The Hoops Whisperer: On the Court and Inside the Heads of Basketball's Best Players

by Idan Ravin

Basketball’s most unlikely—and most sought-after—training guru offers an inside look at his career, his methods, and the all-star players whose games he’s helped transform. Where do the best basketball players in the world turn when they want to improve their game? Whom does a future NBA Hall of Famer thank at his press conference when he’s named Rookie of the Year? Who is it that Sports Illustrated, The Wall Street Journal, and Men’s Journal all call the "Hoops Whisperer" because of his ability to engage, inspire, and challenge the players he trains? The answer to all of these questions is Idan Ravin.Ravin never played or coached in college or the pros, yet a virtual NBA All-Star team relies on him to better their game and reach their full potential. A soft-spoken former lawyer, Ravin has become professional basketball’s hottest trainer.In The Hoops Whisperer, Ravin shares the fascinating story of how he transformed a passion for the game into working with iconic basketball stars such as Chris Paul, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Stephen Curry, Blake Griffin, James Harden, Dwight Howard, and many more.  He offers a rare unguarded glimpse inside the lives of these great athletes, drawn from his intimate connection with them that is the basis of his success. Showcasing his unorthodox drills and improvisational techniques in action, Ravin reveals how faith, effort, dedication, and passion can make a player into a superstar—and anyone into a success. Combined with his own inspiring journey, Ravin’s insights make The Hoops Whisperer a must-read for anyone who loves the game. 

Genres: Sports, Basketball, Nonfiction, Audiobook

266 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

Once upon a time I was an unhappy lawyer sitting behind a big desk staring at a big pile of work I didn't want to do. Over time, I gradually discovered something I loved, pivoted from law, and create a new life for myself.

These days, I train many of the best basketball players in the world and have been given the nickname "The "Hoops Whisperer"​ because I can engage, inspire and develop these athletes. My unlikely transition from practicing law to training NBA and WNBA superstars and celebrities, along with my unconventional methods, hopefully have been a source of inspiration, and even became the subject of lengthy features in the Wall Street Journal, Men's Journal, Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Sports Illustrated, the New York Times, the New York Post, the New Yorker, the Boston Globe, and Forbes, among others. I've also been featured on television & radio, such as "The Revolution"​ & "Extreme Makeover Body Edition"​ on ABC, NBA Inside Stuff, NBA Inside Access, NBA Fit , NBA Real TV, ESPN, Nike/Brand Jordan commercials & documentaries, Playboy Radio, CBS Sports, ESPN Radio, NPR, etc.

Hoping to inspire people to do what they love, I penned, The Hoops Whisperer, published by Penguin Books, which became a best seller and featured in the Boston Globe, the New York Post, Men's Fitness, SLAM, among others. My debut children's book, It Takes Patience, draws on more than a decade of experience training basketball superstars and explores the themes I developed in my first book, The Hoops Whisperer. My experience helping transform athletes into their best selves translates into a new medium with It Takes Patience, offering inspiration and wisdom for children and parents alike.

Along with my in professional sports, I've become an active investor, keynote speaker, entrepreneur and spokesperson for global brands. I also like to learn, and have a Master of Science in Kinesiology, a law degree (Juris Doctor), a Bachelor in Science in Finance, and a Bachelor in Science in Marketing.

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are about 10-20 pages of valuable insight and wisdom scattered throughout this 215-page meditation on the greatness of Idan Ravin, who shows himself to excel at two things:

1) Offering unconventional private coaching to basketball players of all skill levels
2) Promoting himself and everything he believes in

I was familiar with Item #1 after reading Chris Ballard's chapter on Ravin in The Art of a Beautiful Game several years back. Item #2 took a while to fully reveal itself, but it's there from the first pages of this book, which functions as a bitter screed against the basketball establishment that has rejected Ravin (never because he is at fault in any way, and always recounted in painstaking detail) as well as a self-congratulatory explanation of how he (and, by implication, he alone) has changed the career trajectories of Kevin Durant, Chris Paul, LeBron James, and a host of other luminaries.

