Boxed out of the NBA
Boxed out of the NBA

Author: Syl Sobel

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2021-04-14

Total Pages: 241

ISBN-13: 1538145030

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The Eastern Professional Basketball League (1946-78) was fast and physical, often played in tiny, smoke-filled gyms across the northeast and featuring the best players who just couldn’t make the NBA—many because of unofficial quotas on Black players, some because of scandals, and others because they weren’t quite good enough in the years when the NBA had less than 100 players. In Boxed out of the NBA: Remembering the Eastern Professional Basketball League, Syl Sobel and Jay Rosenstein tell the fascinating story of a league that was a pro basketball institution for over 30 years, showcasing top players from around the country. During the early years of professional basketball, the Eastern League was the next-best professional league in the world after the NBA. It was home to big-name players such as Sherman White, Jack Molinas, and Bill Spivey, who were implicated in college gambling scandals in the 1950s and were barred from the NBA, and top Black players such as Hal “King” Lear, Julius McCoy, and Wally Choice, who could not make the NBA into the early 1960s due to unwritten team quotas on African-American players. Featuring interviews with some 40 former Eastern League coaches, referees, fans, and players—including Syracuse University coach Jim Boeheim, former Temple University coach John Chaney, former Detroit Pistons player and coach Ray Scott, former NBA coach and ESPN analyst Hubie Brown, and former NBA player and coach Bob Weiss—this book provides an intimate, first-hand account of small-town professional basketball at its best.

The NBA Story
The NBA Story

Author: Rich Mintzer

Publisher: HarperCollins Leadership

Published: 2020-05-26

Total Pages: 193

ISBN-13: 1400218861

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The NBA Story will help you understand and adopt the competitive strategies, workplace culture, and daily business practices that enabled the exciting basketball league to become the powerhouse it is today. Today’s NBA is filled with larger-than-life figures, like LeBron James, James Harden and Stephen Curry, who effortlessly dominate the courts. But it wasn’t always so glamorous. The multi-billion-dollar league has grown from humble roots into a sports powerhouse that is loved around the world due to savvy digital marketing and a global focus. Thanks to the popularity of individual players and team rivalries, the NBA has survived league mergers and financial crisis. Teams have earned the respect of millions of loyal fans who are dedicated to the success of every organization within the league. Through the story of the NBA, you’ll learn: How to keep a dream alive when it seems like no one wants to see it come true. How a company can find their way out of a financial crisis. How presentation is the secret sauce to the success of any show. And how a company can build a loyal fanbase who will do anything to keep them on top. Discover how this iconic organization got it right and created a successful long-lasting business, and how you can do the same for your company.

The History of the NBA
The History of the NBA

Author: James Bren

Publisher: Gregory Groves

Published:

Total Pages: 137

ISBN-13:

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Dive into the exhilarating world of basketball with "The History of the NBA" by James Bren, a comprehensive journey through the evolution, triumphs, and iconic moments that have shaped the National Basketball Association into the global sporting phenomenon it is today. From the humble beginnings in 1946 to the dazzling spectacles witnessed in modern arenas, Bren meticulously chronicles the NBA's remarkable trajectory. Uncover the stories of legendary players, coaches, and teams who have left an indelible mark on the sport, from the electrifying rivalries of Magic Johnson and Larry Bird to the dominance of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Bren's narrative skillfully navigates through pivotal decades, exploring the NBA's expansion, international influence, and the emergence of basketball as more than just a game but a cultural force. Immerse yourself in the intricacies of the league's key moments, including the Dream Team's dominance in the '92 Olympics, the Lakers' and Spurs' dynasties, and the epic showdowns in the NBA Finals. "The History of the NBA" is more than a chronological account; it's a celebration of the human spirit, resilience, and the universal language of basketball that resonates with fans worldwide. Whether you're a die-hard enthusiast or a newcomer eager to explore the roots of a beloved sport, Bren's storytelling captivates and educates, providing a front-row seat to the drama, triumphs, and cultural impact of the NBA. This meticulously researched and passionately written book transcends sports literature, offering readers an immersive experience into the heart of the NBA. Bren's exploration is a testament to the enduring legacy of the league, making "The History of the NBA" an essential read for anyone who cherishes the magic that happens when a basketball meets the hardwood. Experience the slam dunks, buzzer-beaters, and the relentless pursuit of greatness in "The History of the NBA" — a captivating narrative that captures the spirit of basketball and the extraordinary journey of the National Basketball Association.

After Artest
After Artest

Author: David J. Leonard

Publisher: SUNY Press

Published: 2012-05-01

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 143844205X

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Explores how the NBA moved to govern black players and the expression of blackness after the “Palace Brawl” of 2004.

