Overview

Basketball is second of the top three elite professional sports, whose players command stratospheric salaries. The spectacular success of the NBA is based on its stars' performances, which excite fans game after game, championship after championship. Basketball's Greatest Stars features detailed profiles of the 50 greatest and most exciting players in basketball history. They're all here: the score-at-will centres, the quick-dishing guards and the takeit-to-the-hoop power forwards. The book also features the players whose star power has gone beyond the court into the culture of celebrity. Michael Grange includes action photographs that celebrate the play of every superstar past and present, and profiles of 30 franchises chart the league's rise to greatness. Some of the stars of the hardwood in the book are: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving. Grange also examines the sport in three insightful essays, covering the leading men and defining moments that have shaped the game, the international game and the changing nature and importance of statistical analysis. Basketball's Greatest Stars is a superb book for the fan and a compelling history of a great game.

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9781554076376

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Reviews

Even casual readers will thrill to the dazzling court-action photos and be enlightened by the thoughtful essays on the superstars.--Mary Ann Grossmann Pioneer Press Saint Paul Minnesota (12/10/2010)

Grange is a colorful writer, and his examination of the development of gurus, consultants, and the science of success is fascinating.... Jump for joy on this one.-- (01/07/2011) Basketball fans will find all kinds of interesting information in this book. It will appeal to readers at the junior high and senior high school levels who are involved in the sport or just have an interest in it.-- (01/01/2011) Was Magic Johnson better than Larry Bird? How does Shaquille O'Neal compare to Wilt Chamberlin? Hoops fans will quibble with the author's ranking of the sport's 50 top players, past and present. But even casual readers will thrill to the dazzling court-action photos and be enlightened by the thoughtful essays on the superstars and moments that have defined the NBA.-- (12/05/2010) Detailed profiles of the 50 players the author believes are the greatest and most exciting in the history of the game, including career highlights of superstars Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant, as well as players in the Best of the Rest section, from Steve Nash to Isiah Thomas. Included is a list of franchises and a chart of NBA Finals history. Illustrated with exciting action shots.-- (12/10/2010) Basketball's Greatest Stars is a collection of 5O profiles of some of the greatest players in the game, from Bob Cousy and Bob Pettit to Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Grange divides them in the Best of the Best and the Best of the Rest. given over to players who, despite their great talents, never quite made superstar status -- Dave DeBusschere, Elvin Hayes, Pete Maravich, and John Stockton. And it's loaded with great game images of high-flying, slam-dunking players.-- (12/19/2010) This beautiful volume presents the sportswriter's selection of basketball greats from all eras, a concise history of the game, profiles of the franchises, and even coverage of international basketball, as well as stats on each featured player, a remarkable effort for a game that originally featured only 13 rules. Grange is a colorful writer, and his examination of the development of gurus, consultants, and the science of success is fascinating. Magic Johnson is described as [a] late bloomer who was off the radar at the University of Massachusetts...defining the rebel league with his majestic flights, the signature red-white-and-blue ball a grapefruit in his outstretched hands. Speaking of failing to stop Michael Jordan from scoring 63 points in a playoff game, Larry Bird said, That was God disguised as Michael Jordan. ... Jump for joy on this one.-- (01/07/2011) Typical of many Firefly books, this is a colorful, picture-driven reading experience. Don't expect an exhaustive history of the NBA, but an interesting summary of stars and teams. ... Recommended for fans of the NBA who seek a quick reference to the best players the game has ever seen and for all libraries collecting accessible and colorful basketball books.-- (01/15/2011) Photo-laden showcases of a sport's greatest players are fairly commonplace, but this one, compiled by Canadian sportswriter Grange, stands out from the rank and file for several reasons.... Best of all, though, are the photos; beautifully reproduced, the four-color images jump off the pages, showing the various stars in signature shots... A sweet combination of superb browsing and surprisingly substantive commentary.-- (09/01/2010)

It's loaded with great game images of high-flying, slam-dunking players.--James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World (12/19/2010)

