Review of "Banned"

Having remembered Michael Ray Richardson during his NBA days before he was banned from the league, I was interested in this book to see whatever happened to him when he decided not to return to the NBA when reinstated.  It was a great story - all basketball fans should read it.  Here is my review of his memoir "Banned." 

 

Title/Author:

“Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption” by Michael Ray Richardson with Jake Uitti

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

Michael Ray Richardson was an exciting, excellent NBA guard in the early 1980’s before he succumbed to the world of drugs, most notably cocaine. He was one of the first players to receive a lifetime ban from the NBA for drug use, but eventually got clean and was reinstated to the league in 1987.  However, he never returned to the league and instead enjoyed his time playing in Europe and coaching minor league basketball.  His journey is told in his memoir written with Jake Uitti.

Drafted in 1978 by the New York Knicks, Richardson realized his dream and goal of playing in the NBA was going to become a reality. His description of his life previous to this draft was enjoyable to read.  It didn’t have any really shocking parts – was raised by a single mother (although his father was part of his life), saw blatant racism, vowed to make a better life for himself and his mother through basketball and went to college through the game.  The only surprise there might be that instead of a storied basketball school, Richardson became a first-round draft choice after playing at the University of Montana.  He does look back fondly at his time at the school and his youth before that in Denver.

It’s refreshing to read about a person who became an addict accepting all responsibility for their actions and not saying that this was because of situations, people or other issues beyond their control.  He realized that he was the one who gave in to the temptations and did not protest when he received the ban.  In fact, later on, he gives the NBA Commissioner at the time, David Stern, credit for saving his life for taking that action.  It is also clear from Richardson’s words that this wasn’t something that he just discovered after his low point – he knew what he was doing was wrong, but just couldn’t stop.

It's also nice to see two other aspects of Richardson’s life – he takes responsibility for the failure of his marriages (not all of them due to drugs) but makes sure that he remains a father figure for his children. It was also great to read about his time playing in Italy as he became a very popular player there where people still would chant his name when he appeared at a function long after his playing days were over. It was clear that he relished his time there and felt it was the right decision for him to remain overseas instead of returning to the NBA.

Throughout the book, Richardson is upbeat and positive, despite the addiction that ended a promising NBA career.  His story is certainly one that is inspiring and shows that one doesn’t have to take the same path after recovery to make one’s life productive after a bad event.

I wish to thank Skyhorse Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.

Link: Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption: Richardson, Michael Ray, Uitti, Jacob, Gervin, George, Lieberman, Nancy: 9781683584902: Amazon.com: Books

 

Review of "The Victory Machine"

Having some extra reading time while traveling on business, I started with this one about the rise and fall of the Golden State Warriors.  It is much more than just a rehasing of their dynasty - it is a fascinating look at not only that franchise but the current state of the NBA.  Here is my review of "The Victory Machine".

Title/Author:

“The Victory Machine: The Making and Unmaking of the Warriors Dynasty” by Ethan Sherwood Strauss

Tags:

Basketball, professional, history, Warriors, championship

Publish date:

April 24, 2020

Length:

224 pages

Rating: to

4 ½ of 5 stars (excellent)

Review:

When the Golden State Warriors failed to win a third consecutive championship and fourth in five years by losing to the Toronto Raptors in 2019, it signaled the end of the latest NBA dynasty. How the Warriors got to that stage and some of mechanisms behind their success is told in this great book by Ethan Sherwood Strauss.

Rather than recapping the games and playoff series wins, Strauss takes a different approach to telling the reader about Golden State's success.  He concentrates on the business side of the game for insight into the team, starting with when Peter Guber and Joe Lacob were able to take control of the team from Chris Cohan, under whose ownership the franchise became a laughing stock.  What Guber and Lacob did was nothing short of brilliant by not only finding players to complement Stephan Curry and bring out his best, but also how they were in tune with what was going on in professional basketball and how to either lure players (see Kevin Durant) or keep players even it would mean a reduced or different role (see Andre Igudala.)

The only player in which Strauss writes about in depth is Kevin Durant and his appearance of being annoyed.  It is a complex situation and not something that is simple as he didn't like being second fiddle to Curry nor just that he wanted out of Oklahoma City and became a target of the rantings of angry fans. In the book, this goes well beyond fans at games – social media and its influence in today's NBA players is examined in depth and is one of the best subjects addressed.

