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Five Banners: Inside the Duke Basketball Dynasty
On an early morning in 1983, after the worst loss of his career (109-66 against Virginia) and amid the cries of powerful athletics boosters calling for him to be fired, Duke men’s basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski went to breakfast at 2:00 a.m. to vent with friends. Sports journalist and Duke alumnus John Feinstein was at the table. For Coach K, "the night at Denny’s” would mark a turning point in his career and for the team, and eight years later, the Blue Devils would win their first NCAA national championship.
In Five Banners, Feinstein tells the inside history of Coach K’s forty-two-year career at Duke and its five NCAA championships, from the first, against Kansas in 1991, to the most recent, in 2015 against Wisconsin. With unparalleled access to Coach K, the team, and its staff, Feinstein takes readers on a mesmerizing ride into the locker room and onto the court. Full of intimate details, personal memories, and previously untold on- and off-court stories, it is a book that only Feinstein could write.
Feinstein explores a basketball legacy that begins with his days as an undergrad Duke Chronicle reporter covering coaches Bucky Waters and Neill McGeachy (who went 10-16 in one year as head coach), includes the “drought years” of the 1980s and the glory of the teams of the 1990s, and moves into the present day with Jon Scheyer’s succession. Drawing on new interviews, Feinstein highlights the voices of Grant Hill, Nolan Smith, Christian Laettner, Tommy Amaker, and Bobby Hurley, who each bring new insights on the championship years.
Throughout, Feinstein unveils the momentous force of college basketball as a game of intense relationships and intimate conversations. Candid, revelatory, and engrossing, Five Banners is an essential book for all Duke fans and anyone who loves the college game.
In Five Banners, Feinstein tells the inside history of Coach K’s forty-two-year career at Duke and its five NCAA championships, from the first, against Kansas in 1991, to the most recent, in 2015 against Wisconsin. With unparalleled access to Coach K, the team, and its staff, Feinstein takes readers on a mesmerizing ride into the locker room and onto the court. Full of intimate details, personal memories, and previously untold on- and off-court stories, it is a book that only Feinstein could write.
Feinstein explores a basketball legacy that begins with his days as an undergrad Duke Chronicle reporter covering coaches Bucky Waters and Neill McGeachy (who went 10-16 in one year as head coach), includes the “drought years” of the 1980s and the glory of the teams of the 1990s, and moves into the present day with Jon Scheyer’s succession. Drawing on new interviews, Feinstein highlights the voices of Grant Hill, Nolan Smith, Christian Laettner, Tommy Amaker, and Bobby Hurley, who each bring new insights on the championship years.
Throughout, Feinstein unveils the momentous force of college basketball as a game of intense relationships and intimate conversations. Candid, revelatory, and engrossing, Five Banners is an essential book for all Duke fans and anyone who loves the college game.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2024
52 people are currently reading
179 people want to read
About the author
John Feinstein
75 books592 followersJohn Feinstein was an American sportswriter, author, and sports commentator.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
April 1, 2025
Duke is back in the final four. This year the final four features four number one seeds, which is boring if you watch March madness for the Cinderella stories. I have not followed much basketball for years because I grew up in a defensive dominated era, the whole defense wins championships mantra front and center, and I loved watching players at all levels play lock down defense. Now, not so much. One part of basketball I enjoyed was filling out brackets for my dad’s work pool in the day before the internet and everything was done on paper. We each filled out a bracket and then collaborated on the official pick for the pool. Most years I convinced him to turn in two brackets, one with Michigan winning and the other featuring a more realistic champion. In the 1990s most years my champion was either North Carolina or Duke, and for a good stretch of time either or both of those teams made the final four every year, their conference the Atlantic Coast (ACC) being the premier conference and proving ground for championship basketball. Duke did not always measure up to North Carolina. Prior to the early 1980s Duke did not even merit a place in Carolina’s orbit. By the time I watched basketball regularly and lived for the tournament’s opening weekend, both teams were among the best of the best. Duke is back among the upper echelon of the sport so I decided to read a book featuring the school’s first five championships on the eve of the final four.