A sweet combination of superb browsing and surprisingly substantive commentary.--Bill Ott Booklist (09/01/2010) It's loaded with great game images of high-flying, slam-dunking players.--James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World (12/19/2010) A colorful, picture-driven reading experience... Recommended for fans of the NBA who seek a quick reference to the best players.--Todd Spires, Bradley University Library, Peoria, IL Library Journal (01/15/2011) Even casual readers will thrill to the dazzling court-action photos and be enlightened by the thoughtful essays.--Neil Pond American Profile (12/05/2010) This beautiful volume presents the sportswriter's selection of basketball greats from all eras, a concise history of the game, profiles of the franchises, and even coverage of international basketball, as well as stats on each featured player, a remarkable effort for a game that originally featured only 13 rules. Grange is a colorful writer, and his examination of the development of gurus, consultants, and the science of success is fascinating. Magic Johnson is described as [a] late bloomer who was off the radar at the University of Massachusetts...defining the rebel league with his majestic flights, the signature red-white-and-blue ball a grapefruit in his outstretched hands. Speaking of failing to stop Michael Jordan from scoring 63 points in a playoff game, Larry Bird said, That was God disguised as Michael Jordan. ... Jump for joy on this one. Basketball fans will find all kinds of interesting information in this book. It will appeal to readers at the junior high and senior high school levels who are involved in the sport or just have an interest in it.--Victoria Pennell Resource Links (01/01/2011) Grange is a colorful writer, and his examination of the development of gurus, consultants, and the science of success is fascinating.... Jump for joy on this one. Was Magic Johnson better than Larry Bird? How does Shaquille O'Neal compare to Wilt Chamberlin? Hoops fans will quibble with the author's ranking of the sport's 50 top players, past and present. But even casual readers will thrill to the dazzling court-action photos and be enlightened by the thoughtful essays on the superstars and moments that have defined the NBA.--Neil Pond American Profile (12/05/2010) Detailed profiles of the 50 players the author believes are the greatest and most exciting in the history of the game, including career highlights of superstars Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant, as well as players in the Best of the Rest section, from Steve Nash to Isiah Thomas. Included is a list of franchises and a chart of NBA Finals history. Illustrated with exciting action shots.--Mary Ann Grossmann Pioneer Press Saint Paul Minnesota (12/10/2010) Basketball's Greatest Stars is a collection of 5O profiles of some of the greatest players in the game, from Bob Cousy and Bob Pettit to Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Grange divides them in the Best of the Best and the Best of the Rest. given over to players who, despite their great talents, never quite made superstar status -- Dave DeBusschere, Elvin Hayes, Pete Maravich, and John Stockton. And it's loaded with great game images of high-flying, slam-dunking players.--James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World (12/19/2010) Photo-laden showcases of a sport's greatest players are fairly commonplace, but this one, compiled by Canadian sportswriter Grange, stands out from the rank and file for several reasons.... Best of all, though, are the photos; beautifully reproduced, the four-color images jump off the pages, showing the various stars in signature shots... A sweet combination of superb browsing and surprisingly substantive commentary.--Bill Ott Booklist (09/01/2010) Typical of many Firefly books, this is a colorful, picture-driven reading experience. Don't expect an exhaustive history of the NBA, but an interesting summary of stars and teams. ... Recommended for fans of the NBA who seek a quick reference to the best players the game has ever seen and for all libraries collecting accessible and colorful basketball books.--Todd Spires, Bradley University Library, Peoria, I Library Journal (01/15/2011)

Grange is a colorful writer, and his examination of the development of gurus, consultants, and the science of success is fascinating.... Jump for joy on this one.-- (01/07/2011) Basketball fans will find all kinds of interesting information in this book. It will appeal to readers at the junior high and senior high school levels who are involved in the sport or just have an interest in it.-- (01/01/2011) Was Magic Johnson better than Larry Bird? How does Shaquille O'Neal compare to Wilt Chamberlin? Hoops fans will quibble with the author's ranking of the sport's 50 top players, past and present. But even casual readers will thrill to the dazzling court-action photos and be enlightened by the thoughtful essays on the superstars and moments that have defined the NBA.-- (12/05/2010) Detailed profiles of the 50 players the author believes are the greatest and most exciting in the history of the game, including career highlights of superstars Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant, as well as players in the Best of the Rest section, from Steve Nash to Isiah Thomas. Included is a list of franchises and a chart of NBA Finals history. Illustrated with exciting action shots.-- (12/10/2010) Basketball's Greatest Stars is a collection of 5O profiles of some of the greatest players in the game, from Bob Cousy and Bob Pettit to Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Grange divides them in the Best of the Best and the Best of the Rest. given over to players who, despite their great talents, never quite made superstar status -- Dave DeBusschere, Elvin Hayes, Pete Maravich, and John Stockton. And it's loaded with great game images of high-flying, slam-dunking players.-- (12/19/2010) This beautiful volume presents the sportswriter's selection of basketball greats from all eras, a concise history of the game, profiles of the franchises, and even coverage of international basketball, as well as stats on each featured player, a remarkable effort for a game that originally featured only 13 rules. Grange is a colorful writer, and his examination of the development of gurus, consultants, and the science of success is fascinating. Magic Johnson is described as [a] late bloomer who was off the radar at the University of Massachusetts...defining the rebel league with his majestic flights, the signature red-white-and-blue ball a grapefruit in his outstretched hands. Speaking of failing to stop Michael Jordan from scoring 63 points in a playoff game, Larry Bird said, That was God disguised as Michael Jordan. ... Jump for joy on this one.-- (01/07/2011) Photo-laden showcases of a sport's greatest players are fairly commonplace, but this one, compiled by Canadian sportswriter Grange, stands out from the rank and file for several reasons.... Best of all, though, are the photos; beautifully reproduced, the four-color images jump off the pages, showing the various stars in signature shots... A sweet combination of superb browsing and surprisingly substantive commentary.-- (09/01/2010) Typical of many Firefly books, this is a colorful, picture-driven reading experience. Don't expect an exhaustive history of the NBA, but an interesting summary of stars and teams. ... Recommended for fans of the NBA who seek a quick reference to the best players the game has ever seen and for all libraries collecting accessible and colorful basketball books.-- (01/15/2011)

Author Information

Michael Grange is a sports columnist for Canada's Globe and Mail and the sports beat writer for the Toronto Raptors.

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