Download or read book Luka Doncic the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball s Rising Stars written by Clayton Geoffreys and published by . This book was released on 2019-03-21 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn the Inspiring Story of the Dallas Mavericks' Star, Luka Doncic! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! One of many riveting reads in the Basketball Biography Books series by Clayton Geoffreys. In Luka Doncic: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Stars, you will learn the incredible story of one of basketball's rising stars, Luka Doncic. In his rookie season, Luka Doncic has taken the league by storm. It's clear that he will be an important star to watch as his career unfolds. Just twenty years old at the time of this writing, Doncic has many of his best years ahead of him. This book highlights Luka's accomplishments before he entered the NBA, and through much of his rookie season. Pick up this unauthorized biography today to learn the inspiring story behind Luka Doncic. Perfect for basketball fans or late elementary to early high school readers. Here is a preview of what is inside this Luka Doncic biography book: Childhood and Early Life Career in Europe Getting Drafted, The Phenomenal Rookie Season Luka Doncic's Personal Life Doncic's Impact on Basketball Legacy and Future An excerpt from this Luka Doncic biography: The evolving trend, not only in the NBA but in the entire world of basketball as well, is that skill has become far more crucial than it has ever been. Because the NBA now relies more on a pace and space game that requires all five guys out on the floor to have a complete set of skills on both ends of the floor, players with refined tools now trump those with raw athletic and physical talents. Size and athleticism are still critical factors for crafting an NBA star or successful basketball talent. Especially in today's fast-paced game, you need someone who can provide you with speed and length on both ends of the court. However, those with refined skills are now just as important or even more vital to the success of an NBA team because their tools fit the way the game is being played today. As the league trends towards a more position-less style, you can virtually interchange positions but still expect the same results if you have players with a complete package of skills. In that sense, you want all five players on the floor to handle the ball, make plays, and shoot. Otherwise, there will be weak points in your pace and space offense. And when you talk about players with complete skills, you cannot just forget about international players and stars coming out of Europe. Over the last two decades, some of the most refined offensive players have come out of Europe or other similar international countries. Manu Ginobili, who hails from Argentina, has enjoyed a stellar NBA career with his crafty scoring moves and mastery of the Eurostep. His former teammate Tony Parker, a quick guard who was not exactly big or athletic, maneuvered himself to several All-Star appearances and a lot of NBA titles with his ability to finish near the basket with precision moves. And who could ever forget Dirk Nowitzki, who is arguably the best European player in NBA history? The legendary German has made a career out of redefining the big man position by hitting long jumpers like a guard at seven feet tall and introducing his patented one-legged fading shot. Tags: Luka Doncic Bio, Dallas Mavericks basketball, luka doncic book, books for basketball fans, dirk nowitzki

Download or read book Luka Doncic written by Matt Chandler and published by Capstone. This book was released on 2021-08 with total page 33 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Slovenian basketball star Luka Doncic's talent was obvious from an early age. He went from playing in the EuroLeague to the NBA all by the young age of 19. Readers will learn about his struggles and successes on his way to becoming a star player and the NBA Rookie of the Year!