John Feinstein attended Duke and quickly made a name for himself in the journalism community. In the research triangle region, most sports reporters had attended North Carolina, and Feinstein was one of the few who was pro Duke. His time in Durham predated the Cameron Crazies and ESPN, so he saw the rise of the basketball team from the beginning, starting with the auspicious day in the early eighties when the school chose to hire a young coach from Army who had lead his team to a losing record the year before. Athletic director Tom Butters had a hunch that Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K) would be the one to lead Duke to rival Carolina. After forty two years and 1,202 victories, the most all time, his hunch proved to be correct. Feinstein quickly gained rapport with Coach K and was present at the infamous Denny’s meeting where the coach blasted himself for his team’s failures. One trait that set Coach K apart from other top coaches is that he always blamed himself for his team’s defeats, not wanting to throw his players under the bus. By 1986 his first top recruiting class were seniors and reached the championship game, losing to Kansas. Even though that team did not win Duke’s first title, the team exhibited championship mettle and acted as a bridge for the championship teams of the early 1990s, the ones I am most familiar with.
In the early 1990s the majority of college athletes stayed in school for their four years of eligibility. Thirty years later top players go pro after one year. Those years a coach could develop players in his system, and the best ones like Coach K and his rival at Carolina Dean Smith reached a symbiotic relationship with their seniors, especially the point guard, who usually was like a second coach on the floor. Duke won its first two championships in 1991-92. This is also when the Chicago Bulls won their first two championships so I was pretty basketball crazed at the time. I was also pro Carolina because that is where Michael Jordan attended college; however, given a choice of Duke as opposed to Kansas or Kentucky, I would root for Duke every time. My favorite team was of course Michigan, whose fabled freshmen lost to Duke in 1992 and Carolina in 1993. Duke was a veteran team lead by household basketball names Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, and Grant Hill. For them winning those titles was more of a coronation. The one point win against Kentucky in the 1992 regional final is still considered one of the best college basketball games of all time. People began to despise Duke as a rich white boy’s school at the point, and, as a private school before the era of one and done, to a certain extent, that is what Duke was to outsiders, despite the fact that a number of their top players including Hill were black. Hill did not win another title after the departure of Laettner and Hurley, however, and, it would be another nine years before Duke reached the top of the college basketball world again.
After finishing college and not always having access to a television, I do not remember the 2001, 2010, or 2015 championships as well as the first two. Feinstein did being a crazed Duke alum often given insiders information on the program. At points, even though this is a book chronicling the forty two years of Duke basketball under Coach K, at times it read like a memoir in detailing Feinstein’s perspective in relation to the basketball program. By 2003, the year a guy named LeBron forewent college and entered the NBA straight out of high school, many stars only stayed in school for one year, leading to the now infamous one and done rule. Coach K desired to coach young men who would stay with his program for at least three years, but even he eventually saw that one and done guys would help his program win championships. He preferred players like Chris Collins who joined the coaching staff after graduation, players who had won championships for Duke. By 2010 that changed. That was the year that Duke beat Butler in a David vs Goliath matchup, and most of the country rooted for Butler. I think I watched that game on my grainy television in the early days of digital tv or maybe on a blackberry. I think I rooted for Duke because of my memories of always picking Duke to win in my tournament pools. That year, Goliath escaped by a point for championship number four.
Later this week Duke will yet again be attempting to win championship number six. They are lead by three freshmen, one of whom is most likely a one and done guy. They are the clear favorite, so I don’t want to jinx anything. The current coach is Jon Scheyer who was a senior on the 2010 championship team. Coach K retired after the 2021-22 season, losing to Carolina in a heated final four game, the first time the two schools ever met in the tournament. Title six for Coach K was not to be although the school could win that elusive title this year. Feinstein brought me back to a time when basketball was my 1b sport after baseball. He reminded me of the battles in the ACC, Big Ten, and Big East for college basketball superiority, especially the rivalry between Coach K and Dean Smith. Feinstein wrote over forty books until his untimely passing last month. This is actually my first book of his as I am just getting my feet wet. He did write other chronicles of college basketball that now I am curious to read. My fellow sports history readers note that Feinstein was among the best of sports writers and he will be missed; however, they admit that this is not one of his better efforts. Perhaps he can now pull some strings to influence another Duke championship. That remains to be seen as the basketball world will have to wait until later this week to find out. If Duke does indeed reach the final game, I might have to break my no basketball habit and tune in for old times sake.