The level of false modesty got thick enough to choke on after a few chapters, in which Ravin offers standard-issue disclaimers about his inability to take credit, which would be more convincing if unaccompanied by in-depth examinations of the myriad ways in which his singular training methods have allowed each NBA star to fulfill his potential. Each chapter took the same pattern: name-dropping, mixed in with hyper specific recollections of how much Ravin helped the player under discussion, with some gushing about how each individual he has ever mentored is one of the 15-20 smartest, humblest, most extraordinary humans who has ever walked the earth. (He attributes wholly positive attributes to all but a few players - as much as I love the NBA and its members, I am fully aware of the arrogance that all but a few of them possess, and for Radin to gloss this over makes him look like either their lackey or someone of equal brashness.) Each chapter also gets an epigraph in the form of one of Radin's pretentious tweets, complete with hashtags straight out of a generic motivational speaker's manual.

I understand why Radin has found success in a league where too often nobody wants to think outside the box, and I can see why people might have wanted him to share some of his secrets. I just think he could have done so in a short magazine article, instead of in a rambling book that leaves an impartial reader wondering how anyone could spend weeks or months training with its author.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

fun to read about his growing up very near me [if I warmed up well I could almost throw a baseball to his high school] obsessed with basketball but not being good enough to play in college. very relatable. And I cheered as he blew off being bored at his law firm in order to make a living in the game, providing individual coaching/training for NBA/WNBA players.

......but then the rest of the book. One after another self-congratulatory chapter about the little flaws he identified in [fill in name of great player here], clever drills he developed to help improve that player, dumb coaches who should have listened and appreciated rather than being territorial about their players, ignorant public who mistakenly believe that player is a thug, etc. etc. etc. Reads like a promo for his next gig ("say, I'm a great guy who's misunderstood within the association too -- i wonder if showing up for a couple early morning workouts with this guy would make me the next KD. I'm in!").

[AndrewH · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hoops Whisperer is about Idan Ravin and him being a trainer for basketball players. The first thought I had in my head after reading the blurb was: "This is a guy that has never played or coached college basketball, let alone professional basketball and yet, many NBA All-Stars depend on him to help them perform to their full potential!" There isn't much to go on about this book as most of it is talking about the players and their training. One of the main reasons I loved this book was because it was about my favorite sport and because Idan, the author didn't write about professional players as people that were like gods, he wrote about them like they were just like the other billions of people playing basketball, just trying to get better every day.

[PaulL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look in the future no the past

[Kaitlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely recommending this to anyone that loves the game of basketball as much as I do - and I LOVE the NBA more than most things. Very easy, quick read. I loved hearing about his interactions with different teams/coaches/players and getting a behind-the-scenes kind of look at the game that I love so much. I think anyone interested in the sport would find this book entertaining.

[Nick Jezarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is candy for any hoops junkie. Liked the mix of philosophy and human relationship insight. Would love to have learned more about the individual players. That said, this is an easy fun read that I finished in a day and a half.

[Aynat Ravin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read - even if I am biased, that it's my brother's book. The book is far from a bball training manual. It explores a personal journey, faith, and dreams. Check it out!

[Tim Baumgartner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a remarkable story—to most people—as to who has been able to get into the ears of the best basketball players in the world. This man never played basketball past high school, never coached teams beyond those in middle school, and doesn’t ‘look’ the part either. Nevertheless, his pure love for the game has opened up the most unlikely of doors. The man’s name is Idan [ee-Don, Rah Veen] Ravin. He has become arguably the most sought-out basketball work-out specialist in the world. If you name the player, he has likely worked them out to help them get to the next level. His basic strategy has been to reach out the child within that loves the game. Once this is established, he pushes them to want to be the best they can be. The players, although superstars, become vulnerable with him and he tries to help them to see things they haven’t been able to overcome before. He usually does it in environments that are secluded, with no pressure from official coaches or ‘higher-ups.’ This inner circle of trusted athletes keep referring Ravin and now he is just living a dream.

There are three main parts to the book. The first couple of chapters share his upbringing and how he got to be as influential as he has. The bulk of the book includes chapters dedicated to how he interacted with various NBA [and WNBA] stars. The last portion includes some reflections of his regarding his philosophy of impacting people's lives.