Download or read book Nikola Jokic the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball s Rising Stars written by Clayton Geoffreys and published by . This book was released on 2019-03-02 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn the Inspiring Story of the Denver Nuggets' Star Center Nikola Jokic! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! One of many riveting reads in the Basketball Biography Books series by Clayton Geoffreys. In Nikola Jokic: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Stars, you will learn the incredible story of one of basketball's most exciting young centers, Nikola Jokic. Once just a second round pick in the 2014 Draft, Jokic has quickly become the future of the Denver Nuggets franchise, most recently securing his first All-Star selection. He is one of the best recent international players to transition their game successfully into the NBA. Still so young, Jokic has his prime years ahead of him as he continues to become a stronger and more skillful player. Time will tell as to whether his leadership abilities and talents on the court can translate to championships, but at the time of this writing, he is just twenty-four years old. A renaissance has occurred for the Nuggets organization, and Nikola Jokic is largely a reason for it. Get this book today if you want to know the inspiring story behind basketball's latest rising star. Perfect for sports fans of all ages. Here is a preview of what is inside this Nikola Jokic biography book: Childhood and Early Life Early Professional Career in Serbia Getting Drafted, Rookie Season, The Franchise Star, The MVP Contender International Career Jokic's Personal Life Impact on Basketball Legacy and Future J An excerpt from this Nikola Jokic biography: The influx of international talent into the NBA has contributed to the way the game has rapidly evolved. From a game that relied on size and athleticism, the NBA now has a lot of players that have become stars in their own right thanks to their rare combination of skills. It is now imperative that you come into the league with a complete skillset if you want to be a star in the NBA. But this trend is nothing new. We saw the foundations of this evolution back in the late '90s and early 2000s when international players brought something new to the NBA. We saw European players bring the Euro-step, which has now become a favorite move among elite NBA superstars. Then there was Dirk Nowitzki, a seven-footer that could hit jump shots like a shooting guard. We have also seen particularly big players such as Hedo Turkoglu and Peja Stokajovic who have the size of power forwards but the skills of guards. That trend has paved the way for the "unicorn" movement in the NBA. Unicorns are considered to be players 6'10" or above but with the skills of guards and wingmen. The rise of unicorns has led to matchup nightmares in the NBA and the evolution of basketball itself. In that regard, among some of the best unicorns we see today are Kristaps Porzingis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Ben Simmons. Though most of the unicorns we see in the league today are still international players, even the Americans have gone on to become a lot more skillful for their size. Now we see 6'11" Kevin Durant dribbling and shooting like a guard. There is also the 6'10" Anthony Davis, who moves with the grace of a wingman. And then there are seven-foot centers such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, and DeMarcus Cousins shooting three-pointers. Tags: Nikola Jokic Bio, Denver Nuggets basketball, marc gasol, jamal murray, paul millsap, gary harris, devin booker, luka doncic, isaiah thomas, joel embiid

Download or read book Luka Doncic written by Jackson Carter and published by . This book was released on 2019-12-27 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the second he entered a basketball gym at 7 years old, people knew Luka Doncic was going to be special. He was so dominant in his age group that he was moved up multiple age groups just so people would have a chance to compete with him.The Wonderboy of the Euroleague has been taking the NBA by storm and leaving a wake of stunned critics in his path. For the first time, hear the complete story about Luka Doncic's rise to the NBA. From early days shooting at halftimes of his dad's games to becoming the NBA's most promising star, you'll get the full story.

Download or read book Giannis Antetokounmpo the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball s Rising Superstars written by Clayton Geoffreys and published by . This book was released on 2017-06-20 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn the Inspiring Story of the Milwaukee Bucks' Rising Star Giannis Antetokounmpo! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device. This holiday season, if you buy the print edition as a gift, you can keep the Kindle edition for yourself! In Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Superstars, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's most promising young stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Often nicknamed "The Greek Freak", Giannis Antetokounmpo has quickly emerged as one of the most unique players in the league today. His incredible wingspan and athleticism have made him a dominant presence on both the offensive and defensive ends of the basketball court. He is easily one of the most difficult defensive assignments for opposing teams due to his ability to not only start as a forward, but also as a guard. In just four years, Giannis Antetokounmpo has gone from averaging 6.8 points per game to 22.9 points per game. He has also quickly become the face of the Milwaukee Bucks franchise. There is still much to be unveiled in the career of Giannis Antetokounmpo. At the time of this writing, Giannis is just twenty-two years old. In this book, we'll learn more about The Greek Freak's journey into the NBA, his impact on the game, and his growing legacy as one of the best up and coming stars to make his presence known in basketball. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Childhood and Early Life NBA Career: Getting Drafted, Rookie Season, Working Under Jason Kidd, The Largest Point Guard in the League, and Becoming an All-Star International Career Personal Life Giannis Antetokounmpo's Player Profile and Impact on Basketball Antetokounmpo's Future An excerpt from the book: The NBA loves those rags to riches stories about how a person that lived and grew up through poverty worked his way up to get to the league, not only as an ordinary player, but a superstar ranking among the best in the world. These are the kinds of stories that makes the people adore the player and what he has been through to get to the top. More importantly, these are the stories that inspire young children to work just as hard, if not harder, than their idol to reach the success they aspire to achieve. Several of the greatest players in league history have had to endure poverty before they found success in the NBA. Allen Iverson barely had a home growing up before he starred at Georgetown. In his MVP speech back in 2014, Kevin Durant said that his mother raised him and his brother alone while the family moved from roof to roof. The same was true for LeBron James, who was raised alone by his mother when she was still 16 years old. These players not only earned millions as NBA superstars, but have also become fan favorites because of how they worked themselves up to get to the league. Likewise, the NBA has also found a liking for players that were seemingly genetically engineered to dominate in the game of basketball. These are the types of players that, at a glance, were naturally destined to be a great because of the physical tools they possess. If the NBA was a horse race, these kinds of players are your thoroughbreds judging by how much more physically gifted and talented they are than the rest of the competition. Tags: Giannis Antetokounmpo Bio, Giannis Antetokounmpo basketball, Milwaukee Bucks basketball, Jason Kidd, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Lowry, Jabari Parker, Matthew Dellavedova, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Thon Maker

