“What are the best books about or featuring Basketball?” We looked at 152 of the top Basketball books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 40 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Basketball” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 100+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 40 Basketball Books

40 .) 07 Seconds or Less by Jack McCallum

Lists It Appears On:

• Denver Stiffs
• The World Of Hoops

In “Seven Seconds or Less, Sports Illustrated”‘s chief NBA writer, Jack McCallum, gets in the paint with the Phoenix Suns and takes a season-long look at the NBA’s most exciting and controversial team.A few weeks before the 2005-2006 NBA training camps began, Jack McCallum called the Phoenix Suns ace director of public relations to propose a story idea for “Sports Illustrated,” He would spend the preseason with the team as an “assistant coach” and then write a story about his experiences. He was quickly granted access, and while his role as “assistant coach” lasted only through the preseason, McCallum stayed on with the team throughout their amazing 2005-2006 season. McCallum was looking for real inside access and he certainly got it. He spent the season in the locker room and in the coaches’ meetings, learning what makes this wildly popular, innovative, and international assemblage of talented players and brilliant coaches tick. For years, NBA basketball was marked by a plodding, dull-as-dishwater style of play — that was until coach Mike D’Antoni, point guard Steve Nash, and the high-flying Phoenix Suns set the league on fire with their old-school, run-and-gun approach to offense. Along the way they won back legions of disillusioned fans and demonstrated the virtues of team play to a league preoccupied with one-on-one theatrics. In “Seven Seconds or Less,” McCallum describes his year trying to keep up with the fast-breaking Suns on and off the court. He takes readers inside the heads of Nash, the team’s mercurial floor general; the maverick D’Antoni; and dozens of others who make up the close-knit Suns family. On the court, there’s excitement as the Suns overcome a rash ofinjuries to once again battle for a conference title. Off the court, controversy rages as the team endures a major front-office change in midseason. Throughout it all, the team continues to bedevil opponents and challenge the status quo with their throwback style. In the spirit of Buzz Bissinger’s “Three Nights in August” and John Feinstein’s “A Season on the Brink, Seven Seconds or Less” is an in-depth look at one of the greatest shows in sports.

Purchase / Learn More

39 .) A Season on the Brink by John Feinstein

Lists It Appears On:

• Mens Journal
• The World Of Hoops

“A Season on the Brink” chronicles the basketball season that John Feinstein spent following the Indiana Hoosiers and their fiery coach, Bob Knight. Knight granted Feinstein an unprecedented inside look at college basketball — with complete access to every moment of the season. Feinstein saw and heard it all — practices, team meetings, strategy sessions, and mid-game huddles — during Knight’s struggle to avoid a losing season. “A Season on the Brink” not only captures the drama and pressure of big-time college basketball but paints a vivid portrait of a complex, brilliant coach walking a fine line between genius and madness.

Purchase / Learn More

38 .) A Whole New Ball Game by Phil Bildner

Lists It Appears On:

• Pragmatic Mom
• We Are Teachers

Rip and Red are best friends whose fifth-grade year is nothing like what they expected. They have a crazy new tattooed teacher named Mr. Acevedo, who doesn’t believe in tests or homework and who likes off-the-wall projects, the more “off” the better. They also find themselves with a new basketball coach: Mr. Acevedo! Easy-going Rip is knocked completely out of his comfort zone. And for Red, who has autism and really needs things to be exactly a certain way, the changes are even more of a struggle. But together these two make a great duo who know how to help each other—and find ways to make a difference—in the classroom and on the court. With its energetic and authentic story and artwork, this is a fresh, fun book about school, sports, and friendship. This title has Common Core connections.

Purchase / Learn More

37 .) Allie’s Basketball Dream by Barber E. Barber

Lists It Appears On:

• Mommy Evolution
• We Are Teachers

Basketball is Allie’s favorite sport-she’s loved it ever since her father took her to her first game at Madison Square Garden. When her dad gives her a new basketball of her own, she hits the neighborhood courts, full of confidence. Once there, her enthusiasm ebbs as her shots fall short of the basket-at least at first. Allie’s story of self-determination is one that young athletes, both boys and girls, will recognize. Perfect for anyone who has experienced the ups and downs of practicing and playing hard, Allie’s Basketball Dream is a spirited tribute to perseverance.

Purchase / Learn More

36 .) Basketball: Its Origin and Development by James Naismith

Lists It Appears On:

• Grandstand Central
• Mens Journal

James Naismith was teaching physical education at the Young Men’s Christian Association Training College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and felt discouraged because calisthenics and gymnastics didn’t engage his students. What was needed was an indoor wintertime game that combined recreation and competition. One evening he worked out the fundamentals of a game that would quickly catch on. Two peach half-bushel baskets gave the name to the brand new sport in late 1891. Basketball: Its Origin and Development was written by the inventor himself, who was inspired purely by the joy of play. Naismith, born in northern Ontario in 1861, gave up the ministry to preach clean living through sport. He describes Duck on the Rock, a game from his Canadian childhood, the creative reasoning behind his basket game, the eventual refinement of rules and development of equipment, the spread of amateur and professional teams throughout the world, and the growth of women’s basketball (at first banned to male spectators because the players wore bloomers). Naismith lived long enough to see basketball included in the Olympics in 1936. Three years later he died, after nearly forty years as head of the physical education department at the University of Kansas.