The following includes quotes from the book that I found interesting:

I wanted him [Chris Paul] to become more efficient with the ball and give purpose to each dribble. I created drills that required him to go baseline to baseline, offense to defense, and back again, shuttling to every position on the floor in a finite amount of time. This helped him to shrink the court by learning to cover ground faster and with fewer dribbles. (78)

I showed Chris how to dribble while taking a series of lateral steps, not crossing his feet. This keeps his shoulders square to the basket, so that he can move sideways and still square up for a jump shot at any time, while maintaining his ability to shift direction and get free of the defense or run the defender into a ball screen. It was like learning a dance step, awkward at first until he learned the rhythm behind it, but he became so good at it that he could play the game in multiple planes of motion, making him almost impossible to stop. (79)

I created the dribbling sled drill that has been copied in some Under Armour and Gatorade commercials, where a player dribbles the ball while someone stands in front of him pushing against his shoulders like a football sled…I want him to become a bully during our drills.
This sled drill when it’s done right serves an additional purpose. Basketball requires a defensive stance, but spending an extended period of time in that stance can cause tightness in the hips. The pushing motion against the ‘sled’ requires a knee drive that also strengthens and increases the range of motion in the hip. It improves a player’s leverage when his foot strikes and pushes off the ground, which helps with speed and power. I then integrated a ball-handling and sensory component to complement the drill.
During some of our stationary ball-handling drills I would slap at his forearms and even grab his arm and hold his arm as he struggled to move his wrist forward. (82-3)

In general, I keep workouts focused and tight with minimal interruption for things like water or conversation because the theme of efficiency is paramount. Also, I don’t want the player to think he’s running things, as if he is bigger than the game. With younger players or players I haven’t worked with often, during the session they may interrupt a drill by asking me a question, and all the while I’m thinking, You’re just talking to me because you want to rest. Talk to me later. But over the years, you learn whom you can trust, who stops for a reason. If we have a relationship and things have become more advanced, and a player wants to stop, ask questions, grab water—then, sure, of course. And obviously Melo and I have been in that place for a while. (89-90)

Mark Twain said it best: ‘I can live for two months on a good compliment.’ (94)

Experience taught me to never underestimate love; it had a way of creating overachievers. (158)

‘Selfish’ is overloaded with bad connotations in sports, bringing up visions of the playground gunner who shoots every time he touches the ball, the wide receiver who loafs down the field of the pass isn’t coming his way, the batter who won’t hit a grounder to the right side of the infield to move along a runner because he doesn’t want to hurt his stats.
To me, ‘selfish’ means being self-reliant, taking care of yourself and worrying about yourself and your family—which means taking complete responsibility for you. Don’t expect your coaches to help you; don’t expect your buddies to help you; be selfish in your commitment. Survival. This is what it takes. If you’re completely committed to you and your development and your growth, collectively the whole team will get better. Each person’s commitment raises the level of accountability and seriousness; when everyone recognizes how serious each person is and realizes what each one has sacrificed, they won’t allow for any bullsh*%. This is why Kobe is the best teammate as well as the worst: because Kobe is completely selfish. And if you aren’t as selfish as him, he’ll be like, You don’t need to be here.
The opposite of selfishness, in sports-speak, is wanting only to win. That’s the crowd pleaser, the coach-pleaser, the traditional aw-shucks mind-set that teams want to encourage. Winning sounds cool, but winning in professional sports is almost completely out of a player’s control. Think about it:
Winning means the general manager and the front office are on the same page.
Winning means the coach doesn’t have an ego that overrides better judgment.
Winning means having faith in the team’s overall direction even when faced with losses.
Winning means knowing when to adapt even when having success.
Winning means an ownership group has the discipline to step away even when tempted to make an impulsive decision.
Winning means the team stays healthy.
Winning means guys aren’t firing up shots in a contract year because their agents, mothers, wives, and girlfriends hope for a big payoff.
Winning means that there is trust all through the organization. Coaches, players, management, and the medical and training staff all trust one another, so everyone can actually do their work, do what they’re best at without worrying about being undermined from one direction or other.
If all those things go right, then at least you have a chance to win. How many teams does that describe in a given year? How much control do you have over whether you’re playing for one of them? (180-1)