Download or read book The Great Nowitzki Basketball and the Meaning of Life written by Thomas Pletzinger and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2022-03-15 with total page 423 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A journey into the mindset of a historic basketball superstar, and the importance of his landmark career. The seven-foot Dirk Nowitzki is one of the greatest players in basketball history. The Dallas Maverick’s legend revolutionized the sport, redefining the role of the big man in the modern game. Dirk moved differently: flexible and fast, confident and in control. He thought differently, too. On the court, his shots were masterful—none more venerated than his signature one-legged flamingo fadeaway, a move that lives on in the repertoire of today’s most skilled NBA players. How did this lanky kid from the German suburbs become an all-time top ten scorer and NBA champion? How can a superstar stay so humble? Award-winning novelist and sportswriter Thomas Pletzinger spent over seven years traveling with Nowitzki. He witnessed Dirk’s summer workouts, involving fingertip pushups and the study of the physics, and spent days discussing literature and philosophy with Holger Geschwindner, Dirk’s enigmatic mentor and coach. Watching Nowitzki in empty gyms and in packed arenas with 30,000 fans, Pletzinger began to understand how Dirk and Holger’s philosophical insights on performance, creativity, and freedom enabled his success and longevity. The Great Nowitzki tells Dirk’s dramatic story like never before. Pletzinger describes Dirk’s youth in small-town Germany, follows the steep learning curve of Dirk’s early seasons, the devastating Finals loss to the Miami Heat, and the triumphant championship five years later. Traveling with Dirk in his final seasons, Pletzinger immerses himself in the community of people impacted by Nowitzki’s game, interviewing everyone from average fans in Dallas and security guards at the arena to front office executives and Hall of Fame teammates, who reflect on what Dirk’s career means to the next generation of ballplayers. And to the game itself. A masterpiece of sports writing that reads like a novel, The Great Nowitzki brims with a fan’s passion. Pletzinger shows how strongly basketball influences our imagination and the extraordinary journey an icon like Dirk Nowitzki must take to reach the pinnacle of the game.

Download or read book Letters to a Young Athlete written by Chris Bosh and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2021-06-01 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A legendary NBA player shares his remarkable story, infused with hard-earned wisdom about the journey to self-mastery from a life at the highest level of professional sports Chris Bosh, NBA Hall of Famer, eleven-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion, Olympic gold medalist, and the league’s Global Ambassador, had his playing days cut short at their prime by a freak medical condition. His extraordinary career ended “in a doctor’s office in the middle of the afternoon.” Forced to reckon with moving forward, he found himself looking back over the course he'd taken, to the pinnacle of the NBA and beyond. Reflecting on all he had learned from a long list of basketball legends, from LeBron and Kobe to Pat Riley and Coach K, he saw that his important lessons weren’t about basketball so much as the inner game of success—right attitude, right commitment, right flow within a team. Now he shares that journey, giving us a view from the inside of what greatness feels like and what it takes. Letters to a Young Athlete offers a proven path for taming your inner voice and making it your ally, through the challenges of failure and success alike.