3.75 stars
John Feinstein attended Duke and quickly made a name for himself in the journalism community. In the research triangle region, most sports reporters had attended North Carolina, and Feinstein was one of the few who was pro Duke. His time in Durham predated the Cameron Crazies and ESPN, so he saw the rise of the basketball team from the beginning, starting with the auspicious day in the early eighties when the school chose to hire a young coach from Army who had lead his team to a losing record the year before. Athletic director Tom Butters had a hunch that Mike Krzyzewski (Coach K) would be the one to lead Duke to rival Carolina. After forty two years and 1,202 victories, the most all time, his hunch proved to be correct. Feinstein quickly gained rapport with Coach K and was present at the infamous Denny’s meeting where the coach blasted himself for his team’s failures. One trait that set Coach K apart from other top coaches is that he always blamed himself for his team’s defeats, not wanting to throw his players under the bus. By 1986 his first top recruiting class were seniors and reached the championship game, losing to Kansas. Even though that team did not win Duke’s first title, the team exhibited championship mettle and acted as a bridge for the championship teams of the early 1990s, the ones I am most familiar with.
In the early 1990s the majority of college athletes stayed in school for their four years of eligibility. Thirty years later top players go pro after one year. Those years a coach could develop players in his system, and the best ones like Coach K and his rival at Carolina Dean Smith reached a symbiotic relationship with their seniors, especially the point guard, who usually was like a second coach on the floor. Duke won its first two championships in 1991-92. This is also when the Chicago Bulls won their first two championships so I was pretty basketball crazed at the time. I was also pro Carolina because that is where Michael Jordan attended college; however, given a choice of Duke as opposed to Kansas or Kentucky, I would root for Duke every time. My favorite team was of course Michigan, whose fabled freshmen lost to Duke in 1992 and Carolina in 1993. Duke was a veteran team lead by household basketball names Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley, and Grant Hill. For them winning those titles was more of a coronation. The one point win against Kentucky in the 1992 regional final is still considered one of the best college basketball games of all time. People began to despise Duke as a rich white boy’s school at the point, and, as a private school before the era of one and done, to a certain extent, that is what Duke was to outsiders, despite the fact that a number of their top players including Hill were black. Hill did not win another title after the departure of Laettner and Hurley, however, and, it would be another nine years before Duke reached the top of the college basketball world again.
After finishing college and not always having access to a television, I do not remember the 2001, 2010, or 2015 championships as well as the first two. Feinstein did being a crazed Duke alum often given insiders information on the program. At points, even though this is a book chronicling the forty two years of Duke basketball under Coach K, at times it read like a memoir in detailing Feinstein’s perspective in relation to the basketball program. By 2003, the year a guy named LeBron forewent college and entered the NBA straight out of high school, many stars only stayed in school for one year, leading to the now infamous one and done rule. Coach K desired to coach young men who would stay with his program for at least three years, but even he eventually saw that one and done guys would help his program win championships. He preferred players like Chris Collins who joined the coaching staff after graduation, players who had won championships for Duke. By 2010 that changed. That was the year that Duke beat Butler in a David vs Goliath matchup, and most of the country rooted for Butler. I think I watched that game on my grainy television in the early days of digital tv or maybe on a blackberry. I think I rooted for Duke because of my memories of always picking Duke to win in my tournament pools. That year, Goliath escaped by a point for championship number four.
Later this week Duke will yet again be attempting to win championship number six. They are lead by three freshmen, one of whom is most likely a one and done guy. They are the clear favorite, so I don’t want to jinx anything. The current coach is Jon Scheyer who was a senior on the 2010 championship team. Coach K retired after the 2021-22 season, losing to Carolina in a heated final four game, the first time the two schools ever met in the tournament. Title six for Coach K was not to be although the school could win that elusive title this year. Feinstein brought me back to a time when basketball was my 1b sport after baseball. He reminded me of the battles in the ACC, Big Ten, and Big East for college basketball superiority, especially the rivalry between Coach K and Dean Smith. Feinstein wrote over forty books until his untimely passing last month. This is actually my first book of his as I am just getting my feet wet. He did write other chronicles of college basketball that now I am curious to read. My fellow sports history readers note that Feinstein was among the best of sports writers and he will be missed; however, they admit that this is not one of his better efforts. Perhaps he can now pull some strings to influence another Duke championship. That remains to be seen as the basketball world will have to wait until later this week to find out. If Duke does indeed reach the final game, I might have to break my no basketball habit and tune in for old times sake.
