Now that the 2010-2011 NBA season is in the record books, fans have a five month wait until their favorite players and teams hit the hardwood.
The dog days of summer can be as boring as they are hot. Therefore, for any of you hardcore basketball fans who are worried what to do with yourselves with no hoops action, look no farther than my basketball themed summer reading list.
The Jordan Rules
The Jordan Rules is a great read for any basketball fan, and it’s a must read for any Michael Jordan and/or Chicago Bulls fans.
The book chronicles the Chicago Bulls’ 1990-91 championship season.
Sam Smith does a phenomenal job detailing the personal and collective struggles of the Bulls as they attempt to win a championship, and the team’s effort to acclimate playing with Michael Jordan.
Anyone who thinks Jordan was a perfect teammate and player before the team started winning under Phil Jackson may have a different perspective after reading this book.
A Season on the Brink
Author John Feinstein chronicled an entire season with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers. After reading this book, I am convinced Knight is a combination of basketball genius and raging lunatic.
Halfway through the book, you must remind yourself it’s not fiction, despite some of the crazy, amusing things you are reading about Bob Knight.
Shaq Talks Back
With the recent retirement of Shaquille O’Neal, there is no better time to read his autobiography. The book was written following O’Neal’s first championship with the Los Angeles Lakers.
This one doesn’t quite have the hard hitting journalism as the other books on the list, but there are plenty of interesting facts about O’Neal’s life and career to keep the reader engaged.
A March to Madness: A View from the Floor in the ACC
John Feinstein spent an entire season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with some of the most prominent college basketball programs in the country.
The book focuses heavily on the coaches in the conference, giving readers a feel of the highs and lows of coaching college basketball.
The most interesting parts of the book, not surprisingly, center on Duke and North Carolina. Insightful looks at former North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith and Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski make this book a must read for college basketball junkies.
The Book of Basketball: The NBA According to the Sports Guy
Whether you love or hate Bill Simmons, his 700 page tome covering the NBA is one of the most informational books on basketball I have read. It’s a perfect combination of fact and opinion.
Even the most seasoned basketball fans will learn new things.
Whatever you do, don’t forget to read any of the footnotes. They are sometimes more entertaining than the actual content.
Joshua Sexton is a lifelong basketball fanatic, who watches as many games as possible. In addition, He has played and coached the game at the high school level. He has recently started writing about the game of basketball.