Download or read book Kyrie Irving written by Clayton Geoffreys and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2015-01-31 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn the Incredible Story of the Boston Celtics' Star Point Guard Kyrie Irving! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device. This holiday season, if you buy the print edition as a gift, you can keep the Kindle edition for yourself! Newly revised for the 2017-2018 NBA season, Kyrie Irving: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Most Versatile Point Guards details the inspirational story of basketball's star, Kyrie Irving. This unauthorized biography of Kyrie Irving highlights his quick ascent into the league as a brilliant passer and scorer. Kyrie Irving, often referred to as Uncle Drew, rivals Golden State Warrior Steph Curry in his incredible ability to control the basketball. Youth basketball players from all across the world view Kyrie Irving highlight reels to learn the ins and outs of passing and dribbling the basketball. Having such extraordinary skills, Kyrie is one of the best point guards in the NBA due to his court vision and ability to pass and score incredibly quickly. His agility is easily among the best in the NBA. Now as a new member of the Boston Celtics, Kyrie has the opportunity to lead his own team. Read on to learn about Kyrie Irving's journey into the league, to his college years at Duke University before ultimately propelling into the NBA. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Childhood and High School Years Training with Pyonin College Years at Duke Kyrie Irving's NBA Career Getting Drafted and Rookie Season All-Star Appearances and the Return of Lebron Three Finals Appearances The Trade to Boston Kyrie's Personal Life Irving's Impact on Basketball Kyrie Irving's Legacy & Future An excerpt from the book: In their early twenties, most young adults are just graduating college and are looking for jobs. Kyrie Irving has yet to reach the veteran years of his career and is already an accomplished multiple-time NBA All-Star, the recipient of the 2012 Rookie of the Year Award, the 2014 NBA All-Star MVP, and an NBA champion at that. Not only that, but Kyrie went to the NBA Finals at a very young age while most NBA players retire without ever having a chance at an NBA championship. However, he would tell you these accolades are par for the course. As he was told by his father, "Stay hungry and humble." This proverb is what continues to drive Kyrie's relentless work both on and off the court. In a league dominated by incredibly talented point guards, there is no choice for aspiring athletes but to be great. For Kyrie, his buttery-smooth ball handling along with his knack for acrobatic finishes around the rim make him stand out from his contemporaries. Irving's game is crafty and elegant. He keeps opponents guessing from the top of the key right down to the bucket. His powerful dribbling ability and superb ambidexterity allow him to keep defenses on their heels. While the 24-second shot clock is ticking, Irving's collection of moves seems to be endless. He zigzags like a chess master. He keeps defenders on their heels and in anticipation of the inevitable and unavoidable show that Irving's hands can do. Tags: Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Kevin Love, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Duke Blue Devils, Duke Basketball, Stephen Curry, Isaiah Thomas, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Rose, Austin Rivers