3.75 stars
January 1, 2025
I love Feinstein and it pains me to give this such a low rating, but this book was pretty lame. Pretty obvious that Duke just asked one of their alums to write a book about the basketball team for the centennial, and he threw something together quickly for some money.
It's basically just a chronological account of Duke basketball's seasons since Feinstein started school there in the 70s, ending with the '15 championship. No fun anecdotes that weren't already in Legends Club (Feinstein's book on Coach K, Dean Smith, and Jimmy V, which I would recommend), other than some involving the author that seemed self-serving and tangential.
One funny thing I noticed is the chapter titles go 1st Banner, 2nd Banner, 1st Drought, 3rd Banner, 2nd Drought, 4th Banner, 5th Banner. But there is never any acknowledgement that Duke is in the midst of a third drought that is longer than the first two. Someone from UConn should write a book called Six Banners about a program that's not in a drought. I would read that.
It's basically just a chronological account of Duke basketball's seasons since Feinstein started school there in the 70s, ending with the '15 championship. No fun anecdotes that weren't already in Legends Club (Feinstein's book on Coach K, Dean Smith, and Jimmy V, which I would recommend), other than some involving the author that seemed self-serving and tangential.
One funny thing I noticed is the chapter titles go 1st Banner, 2nd Banner, 1st Drought, 3rd Banner, 2nd Drought, 4th Banner, 5th Banner. But there is never any acknowledgement that Duke is in the midst of a third drought that is longer than the first two. Someone from UConn should write a book called Six Banners about a program that's not in a drought. I would read that.
May 21, 2024
Men’s college basketball has a few schools who consistently have very good teams year in and year out. One of these “blue blood” schools is Duke University and one of its alumni who has gone on to have a successful journalism and writing career, John Feinstein, has written a book on Duke’s five championship seasons .
It seems hard to believe, but the was a time when Duke basketball wasn’t very good. While there was a Duke team that made the Final Four in 1978, it is the 1986 team that lost the championship game to Louisville when Feinstein starts his journey into the start of Duke’s rise to basketball royalty.
Feinstein is considered to be one of the best writers on college basketball and for the most part, this book shows the reader why. Feinstein will take the reader inside the locker room and on the bench alongside legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, more affectionately known as “Coach K”. While Feinstein writes a lot about Coach K, including the famous “breakfast at Denny’s” after a loss, there isn’t the same level of detail to know the players. That is a hame because other college basketball books written by Feinstein are outstanding in their portrayal of players.
Instead, this book focuses on the results and highlights of Duke’s championship teams and seasons. The writing is still crisp, fast paced and done in a manner that the reader will feel like they are inside the venue. While personally I felt it wasn’t quite as good as other Feinstein books I have read on the sport, it is nonetheless one that any Duke fan will want to add to their collection.
I wish to thank Duke University Press for providing a review copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
It seems hard to believe, but the was a time when Duke basketball wasn’t very good. While there was a Duke team that made the Final Four in 1978, it is the 1986 team that lost the championship game to Louisville when Feinstein starts his journey into the start of Duke’s rise to basketball royalty.
Feinstein is considered to be one of the best writers on college basketball and for the most part, this book shows the reader why. Feinstein will take the reader inside the locker room and on the bench alongside legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, more affectionately known as “Coach K”. While Feinstein writes a lot about Coach K, including the famous “breakfast at Denny’s” after a loss, there isn’t the same level of detail to know the players. That is a hame because other college basketball books written by Feinstein are outstanding in their portrayal of players.
Instead, this book focuses on the results and highlights of Duke’s championship teams and seasons. The writing is still crisp, fast paced and done in a manner that the reader will feel like they are inside the venue. While personally I felt it wasn’t quite as good as other Feinstein books I have read on the sport, it is nonetheless one that any Duke fan will want to add to their collection.
I wish to thank Duke University Press for providing a review copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own.
https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...
