The first game was played at the maple leaf gardens, where the toronto huskies hosted the new york knickerbockers. Kriegel outlines his familys history, starting with when press, petes father, was first introduced to basketball. The undisputed guide to pro basketball history bethlehem shoals. The book provides hours of funny reading, mixing pure facts of nba history with littleknown anecdotes, rare angled views and popculture references that. In 2019, simmons launched a sequel podcast series, book of basketball 2. Every buzzerbeater in nba history added to basketballreference. High quality coffee table book, brought it for a 12 year old who aspires to the nba. An enjoyable read if you love the nba, its history, and players. Ossie schectman made the first basket in nba history. National basketball association championsindividual nba scoring championsnba most valuable playersnba lifetime leadersnba individual records, gamebasketball is one of the few sports whose exact origin is definitely known. Basketball design advanced again, with its traditional four panels changed to eight, and the nba adopted this as its official ball design in 1970. The ten best basketball books of all time truehoop espn. Relive the magic of the portland trail blazers historic 197677 season and nba championship through the eyes of awardwinning photographers and writers of the oregonianoregonlive.
This is a psychiatric look into a fatherson relationship that was both. Huntington, wv, 11659 38 lemar northington trigg county vs. But you can learn a hell of a lot about basketball from this book. Of the books that are generally regarded as some of basketballs, this is the only one about the portland blazers, so it makes the list. Tip off to buzzer beater, nothing thrills the basketball buff like cheering on their home team from the stands. But doing both so a teenager and performing well at that age is. From 1946 through 1949, when the league was known as the basketball association of america baa, the playoffs were a threestage tournament where the two semifinal winners played each other in the finals. A winner of the 1994 macmillansabr award for best baseball research, he is a longtime resident of lafayette, indiana. Nbastuffer provides nba basketball analytics content. Point shaving is arguably the biggest cardinal sin in the basketball world.
Books include your teams biggest games and greatest players and offer optional personalization on the cover. Take the excitement home with this personalized book that retraces the history of your favorite nba team through beautifully reprinted coverage from the new york times archives. Find books about basketball history and famous basketball. Nat clifton is 1st black player to get contract in 1978. Jul 31, 2019 nba is born on this day in 1949, after a damaging threeyear battle to win both players and fans, the rival basketball association of america baa and national basketball league nbl merge to. We offer a great selection of books on basketball history, the best teams and matches, album of famous basketball moments, the best choice for every basketball collector. The story is about working hard, never giving up and become a sports legend that cares about people. Bill simmons explores the modern nba in book of basketball 2. The first games of basketball were played with a soccer ball it was easier to dribble than a football and two peach baskets. Basketball laces went by the wayside in 1948, with the new molded construction and a smaller circumference of 30 inches becoming official in 1949. As of the early 21st century, the nba is the most significant professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity, salaries, talent, and level of competition.
National basketball association nba, professional basketball league formed in the united states in 1949 by the merger of two rival organizations, the national basketball league and the basketball association of america. S and canada founded the basketball association of america, or nba. Blocked by james has become one of the most famous announcer calls in nba history, and its. Traces the history of professional basketball, explains its rules, and provides statistics for all nba. James naismith, a physical education professor and instructor at the international young mens christian association training school ymca today, springfield college in springfield, massachusetts, usa, was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day.
It doesnt need a coach you dont coach basketball, you just play it. The official nba basketball encyclopedia 3rd edition. On the nbas biggest stage, these plays and more stand out as the alltime best. Our basketball team history book enables you retrace the history of any n. Published in 2009, it covers the history of the national basketball association nba. The book is a historical document of a league in the midst of an identity crisis. The league adopted the name national basketball association in 1949 after merging with the rival national basketball league nbl. Days and nights inside the new nba by armen keteyian. Heck, even playing in the nba is an insanely impressive feat in its own right. To help you pass the time during the extended stoppage of the nba season, thescores basketball news editors and feature writers compiled their favorite books about hoops.