Purchase / Learn More

35 .) Bravo, Tavo! by Brian Meunier, illustrated

Lists It Appears On:

• Pragmatic Mom
• Pragmatic Mom

Tavo, named for his father Gustavo, plays basketball so much that his sneakers are worn out. His father is too worried about the drought afflicting their small village to focus on replacing them. Gustavo thinks he can solve the water shortage, but the other villagers say he’s crazy. Tavo puts aside basketball to help prove his father right. In return, something miraculous happens to his sneakers, and he’s the hero of the next game. Did the magic come from his shoes, or was it in his heart all along? Brian Meunier’s outstanding storytelling makes this a captivating read-aloud, while Perky Edgerton’s extraordinary paintings make it a visual treat.

Purchase / Learn More

34 .) Can I Keep My Jersey by Paul Shirley

Lists It Appears On:

• Denver Stiffs
• Whats My Vertical

He’s been called a journeyman. Even Paul wouldn’t dispute that classification. Regardless, Bill Simmons, ESPN.com’s “The Sports Guy,” has said of Paul Shirley, “We could finally have an answer to the question ‘What would it be like if one of our friends was an NBA player?” There’s no denying that Paul Shirley is the closest thing pro basketball’s got to Odysseus. In Homeric fashion, he has logged time practically everywhere in the roundball universe, from six NBA cities to pro leagues in Spain and Greece to North America’s pro ball Siberia, the minor leagues. Hell, he’s even played in the real Siberia. And in Can I Keep My Jersey?, Shirley finally puts down roots long enough to deliver one of the great locker-room chronicles of the modern age. With sharp elbows and an even sharper wit, Shirley–whose writings have been described as “wildly entertaining” by The Wall Street Journal–drops hilarious commentary, revealing which teams have the best cheerleaders (he’s spent many a time-out watching them ply their trade), why Christ is rapidly becoming every team’s “sixth man,” and even the best ways to get bloodstains out of your game uniform, using only an ordinary bar of soap and a hotel bathroom sink. From sharing the court with Kobe and Shaq to perusing the food court at some mall in a bush-league burg; from taking pregame layups to getting laid out by a stray knee from an NBA power forward; from hopping a limo to the team’s charter jet to dashing to catch the van home from a B-league game in Tijuana, Shirley dishes on what it’s like to try to make it as a professional athlete. Can I Keep My Jersey? is a rollicking, thoughtful, even thought-provoking insider’s look at a pro baller’s life on the fringe. Like Jim Bouton’s Ball Four or John Feinstein’s A Season on the Brink, Shirley’s odyssey deserves to find a home on every sports fan’s bookshelf.

Purchase / Learn More

33 .) Dino-Basketball by Lisa Wheeler

Lists It Appears On:

• Mommy Evolution
• We Are Teachers

When the carnivorous Meat face the herbivorous Grass Clippers, rims are sure to rattle! Ally-oops and rejections are the orders of the day as the dinos play a fast-paced full-court game. No one can establish a lead as the final seconds tick by. The fans are getting tense, and there’s a championship on the line. Which dino will step up and take it to the hoop? This exciting follow-up to Dino-Hockey, Dino-Soccer, and Dino-Baseball is sure to thrill dinosaur and sports lovers alike.

Purchase / Learn More

32 .) Dream Big: Michael Jordan and the Pursuit of Excellence

Lists It Appears On:

• Mommy Evolution
• Pragmatic Mom

Olympic dreams come true in this inspiring picture book from Michael Jordan’s mother, author of the New York Times bestselling Salt in His Shoes. Long before he became a professional All-Star basketball player, Michael Jordan had dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal—and with dedication and perseverance, that’s exactly what he did. This heartwarming picture book, written by Michael’s mother and illustrated by Barry Root, gives a rare glimpse into a sports hero’s childhood and emphasizes the role that good values play in success. An ideal companion to the New York Times bestselling Salt in His Shoes and releasing in time for the 2012 Olympics, Dream Big is an inspiration to all.

Purchase / Learn More

31 .) Game Time, Mallory!

Lists It Appears On:

• Pragmatic Mom
• Pragmatic Mom

Mallory can’t wait to play in her town’s new girls’ basketball league! What could be more fun than trying something new and being on a team? But Mallory’s basketball career gets off to a rocky start. None of her friends are on her team. And no matter how much she tries, she can’t make a basket. Mallory works as hard as she can to improve. But as her team heads to the playoffs, she still feels like the weakest player. Will she let her teammates down? Or is there more to being part of a team than just winning the game?

