Avid basketball fans are lucky to have numerous places to read about their favorite sport online, with sites like ESPN.com and NBA.com offering the latest standings, stats, and news, and a variety of blogs providing thoughtful analyses of great games and hot teams.
Over the years, basketball has occasioned quite a few extraordinary books which capture the history and nuance of the game in ways that even casual fans can can appreciate. Here are three of the best:
The Jordan Rules
Taking its name from a tactic once used to defend Michael Jordan, The Jordan Rules recounts a season Jordan's early career. In the book, author Sam Smith shows how Jordan and his team came together to win their very first championship.
Seven Seconds or Less
Jack McCallum's book chronicles a season spent with a team that changed the course of pro basketball: the 2005-2006 Phoenix Suns. Led by MVP point guard Steve Nash, the Suns played fast and inspired other teams to imitate their high-scoring style.
The Art of A Beautiful Game
Rather than focusing on a single team for a single season, The Art of a Beautiful Game offers a tour through the sport by focusing on specific events common to basketball games — like a dunk, a rebound, or a blocked shot — and on players whose talents help make the sport a joy to watch.
Equal Housing Opportunity