Download or read book Jayson Tatum the Inspiring Story of One of Basketball s Rising Stars written by Clayton Geoffreys and published by . This book was released on 2019-05-18 with total page 118 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Learn the Inspiring Story of the Boston Celtics' Rising Star, Jayson Tatum! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! One of many riveting reads in the Basketball Biography Books series by Clayton Geoffreys. In Jayson Tatum: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Stars, you will learn the incredible story of one of basketball's emerging stars, Jayson Tatum. Since being drafted by the Boston Celtics in 2017, Tatum has quickly established himself as a versatile and formidable guard to play against. At the time of this writing, Tatum is just twenty-one years old, with his prime years ahead of him. It will be exciting to see how Jayson Tatum continues to hone his game to become one of the next unforgettable guards to play professional basketball. Pick up this unauthorized biography today to learn the inspiring story behind rising star, Jayson Tatum! This is a perfect basketball book for kids or sports fans of all ages. Here is a preview of what is inside this Jayson Tatum biography book: Childhood and Early Life High School Career College Career Getting Drafted, Rookie Season, Playoff Debut On the Rise Jayson Tatum's Personal Life Tatum's Impact on Basketball Legacy and Future An excerpt from this Jayson Tatum biography: The NBA style of basketball has often gone through different evolutions and transformations throughout its history. From its earliest days when big men ruled the paint in a fast-paced style that did not have a three-point line, NBA basketball transformed into a more structured defensive style of play in the '70s. Then, during the '80s and '90s, the game became more physical as teams relied more on a grind-it-out style that involved a lot of one-on-one, man-to-man defense. During the 2000s, we saw teams relying more on superstars as names such as Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, and Dwyane Wade emerged as players you can give the ball to if you want your team to get buckets. This steadily transitioned into a different style of play over the next decade as franchises began to create super teams with three or more All-Stars. However, though there are still super teams in today's era, the style has become more reliant on overall team play instead of just putting the ball in the hands of the team's three All-Stars. We saw the Golden State Warriors playing that way since they won the NBA title in 2015. Though they had many stars on their team, they relied more on spacing and ball movement to win games. This led to the current pace-and-space era where teams rely more on increasing the tempo of the game while spacing the floor with four or more shooters. This pace-and-space era led to the introduction of positionless basketball that demands all five players to bring the ball up, make plays for others, and shoot the ball from the perimeter. You are now seeing frontcourt players 6'7" or taller spacing the floor with their three-point shooting or even playing the point from time to time. Tags: Jayson Tatum biography, Boston Celtics basketball, Jayson Tatum book, books for basketball fans

Download or read book Giannis Antetokounmpo written by Jackson Carter and published by . This book was released on 2020-02-11 with total page 40 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On a sunny, hot day two boys sat on the basketball court of a park in a run-down section of Greece. They casually chatted and laughed as one took off his shoes and gave them to the other boy so that he could have his turn playing the sport it seemed like their long, athletic bodies were built for. But with no formal training, they were clumsy and awkward. No one would have thought to look at the two boys that one of them was destined to be the MVP of the NBA.Giannis Antetokounmpo tells the story of one of the best athletes in the game today, Giannis. From selling trinkets on Greek streets to thrilling sold-out arenas, Giannis has truly persevered and made a name for himself and a life for his family. In Giannis, you will hear the whole story and be inspired to overcome the adversity that you are facing in your life!

Download or read book Giannis written by Mirin Fader and published by Hachette Books. This book was released on 2021-08-10 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The story of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s extraordinary rise from poverty in Athens, Greece, to superstardom in America with the Milwaukee Bucks—becoming one of the most transcendent players in history and an NBA Champion—from award-winning basketball reporter and feature writer at The Ringer Mirin Fader. As the face of the NBA’s new world order, Giannis Antetokounmpo has overcome unfathomable obstacles to become a symbol of hope for people all over the world; the personification of the American Dream. But his backstory remains largely untold. Fader unearths new information about the childhood that shaped “The Greek Freak”—from sleeping side by side with his brothers to selling trinkets on the street with his family to the racism he experienced. Antetokounmpo grew up in an era when Golden Dawn, Greece’s far-right, anti-immigrant party, patrolled his neighborhood, and his status as an illegal immigrant largely prevented him from playing for the country’s top clubs, making his NBA rise all the more improbable. Fader tells a deeply human story of how an unknown, skinny, Black Greek teen, who played in the country’s lowest pro division and was seen as a draft gamble, transformed his body and his game into MVP material. Antetokounmpo’s story has been framed as a feel-good narrative in which everyone has embraced him—watching him grow up, sign a five-year supermax contract extension worth $228 million, and lead the underdog Bucks to the NBA Championship in 2021. Giannis reveals a more nuanced story: how lonely and isolated he felt, adjusting to America and the NBA early in his career; the complexity of grappling with his Black and Greek identities; how he is so hard on himself and his shortcomings—a drive that fuels him every day; and the responsibility he feels to be a nurturing role model for his younger brothers. Fader illustrates a more vulnerable star than most people know, a person who has evolved triumphantly into all of his roles: father, brother, son, teammate, and global icon. **Instant New York Times Bestseller, Los Angeles Times Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Bestseller** **Mirin Fader Selected as the 2021 Sports Media Author of the Year by The Big Lead** **The Sports Librarian’s Best of 2022 – Sports Books**