Purchase / Learn More

30 .) Hoop Genius: How a Desperate Teacher and a Rowdy Gym Class Invented Basketball

Lists It Appears On:

• Mommy Evolution
• Slj

Taking over a rowdy gym class right before winter vacation is not something James Naismith wants to do at all. The last two teachers of this class quit in frustration. The students–a bunch of energetic young men–are bored with all the regular games and activities. Naismith needs something new, exciting, and fast to keep the class happy…or someone’s going to get hurt. His only resources are a gymnasium, a couple peach baskets, some soccer balls, and his imagination. Saving this class is going to take a genius. Discover the true story of how Naismith invented basketball in 1891 at a school in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Purchase / Learn More

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

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• The World Of Hoops

In his more than twenty years coaching the Blue Devils, Coach Mike Krzyzewski has made his program the most admired in the nation, with back-to-back national championships in ’91, ’92, and again in 2001, and ten Final Four appearances since 1986. Now, in Leading with the Heart, Coach K talks about leadership-how you earn it, how you practice it, and how you use it to move your organization to the top. From the importance of trust, communication, and pride, to the commitment a leader must make to his team, this inspiring book is a must-read for anyone who loves college basketball-or who simply wants to win in any competitive environment today.

Purchase / Learn More

28 .) Planet Middle School

Lists It Appears On:

• Read Brightly
• Slj

For twelve years, Joylin Johnson’s life has been just fine, thank you very much. A game of basketball with the boys-especially her friend Jake-was all it took to put a smile on her face. Baggy jeans, T-shirt, and hair in a ponytail were easy choices. Then suddenly the world seemed to turn upside down, and everything changed at once. Her best girl friend is now flirting with her best guy friend. Her clothes seem all wrong. Jake is acting weird, and basketball isn’t the same. And worst of all, there is this guy, Santiago, who appears from . . . where? What lengths will Joy go to-and whom will she become-to attract his attention? In short poems that perfectly capture the crazy feelings of adolescence and first crushes, award-winning author Nikki Grimes has crafted a delightful, often hilarious, hearttugging story.

Purchase / Learn More

26 .) Practical Modern Basketball by John Wooden

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• The World Of Hoops

Coach Wooden, more than anything else, is a teacher. Basketball just happens to be his subject. This book outlines a pattern, a theory, a strategy, and a course for how to develop as a basketball player and as a person. It organizes and dispenses the knowledge that Coach Wooden has accumulated over a lifetime in the game of basketball. It gives the reader an understanding of the delicate balance of the simple reality of the game and the incredibly demanding effort and dedication needed to master basketball. This timeless book will help everyone who is interested in improving their life and their basketball game. This book is so well thought out, well planned, well organized, and well written that it is perfectly applicable thirty-two years after its first publication. Reading it will make you feel like a member of the team.

Purchase / Learn More

25 .) Psycho Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz

Lists It Appears On:

• Elite Guard Training
• Optimum Basketball

Positive wisdom and helpful insights on how to be a successful person Happiness and success are habits. So are failure and misery. But negative habits can be changed–and Psycho-Cybernetics shows you how! This is your personal audio guide to the amazing power of Psycho-Cybernetics–a program based on one of the world s classic self-help books, a multimillion-copy bestseller proven effective by readers worldwide. Presenting positive attitude as a means for change, Maltz s teaching has the ring of common sense. Psycho-Cybernetics-is the original text that defined the mind/body connection the concept that paved the way for most of today s personal empowerment programs. Turn crises into creative opportunities, dehypnotize yourself from false beliefs, and celebrate new freedom from fear and guilt. Testimonials and stories are interspersed with advice from Maltz, as well as techniques for relaxation and visualization. Dr. Maxwell Maltz teaches you his techniques of emotional surgery –the path to a dynamic new self-image and self-esteem and to achieving the success and happiness you deserve!

Purchase / Learn More

24 .) Relentless by From Good to Great to Unstoppable

Lists It Appears On:

• Optimum Basketball
• The World Of Hoops

For more than two decades, legendary trainer Tim Grover has taken the greats—Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and dozens more—and made them greater. Now, for the first time in paperback, he reveals what it takes to get those results, showing you how to be relentless and achieve whatever you desire. Fore more than two decades, legendary trainer Tim Grover has taken the greats—Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and dozens more—and made them greater. Now, for the first time ever, he reveals what it takes to get those results, showing you how to be relentless and achieve whatever you desire. Direct, blunt, and brutally honest, Grover breaks down what it takes to be unstoppable: you keep going when everyone else is giving up, you thrive under pressure, you never let your emotions make you weak. In “The Relentless 13,” he details the essential traits shared by the most intense competitors and achievers in sports, business, and all walks of life. Relentless shows you how to trust your instincts and get in the Zone; how to control and adapt to any situation; how to find your opponent’s weakness and attack. Grover gives you the same advice he gives his world-class clients—“don’t think”—and shows you that anything is possible. Packed with previously untold stories and unparalleled insight into the psyches of the most successful and accomplished athletes of our time, Relentless shows you how even the best get better . . . and how you can too.

