“You have to know where you came from in order to know where you’re going.”
Cliche? Of course. But true? No doubt. The National Basketball Association just enjoyed one of its most successful seasons in recent memory. Not only were the die-hards clinging to every dribble, but the casual fan was more than intrigued as well. But alot had to transpire years ago for us to have that type of season. The NBA was a completely different place long before “Can you believe LeBron left the Cavs?” and “Did you see DeShawn Stevenson’s new tattoo?” became relevant topics. To know the history of the League and understand how we even got to this point is a story unto itself.
Our boys over at FreeDarko scribed 223 pages worth of journalistic heaven entitled The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History because they know and appreciate the proud tradition of the League. They were nice enough to send us a copy that I went through. In this book, FreeDarko takes a concise and extremely thorough look at basketball from its birth up to now, and it is an absolute must-have if you really consider yourself a serious basketball head. Not a stone is left unturned.
Why did James Naismith event the game? Were there basketball leagues before the NBA? We know Jackie Robinson’s relevance in baseball, but who was the first black player in the NBA? Ever heard of Maurice Stokes? Do you know where the dunk and 3-point 
contests originated? Did the advent of the Collective Bargaining Agreement save the League? Did the NBA almost fold in the late 70s because it was considered “too black”? How much of a threat was the ABA?
That’s just the tip of the iceberg. FreeDarko speaks the language of basketball in this book in a way that connects with any fan of the League, regardless of age. Do yourself a favor: bring your appreciation of the NBA full circle with this book. You may never look at the Association the same way again, and that’s a good thing.
If you’re looking for your everyday, predictable basketball talk, then you’ve come to the wrong place, because Kevin Burke of The Kevin Burke Project brings provocative, thought provoking content about basketball as only he can. Kevin also hosts The Hoop Doctors weekly podcast show, which you can subscribe to for free on iTunes. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Facebook
