives to playing basketball.

Another great feature is the in depth discussion on the dynamics of weight training. Cook tells you about all the different ways to lift and which goals they achieve. Unfortunately, he is not very specific on the importances of each individual exercise.

Cook also includes chapters on Agility exercises and conditioning which are also helpful.

In summery, this book is well suited for the college player. The high school player would be better suited with the book NBA Power Conditioning. If money is not an issue, I highly recommend buying both books.

Getting ready for the season. Has always been confusing for me. You hear of so many different things you should do to make yourself better, but I could never figure out how to put everything together. This book gives it all to you and then plans your week for you. And not just one week, but for a whole year. This is what you've been looking for!!

This book is gives it all to you "ready-serve" I've never seen a worrkout book with more detail. All aspects of training are covered. My buddy bought Cook's 52-Week Football book, and it had tremendous detail. I'm a basketball guy and when this book came out I knew I needed to check it out. It's a must have book for the serious player.

"You'll never know the effect you are having on the people around you," a stranger says to Dan Austin during the course of this book, in which he chronicles the cross country bicycle journey he made with his brother and best friend, from California to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. The stranger was talking about the fact that when you witness someone pursuing their dream, no matter how trying it may seem, it really makes you stop and think, "Am I doing everything I can be doing with my life?" "True Fans" will make you stop and ask the same questions. Make no mistake, it's a celebration of basketball, and a cracking good road trip story. But as you experience the road trip with these three characters, you can't help but ask yourself if you've seen as much of this country as they have, and if you haven't, on what else have you missed out?

For those who are fans of the documentary film whose making is chronicled in this book (as I am), you may be surprised to find that the book is even better. Why? Because there are so many terrific moments that happened while Dan's cameras were not rolling - which couldn't be included in the film because there was no footage of them - but the mind has no roll out mechanism, and they are all beautifully captured in prose. The book takes a deeper look at what happened on the trip, explores the details of how you survive such a journey, and adds a whole new level to the experience. It's filled with marvelous, magical, unexpected anecdotes, and wonderful little narrative set-ups and payoffs that are so satisfying they feel like they should have been invented for a fiction novel -- but they all really happened. It's surprisingly emotional, and you may even find yourself shedding a tear when our heroes finally arrive at their destination. Such are the fruits of hard won dreams.

I am not a sports fan, by the way. I'm the last person who would ever be reading a book about basketball. But this book is about the people, and it transcends the subject and makes you care regardless of whether you have ever watched a game in your life. And if you haven't, it makes you want to.

Highly recommended.

Sludge, Sprinklers, The Perfect Hoop. What is this all about?
When I first purchased True Fans I assumed it was a book strictly about basketball. After reading the first few chapters I realized it was a book about three guys from Utah who were on their way to becoming heroes for their love of the sport.
Along their journey they also came across many great Americans who also became heroes for their acts of kindness in helping Dan, Jared & Clint reach their destination. These American Heroes are the names on the basketball enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, brought there by the 3 friends.
You'll also read about their battles with water sprinklers, and how they survived on sludge, a 700 calorie, carb loaded casserole of pasta, rice & soup packets. You'll also find out how they found the perfect hoop, nailed to a barn in rural Indiana.
True Fans is a book for everyone, very inspiring as well as very entertaining. After reading it, you will, become a TRUE FAN !!!!!!!

First off...you've got to see the DVD "True Fans"...meet Dan and Jared and Clint...Uncle Gary...all the "Heroes" along the way...
go visit Dans' website [...]...get a sense of who Dan is...and what he's been doing since he made "True Fans".
and then, read the book, "True Fans, A Basketball Odyssey".
Saying that this is just a movie/book about a bike trip cross country, is like saying "Touching the Void" is just another mountaineering story, that "Siddartha" is just a coming of age book, or that "Stranger in a Strange Land" is just a book about a guy who comes back to earth after being away for awhile...

Joe Simpson didn't just make it back to camp, Jack Kerouac didn't just write a book about driving cross country, pesto isn't just basil and pine nuts, Guiness isn't just beer, and True Fans isn't just a film about three guys on bikes with a basketball in tow...
It's about beautiful days...not so beautiful days...and quiet wisdoms...It's about tapestry and texture...It's about family, friends, and Calvin Klein...
It's about what it takes to get from point A to point B...
In whatever time it takes...
[...]Because this is a trilogy...a set...a series.Each of these alone will make you smile...but the three together will charm you in a quiet...heartfelt...and "Heroic Way". Like it? Loved it!

Reading this book was enjoyable because it gave me a deeper insight into what makes Kim Mulkey tick. The background from childhood through coaching was excellent--not too detailed, but just enough info to explain things. Reading Kim's coaching philosophy and current stance at Baylor was interesting. I highly recommend this book.

I've heard Kim Mulkey speak in person as well as seen her in action coaching and this book sounds just like her. She is very forthright and as always, tells it like she sees it. Except for a few repeated or inserted sections that seem to interrupt the flow, the book is a very good read.

Kim Mulkey wrote an interesting auto biography, which helps us know how she became so succesful in her career. It is great reading for any fan of women's basketball and working mothers who in spite of the demands on their time, keep family first.

I liked this book alot. I reccommened it yo all my friends and family members.

Whatever offensive set you use you will find inbound plays here to fit your scheme. Some plays work better than others but you can only find that out when you test them in game conditions. A must for your coaching library.