Purchase / Learn More

23 .) Sacred Hoops by Phil Jackson

Lists It Appears On:

• Elite Guard Training
• The World Of Hoops

With a new introduction, Phil Jackson’s modern classic of motivation, teamwork, and Zen insight is updated for a whole new readership “Not only is there more to life than basketball, there’s a lot more to basketball than basketball.” –Phil Jackson Eleven years ago, when Phil Jackson first wrote these words in Sacred Hoops, he was the triumphant head coach of the Chicago Bulls, known for his Zen approach to the game. He hadnt yet moved to the Los Angeles Lakers, with whom he would bring his total to an astounding nine NBA titles. In his thought-provoking memoir, he revealed how he directs his players to act with a clear mind–not thinking, just doing; to respect the enemy and be aggressive without anger or violence; to live in the moment and stay calmly focused in the midst of chaos; to put the “me” in service of the “we”–all lessons applicable to any person’s life, not just a professional basketball player’s. This inspiring book went on to sell more than 400,000 copies. In his new introduction, Jackson explains how the concepts in Sacred Hoops are relevant to the issues facing his current team–and today’s reader.

Purchase / Learn More

22 .) Sasquatch in the Paint

Lists It Appears On:

• Read Brightly
• Slj

Theo Rollins is starting eighth grade six inches taller, and his new height is making everyone expect more from him. Coach Mandrake wants to transform him from invisible science geek into star basketball player, even though Theo has little experience with the game. When Theo tries to hone his skills by playing pick-up ball in the park, kids are eager to include him at first; then they quickly see that he has no control of his gangly body. A girl named Rain even dubs him “Sasquatch.” To make matters worse, all his time spent on training is starting to hurt his science club’s chances of winning the “Aca-lympics,” the school’s trivia competition. Just when Theo thinks he can’t handle any more pressure, he’s accused of stealing. Can he find the real thief before he is kicked off the basketball and science club teams, or will his attempt at sleuthing be yet another air ball? Loosely based on challenges that NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar faced while growing up, Sasquatch in the Paint is a slam dunk for fans of basketball action and absorbing mysteries. Praise for Sasquatch in the Paint “A crisp tale of sports, smarts and what it means to be your own man or woman-or boy or girl, if you happen to be 13…It seems to be an embarrassment of riches to be, say, one of the best basketball players in history and also write tightly entertaining novels for kids, but there you have Abdul-Jabbar. Fearless, caring sports fiction.” –Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “A humorous novel that delivers a heartwarming story about growing up, facing down bullies, and learning what true friendship is all about.” –School Library Journal “The depth and realism Abdul-Jabbar and Obstfeld bring to the novel keep it from being a run-of-the-mill sports story…Readers will feel a kinship with Theo as he maneuvers through tough but realistic choices.” –Publishers Weekly “This smart, sensitive novel is full of simple truths that extend far beyond the court.” –Booklist “This funny and inspirational novel based on Kareem’s sudden growth spurt as a middle-schooler captures the excitement of playing basketball and the anxiety of growing up–while growing tall, which I know a little something about. Kids will learn about the wonderful world of basketball and the importance of friendship and following your dreams.” –Magic Johnson

Purchase / Learn More

21 .) Sports Illustrated Kids Slam Dunk!: Top 10 Lists of Everything in Basketball

Lists It Appears On:

• Brain Power Boy
• Pragmatic Mom

Fly high with pro basketball’s biggest stars in SLAM DUNK: TOP 10 LISTS OF EVERYTHING IN BASKETBALL. Presented in the format of Top 10 lists, this book is a comprehensive yet fun look at the best aspects of the ABA, NBA and WNBA. From the most dominant big men to the quirkiest uniforms, SI Kids ranks a variety of topics from the hardwood. Readers are guaranteed to love the big, exciting action photos from the Sports Illustrated collection and the insider knowledge of SI Kids. Filled with trivia and information, this dynamic book will be the definitive kids book on pro basketball.

Purchase / Learn More

20 .) Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective by Pat Summitt

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• The World Of Hoops

Pat Summitt, the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history and bestselling author of Reach for the Summitt and Raise The Roof, tells for the first time her remarkable story of victory and resilience as well as facing down her greatest challenge: early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Pat Summitt was only 21 when she became head coach of the Tennessee Vols women’s basketball team. For 38 years, she has broken records, winning more games than any NCAA team in basketball history. She has coached an undefeated season, co-captained the first women’s Olympic team, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and has been named Sports Illustrated ‘Sportswoman of the Year’. She owes her coaching success to her personal struggles and triumphs. She learned to be tough from her strict, demanding father. Motherhood taught her to balance that rigidity with communication and kindness. She is a role model for the many women she’s coached; 74 of her players have become coaches. Pat’s life took a shocking turn in 2011, when she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, an irreversible brain condition that affects 5 million Americans. Despite her devastating diagnosis, she led the Vols to win their sixteenth SEC championship in March 2012. Pat continues to be a fighter, facing this new challenge the way she’s faced every other–with hard work, perseverance, and a sense of humor.