Strauss also pulls no punches when he talks about the current state of the game when he writes that the Warriors "somehow rose up in this atomized, clownish world…" or about the current reduction in accessibility to the players for the media.  He states that NBA stars are "merging the aloof with the confrontational" and that "walls were coming up."  This type of writing is the main reason why this book is one that all NBA fans, whether they are saddened or overjoyed at the end of the Golden State dynasty, should add to their libraries.

I wish to than Perseus Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

                                    

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Victory-Machine-Unmaking-Warriors-Dynasty-ebook/dp/B07W3M5TT1/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Review of "The Sixth Man"

While I cannot call myself a "fan" of the Golden State Warriors, I have two admissions to make about them.  One, whether or not they win the NBA title again in 2019, they are a fun team to watch. Two, books on their players make excellent reads.  Recently I enjoyed a biography of Kevin Durant. Now, I had the pleasure of reading Andre Iguodala's memoir and it was just as good.  Here is my review of "The Sixth Man"

Title/Author:

“The Sixth Man” by Andre Iguodala with Carvelle Wallace

Tags:

Basketball, professional, Warriors, Nuggets, 76ers

Publish date:

June 25, 2019

Length:

256 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Basketball is unique in one way in that a player can become even more famous when he is no longer in the starting line up and instead will come off the bench to contribute in a valuable manner to his or her team. One player who has done that is Andre Iguodala. While he was a very good player as a starter for the Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets, he became even more noticed as the sixth man for the team that has won three of the last four NBA championships, the Golden State Warriors.  He tells the story of his life, his career and his take on some of today’s issues in the game in this excellent memoir with Carvelle Wallace.

While the writing may not be as crisp as some other memoirs, what I found refreshing about this book is the Iguodala was very candid about every topic he addressed. Whether it was whether college athletes should be paid, the point in his career when he truly realized that professional sports are a business and not just a game, how the public believes athletes should communicate in the media or racial issues, Iguodala lets the reader know up front that this is his viewpoint and how he sees the particular issue.

The latter two topics come up in the incident in which I believed that this book went from good to excellent and that was when he used a phrase that sounded like one used from the days of slavery when he answered a question on the relationship between a head coach and the players. He didn’t back off of his comment, he didn’t take swipes at those who criticized his remarks (and there were plenty) and his explanation of it was consistent with his stance on his viewpoints earlier expressed on racial matters and the ways in which professional athletes are expected to conduct themselves.

None of them are really shocking or reveal new material, but are excellent to read for the sheer rawness of exposing his feelings. When he praised Curt Flood, who challenged baseball’s reserve clause in 1970, it showed that he has studied the history of these subject extensively and his comment that every professional athlete should thank Flood for them being able to enjoy the freedoms and riches they have today was profound.

Of course, he talks about basketball in the book a lot as well as these other issues. On this topic, he is quite fluid as well. This part of the book does follow the tried and true formula of chronicling the highlights of each level of basketball played. His reflections on his time at the University of Arizona and what coach Lute Olson did for and to him were very interesting to read as it can be the case for many college basketball players, but was something I had never read before.

Iguodala’s time in Philadelphia was marked with many ups and downs, both on the court, where the 76ers enjoyed some moderate success and off the court with his relationship with the fans and press an ongoing drama. After a brief time in Denver, he signed with the Warriors as a free agent and his accounting of his time with Golden State is one in which he really learns what it is like to share the spotlight with superstar players.  He explains how these players like Steph Curry and Kevin Durant not only are excellent players but how they each contribute to the success of the team on the court and in the public eye.

Any fan of the current NBA game, especially Warriors fans, will want to read this book about the team’s vital sixth man and how he sees the world of professional basketball. It is a book that once a reader starts, it will be very hard to put down.

I wish to thank Blue Rider Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Sixth-Man-Memoir-Andre-Iguodala-ebook/dp/B07HVZ3ZBT/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sixth-man-andre-iguodala/1129662477?ean=9780525534006#/

Review of "KD: Kevin Durant's Pursuit to Be the Greatest"

It usually isn't easy to find decent books on current star players in any sport, mainly because there will be so much more to the player's complete story.  Even so, this book on Kevin Durant of the Golden State Warriors is a fantastic read and highly recommended for every basketball fan.  Here is my review.

