In basketball, as in most sports, a large part of a coach's responsibility is to prepare his or her team for games. Yet, little time in practice is typically devoted to readying the players and coaches for specific game situations. For instance, what are the various ways to use dead ball moments to maximum advantage? What adjustments should be made to launch a comeback in particular circumstances? When is it favorable to purposefully miss a foul shot? In Odds-On Basketball Coaching: Crafting High-Percentage Strategies for Game Situations, Michael J. Coffino presents an innovative system for coaches to prepare for specific game scenarios. Coffino challenges coaches to think differently about what they emphasize in practice, placing greater value on preparing for recurring game situations, crafting strategies by assessing the odds, and creating a culture that elevates how players think about the game. Each chapter begins with an actual game scenario that illustrates the chapter's content and includes discussions of notable college and professional basketball games in order to demonstrate specific points. Odds-On Basketball Coaching provides a framework for making game decisions beyond instincts and habits. It is intended, more than anything, to stimulate coaches and players to think comprehensively and realistically about how to approach games and practices, fostering an environment where everyone can more incisively make game-time decisions. While high school and youth basketball coaches will find this book most helpful, coaches at all levels will benefit from this novel approach to the game.

Thirty years after Michael Jordan's first NBA game comes an oral history of his legendary career, told by the men who played with him and against him, coached him, and witnessed first-hand the iconic greatness of the most dominant athlete sports has ever seen. FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH: Larry Bird * Magic Johnson * Phil Jackson * Reggie Miller * Isiah Thomas * Reggie Theus * Chris Mullin * Doug Collins * Dominique Wilkins * Steve Kerr * John Paxson * David Stern * Gregg Popovich * Derek Harper * Bill Walton * Karl Malone * Horace Grant * Joe Dumars * Danny Ainge * B.J. Armstrong * Marv Albert * Grant Hill * Jerry Colangelo * Bill Cartwright * Jerry Reinsdorf * Johnny Bach * Rod Thorn * Rick Barry * Kevin Loughery * David Axelrod * President Barack Obama * and many more! Written by Sam Smith-author of the New York Times bestseller The Jordan Rules and recent inductee into the NBA Hall of Fame-There is No Next assembles a cast of Hall-of-Famers, teammates, opponents, coaches, and others who experienced the ferocious drive and unparalleled greatness that defined Jordan's career. Packed with previously untold stories and stunning insight into Jordan and his six championships, There is No Next is the last word on why there has never been, and will never be, another Michael Jordan. -- Sam Smith * There Is No Next: NBA Legends on the Legacy of Michael Jordan *

This tour-de-force graphic biography explores basketball superstar Michael Jordan s public successes and private struggles, with Santiago s passion for his subject shining through on every full-color page. At the age of 19, Jordan scored the winning jump shot in the final seconds of the 1982 NCAA Championship, earning him the moniker Air. He was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984, a team with a decade of failure. By 1991, Jordan led the Bulls to their first NBA championship, besting Magic Johnson and the L.A. Lakers. In 1992, Michael Jordan joined the Dream Team, an assembly of 12 legendary NBA players who steamrolled everyone at the Barcelona Olympics and brought the gold back home. Despite taking a season off to try his hand at professional baseball, Jordan still led the Bulls to three consecutive NBA Championships. However, his life is not without controversies or calamities, and no amount of success or money can shield him from it. But everyone wanted to be like Mike, and Santiago comes closer than anyone to putting you on the parquet floor of the Chicago s United Center in your very own pair of Air Jordans."

In his first memoir written especially for young readers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar will focus on his relationships with several important coaches in his life - including his father, his high-school coach and Coach Wooden - as he tells the story of his life and career. Like many kids in elementary school, Kareem (then Lew Alcindor) struggled with fitting in, pleasing a strict father, and severe shyness that made him socially awkward. Unlike most kids, he also had to grapple with a sudden growth spurt that shot him up taller than pretty much everyone around him, including students, teachers, and even his own father. His increasing fame as a basketball player throughout high school brought new challenges as this shy boy was shoved into the national spotlight. At the same time, social unrest in the country, particularly involving the growing civil rights movement, tugged at his conscience as he tried to find his place in it. After all, he was just a kid. What could he do? Recruited to UCLA, his fame as an unstoppable center made him a college superstar. But as his fame rose, so did the social turmoil in the country: Vietnam War protests, Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., large-scale riots, the Women's Movement. He could have hidden from all the turmoil as a sports celebrity, but he chose to join in the social evolution. The result was converting to Islam and changing his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The public backlash was blistering, but he didn't waver.