He [Wesley Johnson] need to jump so high on his release; he could create space with a quick jump and even quicker release. I suspected this flaw was tied to his physical gifts—he loved to jump high because he could, but on his shot it was counterproductive. I suggested he save his best leaps for when he’s close to the basket, and we worked on controlling his jump when shooting on the perimeter.
[Push the ball out to retrieve it.
Land on balls of feet to be able to change directions more smoothly after jump stops.
Jump rope everyday.] (199)
The quickest way to lose the respect of a player is to chop his minutes without an apparent reason; the quickest way for a player to lose the respect of a head coach is to publicly challenge his decisions. (207)

The October 26, 2009, edition of SI featured the chapter Chris devoted to me in its NBA preview edition. Even the cover referenced me: THE HOOPS WHISPERER appeared in white capital letters above the photo of Shaq and LeBron on the front above the logo.
[See: http://www.si.com/more-sports/2009/10...] (219)

‘Learn to put the brakes on the Ferrari.’ (223)

To demonstrate the physicality of pro ball, I had them stand in a defensive posture, then I pressed hard with the heel of my hand against their front shoulders and tapped their sternums with my palm to drive them backward, even tugged on their arms to draw them off-balance [to feel the correlation between strength, balance, and contact]. (223)

There were some players in attendance that morning [at Flight Ambassadors] who ignored precision, gave limited effort, feared embarrassment, joked with their peers, and cared more about free product than free instruction. The program wasn’t designed as a clinic for the city’s best players, and a deep love of the game wasn’t a prerequisite. Yet I couldn’t help comparing the young audience with myself at that age. I would have been so eager as a teenager to attend a basketball clinic fronted by a global brand and offering great instruction and access to a basketball-loving community. But not everyone at this session felt the same, and this explained their lack of focus, intensity, and awareness. I wondered if their ambivalence reflected my inability to engage them, or if they were only there to satisfy the vicarious wishes of overzealous parents. (224)

[After being asked if he would work out their kids, he paused and said:]
‘I’m sorry, I can’t.’
Some thought their children could become stars with a little fine-tuning, while others were surprised by my honesty. Plenty of trainers target young people, but I prefer to go in a different direction.
‘Figure out first if they love the game,’ I said.
This meant trusting their children to lead, and even limiting the availability of resources. Would the kids still play ball if there were no organized practices, reserved gyms, trainers, trendy sneakers and gear, health clubs, and coaches? I did, and it became my internal proof of how much the game meant to me, as well as the source of my self-reliance, resourcefulness, and discipline.
‘Of course they love the game,’ the parents answered without hesitation.
‘Would your child really pocket their allowance to save for a rope to skip at home if the trainer wasn’t available? Would they bound the basement stairs if you canceled the gym membership? Would they run sprints on the coldest days at the park if they didn’t have practice at school? Would they shovel snow to clear a path along the driveway to work on their handle if you wouldn’t drive them to the gym?
I didn’t wait for their answers and excused myself before returning to the court. I hoped the parents would convey those rhetorical questions to their children and that the kids would give them some serious thought. (224-5)

