Basketball Biographies

 
 

Basketball Junkie: A Memoir by Chris Herren, Bill Reynolds Hardcover from St. Martin's Press Media Published: 2011- ISBN: 0312656726 I was dead for thirty seconds. That's what the cop in Fall River told me.  When the EMTs found me, there was a needle in my arm and a packet of heroin in the front seat. At basketball-crazy Durfee High School in Fall River, Massachusetts, junior guard Chris Herren carried his family's and the city's dreams on his skinny frame. His grandfather, father, and older brother had created their own sports legends in a declining city; he was the last, best hope for a career beyond the shuttered mills and factories. Herren was heavily recruited by major universities, chosen as a McDonald's All-American, featured in a Sports Illustrated cover story, and at just seventeen years old became the central figure in Fall River Dreams, an acclaimed book about the 1994 Durfee team's quest for the state championship. Leaving Fall River for college, Herren starred on Jerry Tarkanian's Fresno State Bulldogs team of talented misfits, which included future NBA players as well as future convicted felons. His gritty, tattooed, hip-hop persona drew the ire of rival fans and more national attention: Rolling Stone profiled him, 60 Minutes interviewed him, and the Denver Nuggets drafted him. When the Boston Celtics acquired his contract, he lived the dream of every Massachusetts kid--but off the court Herren was secretly crumbling, as his alcohol and drug use escalated and his life spiraled out of control. Twenty years later, Chris Herren was married to his high-school sweetheart, the father of three young children, and a heroin junkie. His basketball career was over, consumed by addictions; he had no job, no skills, and was a sadly familiar figure to those in Fall River who remembered him as a boy, now prowling the streets he once ruled, looking for a fix. One day, for a time he cannot remember, he would die. In his own words, Chris Herren tells how he nearly lost everything and everyone he loved, and how he found a way back to life. Powerful, honest, and dramatic, Basketball Junkie is a remarkable memoir, harrowing in its descent, and heartening in its return.

On the Court with...LeBron James (Matt Christopher Sports Biographies) by Matt Christopher, Stephanie Peters Paperback from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers ISBN: 0316016306 Outstanding. Unbelievable. Mindblowing. These are just a few of the words used to describe the talents of LeBron James. He was a sensation in his early days playing AAU ball in Akron, Ohio-and continued to amaze through his four years as a high school phenomenon. Now going into his fifth year as a star of the Cleveland Cavaliers, he is touted as the best player in basketball today. And for good reason: his dunks are monstrous, his no-look passes are things of beauty, his three-pointers seem effortless. But even more importantly, he is that one-of-a-kind superstar whose main goal isn't to rack up the stats-it's to make his team better.

Pete Maravich: The Authorized Biography of Pistol Pete by Wayne Federman, Marshall Terrill Paperback from Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. ISBN: 1589975359 The youngest person to be voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, "Pistol" Pete Maravich is recognized by the NBA as one of the all-time top 50 basketball players. More than 30 years after he left Louisiana State University, his NCAA scoring record still stands. He enjoyed fame, wealth, and short of winning an NBA championship, achieved every possible success. But there was a price. Pete brought a childlike exuberance to the court that often masked a tortured and confused adult. Things changed dramatically and permanently, however, when Pete found Christ. At last he experienced peace and a purpose that extended beyond the basketball court. He became an avid student of the Bible and a tireless evangelist. Tragically, at age 40, Pete Maravich died. This is the first authorized biography.

Jerry West: The Life and Legend of a Basketball Icon by Roland Lazenby Hardcover from ESPN Media Published: 2010- ISBN: 0345510836 When in 1969 the NBA sought an emblem for the league, one man was chosen above all as the icon of his sport: Jerry West. Silhouetted in white against a red-and-blue backdrop, West's signature gait and left-handed dribble are still the NBA logo, seen on merchandise around the world. In this marvelous book--the first biography of the basketball legend--award-winning reporter and author Roland Lazenby traces Jerry West's brilliant career from the coalfields near Cabin Creek, West Virginia, to the bare-knuckled pre-expansion era of the NBA, from the Lakers' Riley-Magic-Kareem Showtime era to Jackson-Kobe-Shaq teams of the early twenty-first century, and beyond. But fame was not all glory. Called "Mr. Clutch," West was an incomparable talent--flawless on defense, possessing unmatched court vision, and the perfect jumper, unstoppable when the game was on the line. Beloved and respected by fans and fellow players alike, West was the centerpiece of Lakers teams that starred such players as Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain, and he went on to nine NBA Finals. Yet in losing eight of those series, including six in a row to the detested Boston Celtics, West became as famous for his failures as for his triumphs. And that notoriety cast long shadows over West's life on and off the court. Yet as the author discovered through scores of exclusive interviews with West's teammates, colleagues, and family members, West channeled the frustration of his darkest moments into a driving force that propelled his years as an executive. And in this capacity, the success that often eluded West on the court has enabled him to reach out to successive generations of players to enrich and shape the sport in immeasurable ways. Though sometimes overshadowed by flashier peers on the court, Jerry West nevertheless stands out as the heart and soul of a league that, in fifty years, has metamorphosed from a regional sideshow into a global phenomenon. And in Jerry West, Roland Lazenby provides the ultimate story of a man who has done more to shape basketball than anyone on the planet.