Journey "inside the numbers" for an exceptional set of statistical tools and rules that can help explain the winning, or losing, ways of a basketball team. "Basketball on Paper" doesn't diagram plays or explain how players get in shape, but instead demonstrates how to interpret player and team performance. Dean Oliver highlights general strategies for teams when they're winning or losing and what aspects should be the focus in either situation. He describes and quantifies the jobs of team leaders and role players, then discusses the interactions between players and how to achieve the best fit. Oliver conceptualizes the meaning of teamwork and how to quantify the value of different types of players working together. He examines historically successful NBA teams and identifies what made them so successful: individual talent, a system of putting players together, or good coaching. Oliver then uses these statistical tools and case studies to evaluate the best players in history, such as Magic Johnson, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Charles Barkley and how they contributed to their teams' success. He does the same for some of the NBA's "oddball" players-Manute Bol, Muggsy Bogues, and Dennis Rodman and for the WNBA's top players."Basketball on Paper" is unique in its incorporation of business and analytical concepts within the context of basketball to measure the value of players in a cooperative setting. Whether you're looking for strategies or new ideas to throw out while watching the ballgame at a sports bar, Dean Oliver's"Basketball on Paper" will give you amazing new insights into teamwork, coaching, and success.

Bingo!: Forty Years in the NBA is the memoir of legendary Los Angeles Clippers and sports broadcaster Ralph Lawler. Bingo! covers Lawler's extraordinary life and career, from his childhood in Peoria, Illinois; through his time at Bradley University; to the beginning of his sports announcing career at the Riverside International Raceway; his years spent in Philadelphia with the Flyers, Phillies, and 76ers; his stint in San Diego with the Sails and the Chargers; and culminating in his 40-year career with the Clippers. Along the way, basketball and the NBA is the focus of the book, with Lawler's observations and stories about players, coaches, and teams from the 1940s through his retirement at the close of the 2019 season forming the core of the narrative. Included among the myriad stories and reflections are his relationships with NBA legend Bill Walton, infamous Clippers owner Donald Sterling, Clippers GM and NBA great Elgin Baylor, and a variety of famous players, coaches, and fellow broadcasters from throughout the NBA. As Lawler used to memorably say from behind the microphone, "Fasten your seatbelts!" Bingo! is a fun-filled journey through professional basketball, with plenty of "Oh me, oh my!" moments, including the definitive answer to the burning question all NBA fans want to know: What are the origins of Lawler's Law?

A thoroughly obsessive, intermittently uplifting, and occasionally unbiased account of the Duke-North Carolina basketball rivalry

In 1943, at the North Carolina College for Negroes, Coach John McLendon was on the verge of changing basketball forever. His team was the highest-scoring team in America, and yet they faced danger whenever they traveled backcountry roads. Across town, the best squad on Duke University's campus wasn't the Blue Devils, but an all-white team from the medical school. They were prepared to take on anyone -- until an audacious invitation arrived. THE SECRET GAME is the story of a long-buried moment in the nation's sporting past. A riveting account of a barrier-shattering game, the evolution of modern basketball - and the coming of a new America.

In a city mired in endless decay, where the youth suffer through all the horrors of urban blight, hope comes in a most unassuming form: a tiny brick schoolhouse run by two Felician nuns where a singular basketball genius takes teenagers from the mean streets of Jersey City and turns them into champions on the hardcourt. Coach Bob Hurley had been working miracles at St. Anthony High School for over thirty years, winning state and national championships and offering his players rescue from their surroundings through college scholarships, when he met his most dysfunctional team yet. In "The Miracle of St. Anthony" Adrian Wojnarowski follows Hurley through a gripping and heartrending season as he struggles to lead a troubled team to glory through his unparalleled understanding of the game and his ceaseless determination to see no more children lost to these streets.