June 15, 2025
It is possible that I am affording some lifetime achievement for what is John Feinstein’s final book. Five Banners is smooth as silk and a very easy read. A must for any Duke fan. Definitely an insider’s view but never really gives a feeling of true homerism. Definitely worth the read.
March 31, 2025
With the recent passing of John Feinstein I felt inclined to read another one of his books. It was only fitting during March Madness that I read this one. I was not disappointed reading another great book by what was one of the best sports writers ever.
I’m by no means a Duke guy but enjoyed this quick history of one of the most dominant college basketball programs for the last 40+ years. This book was especially fun to read because Feinstein himself was a Duke grad who was there for the beginning of the Coach K reign. Hell he was even in the f****** Denny’s (readers will get this reference).
Not often are sports books written by an author who was there for the entirety of a legendary Coach’s 4 decade run. This book is shorter and reads like the old multi edition SI cover articles. Overall I recommend this book for all sports fans whether they love or hate Duke. The world has lost a great sports writer but his legacy will live on in his books.
I’m by no means a Duke guy but enjoyed this quick history of one of the most dominant college basketball programs for the last 40+ years. This book was especially fun to read because Feinstein himself was a Duke grad who was there for the beginning of the Coach K reign. Hell he was even in the f****** Denny’s (readers will get this reference).
Not often are sports books written by an author who was there for the entirety of a legendary Coach’s 4 decade run. This book is shorter and reads like the old multi edition SI cover articles. Overall I recommend this book for all sports fans whether they love or hate Duke. The world has lost a great sports writer but his legacy will live on in his books.
December 5, 2024
This book is a 40-year chronicle of the evolution of Duke men's basketball under Mike Krzyzewski, and it's absolutely written by the right guy. John Feinstein understandably emphasizes several times in the book that when he was a Duke undergraduate (and school newspaper sportswriter) in the 1970s, Duke had a 9-42 record in conference play, something that is unbelievable to imagine now. And he makes frequent reference to a formative moment in a Denny's restaurant following a 43-point loss to Virginia when an angry Krzyzewski said, "Here's to never f---ing forgetting tonight." The indoctrination of Duke as a blue-blood in the sport was not a foregone conclusion. People made that happen, one person in particular.
Feinstein does a great job of highlighting in broad strokes the evolution of Krzyzewski's approach. He underscores the coach's evolution from young, aggressive, and having a chip on his shoulder to the wise old head with a target on his back. He discusses how K handled the dilemma of the changing college basketball landscape by modifying his approach to develop "one-and-done" players. He's also well-versed in how K modified his teams as individual seasons progressed, plugging in players to new roles when injuries or transfers came about. And he peppers it all with good quotes from players and coaches the author has had relationships with for decades.
On the whole, though, I think this book serves mostly as fan service to longtime followers of Duke basketball, and it shouldn't be counted among Feinstein's best work. Feinstein may still be best known for his early book on Bob Knight, A Season on the Brink, and my favorite of his works that I've read to date is The Last Amateurs, a book that followed several programs in the Patriot League conference in the late '90s. What those books have in common is that they follow teams over the course of a single season. Feinstein is at his best when he is given the opportunity to flesh out the details and follow human-sized struggles, which is what makes him a good journalist too. He's more journalist than historian. From the very high overview this book takes as a lens, we lose a lot of the depth that makes Feinstein's other work so enriching.
But it's still a fun read for anyone who drinks this particular Kool-Aid. Feinstein can't help himself, providing frequent digs at the Maryland fan base (he worked a long time at the Washington Post, after all) and Rick Pitino's ego. And there's an awful lot about Bob Knight in here too, thanks to his longtime relationship (or lack thereof) with his former protege.
Feinstein does a great job of highlighting in broad strokes the evolution of Krzyzewski's approach. He underscores the coach's evolution from young, aggressive, and having a chip on his shoulder to the wise old head with a target on his back. He discusses how K handled the dilemma of the changing college basketball landscape by modifying his approach to develop "one-and-done" players. He's also well-versed in how K modified his teams as individual seasons progressed, plugging in players to new roles when injuries or transfers came about. And he peppers it all with good quotes from players and coaches the author has had relationships with for decades.
