The Blue Team: A Novel about Faith and Basketball

by Peter Young

"Having played and coached basketball most of my life, I loved The Blue Team." Joe Harrington - Former Division I head basketball coach & NBA assistant.The Blue Team is destined to become the classic basketball novel like “The Natural” is to baseball.Thomas Conner wants to be the next Larry Bird. First he must navigate the demands of college basketball and the dangers of life on a city campus.A budding romance and friendship with a recovering alcoholic provide unexpected distractions. But when his identity is challenged by a pompous teammate and a dirty opponent, Thomas boils over in frustration, nearly destroying his career. Like all basketball players, Thomas learns that a great jump shot won’t solve his problems, and the game of basketball will never see another Larry Bird.Peter Young’s debut novel probes the heart and reveals the soul of a basketball player, answering the age-old question—who is my greatest adversary?More than just a basketball novel, The Blue Team is a coming of age story that explores the complexities of father-son relationships and the challenge of putting your identity in who you are rather than what you do.“Shooting a basketball is one of the most beautiful things in the world. But ... in a game there is always a defender, a hand, an elbow—someone, something—either running at you or already there to contest your shot. You have to shoot it quicker, release it higher, fade away, or absorb the contact from the defender and still make the shot. Even in the frenetic conditions of a game, the shot is still beautiful.”

330 pages, Paperback

Published December 15, 2023

About the author

Brigadier Peter Young, DSO, MC & 2 bars was a British soldier & WWII veteran. He served with the Commandos during that war, ultimately commanding a Brigade. After the war, he commanded a regiment on secondment to the Jordanian Arab Legion. After his retirement from the army, he became a lecturer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, and eventually also a well-respected author of books on Military History, particularly with reference to the Second World War, the English Civil War & the Napoleonic Wars.

Reviews

[Walter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, great lessons,and a great read. I loved every page of it!

The ending I didn't' like, it was part of the learning for me. Our focus should on Jesus and then He will take care of the rest.
Basketball is a great game and it is identical to life! There slot of ups and downs, lots of change. Each game is different and each day of life is different. There is no way to do it by ourselves, we need God!
I would highly recommend it if you are a college basketball fan. Definitely one of my favorite reads of my life!

[Bradley Strand · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 5 PT basket for sure!!

I really enjoyed this story. Well written and hard to put down. If you love basketball you will love the story. I have played,coached and cheered from the stands and I have never felt so good after reading The Blue Team. I will be buying this book for my grandson for sure, he loves playing and watching basketball. Don't miss this opportunity to feel positive . A great team building book.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about faith and priorities.