All finals have been played in a bestofseven format, and are contested between the winners of the eastern conference and the western conference formerly divisions before 1970, except in 1950 when the eastern division champion faced the winner between the western and. May 20, 2018 a kids book about the cleveland cavaliers basketball star lebron james. This list is not comprehensive, especially pre1993, but contains as many rules changes and clarifications as could be compiled from past releases, rulebooks and other sources. Naismith introduced the game when he was an instructor at the young mens christian association training school now springfield college in springfield, massachusetts. The math behind the perfect bounce pass, the buzzerbeating bank shot, and so much more. The first professional basketball league was formed in 1898.
Nba guard james harden, known as the beard, has emerged as one of the top players in pro basketball since his trade to the houston rockets in 2012. In just three years, milwaukee went from struggling expansion team to nba champions behind kareem abduljabbar. The biographical history of basketball is a lively, fun and informative look into how the game has moved from a loosely organized, dimlylit past to status as perhaps the worlds most popular sport by one of the nations most prolific and knowledgable sports writers, peter bjarkman. The 88 best basketball books recommended by zach harper, bill gurley. My buddy hopper was pushing me to accompany him for an impromptu vegas trip, knowing that i wouldn.
Basketball nba fans interested in the history of the nba and great players through the years have to own this book. History of basketball in early december 1891, canadian american dr. Nba is born on this day in 1949, after a damaging threeyear battle to win both players and fans, the rival basketball association of america baa and national basketball league nbl merge to. Simmons is funny and also obnoxious at times, sure. While there has been several cases of it involving college basketball, the nba has had relatively few incidents of point shaving, that is not to say that the scandals have not affected the nba, quite the contrary. Additionally, the book is also a history and analysis of the nba up to that point, unflinchingly looking at both its successes and shortcomings. Many basketball experts have labeled bob hurley as the best high school basketball coaches ever to coach the game. The national basketball association nba finals is the championship series for the nba and the conclusion of its postseason. He invented basketball for fun, as a simple physical education activity not something to be serious about. A kids book about the cleveland cavaliers basketball star lebron james. Basketball was invented in december 1891 by the canadian clergyman, educator, and physician james naismith.
He understands what makes the nba and the game of basketball so great. The best basketball books to get you through the offseason. May 05, 2009 an enjoyable read if you love the nba, its history, and players. The official nba basketball encyclopedia 3rd edition national basketball association. The story is about working hard, never giving up and become a sports legend that. At 701 pages, this book seems to just scratch the surface of what bs discussed. Bill simmons remembers the day when he learned the secret of basketball from hall of famer isiah thomas, then built his new york times no. Nov 05, 2019 bill simmons remembers the day when he learned the secret of basketball from hall of famer isiah thomas, then built his new york times no. Yes, its true, i havent even read the damn thing yet. The short, wild life of the american basketball association. Bjarkman is one of the countrys leading historians and author of more than 30 books on the history of basketball and baseball. On the nba s biggest stage, these plays and more stand out as the alltime best.
The baskets were nailed to the gymnasiums balcony at the height of ten feet to be. This new hardbound, coffeetable book follows the astounding rise of a then 7yearold franchise under. The nba according to the sports guy is the second book by former espn columnist bill simmons. Nevertheless, he became basketball coach at kansas in 1900, and lost his first game 488 to nebraska. While there has been several cases of it involving college basketball, the nba has had relatively few incidents of point shaving, that is not to say that the. Learn more about the history and organization of the nba in this article. Nba rules history changesclarifications implemented prior to season, except where noted note. The winning team of the series receives the larry obrien championship trophy. Apr 03, 2020 dominating nbalevel basketball isnt easy. I created this youtube channel to help serve as an interactive guide for the book of basketball by bill simmons. National basketball association 20162017 inside cover for nba official rulebook 20162017 102016.
New york times custom basketball book new york times. Teammatesopponents finder now on basketballreference. The definitive history of the aba, a worthy rival of the nba from 1967 to 76, written by terry pluto in 1990. Initiating new fans into the world of knicks lore or reminding diehard supporters why this new york nba team is always their number one, this entertaining resource distills 66 years of team history into the top 100 things to know. As of the early 21st century, the nba is the most significant professional basketball league in the world in terms of popularity. The basketball book by editors of sports illustrated. Take the excitement home with this personalized book that retraces the history of your favorite nba team through beautifully reprinted coverage from.
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