1984

The NBA draft of 1984 was probably one of the most talented ever. Four players from this draft would be named in the NBA's fifty greatest players of all time. In his book Tip-Off: How the 1984 Draft changed Basketball Forever Filip Bondy looks at the events that led to the draft, and how it unfolded. Bondy looks at various players taken in the draft, how they performed in college, before and during the draft, and their careers after being drafted.

The book starts with the number one pick Hakeem Olajuwon, the most talented big man in the draft who also had unlimited potential. Discovered in Nigeria, he would be drafted by Houston and would win two championships with them. Next was Sam Bowie who went to Portland at number two. Bowie was the second best big man in the draft, but unfortunately he spent most of his career injured and was never able to show off his talent. Bowie of course become more famous as a trivia question because he was drafted before Michael Jordan. Jordan went at number three to Chicago and the rest is history. little needs to be said about arguably the greatest player of all time. Pick number five was Philadelphia's and they choose Charles Barkley one of the greatest rebounders and scorers to ever play in the NBA. He only stood 6' 4" but regularly outplayed opponents who were up to a foot taller than him. A reporter described his game in college as "Porky Pig going berserk on a trampoline." Finally at pick sixteen the Jazz selected John Stockton who became one of the best pure point guards in the NBA. When he retired he had more assists and steals than any other player.

Bondy has written an interesting and readable book that explores the reasons behind the picks and the individuals that made the decisions, and the players they were deciding on. A great read for any basketball fan, I feel lucky that I was able to watch these players do what they did best.

Basketball God

I love playing and watching basketball, and I also love reading about players and coaches as well. I have just finished Robert Cherry's Wilt. Larger Than Life and I must say it was a great read.

It is always hard to say who the greatest basketballer was, or is, different eras played in different ways, and it is more than just comparing statistics and championships. But some players are always going to stand out, Jerry West, Michael Jordan, Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Oscar Robinson and the list goes on. One name who would be near the top of most lists is Wilt Chamberlain.

Cherry's book does a great job of exploring this complex individual, while also highlighting the amazing things he could do on a basketball court. Some of the records he holds will never be broken, and it is rare to find someone of his height 7'1" who was so athletic.

Some of his stats:

Career average of 30.1 points per game (equal first)

Career average of 22.9 rebounds per game (first)

Career average of 45.8 minutes per game (first)

Only player to score 100 points in a game

Only player to grab 55 rebounds in a game

Only centre to lead the league in assists

4 time league MVP

Won Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same year ('59-'60)

A book for all fans of the game.

Showtime

Phil Jackson is an outstanding basketball coach. 9 NBA titles are proof of this, but he is also a great writer about the sport. I just finished The Last Season. A team in search of its soul and enjoyed it immensely. Jackson is considered a bit of a scruffy revolutionary in the basketball world because he can be unconventional, he practices Buddhism, leads his team in meditation, splices scenes from movies into his game review tapes and has a strong connection with Native American beliefs.

The book deals with the 2003-04 season and the Lakers attempts to win their fourth title in five years. It is fun following the ups and downs of the team on the court as well as the classing ego's of the two best players on the team, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. The book also shows what a coach has to go through to try and get a team to play as one, tactician, psychologist, father figure, disciplinarian and personnel manager.

The book is also interesting in its comments about umpiring, and how subjective it is. In the NBA TV ratings decide many things so stars are allowed to get away with more than rookies. So when an umpire calls a nothing foul for the second time in a quarter on a star then the umpire is sending a message to the team, back off. If a player insults an umpire in a previous match, then other umpires in subsequent matches will even the score. And on it goes.

Would the Lakers make it to the finals, would they win? History records that they lost in the Finals to the Detroit Pistons but it was a hell of a ride.

If you like basketball and want to know about what goes on behind the scenes then this is a great read. Highly recommended.

Go Suns!

Jack McCallum spent a year with the Phoenix Suns and wrote about it in his outstanding book :07 Seconds or Less. My Season on the Bench with the Runnin' and Gunnin' Phoenix Suns. This wonderful book shows what it is like to play professional basketball in the NBA. Players and coaches all appear in this book and it is a great way to see what happens behind the scenes, and the work that the average fan doesn't see. The fact that coaches spend up to 18 hours a day in each others company talking basketball for seven months of the year, the trainer whose job it is to make sure players equipment, bags and the such get from city to city, and the great job of making sure players don't get into trouble on days off.

You also see the pain, and pressure players are put under when they play for a championship contender.

Overall a great read, it's taken me about a day to finish it. One for basketball fans, and sports fans. By the way the title refers to how long the Suns are expected to pass the ball around in offence before taking a shot.

Hibatchi!

Ever wondered what it feels like to be a professional sports star in America? Then check out Gilbert Arenas' blog called Agent Zero (after the number he wears).

Arenas is a superstar in the basketball world and a genuine character, he calls out 'Hibatchi' when he shoots 3 pointers.

He has a great sense of humour, and is one of the few players to wear low cut sneakers.

Anyway check out his blog and enjoy the fun, and madness.