Who throws down the best dunks? What are the most important qualities of the best slam dunkers? Size? Strength? Agility? From stars of the past like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to the greatest players today like LeBron James, Ken Rappoport lists the ten best basketball players to have ever rattled a rim. Other players included in this title are Vince Carter, Darryl Dawkins, Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bill Russell, and Dominique Wilkins.
Author Peter Bjarkman has chosen ten basketball players whom he thinks best define the slam dunk style. Anecdotes, career statistics, and quotations of such greats as Charles Barkley, Darryl Dawkins, Clyde Drexler, Julius Erving, Darrell Griffith, Connie Hawkins, Michael Jordan, Shawn Kemp, Scottie Pippen, and Spud Webb all bring the excitement of the court to the reader.
There are not many things more exciting and entertaining than watching your favorite player charge toward the net, leap into the air, slam dunk, and score! The top NBA pros in this book, including Daryl Dawkins, Shawn Kemp, and Vince Carter, are known for their athletic power and crowd-stopping performances. Full-page photos of the players in action accompany each spread. Readers will learn the details of these NBA players backgrounds and such details as positions, teams, and best slam dunk moments. Easy-to-read language by veteran sports author David Aretha will keep readers turning the pages.
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.
Jordan or Malone? Bird or Kobe? Who are the greatest scorers in the history of basketball? Fans always love to compare modern players to the great players of the past. From the slam dunk to the three-point shot, author Barry Wilner gives us the ten greatest players (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Elvin Hayes, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone, Reggie Miller, Oscar Robertson, Jerry West) who ever lit up a basketball scoreboard.
A look at the top ten dunkers in the National Basketball Association, along with some of their predecessors, includes photographs, details about each player, and quotations about their personal style of dunking.
By embarking on a quest to dunk a basketball at the age of 34, journalist Asher Price investigates the limits of human potential—starting with his own. We all like to think that (with a little practice) we could run faster, learn another language, or whip up a perfect soufflé. But few of us ever put those hopes to the test. In Year of the Dunk, Asher Price does, and he seizes on basketball’s slam dunk--a feat richly freighted with distinctly American themes of culture, race, and upward mobility--as a gauge to determine his own hidden potential. The showmanship of the dunk mesmerized Asher as a child, but even with his height (six foot plus) and impressive wingspan, he never pushed himself to try it. Now, approaching middle age, Asher decides to spend a year remaking his body and testing his mind as he wonders, like most adults, what untapped talent he still possesses. In this humorous and often poignant journey into the pleasures and perils of exertion, Asher introduces us to a memorable cast of characters who help him understand the complexity of the human body and the individual drama at the heart of sports. Along the way he dives into the history and science of one of sports' most exuberant acts, examining everything from our genetic predisposition towards jumping to the cultural role of the slam dunk. The year-long effort forces him to ask some fundamental questions about human ability and the degree to which we can actually improve ourselves, even with great determination.
A new addition to the Chunky Book series, a sturdy, vividly illustrated board book gives toddlers their first introduction to the fast-paced sport of basketball.
"A sure-fire hit with readers who love sports." -Booklist A fast-paced, heartfelt story for basketball fans that proves being a good teammate remains the most important quality in basketball--and in life, from New York Times bestselling author Mike Lupica. Wes' father always told him that there was only one ball in basketball. That you had to know when to take it yourself and when to give it up, that finding the right balance was key. So at every practice and game, Wes tries his best to be a good basketball player and, above all, a good teammate. As the season kicks off, Wes finds that not everyone on his team has the same idea. All-star player and the Hawks' point guard, Danilo "Dinero" Rey seems determined to hold the spotlight and the ball, even if it means costing his team the game. If the Hawks are going to make it to the playoffs, Wes will need an assist--even if it means his most important one comes off the court. In No Slam Dunk, #1 New York Times bestseller Mike Lupica demonstrates once again that there is no children's sports novelist today who can match his ability to weave a story of vivid sports action and heartfelt emotion. A touching story about teamwork and family, of selfishness and generosity, No Slam Dunk shows that even in the face of adversity, giving your best is the surest way to victory. Praise for Mike Lupica: -"Lupica is the greatest sports writer for middle school readers."--VOYA on True Legend -"Lupica will win a Pulitzer for his sportswriting one day (he should have won it already)."--The New York Times on Heat
