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mswatek's review against another edition
I watched the documentary and knew a lot of the stories already, so figured I'd only read some of the chapters!
tedhekman's review
5.0
I thought it was cool to get a first-hand perspective of what it's like being in the league and playing with/against all the great players. I did feel that it droned on for a bit at times and I found myself skipping ahead from time to time. I learned a few interesting tidbits I didn't already know and got a better feel for the history of the league.
drbooknerd's review against another edition
5.0
What a collection of stories (just finished my final year of residency, so took a long break from making much progress) - I first thought I wouldn't enjoy the format of this book but of course, once I got into it, it just flowed. From the stories of the early days, then the ABA days, which I hadn't known much about in detail and then as the stars that grew up with (Magic, MJ etc) and the good old days of the 90s, the Dream Team and then the present time - can't help but love this game. This was a fantastic journey and having read the end after the Warriors most recent title, was also extra special. Also, being in Southern California, when Kobe passed and then reading his accounts in this book, that really hit hard. Overall, a must read for any basketball/NBA/WNBA fan.
cameronkc's review
4.0
I really enjoyed the first part of this book. The depth of interviews and their cohesive look at the past and present was wonderful. I’m not sure if this is a personal issue but I began to tire of of the brief snippets towards the end. This format was far more interesting for the history of the league. I felt I already knew of or have read many of the quotes (or a similar one) from the present era. Any die-hard will enjoy this look at basketball.
salexander7341's review
5.0
"Basketball: A Love Story" elegantly weaves together the views and thoughts of dozens of influential players/coaches/writers/administrators into a series of wonderful episodes in basketball history, united around a mutual love of basketball. An oral history of the finest caliber, I think the long-term value of this book rests primarily in the preservation of the words and experiences of the oldest remaining NBA players. First and foremost, this is a piece of history. This is clear, as most of the coverage was pre-1980 and little was post-Jordan. This was a wise choice, as it gives the page count to the legends, the old guard, whose stories may not be as well known today and inspired each generation after them. As the NBA's early decades leave living memory, keeping that story alive is vital. That also means this book could easily be twice as long with deeper coverage on more recent topics or the connective sections that largely eschew the oral history format.
On the bad, an occasional quote feels not quite properly placed. Sometimes a relevant individual gets surprising low word counts compared to everyone else. These do seem like potential pitfalls of the oral history format. I would also note that, in response to another review I read, I think would agree there was a bit too much Bill Simmons (and I'm a longtime fan). At the very least, it felt like his quotes were just asides that if you weren't a reader/listener of his, seem like oddly chosen things to say on the topic (though a least we didn't get a Jordan gambling debts-baseball aside). On the other hand, I have never liked Stephen A. Smith and I liked everything he had to say here. Go figure.
I hate to say it, but I can't describe this book without expressing that it felt incomplete. Despite the 150+ interviews compiled within, some key people were missing. Obviously, multiple deceased individuals could not speak for themselves(I'm most disappointed by Dean Smith, Pat Summitt, and Wilt Chamberlain), but where are Jordan, Kareem and Duncan/Popovich? By the end, I found myself looking back to see if I missed them, which is a horrible feeling in a book filled with so much knowledge and love for the game of basketball. I didn't notice the lack of Karl Malone, John Stockton, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Kevin McHale, Jason Kidd, or multiple others until I closed the book, but those four are inseparable from the NBA/basketball story and are still alive. Their absence is disappointing in comparison with the comprehensive nature of the rest of the book. I can only assume some people were unavailable for one reason or another. It is just a shame.
Overall, I would read this book if you love the game of basketball, the NBA, sports histories, and especially oral histories. You may have heard the stories multiple times, especially if you are a longtime fan, but I guarantee you'll walk away having learned a new angle to something you thought you knew.
On the bad, an occasional quote feels not quite properly placed. Sometimes a relevant individual gets surprising low word counts compared to everyone else. These do seem like potential pitfalls of the oral history format. I would also note that, in response to another review I read, I think would agree there was a bit too much Bill Simmons (and I'm a longtime fan). At the very least, it felt like his quotes were just asides that if you weren't a reader/listener of his, seem like oddly chosen things to say on the topic (though a least we didn't get a Jordan gambling debts-baseball aside). On the other hand, I have never liked Stephen A. Smith and I liked everything he had to say here. Go figure.
I hate to say it, but I can't describe this book without expressing that it felt incomplete. Despite the 150+ interviews compiled within, some key people were missing. Obviously, multiple deceased individuals could not speak for themselves(I'm most disappointed by Dean Smith, Pat Summitt, and Wilt Chamberlain), but where are Jordan, Kareem and Duncan/Popovich? By the end, I found myself looking back to see if I missed them, which is a horrible feeling in a book filled with so much knowledge and love for the game of basketball. I didn't notice the lack of Karl Malone, John Stockton, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Kevin McHale, Jason Kidd, or multiple others until I closed the book, but those four are inseparable from the NBA/basketball story and are still alive. Their absence is disappointing in comparison with the comprehensive nature of the rest of the book. I can only assume some people were unavailable for one reason or another. It is just a shame.
Overall, I would read this book if you love the game of basketball, the NBA, sports histories, and especially oral histories. You may have heard the stories multiple times, especially if you are a longtime fan, but I guarantee you'll walk away having learned a new angle to something you thought you knew.
logantea's review
5.0
An epic tome and an absolute must read for any basketball fan. As someone who only watched basketball during the 90s and now since 2014 I was endlessly fascinated by the stories from eras I didn't witness. As a modern fan it brought so much context to the current culture and playstyle of the game. The oral history style of most of the book does great justice to all the interesting personalities of the game and makes sure that the story told is an honest one.
I was also so pleasantly surprised by the book's focus on the history of race within basketball and the impact it had outward on the world. It also has excellent chapters on the women's game that convinced me I need to start investing more in that league.
For any basketball fan I can't say enough good things about this book.
I was also so pleasantly surprised by the book's focus on the history of race within basketball and the impact it had outward on the world. It also has excellent chapters on the women's game that convinced me I need to start investing more in that league.
For any basketball fan I can't say enough good things about this book.
emilyreeves14's review
5.0
A beautiful, comprehensive history of basketball. I think it’s often easy to get lost in the facts and stats when it comes to sports history. This book addresses how basketball weaves into our culture, politics, and feminism. It really is a love letter to basketball!
oreojakesters's review
3.0
As someone who has only watched the NBA through a modern-day lens, it was incredibly informative and entertaining hearing the faces I know and love speak so highly of the greats of the game that came before them that may or may not have even been televised. At times it felt a bit too much "long-form history" to me which made it difficult to get through at some points, but nevertheless, there are so many great anecdotes that show the growth of the game.
olliewould's review
Just didn't have enough time before I had to send back to the library- will try to watch the documentary when I can