­

Title/Author:

“KD: Kevin Durant’s Relentless Pursuit to Be the Greatest” by Marcus Thompson II

 

Tags:
Basketball, professional, biography, Warriors, Thunder, SuperSonics

Publish date:

May 14, 2019

Length:

272 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Very few athletes who are stars in their sport, no matter which one, escape some type of controversy in their careers. Kevin Durant is no exception as his decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016 to join the Golden State Warriors set off a furious reaction not seen since LeBron James left Cleveland to sign with the Miami Heat in 2010.  The story behind Durant’s decision, as well as a look into his complicated world, is told in this excellent unauthorized biography by Marcus Thompson.

 

Having already penned one best-selling book about a Golden State star, Stephan Curry, Thompson writes about Durant’s ascent to stardom from Prince George County in the Washington DC metro area, or DMV for DC/Maryland/Virgina as the region is called throughout the book, where he was not only competing but thriving in games against boys older than him.  The book then follows Durant to the University of Texas for his one spectacular season for the Longhorns which vaulted him to being the #2 pick in the NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. He had a fine rookie season, being named the Rookie of the Year and followed the team when it moved to Oklahoma City.  This time in Durant’s career was my only negative takeaway from the book – there was far too little written about Durant’s time in Seattle almost like it never happened.  That is ironic because later when the Warriors and Sacramento Kings played an exhibition game in Seattle, Durant was the recipient of much love from the Seattle fans.

 

While the reader will learn about Durant’s rise to superstar status while he was on Oklahoma City, what the reader learns about Durant’s personality and the conflict between Durant’s inner feelings and the public off-court persona he portrayed makes for some of the best reading in the book and why it is a compelling read.  In public, Durant never showed any tattoos for a long time, but he had a lot of ink with significant personal meaning on areas of his body where they would be hidden by clothing in public appearances.  Through interviews with other players and research, Thompson achieves something difficult to do – providing the reader with an insightful look into an athlete who is still in the prime of his or her career without interviewing the subject.  Of course, it has to be taken that this is the viewpoint of Thompson, but it still comes across as a very interesting topic.

 

Thompson also discusses at length the most controversial part of Durant’s career – his decision to leave the Thunder two years after declaring he would never go elsewhere and sign with the Warriors, who were already a championship team.  There are many reasons that have been discussed in the media before, and Thompson addresses every one of them.  Much like Durant’s versatility in his game – a seven footer who has a great shooting touch and an explosive first step – Thompson writes about this controversy with much skill as the reader will finish this part of the book with an understanding of what Durant did.  That doesn’t mean those who were angry with this move will accept it – they will just become more informed. A great look inside the career of one of the best in the game today as well as a compelling read, fans of today’s NBA will want to add this one to their libraries.

t iI wish to thank Atria Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/KD-Durants-Relentless-Pursuit-Greatest-ebook/dp/B07GNTXW84/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kd-marcus-thompson/1128864386?ean=9781501197833#/  

Review of "Game Face"

While some people may not remember Bernard King's prowess for scoring in the 1980s, many serious basketball fans will recall his career with fondness despite being overshadowed in the minds of many by Bird, Magic and Jordan.  He was known for his privacy and he has opened up with this very good memoir.  Here is my review of "Game Face."

Title/Author:

“Game Face: A Lifetime of Hard – Earned Lessons On and Off the Basketball Court” by Bernard King with Jerome Preisler

Tags:

Basketball, professional, memoir, Nets, Warriors, Jazz, Knicks

Publish date:

November 7, 2017

Length:

360 pages

Rating: 

4 of 5 stars (very good)

Review:

Bernard King is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and was one of the most prolific scorers during his sixteen year career, with his best seasons occurring when he played for the New York Knicks.  He recovered from serious knee surgery at a time when that type of injury meant the end of a career.  In addition, he was known as an extremely private person during his playing days, rarely opening up to the media about any personal issues.

In this memoir written with Jerome Preisler, King opens up about his childhood and the feelings of self-doubt that were always present in his life, even when basketball took him to places he never thought he would reach, such as college (University of Tennessee) and back home to New York.  As a Brooklyn kid, he talks about his experiences in the schools and playgrounds in the area and how he vowed to do what he could to avoid the temptations of the streets.

