by Bill Simmons
First published 2009
Bill Simmons brings his basketball obsession and encyclopedic knowledge to bear on professional basketball's biggest questions. The ESPN columnist tackles legendary rivalries like Bill Russell versus Wilt Chamberlain and determines which team deserves the title of greatest ever. Simmons completely reimagines the Basketball Hall of Fame, creating his own five-tier system that ranks the ninety-six best players in NBA history. He dissects how the Hall should select inductees and restructures the entire institution from scratch. Through conversations with NBA legends, Simmons uncovers what he calls the Secret of Basketball. His wildly opinionated analysis covers the league's past, present, and future with equal depth. The book delivers comprehensive coverage of professional basketball through the lens of its most passionate and knowledgeable chronicler, offering readers a courtside perspective on the game's greatest debates and personalities.
Genres: sports, non-fiction, biography-memoir, basketball
Vibes: fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: expert-protagonist, sports-obsession
736 pages · Hardcover · ESPN