Jason Kidd: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Point Guards
Jason Kidd: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Point Guards

Author: Clayton Geoffreys

Publisher:

Published: 2016-06-21

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 9781534843851

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Learn the Inspiring Story of the Legendary Point Guard Jason Kidd! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! In Jason Kidd: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Point Guards, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's premier point guards, Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd was easily one of the best point guards to play the game of basketball throughout the 2000s. With an extraordinary ability to pass the ball at precisely the right time, Kidd was like Steve Nash in that he made the teammates around him fundamentally better. Being an NBA Champion (with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011), ten-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA First Team member, Jason Kidd's passing and rebounding abilities made him feared by opponents. He corralled triple-doubles years before flashy athletic point guards like Russell Westbrook began doing so. Read on to learn Kidd's inspiring story. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Childhood and Early Life High School Career College Career Jason Kidd's NBA Career Getting Drafted Rookie Campaign First All-Star Season Tensions in Dallas, the Trade to Phoenix, Fresh Start with the Suns, First Playoff Appearance First Full Season with Phoenix, Igniting the Scorching Suns Shortened Season, Another First Round Exit Breaking Through to the Second Round Final Season in Phoenix The Trade to New Jersey, Reaching the NBA Finals Second Consecutive Finals Appearance Teaming Up with Vince Carter Leading a Trio with Carter and Jefferson Final Stretch in New Jersey, the Return to Dallas Contending as a Mav First and Only NBA Championship Final Season with Dallas Stop at the Big Apple, and Retirement Coaching Career USA National Basketball Team Career Personal Life Impact, Legacy, and Future An excerpt from the book: As far as ranking the top point guards in the history of the NBA is concerned, no list would be truly complete without Jason Kidd somewhere on top of all of the other playmakers the league has seen. Why not? He is an NBA champion, a 10-time All-Star, a six-time All-NBA Team member, a nine-time All-Defensive Team selection, a two-time Olympic Gold medalist, and a five-time assist leader. On paper alone you would see how valuable of a point guard Kidd was in his 19-year NBA stint. However, there were also times when he was not truly befitting of being called a historically elite point guard because of all the criticisms and shortcomings he has had as a player. He came into the league with virtually no jump shot and a very minimal offensive repertoire. He has had struggles with coaches and even, for a while, lacked the work ethic needed to be elite. And, for most of his career, he was never the leader of a championship team. But, for all those criticisms and downsides to his game, Jason Kidd was always a leader that made his other teammates great by doing everything else on the court. He always made it a point to find teammates because scoring the ball himself was never really his top priority. His ability to rebound the ball at a high level for a point guard made sure he could trigger fast-break opportunities at a quick rate. And his ability to defend every guard position earned him the reputation of being an elite defender in his prime. Kidd's vast array of skills made him a ray of sunshine to a franchise because he always lifted his teammates up in every way possible. Tags: Jason Kidd Bio, Jason Kidd basketball, New Jersey Nets basketball, Steve Nash, Vince Carter, Kevin Garnett, Gary Payton, Ray Allen, Jason Terry, Dirk Nowitzki, Richard Jefferson

The Book of Basketball
The Book of Basketball

Author: Bill Simmons

Publisher: ESPN

Published: 2010-12-07

Total Pages: 754

ISBN-13: 0345520106

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#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The wildly opinionated, thoroughly entertaining, and arguably definitive book on the past, present, and future of the NBA—from the founder of The Ringer and host of The Bill Simmons Podcast “Enough provocative arguments to fuel barstool arguments far into the future.”—The Wall Street Journal In The Book of Basketball, Bill Simmons opens—and then closes, once and for all—every major NBA debate, 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. 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.

Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant

Author: Clayton Geoffreys

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2014-12

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 9781505318098

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"In Kevin Durant: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Small Forwards, you'll read about the inspirational story of basketball's star, Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant started his career as the face of the Thunder dynasty upon entering the league in 2007 as the second overall pick. After a nine-year stint with the Thunder, Durant opted to sign with the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 offseason. Reflecting back on Durant's time in OKC, the team came a long way, becoming one of the perennial Western Conference contenders during his tenure. Playing alongside athletic and talented players like Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, and Reggie Jackson, Durant had the opportunity to lead the Thunder to several deep playoff runs behind the helm of Coach Scott Brooks. While he did not win a championship with the Thunder, Durant accomplished quite a bit with Russell Westbrook in his nine years in OKC. Time will tell what he will be able to accomplish with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green in Golden State. In this book, you’ll learn about Kevin’s incredible story to the NBA. Kevin Durant has had an incredible basketball career playing in the National Basketball Association. In this short book, we will learn about how Kevin became the star MVP small forward that he is today. Starting first with his childhood and early life, we'll learn about Kevin Durant prior to entering the NBA, his time in the NBA, along with his impact on Oklahoma City"--P. [4] of cover.

Damian Lillard: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Star Guards
Damian Lillard: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Star Guards

Author: Clayton Geoffreys

Publisher:

Published: 2019-07-25

Total Pages: 118

ISBN-13: 9781082472985

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Learn the Inspiring Story of the Portland Trailblazers' Star Guard, Damian Lillard! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! One of many riveting reads in the Basketball Biography Books series by Clayton Geoffreys. In Damian Lillard: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Star Guards, you will learn the incredible story of one of basketball's greatest guards, Damian Lillard. Since being drafted by the Portland Trailblazers with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Lillard has dazzled for Portland fans. In his time thus far in the league, Lillard has consistently been one of the best point guards in the entire league, and helped Portland contend every year in the difficult Western Conference. In the 2019 off-season, the franchise awarded him for his hard work, with a four-year extension effective in the 2021-2022 season. Pick up this unauthorized biography today to learn the inspiring story behind superstar guard, Damian Lillard! This is the perfect basketball book for kids or basketball fans of all ages. Here is a preview of what is inside this Damian Lillard biography book: Childhood and Early Life High School Career College Career Getting Drafted, Winning the Rookie of the Year Award, All-Star Seasons Franchise Player, the Snub Years, The Elite Damian Lillard Damian Lillard's Personal Life Lillard's Impact on Basketball Legacy and Future An excerpt from this Damian Lillard biography: Historically and no matter what era you look at, the point guard has always been arguably the most critical position out on the court when you talk about the NBA brand of basketball. Some of the greatest championship teams in the history of the league had a point guard that allowed them to perform well on both ends of the floor. The '50s and '60s Boston Celtics had the services of Bob Cousy, who is regarded as the pioneer at the point guard position because of his excellent ball-handling skills and passing ability. The '60s and early '70s era of the Los Angeles Lakers thrived under the hot shooting and playmaking of Jerry West, who was so good that he was used as the model for the NBA's logo. The 1971 championship team of the Milwaukee Bucks had Oscar Robertson, who was putting up triple-doubles at a rapid pace a few years back when he was still in his prime handling the point and passing the ball to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. And who could ever disregard Magic Johnson, the man responsible for the Los Angeles Lakers dynasty of the '80s and the playmaker regarded as the best to play at his position? The '90s and 2000s also saw their share of terrific point guards who may not have won titles because of the dominance of teams like the Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls, Shaq, and the Big Three San Antonio Spurs that revolved around Tim Duncan. Such all-time great point guards are Penny Hardaway, Kevin Johnson, Jason Kidd, and Steve Nash. Did you like this short excerpt? Then scroll up and buy a copy of this Damian Lillard biography today. Tags: Damian Lillard biography, Portland Trailblazers basketball, Damian Lillard book, books for basketball fans

Attucks!
Attucks!