On the whole, though, I think this book serves mostly as fan service to longtime followers of Duke basketball, and it shouldn't be counted among Feinstein's best work. Feinstein may still be best known for his early book on Bob Knight, A Season on the Brink, and my favorite of his works that I've read to date is The Last Amateurs, a book that followed several programs in the Patriot League conference in the late '90s. What those books have in common is that they follow teams over the course of a single season. Feinstein is at his best when he is given the opportunity to flesh out the details and follow human-sized struggles, which is what makes him a good journalist too. He's more journalist than historian. From the very high overview this book takes as a lens, we lose a lot of the depth that makes Feinstein's other work so enriching.
But it's still a fun read for anyone who drinks this particular Kool-Aid. Feinstein can't help himself, providing frequent digs at the Maryland fan base (he worked a long time at the Washington Post, after all) and Rick Pitino's ego. And there's an awful lot about Bob Knight in here too, thanks to his longtime relationship (or lack thereof) with his former protege.
September 24, 2024
I received a digital ARC of this book.
John Feinstein is one of the authors, similar to John Grisham, for whom you can pick up a book, know the basic way it will read, but still enjoy it. His books, including this one, are detailed, give you good quotes and anecdotes, and read breezily. Some of Feinstein's books, A Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana HoosiersA Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers as an example, are fantastic and pillars of the sports genre. But even his books that don't reach that level are still good.
"Five Banners" puts Feinstein in his wheelhouse - college basketball in general and Duke basketball in particular. Feinstein managed to be an objective fan throughout the book, which was a delicate balancing act. I liked the structure of looking at the title winning seasons in particular, but there were times the book seemed to take massive time jumps, and I do wish I had gotten more time with the players, although I know the focus was on Coach K and his championships.
Overall, really enjoyable.
John Feinstein is one of the authors, similar to John Grisham, for whom you can pick up a book, know the basic way it will read, but still enjoy it. His books, including this one, are detailed, give you good quotes and anecdotes, and read breezily. Some of Feinstein's books, A Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana HoosiersA Season on the Brink: A Year with Bob Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers as an example, are fantastic and pillars of the sports genre. But even his books that don't reach that level are still good.
"Five Banners" puts Feinstein in his wheelhouse - college basketball in general and Duke basketball in particular. Feinstein managed to be an objective fan throughout the book, which was a delicate balancing act. I liked the structure of looking at the title winning seasons in particular, but there were times the book seemed to take massive time jumps, and I do wish I had gotten more time with the players, although I know the focus was on Coach K and his championships.
Overall, really enjoyable.
November 8, 2024
John Feinstein’s Five Banners: Inside the Duke Basketball Dynasty provides an in-depth look at Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s remarkable 42-year tenure at Duke University, chronicling the team’s five NCAA championships from 1991 to 2015. With exclusive access to players and staff, Feinstein offers revealing anecdotes and personal insights that enrich the narrative. The book captures the intense relationships and emotional moments that define college basketball, making it a compelling read for fans and sports enthusiasts alike.
John Feinstein captures Coach K’s leadership through intimate storytelling and unprecedented access to Duke’s basketball program. He highlights Krzyzewski’s adaptability, showcasing moments like his strategic shift to a three-point-heavy offense, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach in a rapidly evolving game. Feinstein emphasizes Krzyzewski’s focus on relationships, revealing how he motivates players individually while fostering a strong team ethos. Through personal anecdotes and insights from former players, the book illustrates Krzyzewski’s enduring impact on college basketball and his philosophy of “beat everybody,” which encapsulates his relentless pursuit of excellence.
Clearly written by a Duke insider and fan, the book portrays how “the night at Denny’s prompted a shift in Coach K’s approach to leadership and responding to and molding team dynamics.
A fun read for me!
John Feinstein captures Coach K’s leadership through intimate storytelling and unprecedented access to Duke’s basketball program. He highlights Krzyzewski’s adaptability, showcasing moments like his strategic shift to a three-point-heavy offense, demonstrating a forward-thinking approach in a rapidly evolving game. Feinstein emphasizes Krzyzewski’s focus on relationships, revealing how he motivates players individually while fostering a strong team ethos. Through personal anecdotes and insights from former players, the book illustrates Krzyzewski’s enduring impact on college basketball and his philosophy of “beat everybody,” which encapsulates his relentless pursuit of excellence.