‘I’d rather you miss the right way than make the wrong way,’ I said to a few of them. Some understood my message and became more deliberate with their technique. A few made no changes. To those who weren’t giving the effort I hoped, I shared with them that Melo’s smile and CP’s lightheartedness masked a ferocious level of commitment. To those more concerned with their matching outfits, I pointed out that Beats by Dre headphones, fly clothes, and diamond earrings don’t make someone a pro ballplayer. To those reluctant to try, I said that some of the greatest players in the world retreat into their lairs every offseason and, with amazing dedication and focus, labor in private to reinvent themselves in preparation for the new campaign.
The comments still didn’t make a difference for some of them. The game wasn’t that important to them at the moment, perhaps at all. I was disappointed, but it wasn’t my place to make demands; training wasn’t about fulfilling my wants but rather magnifying theirs. Maybe they had already made choices reflecting their interests and gifts without realizing it. Perhaps those whose priority was the matching outfits and trendy sneakers were meant for a creative career in design or fashion. Maybe the ones inclined to chat with friends on the sidelines were meant for a career in sales. And perhaps those reluctant to try were inclined to observe and document, with a future in media, journalism, or publishing.
The goal of the program isn’t to create pro ballplayers. For me, its intention is to socialize its young audience to the process of success. I hoped our session would show that effort, awareness, persistence, diligence, commitment, passion, and faith are necessary in chasing what really matters to you. In fairness to the kids attending, many didn’t know yet what that might be. I hoped they would have the courage and patience to try to discover the answer, and then to experience all the unexpected happiness and necessary sadness that comes with the pursuit of something you love.
When asked to help create the framework for the program many months earlier, I’d thought of four words that seemed to embody its purpose.
‘Flight Ambassadors: Where Dreams Take Flight,’ I had written in an email to a colleague.
I was genuinely shocked when the marketing team decided to use my suggestion, but the words certainly described our intentions. I can’t think of another worthier goal than to help others achieve their dreams. (225-6)

But I have a natural predisposition not to blend with the institution—any institution. [Think about his upbringing].
The NBA represented the big house at the end of the cul-de-sac where the popular neighborhood kids played after school, where the best snacks were served, and where they threw the most lavish birthday parties. It stood for everything I thought I wanted, but the invitation never came. I finally couldn’t wait any longer for a chance, so I hosted my own parties, however small they were. Amazingly enough, word spread about those quiet little parties, and eventually some of the popular kids were knocking at my door and asking if they could come in. The folks in the shiny palace noticed, and they opened their doors and gave me a peek inside. (229-30)

If I knew only basketball, I could reach a player in only one way; when you have only a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Fortunately, I have more tools stashed away in my garage [ways to relate to people]. A good student can learn anything, while a good teacher can teach anything. Learning and teaching both require being receptive to new ideas. (238)

[Zach Bischel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you wanted to be a professional athlete and be a star but life doesn’t take you on the right path, would you want to follow that sport for the rest of your life to help others? After going to college to become a business worker, Idan Ravin realizes that he really want to follow his dream, to play basketball. Idan was the type of person to follow his dreams, maybe not at that high of a level but he still knew he wanted to do a job related to basketball.
After he was cut from his college team, he decided to coach young kids at the YMCA and finally his career exploded as he tried to be an agent for professional players. This didn’t really work out so he took the players of other managers to train and keep them in shape during the off season. He focuses on the weaknesses of the players to further extend the abilities of the players. This book expresses the theme of that there is always a glimpse of hope in everybody, when working with Dwight Howard, a very popular player, Idan really express how Dwight doesn't have to listen to the critics and other people, “In order to reconnect with his younger, joyful self, we started the summer focusing on playing small. He moves better when he's lower to the ground, like a sprinter bursting off the blocks; I told him to envision playing in his daughter’s dollhouse, where he’d have to bend his legs and drip his butt down low to keep from hitting his head on the ceiling. And I told him to ignore all those people who say he can’t shoot. He’d heard over and over that he couldn’t shoot, but I could see that his mechanics on release of his jump shot were good, not perfect, but nothing that needed a serious change. (148) This quote shows that working on your biggest weaknesses not just your strengths can cause you to become the best that you can be. If you keep working on one thing and then you have to come back to your weakness, you will not be able to do it with much success.
If you enjoy The Hoops Whisperer, you may also like Rebound by Kwarme Alexander because The Hoops Whisperer is also about basketball but in the rebound, the main character loves to play basketball, but after his father's death he wants to stay away from thinking about him, after the character steals from his neighbor his mom sends him away to Washington DC to his grandparents as a punishment, here many life changing events happen. I rate the Hoops Whisperer 5 out of 5 stars because it is a very serious book about working on your weaknesses to change yourself for the better, there may be some funny parts but if you really want to learn lessons about following your dreams and passions this book is a very good read.

[Bode Riesterer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever had an issue in your sport and you dont know who to go to? Some people would go to a parent or coach but some people would go to a trainer who helps them with everything from skills to even just mental health. In the story The Hoops Whisperer by Idan Ravin shows how the different players get help when it's needed. They have stories from NBA players and even little kids of how the help changed them.