Download or read book Kobe Bryant written by Clayton Geoffreys and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2014-10-30 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Read about the inspirational story of basketball's star, Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant has been the face of the Lakers dynasty for the past two decades and for good reason. Few players have commanded a basketball court as much as Kobe in historical performances such as his notable 81-point performance in just under 42 minutes of playing time in 2006 against the Toronto Raptors. Whenever Kobe Bryant decides to retire, he is not going to do so on his own terms as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Few players can parallel with Kobe Bryant in terms of competitive fire and will to win. His polarizing figure defines him and makes even those who do not like him at the very least respect him. Read on to learn about the days of when Kobe played alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Robert Horry, Metta World Peace, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol in some of the greatest times of Los Angeles Lakers' basketball history.

Download or read book The Midrange Theory written by Seth Partnow and published by Triumph Books. This book was released on 2021-11-16 with total page 239 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From one of basketball's foremost experts in the field of analytics, a fascinating new perspective on how to watch and think about the game. At its core, the goal of any basketball team is relatively simple: take and make good shots while preventing the opponent from doing the same. But what is a "good" shot? Are all good shots created equally? And how might one identify players who are more or less likely to make and prevent those shots in the first place? The concept of basketball "analytics," for lack of a better term, has been lauded, derided, and misunderstood. The incorporation of more data into NBA decision-making has been credited—or blamed—for everything from the death of the traditional center to the proliferation of three-point shooting to the alleged abandonment of the area of the court known as the midrange. What is beyond doubt is that understanding its methods has never been more important to watching and appreciating the NBA. In The Midrange Theory, Seth Partnow, NBA analyst for The Athletic and former Director of Basketball Research for the Milwaukee Bucks, explains how numbers have affected the modern NBA game, and how those numbers seek not to "solve" the game of basketball but instead urge us toward thinking about it in new ways. The relative value of Russell Westbrook's triple-doubles Why some players succeed in the playoffs while others don't How NBA teams think about constructing their rosters through the draft and free agency The difficulty in measuring defensive achievement The fallacy of the "quick two" From shot selection to evaluating prospects to considering aesthetics and ethics while analyzing the box scores, Partnow deftly explores where the NBA is now, how it got here, and where it might be going next.

Download or read book Kawhi Leonard written by Jackson Carter and published by . This book was released on 2020-02-04 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It's easy to see the dominant athlete that Kawhi Leonard has become and think it was always this way. But that's not the case. Kawhi never fit the stereotypical profile of an NBA Star. He didn't fit the mold of a classic guard or forward and his reserved personality came off as combative and uninterested. Kawhi has built his own brand, and he's done it in his own style. A fiercely loyal and quiet star he is a welcome breath of fresh air in a world where stars are all over social media. In Kawhi Leonard we go deeper to see what drives the NBA's most dominant player. From his father being killed before going to watch Kawhi play to being looked past by top-level college programs. Kawhi hasn't just survived the bumps in the road, he's used them to add fuel to his fire to become the most dominant player in the NBA.