Clearly written by a Duke insider and fan, the book portrays how “the night at Denny’s prompted a shift in Coach K’s approach to leadership and responding to and molding team dynamics.
A fun read for me!
December 29, 2024
Needed a little break from the drama so seized an opportunity to learn a little more about my second favorite sports institution (#1 being Notre Dame football). Feinstein is a great sports writer. It was very interesting to read about his personal interactions with Coach K. He is just the man. I feel so lucky that I was around for his last year and got to see a little bit of the magic. I remember watching his last game (Final Four vs UNC) from Shooters. This made me very hungry for a sixth banner and upon returning to Durhome I am vowing to be a more committed fan. Also side note, I love how strong the Duke alumni network is. Every person that touched the basketball program seems to stick around and maintain ties with both basketball and Duke. Also was interesting to read about basketball before NIL and all the transfer craziness. Definitely makes you wonder if college sports have changed for the worse or better. This isn’t a political column and genuinely I don’t know enough to have an opinion, but it is definitely a completely different scene than what the early chapters of the book detail. Anyways, highly recommend! TY Dad for the assignment (he said if I don’t read this I was a waste of a Duke student).
Wished I cooked through this a little faster, but I am only human.
Ciao
Wished I cooked through this a little faster, but I am only human.
Ciao
March 23, 2025
First of all, RIP to one of my favorite writers of all time. It stinks knowing that new John Feinstein books are not in the works anymore. Such a talented, well-respected person. With that said, this book is once again a stellar effort, focusing on the five national titles Duke basketball has won from 1991 to 2015. The book also talks about how the tide turned in 1983 after a loss and a particular toast at a Denny's where Coach K said, "Here's to never forgetting this night." Feinstein is such a great story teller and that's what I'll miss the most. Yes there are the description of some key games, but what makes every Feinstein book tick is how he is able to interview people and get inside their lives. As a kid I didn't like Duke, they seemed to whiny. But after two and half decades of reading Feinstein books, I actually root for them now. The only problem with this book, and it's minor, is that if you've read a ton of Feinstein books like myself, a lot of the information is repeated and you've already known. The Denny's toast I've read about in probably five or six other books with at least half of them coming in his books. However, if you're just getting into John Feinstein this is an excellent book to start with.
January 22, 2025
As someone whose adult life has spanned the entirety of the Coach K era at Duke, Five Banners feels like a perfect reflection of my own journey. Feinstein does an excellent job capturing the triumphs and heartaches of the last 40 years, notably the unforgettable victories and the painful near-misses that have defined Duke basketball during this golden era of college hoops.
What struck me most was how Five Banners serves as a thoughtful coda to this period, marking the end of an unforgettable chapter in college basketball. While I'm grateful to have witnessed it firsthand, it's clear that those days are long gone.
A nostalgic, well-written tribute to an era that shaped college basketball as we know it. Highly recommended for fans of the game and anyone who lived through this remarkable time.
What struck me most was how Five Banners serves as a thoughtful coda to this period, marking the end of an unforgettable chapter in college basketball. While I'm grateful to have witnessed it firsthand, it's clear that those days are long gone.
A nostalgic, well-written tribute to an era that shaped college basketball as we know it. Highly recommended for fans of the game and anyone who lived through this remarkable time.
October 17, 2024
John Feinstein graduated from Duke in 1977. His four years at Duke coincided with perhaps the worst stretch of Duke basketball in the history of the university. Feinstein has written about Duke basketball before, probably the best book being "Forever's Team". "Five Banners" appears to be a compilation of narrative regarding Duke basketball during the Coach K era. Approximately 70% of this book seems recycled. Feinstein adds a few behind the scenes tidbits (his post-game interactions with Dean Smith, dinner with Tom Izzo, etc.).
If you are a Duke fan, this is a pretty quick read and fairly enjoyable. Fans of other schools will find a lot to hate.
If you are a Duke fan, this is a pretty quick read and fairly enjoyable. Fans of other schools will find a lot to hate.