The story is all about a trainer named Idan Ravin who was called the hoops whisperer. The main character is Idan and he pops through NBA players, WNBA players and younger kids. The setting is all over in arenas or practice courts of the team that the player that he is helping is on. The conflict is all over with whatever the players have problems with like skills or even just mental health. One theme in this story could be One who is a pro in something will always need someone to help them. “The most talented college player in years was coming to me to help him prepare for the draft” (85). This quote shows that even when someone is really good they will need help to be prepared. Carmelo Anthony was a really good college basketball player and was projected to be a top 5 pick in the NBA draft but he still needed help to become the best he could mentally and in all of his skills.

I would recommend this book to anybody who plays sports, especially basketball because it has really good points about how to get better or deal with certain things. If you like this book, you may also like Relentless by Tim Grover. They both are alot about how to get better at the little things that matter in sports. In the hoops whisperer he works with players and shows them while in relentless it's all about different things to focus on when trying to get better and it is very relatable in the books. I rate this book 4 out of five stars because It is a very good read if you are struggling in sports because it will give you ideas to show how you can overcome them. This book is very good in having the chapters being completely connected to what is in them. It also shows all the athletes that struggle but are still on the top and how they deal with struggles.

[Jackson Wadel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever thought of what amazing players of the NBA get better or who they get help from on their game and mental health? Well a young trainer for the NBA named Ravin who is living his dream is who!! In the book The Hoops Whisperer, Ravin shows us how to train many amazing athletes of the national basketball league such as Lebron James, Kevin Durant, ETC.

The hoops whisperer Is a great story of the main character Ravin, a basketball obsessed man who becomes a private trainer for top NBA players. Ravin is seen using unique training styles and we see some of the challenges he faced in his story to be and being a trainer of the NBA. After reading the book I think that the theme is, To be great at something you must be just as strong mentally as physically. I think that is highlighted In this quote. “Anger does not belong in sports” (121). He is telling the story how every time he sees Kobe he shakes his hand because he was always keeping his cool on the court and shows the players how Kobe, an all time player, became that not just because of his strength as a great athlete but also because of his mentality.

If you like this book, you may also like the book, What You’re Made For By: George Raveling and Ryan Holidays Because it is also a book showing lessons they learned throughout their sports career such as the lesson of having a good mentality from the hoops whisperer. Finally I overall rate this book 3.5 out of 5 because it is kinda an all over the place text but it does show you some cool thoughts and is about basketball which I have played for my whole life so if you are an athlete and enjoy a good interesting story the hoops whisperer is for you.

[Cheyenne Nessinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout this book, Idan Ravin talked about some of the people he trained throughout their careers, such as NBA and WNBA players. He had worked with some of the most talented players there are. Some of the players had no skill, needed to lose weight and weren't tall enough to play at a higher level. Since Ravin began to train them, they made their way to the big leagues to become professional basketball players. Their determination helped them strive to become an amazing athlete that knew what they wanted and got it the day they started working with Ravin.

I would recommend this book to anybody who has interest in sports or just needs motivation to become the best player they can be because Ravin had so many supportive quotes, inspirational and motivational sayings that helped create the mindset of becoming the greatest player anybody could become.

[Patrick Schrater · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Brainer for Aspiring Sports Leaders

Idan does a wonderful job of giving insight on his journey and how the unconventional way can get you to heights you never knew of. He provides knowledge of how relationships with your athletes trump all knowledge of the game. He gives examples of how he relates to high profile guys and is in charge of the workout, knowing he can't cower to them because the respect gained is when he does his job of helping players improve wether physically or mentally. Great read and I will recommend it to any aspiring coach, trainer or anyone in a sports leadership role.

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ravin shares the story of how he became a trainer to NBA stars. He seems to have a very thoughtful and technical approach to the sport on an individual level.

I didn’t always agree with his outlook on the sport or life, but he seemed genuine. And I thought his admiration for his mother was charming.

