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Description
Award-winning creator Kadir Nelson delivers a beautifully illustrated history of basketball and its key players in this companion to his bestselling We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball.
Basketball has evolved by leaps and bounds since its origin over 125 years ago, but what remains is the passion of the players, the heat of competition, and supreme strategy and athleticism on the court. In this visual tour de force, celebrated artist Kadir Nelson weds his love for the game with showstopping paintings that bring its heart-pounding history to life.
The sage voice of an elder player narrates the journey from the early days of the slow game of "basket ball" to today's dazzlingly athletic and fast-paced sport. Engaging profiles of revolutionary players—including Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry—are featured, along with notable quotes from major figures of the game. With each breathtaking page turn, fans young and old will learn the gripping story of the all-American game and meet its iconic, indomitable heroes.
Publication date
January 13, 2026
Genre
Non-fiction
Page Count
112
ISBN-13
9780316209403
Publisher
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Series
American Sports Histories
BISAC categories
JNF018010 - Juvenile Nonfiction | People & Places | United States - African-American JNF025210 - Juvenile Nonfiction | History | United States/20th Century JNF054020 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Sports & Recreation | Basketball JNF021000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Games & Activities | General
Library of Congress categories
History Basketball African American basketball players National Basketball Association
BookPage
Starred Review
Like the sport it so wonderfully chronicles, Basket Ball soars, capturing readers' hearts with understanding and respect for this great American game.
Hornbook
"Nelson brings his sports fandom and verve--and always impressive oil paintings--to the history of basketball. Every spread of this dazzlingly illustrated work includes dynamic imagery."
ALA/Booklist
Starred Review
"Nelson's detailed but very readable text is illustrated with a series of riveting oil paintings of key figures, including outstanding players in the sport's history. This handsome, informative volume belongs in many sports collections."
Kirkus
Starred Review
"Jam-packed with well-researched historical context, each chapter is compelling.... A backboard-shattering slam dunk."
School Library Journal
Starred Review
Gr 4-7--Nelson delivers this compelling companion to the acclaimed We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball, chronicling the history of basketball. Narrated by the sage voice of an elder player, the book traces the sport from its slow beginnings in 1891 to the dazzling, fast-paced game it is today. The book's strengths are in its visual impact; it features an oversized format and nearly 60 showstopping color paintings that bring the heart-pounding history to life. Nelson addresses the sport's diversity and segregation, noting that the game was initially confined to white-owned gymnasiums and not open to African Americans. It highlights Edwin B. Henderson, the father of Black basketball, who introduced the game in segregated Washington, DC, in 1904. The narrative covers iconic Black teams like the Harlem Globetrotters--who named themselves to signal they were a Black team to avoid trouble in remote towns--and the Harlem Rens, who won the 1939 World's Championship but were ignored by major papers due to their race. Profiles of revolutionary players, such as Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, and Michael Jordan are provided, along with notable quotes. VERDICT With its strong focus on the historical context of segregation and its comprehensive coverage of the sport's indomitable heroes, this is an excellent addition for collections, appealing strongly to sports enthusiasts and readers seeking diverse historical perspectives.--Richard Winters
Copyright 2026 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Kadir Nelson is the Caldecott Medal-winning artist of The Undefeated and a two-time Caldecott Honor recipient for Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford and Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine. Among his numerous other awards are three NAACP Image Awards, two Coretta Scott King Author Awards, and three Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards. His work has appeared in many publications including The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and The New Yorker, and his paintings are in the private and public permanent collections of notable institutions across the country, including the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C.; The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown; the International Olympic Committee, and the US House of Representatives. Kadir lives with his wife is Southern California, and invites you to visit him at www.kadirnelson.com.