Purchase / Learn More

19 .) The Hoops Whisperer: On the Court and Inside the Heads of Basketball’s Best Players by Idan Ravin

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• The World Of Hoops

Basketball’s most unlikely?and most sought-after?training guru offers an inside look at his career, his methods, and the all-star players whose games he’s helped transform. ? Where do the best basketball players in the world turn when they want to improve their game? Whom does a future NBA Hall of Famer thank at his press conference when he’s named Rookie of the Year? Who is it that Sports Illustrated , The Wall Street Journal , and Men’s Journal all call the “Hoops Whisperer” because of his ability to engage, inspire, and challenge the players he trains? The answer to all of these questions is Idan Ravin. Ravin never played or coached in college or the pros, yet a virtual NBA All-Star team relies on him to better their game and reach their full potential.?A soft-spoken former lawyer, Ravin has become professional basketball’s hottest trainer. In The Hoops Whisperer , Ravin shares the fascinating story of how he transformed a passion for the game into working with iconic basketball stars such as Chris Paul, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Dwight Howard, and many more. ?He offers a rare unguarded glimpse inside the lives of these great athletes, drawn from his intimate connection with them that is the basis of his success.? Showcasing his unorthodox drills and improvisational techniques in action, Ravin reveals how faith, effort, dedication, and passion can make a player into a superstar?and anyone into a success. Combined with his own inspiring journey, Ravin’s insights make ?The Hoops Whisperer a must-read for anyone who loves the game. ? ?

Purchase / Learn More

18 .) The Legends Club by John Feinstein

Lists It Appears On:

• Signature Reads
• The World Of Hoops

The riveting inside story of college basketball’s fiercest rivalry among three coaching legends—University of North Carolina’s Dean Smith, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski, and North Carolina State’s Jim Valvano—by the king of college basketball writers, #1 New York Times bestseller John Feinstein On March 18, 1980, the immensely powerful Duke basketball program announced the hiring of its new coach—the man who would resurrect the team, restore glory to Duke, and defeat the legendary Dean Smith, who coached down the road at UNC Chapel Hill and had turned UNC into a powerhouse. Duke’s new man was Mike Krzyzewski. The only problem was, no one knew who Krzyzewski was, he had a so-so record in his short time as head coach of Army, and worst of all, no one could even pronounce his name. The announcement caused head scratches . . . if not immediate calls for his head . . . and on this note his career at Duke began. The table was set nine days later, when on March 27, 1980, Jim Valvano was hired by North Carolina State to be their new head coach. The hiring didn’t raise as many eyebrows, but with the exuberant Valvano on board, two new coaches were now in place to challenge Dean Smith—and the most sensational competitive decade in history was about to unfold. In the skillful hands of John Feinstein, this extraordinary rivalry—and the men behind it—come to life in a unique, intimate way. The Legends Club is a sports book that captures an era in American sport and culture, documenting the inside view of a decade of absolutely incredible competition. Feinstein pulls back the curtain on the recruiting wars, the intensely personal competition that wasn’t always friendly, the enormous pressure and national stakes, and the battle for the very soul of college basketball allegiance in a hot-bed area. Getting to the roots of the NCAA goliath that is followed religiously by millions of fans today, Feinstein uses his unprecedented access to all three coaches to paint a portrait only he could conjure. The Legends Club is destined to be one of Feinstein’s biggest bestsellers.

Purchase / Learn More

17 .) The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball’s Most Improbable Dynasty by Adrian Wojnarowski

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• Triple Threat Online

In a city mired in endless decay, where the youth suffer through all the horrors of urban blight, hope comes in a most unassuming form: a tiny brick schoolhouse run by two Felician nuns where a singular basketball genius takes teenagers from the mean streets of Jersey City and turns them into champions on the hardcourt. Coach Bob Hurley had been working miracles at St. Anthony High School for over thirty years, winning state and national championships and offering his players rescue from their surroundings through college scholarships, when he met his most dysfunctional team yet.

Purchase / Learn More

16 .) Toughness: Developing True Strength On and Off the Court by Jay Bilas

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• The World Of Hoops

The popular ESPN basketball analyst and former Duke player looks at the true meaning of toughness. If anyone knows tough, it’s Jay Bilas. A four-year starter at Duke, he learned an incomparable work ethic under coach Mike Krzyzewski, battling against the greatest college players in the game. After playing professionally overseas for several years, he returned to Duke, where he served as Krzyzewski’s assistant coach for three seasons, during which the Blue Devils won back-to-back titles. A graduate of Duke Law School, he has since become one of basketball’s most recognizable faces through his insightful, intelligent work on ESPN’s SportsCenter and College GameDay. Through his ups and downs, on and off the court, Jay learned the true meaning of toughness from coaches, teammates, and colleagues. Now, he discusses this misunderstood—yet vital—attribute and how it contributes to winning in sports and in life. Featuring never-before-heard stories and personal philosophies on toughness from top players and coaches including Coach K, Bob Knight, Grant Hill, Mia Hamm, Jon Gruden, Tom Izzo, Bill Self, Curtis Strange, and many others—Bilas redefines what it takes to succeed.