Unfortunately as the author’s success and confidence builds with each chapter, so does his unnecessary reliance on profanity. Otherwise a very interesting look at Ravin’s philosophy on basketball and celebrity.

[Mamba 2489 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Legendary Behind the Scenes Look at Greatness
If you are someone who enjoys Basketball history and the game in general, then The Hoops Whisperer by Idan Ravin is definitely a great read. In the book, Idan uses his Basketball expertise to help Basketball legends in their quest for greatness. Idan also learns valuable lessons for himself along the way. Idan also provides us with life changing advice that is applicable to life outside of Basketball as well. I would rate this book 5 stars out of 5 because overall, this book is a fantastic read and makes for an entertaining story.

[David Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book and the stories that were told. I have played basketball and loved every minute of it. Ravin does a great job writing and expressing his love for the games and all that is associated with it. I enjoyed his stories about the athletes he trains and their efforts to improve. Basketball is truly a great game with much to offer and Ravin does such a good job expressing it greatness.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat engaging read on how Idan Ravin has made his way into working with the some of the biggest (and not-so-big) names in the basketball world. Idan shares his take on some of the realities facing these basketballers, some of his training with them, but more about the mental way that he engages with them.

[Bowen McCasland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading this book. The way he reminds others to simplify this huge aspect of people’s life and remind them the joy behind something they love is so inspiring. Hearing the backstory about his ambitions and the Basketball world was so fascinating to me. If you’re a basketball fan and looking for to rekindle joys/passion behind something you love, this will be a great book for you.

[Nate McHugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a coach I am still looking for books which provide practical tips which I can use for coaching. There are several in this book which I will try and take away and apply when I coach, but it is mainly biographical.

[Michael Plotkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am about 4 chapters in already.
Tough to put down b/c the story line is dope.
Ravin is my new inspiration.
Goes to show how hard work, dedication, commitment to never giving up, and doing what you love to do for the right reasons can result in success and happiness.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about a man who never made the grade as a player, but showed a great talent for bringing the best out of others by using less conventional training methods. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who doesn't have an interest in basketball though.

[Eric Napier · Rating 2 out of 5]

Modestly fun book. Includes some anecdotes about superstar basketball players. Also some good insights about how to practice well - sort of like Geoff Colvin's notion of "directed practice" applied in real life.

[Peter Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading The Hoops Whisperer. If you are a basketball junkie, especially an NBA fan, you'll really enjoy this book. I had never heard of Idan Ravin until I stumbled upon his book on social media. Was surprised to see how many NBA stars he's worked with.

[Gabriele Paganelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si va ben oltre la pallacanestro, che risulta semplicemente il mezzo per esprimere dei concetti profondi ed importanti nella vita di ognuno. Apprezzabili i capitoli corti, la traduzione decisamente meno

[Jude · Rating 2 out of 5]

While some of the stories were cool to read, I came across disliking the author a good bit. The tone came across as arrogant, self-righteous, and holier than thou. Felt like a self propaganda for Ravin with basketball sprinkled into the story, rather than a basketball book

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has touched and inspired me, brought tears on my face, big smiles, and moments of deep stillness as it speaks on so many levels. Idan, who used to be a lawyer and is now a NBA basketball coach, shares moments of his life with us that are real, honest and sometimes heart breaking. But also encouraging and uplifting as one of his main messages is for each and every one of us to WALK OUR OWN PATH. Sharing with us that walking our own path comes with everything that life entails, the unbelievable joy, the tears in moments of loneliness, how much it means to us and the people in our lives when we truly care and put love at the heart of things. Meeting Idan in person has only deepened my deep appreciation, love and respect for him and his journey. Thank you Idan Ravin, and all the people in your book for sharing your path with us <3
And don't miss the chapter on 'words of wisdom' from his little niece: "Because it's my drawing."

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

More about how "amazing" the author is than what he does for the athletes.

[Aaron W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed.

[Coach Blackard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting fact: I read the "Thank you" page of this book and one of the people thanked is an old friend of mine. We played basketball together when I lived in Atlanta.

[Trever Reed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started off kind of interesting, but got less and less interesting as it went on. The author was a bit full of himself, but pretty incredible that he got to where he got to.