How Lucky You Can Be: The Story of Coach Don Meyer by Buster Olney Hardcover from ESPN Media Published: 2010- ISBN: 034552411X In September 2008, Northern State University men's basketball coach Don Meyer stood on the brink of immortality. He was about to surpass the legendary Bobby Knight to become the all-time NCAA wins leader in men's basketball. Then, on a two-lane road in South Dakota, everything changed in an instant. In How Lucky You Can Be, acclaimed sports journalist Buster Olney tells the remarkable story of the successive tragedies that befell Coach Meyer but could not defeat him. Laid low by a horrific car accident that led to the amputation of his left leg below the knee, Coach Meyer had barely emerged from surgery when his doctors informed him that he also had terminal cancer. In the blink of an eye, this prototypical 24/7 workaholic coach--who arrived at the gym most mornings before 6 a.m.--found himself forced to reexamine his priorities at the age of sixty-three. A model of reserve, Coach Meyer had sacrificed much of his emotional life to his program. His wife, Carmen, felt disconnected because of his habitual reticence, while his three children--all now well into adulthood--had long had to compete with basketball for his attention. With sensitivity and skill, Olney shows how Coach Meyer mined his physical ordeal for the spiritual strength to transform his life. In the months that followed his accident and diagnosis, he reached out to family, friends, and former players in a way he had never been able to do before, making the most of this one last opportunity to tell those close to him how he felt about them--and in turn he received an outpouring of affirmation that confirmed how deeply he had affected others. Sustained throughout an often painful recovery by his love of basketball, he would return to the court once more--with a newfound appreciation for the game's place in his life. The inspirational story of a life renewed by unimaginable hardship, How Lucky You Can Be proves that it's never too late to start making changes--and reminds us that fortune can smile upon us even in our most trying hours.

On the Court with...Dwight Howard (Matt Christopher Sports Biographies) by Matt Christopher, Stephanie Peters Paperback from Little, Brown Books for Young Readers ISBN: 0316084808 Dwight Howard was a high school phenomenon who soared head and shoulders above all other players to become the number-one draft pick in 2004. Since joining the Orlando Magic, Howard has powered the team to its first NBA Finals in more than a decade. He's an absolute monster on the boards. And in 2009 won the coveted Defensive Player of the Year award-before he was even twenty-five years old! With plenty of seasons still ahead of him, there's no telling how high Dwight Howard will soar. If you want a close look at one of basketball's superstars, look no further! All the stats, quotes, and action are here, plus photos and career highlights. And because it comes from Matt Christopher, readers know they're getting the best sports writing on the shelf.

Yao: A Life in Two Worlds by Ric Bucher, Yao Ming Hardcover from Miramax Books

My Losing Season by PAT CONROY Paperback from Bantam

The John Wooden Pyramid of Success: The Authorized Biography, Philosophy and Ultimate Guide to Life, Leadership, Friendship and Love of the Greatest Coach in the Histoy of Sports by Neville L. Johnson Paperback from Cool Titles

When Nothing Else Matters : Michael Jordan's Last Comeback
by Michael Leahy
Listed under Michael Jordan

Chick: His Unpublished Memoirs and the Memories of Those Who Loved Him
by Steve Springer, Magic Johnson
Chick Hearn was the beloved broadcaster for the Los Angeles Lakers for four decades and 3,338 consecutive games; his previously unpublished memoirs are now available for the first time ever along with a anecdotes and stories from those who knew him (and the Lakers) best along with an audio CD of Chick's greatest calls. 
Listed under Los Angeles Lakers
 

Sacred Hoops : Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior by Phil Jackson Paperback from Hyperion

Clyde Drexler: Clyde the Glide by Clyde Drexler, Kerry Eggers, Jim Nantz Hardcover from Sports Publishing

NBA's Greatest by John Hareas, John Havlicek, John Havlicek Hardcover from Dorling Kindersley Publishing

They Call Me Big House by Clarence E. Gaines, Clint Johnson Hardcover from John F. Blair Publisher

They Call Me Coach by John Wooden, John Wooden Paperback from McGraw-Hill

SEASON ON THE BRINK by John Feinstein Paperback from Simon & Schuster 1989

Going Home Again : Roy Williams, the North Carolina Tar Heels, and a Season to Remember by Adam Lucas Hardcover from The Lyons Press

Dick Vitale's Living a Dream: Reflections of 25 Years in the Best Seat in the House by Dick Vitale, Dick Weiss Hardcover from Sports Publishing

The Big O : My Life, My Times, My Game by Oscar Robertson Hardcover from Rodale Books

Pete Maravich: Magician of the Hardwood (Great American Sports Legends) by Mike Towle Paperback from Cumberland House Publishing

John Wooden: An American Treasure by Steve Bisheff Hardcover from Cumberland House Publishing

Knight: My Story by Bob Knight, Bob Hammel Hardcover from Thomas Dunne Books

Al Mcguire: The Colorful Warrior by Roger Jaynes Hardcover from Sports Publishing

John Starks: My Life by John Starks, Dan Markowitz, Spike Lee Hardcover from Sports Publishing

Trial by Basketball: The Life and Times of Tex Winter by Mark Bender, Phil Jackson Hardcover from Addax Publishing Group

LeBron James: The Rise of a Star by David Lee, Jr. Morgan Paperback from Gray & Company Publishers

David Thompson: Skywalker by David Thompson, Sean Stormes, Marshall Terrill Hardcover from Sports Publishing

My Losing Season (Alex Awards (Awards)) by PAT CONROY Hardcover from Nan A. Talese

Kidd Rocks: Rolling With Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets by Mark Stewart, Mike Kennedy Hardcover from Triumph Books

Play It Again Sam by Stan Friedland Paperback from Xlibris Corporation Special Order

Kobe Bryant: The Game of His Life by Jeffrey Scott Shapiro, Jennifer Stevens Paperback from Revolution Publishing

Playing for Keeps : Michael Jordan and the World He Made
by DAVID HALBERSTAM
Listed under Michael Jordan
 

Only the Strong Survive : The Odyssey of Allen Iverson by Larry Platt Paperback from Regan Books

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