In "The Miracle of St. Anthony," acclaimed sports journalist Adrian Wojnarowski follows Hurley through a gripping and heartrending season, as he struggles to lead a troubled team to glory through his unparalleled understanding of the game and his ceaseless determination to see no more children lost to the city streets.
Acclaim for "The Miracle of St. Anthony: "
aIt takes two ingredients to make a book special: a great story and a great storyteller. "The Miracle of St. Anthony" has both. Bob Hurley is a remarkable coach; Adrian Wojnarowski is his equal as a writer.a
aJOHN FEINSTEIN, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF "A SEASON ON THE BRINK"
aTakes you through this miracle season where this high school basketball team didnat have the greatest talent but somehow came out on top . . . [Coach Hurley] is dedicated to these city kids and helping them overcome the obstacles that the city can offer. A lot of his lessons are not about basketball, but about life, and doing things the right way.a
aBILL RAFTERY, "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL"
aCompelling.a
a"Chicago Tribune"
aA classic.a
a"Boston Globe"
aAstonishinga
a"New York Post"
aHard to put down.a
a"The Washington Post"

If you have ever watched a champion make that impossible three-point shot in the game's final seconds, you know that mental skills are absolutely critical to all-around success, on and off the court. No one understands this better than coaching legend Dale Brown and renowned sport consultant Dr Kevin Burke, the co-authors of this book. Together, they share their expertise and techniques to bring the mental aspect of the game under every player's control. They stress preparation, practice, and performance in attaining these vital psychological skills: Concentration; Teamwork; Relaxation; Confidence; Strong Ethics and Fair Play. This book gives players the tools to improve their mental game plan; a way for coaches to teach successful psychology techniques; and a way for parents to be supportive and involved in a player's development.

Basketball was originally designed to be a team game, but today's players are growing up in a culture that focuses on the individual. In Teamwork, Mike Huff calls coaches and athletes to return to basketball's essence, by focusing on The 7 Essentials of Teamwork: communication, leadership, humility, roles, team spirit, a winning attitude, and collective responsibility. The lessons in this book will enable coaches to teach life lessons that help players become winners on and off the court. "Mike Huff addresses a serious issue in the basketball culture changing from an emphasis on the team to an increased focus on the individual. He calls coaches to lead the way in returning the focus where it belongs, which is on the team first. Teamwork: Rediscovering the Essence of Basketball will help any coach who is interested in teaching the game of basketball and important life lessons through basketball." -Mike Kryzyzewski, Head Coach, Duke University Basketball "Building a great team and a championship level culture are two of the biggest challenges a coach faces every season. Using his extensive experience and knowledge as a player and coach, Mike Huff provides valuable insight into the nuances of these important concepts. Every coach should have this book in his or her library." -Greg Dale, Director of Sport Psychology and Leadership Programs for Duke University Athletics

So you're thinking about volunteering to coach youth basketball? Great You're in for a fun, rewarding experience. Whether you're new to the sport and looking for some guidance or you're a seasoned coach hunting for some fresh tips, "Coaching Basketball For Dummies" will help you command the court with confidence.

Each friendly chapter is packed with expert advice on teaching the basics of basketball--from dribbling and shooting to rebounding and defending--and guiding your kids to a fun-filled, stress-free season. You get a crash course in the rules and regulations of the game, as well as clear explanations of what all those lines, circles, and half-circle markings mean on the court. You'll assign team positions, run great practices, and work with both beginning and intermediate players of different age groups. You'll also see how to ramp up your players' skills and lead your team effectively during a game. This book will also help you discover how to: Develop your coaching philosophyUnderstand your league's rulesConduct a preseason parents' meeting--crucial for opening the lines of communicationTeach offensive and defensive strategiesKeep your kids healthy and injury-freeEncourage good sportsmanshipMake critical half-time adjustments during a gameHelp struggling playersAddress discipline problems and handle difficult parentsCoach an All-Star or Travel team

Complete with numerous offensive and defensive drills and tips for helping your kids relax before a game, "Coaching Basketball For Dummies" is the fun and easy way to get the score on this worthwhile endeavor

A complete basketball guide and training book that'll upgrade your b-ball game to a higher level. Learn the secrets of ball handling techniques, shooting techniques, passing, defense, rebounding and much more. Your game is guaranteed to go from a D- to a A+ within a couple of months. Its easy and its fun.