Purchase / Learn More

15 .) True Legend by Mike Lupica

Lists It Appears On:

• Read Brightly
• Triple Threat Online

Mike Lupica makes his return to the basketball court! There’s a reason teammates call him “True.” Because for basketball phenom Drew Robinson, there is nothing more true than his talent on the court. It’s the kind that comes along once in a generation and is loaded with perks–and with problems. Before long, True buys in to his own hype, much to the chagrin of his mother, who wants to keep her boy’s head grounded–and suddenly trouble has a way of finding him. That is, until a washed-up former playground legend steps back onto the court and takes True under his wing. In this age of street agents promising riches to kids barely out of elementary school and college programs being taken down because of recruiting violations, True Legend is a resonant and inspiring novel in the Lupica tradition.

Purchase / Learn More

14 .) Wooden: A Coach’s Life by Seth Davis

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• The World Of Hoops

A provocative and revelatory new biography of the legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, by one of America’s top college basketball writers No college basketball coach has ever dominated the sport like John Wooden. His UCLA teams reached unprecedented heights in the 1960s and ’70s capped by a run of ten NCAA championships in twelve seasons and an eighty-eight-game winning streak, records that stand to this day. Wooden also became a renowned motivational speaker and writer, revered for his “Pyramid of Success.” Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports has written the definitive biography of Wooden, an unflinching portrait that draws on archival research and more than two hundred interviews with players, opponents, coaches, and even Wooden himself. Davis shows how hard Wooden strove for success, from his All-American playing days at Purdue through his early years as a high school and college coach to the glory days at UCLA, only to discover that reaching new heights brought new burdens and frustrations. Davis also reveals how at the pinnacle of his career Wooden found himself on questionable ground with alumni, referees, assistants, and even some of his players. His was a life not only of lessons taught, but also of lessons learned. Woven into the story as well are the players who powered Wooden’s championship teams – Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Walt Hazzard, and others – many of whom speak frankly about their coach. The portrait that emerges from Davis’s remarkable biography is of a man in full, whose life story still resonates today. http://us.macmillan.com/wooden/SethDavis

Purchase / Learn More

13 .) Heaven is a Playground by Rick Telander

Lists It Appears On:

• Mens Journal
• The World Of Hoops
• Triple Threat Online

In 1974 Rick Telander intended to spend a few days doing a magazine piece on the court wizards of Brooklyn’s Foster Park. He ended up staying the entire summer, becoming part of the players’ lives, and eventually the coach of a loose aggregation known as the Subway Stars. Telander tells of everything he saw: the on-court flash, the off-court jargon, the late-night graffiti raids, the tireless efforts of one promoter-hustler-benefactor to get these kids a chance at a college education. He lets the kids speak for themselves, revealing their grand dreams and ambitions, but he never flinches from showing us how far their dreams are from reality. The roots of today’s inner-city basketball can be traced to the world Telander presents in Heaven Is a Playground, the first book of its kind.

Purchase / Learn More

12 .) Life is Not an Accident by Jay Williams

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• Signature Reads
• The World Of Hoops

This big-hearted memoir by the most promising professional basketball player of his generation details his rise to NBA stardom, the terrible accident that ended his career and plunged him into a life-altering depression, and how he ultimately found his way out of the darkness Ten years ago, Jay Williams was at the beginning of a brilliant professional basketball career. The Chicago Bulls’ top draft pick—and the second pick up of the entire draft—he had the great Michael Jordan’s locker. Then he ran his high-performance motorcycle head-on into a light pole, severely damaging himself and ending his career. In this intense, hard-hitting, and deeply profound memoir, Williams talks about the accident that transformed him. Sometimes, the memories are so fresh, he feels like he’ll never escape the past. Most days, he finds a quiet peace as a commentator on ESPN and as an entrepreneur who can only look back in astonishment at his younger self—a kid who had it all, thought he was invincible, and lost everything . . . only to gain new wisdom. Williams also shares behind the scenes details of life as an All-American. He tells it straight about the scandalous recruiting process and his decision to return to Duke and Coach K—a man who taught him about accountability—to finish his education. He also speaks out about corruption—among coaches, administrators, players, and alumni—and about his time in the NBA, introducing us to a dark underworld culture in the pros: the gambling, drugs, and sex in every city, with players on every team.

Purchase / Learn More

11 .) Slam Dunk by Sharon Robinson

Lists It Appears On:

• Pragmatic Mom
• Pragmatic Mom
• We Are Teachers

The sequel to Safe at Home and a high-interest sports novel from the author of Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America. In this lively sequel to Safe At Home, Elijah “Jumper” Breeze is settling into his new home in Harlem-though it hasn’t been easy since his father died and his mother moved them from the suburbs. Still, he made friends at summer camp and he’s eager to see them at his new middle school. Jumper is looking forward to hitting the books and hitting the court for some serious b-ball. Then his best friend, Kelvin, talks him into running for student council and suddenly life gets a lot more complicated!