Author: Phillip Hoose

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Published: 2018-10-23

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 0374306125

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Attucks! is true story of the all-black high school basketball team that broke the color barrier in segregated 1950s Indiana, masterfully told by National Book Award winner Phil Hoose. By winning the state high school basketball championship in 1955, ten teens from an Indianapolis school meant to be the centerpiece of racially segregated education in the state shattered the myth of their inferiority. Their brilliant coach had fashioned an unbeatable team from a group of boys born in the South and raised in poverty. Anchored by the astonishing Oscar Robertson, a future college and NBA star, the Crispus Attucks Tigers went down in history as the first state champions from Indianapolis and the first all-black team in U.S. history to win a racially open championship tournament—an integration they had forced with their on-court prowess. From native Hoosier and award-winning author Phillip Hoose comes this true story of a team up against impossible odds, making a difference when it mattered most. An ALA Notable Book of 2019 NYPL Best Book for Teens of 2018 A 2018 Booklist Youth Editors' Choice A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Book of 2018 A Kirkus Reviews Best YA Nonfiction Book of 2018 An ALSC Notable Children's Book of 2019 A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Nominee This title has Common Core connections.

Steve Nash: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Point Guards
Steve Nash: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Point Guards

Author: Clayton Geoffreys

Publisher:

Published: 2014-03-29

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13: 9781497491854

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Learn the Incredible Story of Basketball Superstar Steve Nash!Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device!In Steve Nash: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Point Guards, you'll read about the inspirational story of one of basketball's premier point guards Steve Nash. Steve Nash has had a storied career playing in the National Basketball Association. In this short book, we will learn about how Steve became the storied point guard that he is today. Starting first with his childhood and early life, we'll learn about Steve prior to entering the NBA, his time in the NBA, along with his impact on the communities of the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers. Regardless of how Steve Nash's career will end, he will go down in the NBA records as one of the greatest point guards to ever play the game among the other greats like John Stockton, Jason Kidd, and Gary Payton. Former commissioner David Stern perhaps said it best at the award ceremony for Steve's Most Valuable Player award when he stated, "You demonstrate the best of our sport, a passion for our game, a commitment to your community, and an engagement with our fans. What more could we say?"Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Childhood and Early Life Fondness Towards Soccer The High School and College Years High School Dominance in British Columbia Next Stop on The Road to Greatness: Santa Clara Junior Year: A Breakthrough Season Senior Year: On Top of the College Basketball World The Rookie Campaign Trade to the Dallas Mavericks The Return to Phoenix Leaving Phoenix for Los Angeles Steve Nash's Personal Life Philanthropic Efforts Soccer's Influence on Steve Steve Nash's Legacy An excerpt from the book:With all of his accomplishments during the course of his long career, which has spanned from the mid 1990's to present day 2014, one thing that Steve Nash never did was play outside his means. Nash has never been one to talk trash since he did his talking through his play on the court. Perhaps the biggest thing that Steve Nash will leave to Phoenix, basketball and the world as a whole is first and foremost that he was one of the classiest players in the NBA and a true example of good sportsmanship. Secondly, Steve Nash is a perfect example of hard work and perseverance. Nash decided as a child that he was going to play in the NBA. Yet, nobody gave him a chance since he was just a skinny kid from British Columbia. The big colleges did not want him. Despite the numerous rejections he received from some of the notable basketball schools in the nation, he persevered and continued to play. When he arrived at Santa Clara he continued to work hard and made it to the NBA, never giving up on his goal. Steve Nash's life and career is a true testament to what hard work and dedication can do for you.When all is said and done, Steve Nash will be remembered as not just a great basketball player, but as a man as well. Steve Nash is a dedicated philanthropist who gave and continues to give back to his city. He will be remembered for the way he beat all of the odds not only by making it to the NBA, but for how hard he continued to work once he made it to the NBA. Steve Nash will be remembered not only for setting records, but also for the way he played to earn those records. Steve Nash is one of the greats and he will be forever remembered as such. Looking over the course of his career, there is no doubt that Steve Nash will be a first ballot Hall of Famer.