He also opens up about problems that plagued him during his college and professional careers, namely alcoholism and its associated issues.  He thanks his first agent for assisting him in getting the help he needed to overcome those issues as well.  King’s openness about these matters is something that he would rarely do in the public spotlight, so a reader can only imagine how tough it must have been for him to talk about these subject.  He covers a lot of ground in these areas, but there is not a lot of detail or too much anger or self-pity. These sections came across as his account of what happened, what he did to address them and not much else.

The same can’t be said for when King writes about his basketball skills, however.  It is clear how much he still loves the game and the vivid memory he has for many of his career highlights. This is true from his time playing in high school to his days at Tennessee, when he teamed with Ernie Grunfeld to form the “Bernie and Ernie Show” to his NBA career. He was drafted by the New Jersey Nets where he became a scoring machine early.  He later played for the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz before joining the Knicks where his star shone the greatest.  At each stop, he has mostly kind words for teammates, coaches and front office people.  This is true even if his experience with the team was not so great, such as his time in Utah.  It matches the rest of the book because it has a very positive, upbeat feeling even when King is discussing low points in his life.

Serious basketball fans will love the detail with which King describes the action on the court.  Whether it is describing plays that coaches draw on the board, elbows thrown by opponents such as Bob Lanier and Maurice Lucas or the sweet jump shot that made him a scoring machine, the book is chock full of game action. Casual fans who have heard about him but wish to know more will also enjoy this book.

I wish to thank Da Capo Press for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Book Format Read:

E-book (Paperback)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Game-Face-Lifetime-Hard-Earned-Basketball/dp/0306825708/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=&dpID=51G2NkUNauL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=detail

Review of "Golden Days"

Having been in a bit of a reading slump, the best way to get out of it is to pick up a book by an author whom I like.  This book is written by Jack McCallum, considered to be one of the best basketball authors today.  This did the trick - it was a great book on two legendary teams.  Here is my review of "Golden Days." 

Title/Author:

“Golden Days: West’s Lakers, Steph’s Warriors and the California Dreamers Who Reinvented Basketball” by Jack McCallum

Tags:

Basketball, professional, Lakers, Warriors, championship

Publish date:

October 24, 2017

Length:

336 pages

Rating: 

5 of 5 stars (outstanding)

Review:

Two of the best teams in the history of professional basketball are the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers and the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors.  Both teams had lengthy winning streaks – Golden State had a 24 game streak and the Lakers had a 33 game streak that still stands as the longest winning streak by a professional team in the four major sports.  Both teams won their respective championships.  Both teams had several all-star players on the roster.  The comparison between the two teams is captured in this wonderfully written book by Jack McCallum, considered one of the better basketball authors in the business.

There is one link between the two teams from different eras – Jerry West.  West was one of those all-star players on that Lakers team, and was relieved to finally win a championship after many years of finishing second to either the Boston Celtics or New York Knicks.  After his playing career, he worked in the front office for several teams, but his best work was with the Warriors in putting together the team that includes Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Drayman Green. 

The book is fast paced, has many humorous passages and is a wonderful looks back at both teams’ construction and the championship seasons.  One chapter is dedicated to each game of the Lakers’ historic winning streak – this was my favorite section of the book as a reader will either have great memories of the team or, if too young to have seen this team, will learn what the culture of professional basketball was at the time and the colorful characters that made up the Los Angeles Lakers.

This doesn’t mean McCallum shorts changes his quality work for the Warriors either.  The reader will learn how the Warriors went from laughing stock to domination through the hard work of new-thinking owners, sheer luck on draft night in 2009 that allowed them to draft Curry and how they have become the hip team of the current basketball culture.  I enjoyed reading about this team as well, mainly because McCallum writes in such a manner that he shows great respect for both teams without the book coming off as a love fest for either one of them.  It is simply a lot of great information and stories about two legendary teams. This book is highly recommended for all basketball fans of all ages.

I wish to thank Ballantine Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Format Read:

E-book (Kindle)

Buying Links:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399179070/ref=x_gr_w_bb?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_w_bb-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399179070&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2  

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/golden-days-jack-mccallum/1126893361?ean=9780399179075#/