The Best Players, Games, and Teams in Basketball (Legends #3)

Gr 4-7—This latest from ESPN and former Washington Post journalist Bryant alternates among overviews of each decade since the 1960s, profiles of particular players or accounts of high-profile matchups, and themed "Top 10" lists. It lends itself well to browsing, though the format also leads to frequent repetition as the same facts surface in multiple accounts. Along the way, readers learn about the founding of the American Basketball Association and its merging with the National Basketball Association in 1976, as well as the changes to the game in the face of public image problems in the early 1980s, and many long-running rivalries, especially those between the Boston Celtics and the L.A. Lakers. A huge number of great names are highlighted, including Bill Russell of the Celtics, the Detroit Pistons' Isiah Thomas, and Philadelphia's Allen Iverson. An entire chapter is dedicated to the storied career of Michael Jordan, including his six national championships, an Olympic gold medal with the 1992 "Dream Team," and two years playing Minor League Baseball after the shooting death of his father. Bryant's history continues through LeBron James's triumphant championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Though plenty of historical narrative is provided, much of the text consists of statistics-heavy description of play; this book is definitely aimed at the basketball junkie.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"A trove of awesome athletic feats, game-changing stars of the past and present, and rich fodder for heated arguments."—Booklist

"Hoops fans will find a goldmine of information guaranteed to deepen their basketball knowledge and their understanding of the game."—VOYA

"An easy hook for serious sports fans."—School Library Journal

Praise for the LEGENDS series:

"With the LEGENDS series, Howard Bryant brings to life the best that sports has to offer—the heroes, the bitter rivalries, the moments that every sports-loving kid should know."—Mike Lupica, #1 bestselling author of Travel Team, Heat, and Fantasy League

* "A terrific gathering of heroic hacks and legendary near misses."—Kirkus Reviews on Legends: Baseball, STARRED REVIEW

"[T]his is clearly a book for sports lovers. A strong choice for rounding out sports collections, this work knocks it out of the park."—School Library Journal on Legends: Baseball