In the ranks of NCAA college basketball, Duke University is like something scraped off the bottom of a shoe. It's like a nasty virus you catch from a door handle at a public toilet.""

No team in sports is as uniquely hated as those smug, entitled, floor-slapping, fist-pumping, insufferable Blue Devils. The loathing has almost reached the level of a religion. Christian Laettner is a punk. Amen. The Cameron Crazies are obnoxious. The Plumlees are worthless times three. Coach K is a jerk. Kumbaya.

The team is dogged by an intense hatred that no other team can match--and for good reason. Millions of hoops fans and March Madness aficionados around the world are not imagining things. Duke really is evil, and within the pages of "Duke Sucks," Reed Tucker and Andy Bagwell show readers exactly why Duke deserves to be so detested. They bruise and batter the Blue Devils with fact after fact, story after story, statistic after statistic. They build an airtight case that could stand up in a court of law.

So sit back in your "I Hate Duke" t-shirt, and in true Duke fashion, force someone poorer than you to do your work as you crack open the ultimate guide to Duke suckitude.

As a coach I always find one of the most challenging parts of my job is keeping the players motivated. One of the best ways I have found for doing this is to vary the drills I use in practice. Drills provide a powerful opportunity for coaches because they combine so many important elements of training at once. Drills can train all fundamental skills. They train the team to work together in speed, agility and execution. The flowing repetition of the drill allows the training to become second nature to the players. Using new and varied drills and incorporating them into our practices, we train a wide variety of fundamental skills and variations on basic offensive plays like the fast break. I have found that drills are often overlooked as an asset in coaching. No matter where I am coaching whether at a clinic, or watching the practice of a club in Europe, South America, an NCAA or high school team. I see that coaches around the world often get into a routine of the same drills every practice. If a drill becomes routine, then the players will lose interest and focus. I was inspired to write this book after coaching a group of professional players in the Euro2003 tournament in Spain. to my drills. Other coaches who attended the tournament also said my drills were unique and asked me to share my techniques with them.

Ernie Johnson Jr. has been in the game a long time. With one of the most recognized voices in sports broadcasting, he is a tireless perfectionist when it comes to preparing and delivering his commentary. Yet he knows that some of sports' greatest triumphs--and life's greatest rewards--come from those unscripted moments you never anticipated. In this heartfelt, gripping autobiography, the three-time Sports Emmy Award-winner and popular host of TNT's Inside the NBA provides a remarkably candid look at his life both on and off the screen. From his relationship with his sportscaster father to his own rise to the top of sports broadcasting, from battling cancer to raising six children with his wife, Cheryl, including a special needs child adopted from Romania, Ernie has taken the important lessons he learned from his father and passed them on to his own children. This is the untold story, the one Ernie has lived after the lights are turned off and the cameras stop rolling. Sports fans, cancer survivors, fathers and sons, adoptive parents, those whose lives have been touched by a person with special needs, anyone who loves stories about handling life's surprises with grace--Unscripted is for all of these.

Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden once said, "People say Morgan Wootten is the best high school basketball coach in the country. I disagree. I know of no finer coach at any level--high school, college, or pro."

Morgan Wootten has retired from coaching, but his knowledge of the game remains unsurpassed and keen as ever. "Coaching Basketball Successfully" contains a wealth of Wootten's timeless wisdom. And, in this third edition, Wootten adds even more value--the coaching experiences, methods, and tactics of his son Joe, a successful high school coach himself.

Loaded with insights, instruction, drills, and Xs and Os, "Coaching Basketball Successfully" is the best single resource on making the most of your program, team, and players each season.