Purchase / Learn More

10 .) The Final Four by Paul Volponi

Lists It Appears On:

• Pragmatic Mom
• Slj
• We Are Teachers

Four players with one thing in common: the will to win Malcolm wants to get to the NBA ASAP. Roko wants to be the pride of his native Croatia. Crispin wants the girl of his dreams. M.J. just wants a chance. March Madness is in full swing, and there are only four teams left in the NCAA basketball championship. The heavily favored Michigan Spartans and the underdog Troy Trojans meet in the first game in the semifinals, and it’s there that the fates of Malcolm, Roko, Crispin, and M.J. intertwine. As the last moments tick down on the game clock, you’ll learn how each player went from being a kid who loved to shoot hoops to a powerful force in one of the most important games of the year. Which team will leave the Superdome victorious? In the end it will come down to which players have the most skill, the most drive, and the most heart.

Purchase / Learn More

9 .) The Jordan Rules by Sam Smith

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• Sports Grid
• The World Of Hoops

A SUPER TEAM…A SUPERSTAR…A SUPER EGO The most gifted athlete ever to play the game, Michael Jordan rose to heights no basketball player had ever reached before. What drove Michael Jordan? The pursuit of team success…or of his own personal glory? The pursuit of excellence…or of his next multimillion-dollar endorsement? The flight of the man they call Air Jordan had been rocked by controversy. In The Jordan Rules, which chronicles the Chicago Bulls’ first championship season, Sam Smith takes the #1 Bull by the horns to reveal the team behind the man…and the man behind the Madison Avenue smile. Here is the inside game, both on and off the court, including: Jordan’s power struggles with management, from verbal attacks on the general manager to tantrums against his coach Behind-the-scenes feuds, as Jordan punches a teammate in practice and refuses to pass the ball in the crucial minutes of big games The players who competed with His Airness for Air Time — Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, Bill Cartwright — telling their sides of the story A penetrating look at coach Phil Jackson, the former flower child who blossomed into one of the NBA’s top motivators and who finally found a way to coax “Michael and the Jordanaires” to the their first title A provocative eyewitness account, The Jordan Rules delivers all the nonstop excitement, tension, and thrills of a championship season — and an intense, fascinating portrait of the incomparable Michael Jordan.

Purchase / Learn More

8 .) When the Game was Ours by Larry Bird & Magic Johnson

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• Book Riot
• The World Of Hoops

From the moment these two players took the court on opposing sides, they engaged in a fierce physical and psychological battle. Their uncommonly competitive relationship came to symbolize the most compelling rivalry in the NBA. These were the basketball epics of the 1980s–Celtics vs Lakers, East vs West, physical vs finesse, Old School vs Showtime, even white vs black. Each pushed the other to greatness–together Bird and Johnson collected 8 NBA Championships, and 6 MVP awards and helped save the floundering NBA at its most critical time.

Purchase / Learn More

7 .) Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association by Terry Pluto

Lists It Appears On:

• Denver Stiffs
• Grandstand Central
• Sports Grid
• The World Of Hoops

The American Basketball Association (1967-1976) gave birth to Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Bob Costas, the Indiana Pacers, the San Antonio Spurs, the Slam Dunk contest, flashy moves, and the three-point basket. During its nine seasons, the ABA generated scorn and laughter–and made a lasting impact on how the game is played. 24 pages of photographs.

Purchase / Learn More

6 .) Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich by Mark Kriegel

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• Mens Journal
• The World Of Hoops
• Triple Threat Online

“Pistol” is more than the biography of a ballplayer. It’s the stuff of classic novels: the story of a boy transformed by his father’s dream — and the cost of that dream. Even as Pete Maravich became Pistol Pete — a basketball icon for baby boomers — all the Maraviches paid a price. Now acclaimed author Mark Kriegel has brilliantly captured the saga of an American family: its rise, its apparent ruin, and, finally, its redemption. Almost four decades have passed since Maravich entered the national consciousness as basketball’s boy wizard. No one had ever played the game like the kid with the floppy socks and shaggy hair. And all these years later, no one else ever has. The idea of Pistol Pete continues to resonate with young people today just as powerfully as it did with their fathers. In averaging 44.2 points a game at Louisiana State University, he established records that will never be broken. But even more enduring than the numbers was the sense of ecstasy and artistry with which he played. With the ball in his hands, Maravich had a singular power to inspire awe, inflict embarrassment, or even tell a joke. But he wasn’t merely a mesmerizing showman. He was basketball’s answer to Elvis, a white Southerner who sold Middle America on a black man’s game. Like Elvis, he paid a terrible price, becoming a prisoner of his own fame. Set largely in the South, Kriegel’s “Pistol,” a tale of obsession and basketball, fathers and sons, merges several archetypal characters. Maravich was a child prodigy, a prodigal son, his father’s ransom in a Faustian bargain, and a Great White Hope. But he was also a creature of contradictions: always the outsider but a virtuoso in a team sport, anexuberant showman who wouldn’t look you in the eye, a vegetarian boozer, an athlete who lived like a rock star, a suicidal genius saved by Jesus Christ. A renowned biographer — “People” magazine called him “a master” — Kriegel renders his subject with a style that is, by turns, heartbreaking, lyrical, and electric. The narrative begins in 1929, the year a missionary gave Pete’s father a basketball. Press Maravich had been a neglected child trapped in a hellish industrial town, but the game enabled him to blossom. It also caused him to confuse basketball with salvation. The intensity of Press’s obsession initiates a journey across three generations of Maraviches. Pistol Pete, a ballplayer unlike any other, was a product of his father’s vanity and vision. But that dream continues to exact a price on Pete’s own sons. Now in their twenties — and fatherless for most of their lives — they have waged their own struggles with the game and its ghosts. “Pistol” is an unforgettable biography. By telling one family’s history, Kriegel has traced the history of the game and a large slice of the American narrative.