Sprawlball
Sprawlball

Author: Kirk Patrick Goldsberry

Publisher: Mariner Books

Published: 2019

Total Pages: 257

ISBN-13: 1328767515

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"Beautifully illustrated and sharply written, SprawlBall is both a celebration and a critique of the 3-point shot. If you want to understand how the modern NBA came to be, you'll need to read this book." --Nate Silver, editor of fivethirtyeight.com From the leading expert in the exploding field of basketball analytics, a stunning infographic decoding of the modern NBA: who shoots where, and how. The field of basketball analytics has leaped to overdrive thanks to Kirk Goldsberry, whose visual maps of players, teams, and positions have helped teams understand who really is the most valuable player at any position. SprawlBall combines stunning visuals, in-depth analysis, fun, behind-the-scenes stories and gee-whiz facts to chart a modern revolution. From the introduction of the 3-point line to today, the game has changed drastically . . . Now, players like Steph Curry and Draymond Green are leading the charge. In chapters like "The Geography of the NBA," "The Interior Minister (Lebron James)," "The Evolution of Steph Curry," and "The Investor (James Harden)," Goldsberry explains why today's on-court product--with its emphasis on shooting, passing, and spacing--has never been prettier or more democratic. And it's never been more popular. For fans of Bill Simmons and FreeDarko, SprawlBall is a bold new vision of the game, presenting an innovative, cutting-edge look at the sport based on the latest research, as well as a visual and infographic feast for fans.

The NBA in Black and White
The NBA in Black and White

Author: Ray Scott

Publisher: Seven Stories Press

Published: 2022-06-28

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 1644211998

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A memoir of hard lessons learned in the racially segregated and sometimes outright racist NBA of the early ‘60s by celebrated NBA player and the first Black Coach of the Year, Ray Scott. Introduced by Earl "the Pearl" Monroe. “There’s a basic insecurity with Black guys my size,” Scott writes. “We can’t hide and everybody turns to stare when we walk down the street. … Whites believe that their culture is superior to African-American culture. ... We don’t accept many of [their] answers, but we have to live with them.” Ray Scott was part of the early wave of Black NBA players like Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who literally changed how the game of professional basketball is played—leading to the tremendously popular financial blockbuster the NBA is today. Scott was a celebrated 6’9” forward/center after being chosen by the Detroit Pistons as the #4 pick of the 1961 NBA draft, and then again after he was named head coach of the Pistons in October 1972, winning Coach of the Year in the spring of 1974—the first black man ever to capture that honor. Scott’s is a story of quiet persistence, hard work, and, most of all, respect. He credits the mentorship of NBA player and coach Earl Lloyd, and talks about fellow Philly native Wilt Chamberlain and friends Muhammad Ali and Aretha Franklin, among many others. Ray has lived through one of the most turbulent times in our nation’s history, especially the time of assassinations of so many Black leaders at the end of the 1960s. Through it all, his voice remains quiet and measured, transcending all the sorrows with his steadiness and positive attitude. This is his story, told in collaboration with the great basketball writer, former college player and CBA coach Charley Rosen.

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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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The NBA according to The Sports Guy—now updated with fresh takes on LeBron, the Celtics, and more! Foreword by Malcom Gladwell • “The work of a true fan . . . it might just represent the next phase of sports commentary.”—The Atlantic Bill Simmons, the wildly opinionated and thoroughly entertaining basketball addict known to millions as ESPN’s The Sports Guy, has written the definitive book on the past, present, and future of the NBA. 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.

NBA 75
NBA 75

Author: Dave Zarum

Publisher:

Published: 2020

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780228102908

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"A 75-year history of the National Basketball Association."--

Built to Lose
Built to Lose

Author: Jake Fischer

Publisher: Triumph Books

Published: 2021-05-04

Total Pages: 295

ISBN-13: 1641256079

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"From front offices to college campuses, Jake Fischer takes you on an engrossing tour of the NBA in its latest golden age, when some of the most captivating teams won by losing." —Lee Jenkins, former Sports Illustrated NBA writer An insider account of modern NBA team-building, based on hundreds of exclusive interviews A single transcendent talent?can change the fortunes of an NBA franchise. One only has to recall the frenzy surrounding recent top pick Zion Williamson to recognize teams' willingness to lose games now for the sake of winning championships later. It's a story that weaves its way behind closed doors to reveal intricate machinations normally hidden from public view. Backed by extensive reporting and hundreds of interviews with top players, coaches, and executives, Jake Fischer chronicles secret pre-draft workouts, feuding between player agents and executives, surprising trade negotiations, interpersonal conflicts, organizational power struggles, and infamous public relations fiascos, making for a fascinating look at the NBA. The definitive account of the NBA's tanking era, when teams raced to the bottom in the hope of eventually winning a championship.