Steve Nash
Steve Nash

Author: Dave Feschuk

Publisher: Random House Canada

Published: 2013-10-29

Total Pages: 193

ISBN-13: 0307359492

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From the authors of the national bestseller Leafs AbomiNation, the story behind the success of one of Canada's greatest athletes, NBA all-star Steve Nash. A small man in a big man's game, a white man in a game dominated by black men, a rare Canadian in a US-based industry, the unlikely rise of Steve Nash, from Victoria high school to Hollywood hardwood, is compelling proof that great things await those who refuse to accept less of themselves. Nearly 2 decades into a Hall of Fame-bound career, Nash is a 2-time MVP, an 8-time all-star and wearer of one of the league's top-selling jerseys. And no one but Nash saw it coming. With the combination of wit and comprehensive reporting that distinguished Leafs AbomiNation, Feschuk and Grange tell the extraordinary story of drive, confidence, commitment and learning to do without that post-game beer that turned a Canadian's improbable NBA dream into the stuff of sporting legend. They convincingly bust a host of oft-repeated myths. That Nash is an inferior athlete is one: he might be one of the best athletes in the world, when factors like coordination, vision, balance and work ethic are given weight alongside size, speed and power. The myth that he overcame his upbringing in Canada to make it in the NBA is another: Growing up in Victoria, B.C., in the mid-1980s was more likely why he turned into the player he did. Revealing, playful and a perfect read for any sports fan, Steve Nash is the inspiring story of the consummate athletic outlier.

Giannis Antetokounmpo: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Superstars
Giannis Antetokounmpo: the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Superstars

Author: Clayton Geoffreys

Publisher:

Published: 2017-06-20

Total Pages: 126

ISBN-13: 9781548260699

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Learn the Inspiring Story of the Milwaukee Bucks' Rising Star Giannis Antetokounmpo! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device. This holiday season, if you buy the print edition as a gift, you can keep the Kindle edition for yourself! In Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Superstars, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's most promising young stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Often nicknamed "The Greek Freak", Giannis Antetokounmpo has quickly emerged as one of the most unique players in the league today. His incredible wingspan and athleticism have made him a dominant presence on both the offensive and defensive ends of the basketball court. He is easily one of the most difficult defensive assignments for opposing teams due to his ability to not only start as a forward, but also as a guard. In just four years, Giannis Antetokounmpo has gone from averaging 6.8 points per game to 22.9 points per game. He has also quickly become the face of the Milwaukee Bucks franchise. There is still much to be unveiled in the career of Giannis Antetokounmpo. At the time of this writing, Giannis is just twenty-two years old. In this book, we'll learn more about The Greek Freak's journey into the NBA, his impact on the game, and his growing legacy as one of the best up and coming stars to make his presence known in basketball. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Childhood and Early Life NBA Career: Getting Drafted, Rookie Season, Working Under Jason Kidd, The Largest Point Guard in the League, and Becoming an All-Star International Career Personal Life Giannis Antetokounmpo's Player Profile and Impact on Basketball Antetokounmpo's Future An excerpt from the book: The NBA loves those rags to riches stories about how a person that lived and grew up through poverty worked his way up to get to the league, not only as an ordinary player, but a superstar ranking among the best in the world. These are the kinds of stories that makes the people adore the player and what he has been through to get to the top. More importantly, these are the stories that inspire young children to work just as hard, if not harder, than their idol to reach the success they aspire to achieve. Several of the greatest players in league history have had to endure poverty before they found success in the NBA. Allen Iverson barely had a home growing up before he starred at Georgetown. In his MVP speech back in 2014, Kevin Durant said that his mother raised him and his brother alone while the family moved from roof to roof. The same was true for LeBron James, who was raised alone by his mother when she was still 16 years old. These players not only earned millions as NBA superstars, but have also become fan favorites because of how they worked themselves up to get to the league. Likewise, the NBA has also found a liking for players that were seemingly genetically engineered to dominate in the game of basketball. These are the types of players that, at a glance, were naturally destined to be a great because of the physical tools they possess. If the NBA was a horse race, these kinds of players are your thoroughbreds judging by how much more physically gifted and talented they are than the rest of the competition. Tags: Giannis Antetokounmpo Bio, Giannis Antetokounmpo basketball, Milwaukee Bucks basketball, Jason Kidd, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Lowry, Jabari Parker, Matthew Dellavedova, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Thon Maker