Purchase / Learn More

5 .) Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream

Lists It Appears On:

• Mommy Evolution
• Pragmatic Mom
• Read Brightly
• Pragmatic Mom

Michael Jordan. The mere mention of the name conjures up visions of basketball played at its absolute best. But as a child, Michael almost gave up on his hoop dreams, all because he feared he’d never grow tall enough to play the game that would one day make him famous. That’s when his mother and father stepped in and shared the invaluable lesson of what really goes into the making of a champion — patience, determination, and hard work. Deloris Jordan, mother of the basketball phenomenon, teams up with his sister Roslyn to tell this heartwarming and inspirational story that only the members of the Jordan family could tell. It’s a tale about faith and hope and how any family working together can help a child make his or her dreams come true.

Purchase / Learn More

4 .) The Last Shot by Darcy Frey

Lists It Appears On:

• Basketball HQ
• Denver Stiffs
• Grandstand Central
• Whats My Vertical

It ought to be just a game, but basketball on the playgrounds of Coney Island is much more than that — for many young men it represents their only hope of escape from a life of crime, poverty, and despair. In The Last Shot, Darcy Frey chronicles the aspirations of four of the neighborhood’s most promising players. What they have going for them is athletic talent, grace, and years of dedication. But working against them are woefully inadequate schooling, family circumstances that are often desperate, and the slick, brutal world of college athletic recruitment. Incisively and compassionately written, The Last Shot introduces us to unforgettable characters and takes us into their world with an intimacy seldom seen in contemporary journalism. The result is a startling and poignant expose of inner-city life and the big business of college basketball.

Purchase / Learn More

3 .) The Book of Basketball by Bill Simmons

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot
• Denver Stiffs
• Sports Grid
• The World Of Hoops
• Whats My Vertical

There is only one writer on the planet who possesses enough basketball knowledge and passion to write the definitive book on the NBA.* Bill Simmons, the from-the-womb hoops addict known to millions as ESPN.com’s Sports Guy, is that writer. And The Book of Basketball is that book. Nowhere in the roundball universe will you find another single volume that covers as much in such depth as this wildly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining look at the past, present, and future of pro basketball. From the age-old question of who actually won the rivalry between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain to the one about which team was truly the best of all time, Simmons opens–and then closes, once and for all–every major pro basketball debate. Then he takes it further by completely reevaluating not only how NBA Hall of Fame inductees should be chosen but how the institution must be reshaped from the ground up, the result being the Pyramid: Simmons’s one-of-a-kind, five-level shrine to the ninety-six greatest players in the history of pro basketball. And ultimately he takes fans to the heart of it all, as he uses a conversation with one NBA great to uncover that coveted thing: The Secret of Basketball. Comprehensive, authoritative, controversial, hilarious, and impossible to put down (even for Celtic-haters), The Book of Basketball offers every hardwood fan a courtside seat beside the game’s finest, funniest, and fiercest chronicler. * More to the point, he’s the only one crazy enough to try to pull it off.

Purchase / Learn More

2 .) The Breaks of the Game by David Halberstam

Lists It Appears On:

• Denver Stiffs
• Grandstand Central
• Sports Grid
• The World Of Hoops
• Triple Threat Online

“Among the best books ever written on professional basketball.” The Philadelphia Inquirer David Halberstam, best-selling author of THE FIFTIES and THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST, turns his keen reporter’s eye on the sport of basketball — the players and the coaches, the long road trips, what happens on court, in front of television cameras, and off-court, where no eyes have followed — until now.

Purchase / Learn More

1 .) The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Lists It Appears On:

• Book Riot
• Pragmatic Mom
• Read Brightly
• Slj
• We Are Teachers

“With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering,” announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he’s got mad beats, too, that tell his family’s story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood. Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story’s heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.

Purchase / Learn More

The 100+ Additional Best Books About Or Featuring Basketball

18 Best Basketball Book Sources/Lists