First published 2018
Jack McCallum examines two championship basketball teams separated by decades but united by one man. The author focuses on the early 1970s Los Angeles Lakers and the contemporary Golden State Warriors, using Jerry West as the connecting thread between these franchises. West played guard for the Lakers during their championship era, then later helped build the Warriors as an executive. McCallum draws from four decades of sports journalism experience to access locker rooms and front offices of both organizations. He profiles basketball legends including Wilt Chamberlain, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Steve Kerr. The book traces how the NBA evolved through California, becoming a cultural force that reflects changes in American society. McCallum combines historical analysis with contemporary reporting, showing how these two teams shaped different eras of professional basketball while highlighting West's unique role in both stories.
Genres: history, 20th-century, business, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, basketball, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: connecting-thread, historical-analysis, profile
Setting: California, Golden State, Los Angeles
Period: 1970s, Contemporary
368 pages · Paperback · Ballantine Books