Download or read book Zion Williamson written by Jackson Carter and published by . This book was released on 2019-06-19 with total page 47 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the dark of a Carolina night on the edge of morning, a young man is awoken by an alarm at 6 am. He wakes up, groggy from his sleep and thinks about how easy it would be to hit snooze and go back to sleep. But he knows he is destined for something great, a future that will require a little extra of him, so he laces up his shoes and heads to the gym to outwork the competition before they even wake up."A once in a generation athlete""The most explosive athlete to play the game"People have tried to describe Zion Williamson in a variety of different ways, but none of these descriptions really capture the true essence of who is his. In Zion Williamson we will tell the story of how Zion went viral with his powerful dunks and captured the nation's attention by overcoming a potentially devastating injury.The story of Zion Williamson isn't just a story of someone who was gifted with nearly infinite athletic talent and coasted on it. It's the story of a young man who accepted the challenge of being a highly talented athlete and became Zion, a cultural icon

Download or read book The Last Pass written by Gary M. Pomerantz and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2019-10-22 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The New York Times bestseller Out of the greatest dynasty in American professional sports history, a Boston Celtics team led by Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, comes an intimate story of race, mortality, and regret About to turn ninety, Bob Cousy, the Hall of Fame Boston Celtics captain who led the team to its first six championships on an unparalleled run, has much to look back on in contentment. But he has one last piece of unfinished business. The last pass he hopes to throw is to close the circle with his great partner on those Celtic teams, fellow Hall of Famer Bill Russell. These teammates were basketball's Ruth and Gehrig, and Cooz, as everyone calls him, was famously ahead of his time as an NBA player in terms of race and civil rights. But as the decades passed, Cousy blamed himself for not having done enough, for not having understood the depth of prejudice Russell faced as an African-American star in a city with a fraught history regarding race. Cousy wishes he had defended Russell publicly, and that he had told him privately that he had his back. At this late hour, he confided to acclaimed historian Gary Pomerantz over the course of many interviews, he would like to make amends. At the heart of the story The Last Pass tells is the relationship between these two iconic athletes. The book is also in a way Bob Cousy's last testament on his complex and fascinating life. As a sports story alone it has few parallels: An poor kid whose immigrant French parents suffered a dysfunctional marriage, the young Cousy escaped to the New York City playgrounds, where he became an urban legend known as the Houdini of the Hardwood. The legend exploded nationally in 1950, his first year as a Celtic: he would be an all-star all 13 of his NBA seasons. But even as Cousy's on-court imagination and daring brought new attention to the pro game, the Celtics struggled until Coach Red Auerbach landed Russell in 1956. Cooz and Russ fit beautifully together on the court, and the Celtics dynasty was born. To Boston's white sportswriters it was Cousy's team, not Russell's, and as the civil rights movement took flight, and Russell became more publicly involved in it, there were some ugly repercussions in the community, more hurtful to Russell than Cousy feels he understood at the time. The Last Pass situates the Celtics dynasty against the full dramatic canvas of American life in the 50s and 60s. It is an enthralling portrait of the heart of this legendary team that throws open a window onto the wider world at a time of wrenching social change. Ultimately it is a book about the legacy of a life: what matters to us in the end, long after the arena lights have been turned off and we are alone with our memories. On August 22, 2019, Bob Cousy was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Download or read book Kevin Durant written by Clayton Geoffreys and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2014-12 with total page 156 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In Kevin Durant: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Greatest Small Forwards, you'll read about the inspirational story of basketball's star, Kevin Durant. Kevin Durant started his career as the face of the Thunder dynasty upon entering the league in 2007 as the second overall pick. After a nine-year stint with the Thunder, Durant opted to sign with the Golden State Warriors in the 2016 offseason. Reflecting back on Durant's time in OKC, the team came a long way, becoming one of the perennial Western Conference contenders during his tenure. Playing alongside athletic and talented players like Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka, and Reggie Jackson, Durant had the opportunity to lead the Thunder to several deep playoff runs behind the helm of Coach Scott Brooks. While he did not win a championship with the Thunder, Durant accomplished quite a bit with Russell Westbrook in his nine years in OKC. Time will tell what he will be able to accomplish with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green in Golden State. In this book, you’ll learn about Kevin’s incredible story to the NBA. Kevin Durant has had an incredible basketball career playing in the National Basketball Association. In this short book, we will learn about how Kevin became the star MVP small forward that he is today. Starting first with his childhood and early life, we'll learn about Kevin Durant prior to entering the NBA, his time in the NBA, along with his impact on Oklahoma City"--P. [4] of cover.