Don't Know Tough
Don't Know Tough

Author: Eli Cranor

Publisher: Soho Press

Published: 2022-03-22

Total Pages: 337

ISBN-13: 1641293462

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WINNER OF THE EDGAR AWARD WINNER OF THE PETER LOVESEY FIRST CRIME NOVEL CONTEST Friday Night Lights gone dark with Southern Gothic; Eli Cranor delivers a powerful noir that will appeal to fans of Wiley Cash and Megan Abbott. In Denton, Arkansas, the fate of the high school football team rests on the shoulders of Billy Lowe, a volatile but talented running back. Billy comes from an extremely troubled home: a trailer park where he is terrorized by his mother’s abusive boyfriend. Billy takes out his anger on the field, but when his savagery crosses a line, he faces suspension. Without Billy Lowe, the Denton Pirates can kiss their playoff bid goodbye. But the head coach, Trent Powers, who just moved from California with his wife and two children for this job, has more than just his paycheck riding on Billy’s bad behavior. As a born-again Christian, Trent feels a divine calling to save Billy—save him from his circumstances, and save his soul. Then Billy’s abuser is found murdered in the Lowe family trailer, and all evidence points toward Billy. Now nothing can stop an explosive chain of violence that could tear the whole town apart on the eve of the playoffs.

Tall Men, Short Shorts
Tall Men, Short Shorts

Author: Leigh Montville

Publisher: Anchor

Published: 2022-05-24

Total Pages: 353

ISBN-13: 0525567313

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This "part memoir, part sports story" (Wall Street Journal) from the New York Times bestselling author of The Big Bam chronicles the clash of NBA titans over seven riveting games—Celtics versus Lakers, Russell versus Chamberlain—covered by one young reporter. Welcome to the 1969 NBA Finals! They don’t set up any better than this. The greatest basketball player of all time - Bill Russell - and his juggernaut Boston Celtics, winners of ten (ten!) of the previous twelve NBA championships, squeak through one more playoff run and land in the Finals again. Russell’s opponent? The fearsome 7’1” next-generation superstar, Wilt Chamberlain, recently traded to the LA Lakers to form the league’s first dream team. Bill Russell and John Havlicek versus Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. The 1969 Celtics are at the end of their dominance. The 1969 Lakers are unstoppable. Add to the mix one newly minted reporter. Covering the epic series is a wide-eyed young sports writer named Leigh Montville. Years before becoming an award-winning legend himself at The Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated, twenty-four-year-old Montville is ordered by his editor at the Globe to get on a plane to L.A. (first time!) to write about his luminous heroes, the biggest of big men. What follows is a raucous, colorful, joyous account of one of the greatest seven-game series in NBA history. Set against a backdrop of the late sixties, Montville’s reporting and recollections transport readers to a singular time – with rampant racial tension on the streets and on the court, with the emergence of a still relatively small league on its way to becoming a billion-dollar industry, and to an era when newspaper journalism and the written word served as the crucial lifeline between sports and sports fans. And there was basketball – seven breathtaking, see-saw games, highlight-reel moments from an unprecedented cast of future Hall of Famers (including player-coach Russell as the first-ever black head coach in the NBA), coast-to-coast travels and the clack-clack-clack of typewriter keys racing against tight deadlines. Tall Men, Short Shorts is a masterpiece of sports journalism with a charming touch of personal memoir. Leigh Montville has crafted his most entertaining book yet, richly enshrining luminous players and moments in a unique American time.