January 2, 2025
Feinsteins Encyclopedic Knowledge of ACC Hoops on Display
I love Feinstein's behind the scenes tidbits and his willingness to provide candid opinions of some of the sports luminaries. He doesnt hesitate to provide multiple examples of Bobby Knight's churlish nature and jibes Pitino and Calipari as well. His affection for Kryzewski is obvious and this reader would have liked perhaps a bit less fawning a portrayal. That being said, the book was imminently readable and provides a steady stream of anecdote and opinion that is captivating to the diehard ACC fan - even those who root for UNC.
I love Feinstein's behind the scenes tidbits and his willingness to provide candid opinions of some of the sports luminaries. He doesnt hesitate to provide multiple examples of Bobby Knight's churlish nature and jibes Pitino and Calipari as well. His affection for Kryzewski is obvious and this reader would have liked perhaps a bit less fawning a portrayal. That being said, the book was imminently readable and provides a steady stream of anecdote and opinion that is captivating to the diehard ACC fan - even those who root for UNC.
May 7, 2025
Overall, really interesting book. Personally, I would have enjoyed more personal tales and stories and a tiny bit less detailed game descriptions and play by play in the book. If you are a huge fan of reading about the in-game action, you will love this book. Just a tiny bit more than I wanted.
Overall, really interesting book and story, giving it 4 stars, only based on personal enjoyment, some may love this one.
Overall, really interesting book and story, giving it 4 stars, only based on personal enjoyment, some may love this one.
December 12, 2024
Lacks Soul
Five Banners hits all of the high spots of Coach K's time at Duke but too much of the book is a straightforward narration of facts. I'm a fan of Duke basketball and Feinstein's writing, but this book isn't up to his usual standard and left me wanting more emotion and more behind the scenes stories.
Five Banners hits all of the high spots of Coach K's time at Duke but too much of the book is a straightforward narration of facts. I'm a fan of Duke basketball and Feinstein's writing, but this book isn't up to his usual standard and left me wanting more emotion and more behind the scenes stories.
January 1, 2025
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK! The only reason I picked this up off the library shelf was so nobody else could read it. If you must read it, skip ahead to the parts where Duke loses.
I will give the author credit. He waited until page 9 to insert himself into the story. I did not do a final tally, however, of who got mentioned more in the book: Coach K or Feinstein himself.
I will give the author credit. He waited until page 9 to insert himself into the story. I did not do a final tally, however, of who got mentioned more in the book: Coach K or Feinstein himself.
March 25, 2025
Super fun and brisk read, Feinstein is as good a sports writer as anyone. The tone does get really informal, but I didn’t mind - it reminds me a lot of Jeff Pearlman’s style. Also, I would follow Mike Krzyzewski into a war zone.
April 9, 2025
The great John Feinstein passed recently and I just happened upon this book on Amazon. With his Duke history and knowledge there are no new stories. Most of it is rehashed from previous books but still a good read. A must for Duke fans.
June 21, 2025
An easy read which is basically a summation of Coach K’s 42 year coaching career and his five NCAA championships during that timeframe. A must for any Duke or college basketball enthusiast. I always enjoyed reading John Feinstein and this, his last book, was another enjoyable book.
December 1, 2024
going no contact w my parents. it's their fault i was born two years too late to tent for mike
December 29, 2024
Good read. He doesn't waste time telling the facts, but I wish there would have been a bit more of the behind the scenes with K and his players. The relationships.. etc.
January 2, 2025
This could have been written by ChatGPT.
January 3, 2025
Feinstein is truly one of the best writers out there. He captures emotion on the pages. I found myself smiling "out loud" many times.
January 23, 2025
Quick read, but light on deep insights into each season. Most of the information was pretty superficial.
February 10, 2025
Excellent. Feinstein is just a superior writer. Although featuring Duke's 5 championships, it's really the story of coach K's career.
August 1, 2025
What a shame John Feinstein will not be writing any more books. A life lost way too soon.
September 12, 2025
Largely a flat retelling of box scores. Not the hard-hitting, insider info type stuff you'd expect from John. No drama. No build-ups. Just stats.
January 1, 2026
Favorite book of the year.
August 14, 2025
Great book for all Duke fans! The best part? Feinstein does not go into extreme detail on every single topic, he gets right to the point.
My true favorite part is the behind the scenes information from interviews and Feinstein’s memory.
Great book, well written and highly recommended.
My true favorite part is the behind the scenes information from interviews and Feinstein’s memory.
Great book, well written and highly recommended.
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