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Expensive Basketball
From #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Rap Year Book and Basketball (and Other Things) Shea Serrano, a witty & fun reexamination of some of the most iconic— “expensive”—players, moments, and games from the NBA.
Everything in basketball is measured.
Everything in basketball is counted, and quantified, and computed.
And yet, no matter how expansive the list of various pinpoint-specific statistical categories gets, some basketball things remain uncountable or unquantifiable.
Some moments are more poetry than calculation, rising to art than numerical value. More feeling than data processing. And EXPENSIVE BASKETBALL.
From Kobe’s 81-point game to Sue Bird’s crossover, from the majesty of Ray Allen’s legendary 3-pointer to the beautiful mystery of Allen Iverson, New York Times bestselling author, Shea Serrano, illustrates, EXPENSIVE BASKETBALL is an affirmation of feelings. It’s an affirmation of basketball as virtuosity.
It’s an affirmation of how sometimes you watch a person do a thing on a basketball court and it feels the same way it feels when you lie in the grass at night and stare up at the moon for long enough that you start to think about how incredible it is that you really, truly, honestly, actually exist.
Everything in basketball is measured.
Everything in basketball is counted, and quantified, and computed.
And yet, no matter how expansive the list of various pinpoint-specific statistical categories gets, some basketball things remain uncountable or unquantifiable.
Some moments are more poetry than calculation, rising to art than numerical value. More feeling than data processing. And EXPENSIVE BASKETBALL.
From Kobe’s 81-point game to Sue Bird’s crossover, from the majesty of Ray Allen’s legendary 3-pointer to the beautiful mystery of Allen Iverson, New York Times bestselling author, Shea Serrano, illustrates, EXPENSIVE BASKETBALL is an affirmation of feelings. It’s an affirmation of basketball as virtuosity.
It’s an affirmation of how sometimes you watch a person do a thing on a basketball court and it feels the same way it feels when you lie in the grass at night and stare up at the moon for long enough that you start to think about how incredible it is that you really, truly, honestly, actually exist.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published October 28, 2025
229 people are currently reading
705 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
November 21, 2025
THIS MAN LOVES A LIST WAY TO MUCH!!! PLEASE DO NOT LIST THINGS TO ME IN BULLET POINTS THIS IS NOT A LISTICLE.
Anyways. Enjoyed some of the essays (why I gave it 3 stars), but overall this didn't really work for me.
Anyways. Enjoyed some of the essays (why I gave it 3 stars), but overall this didn't really work for me.
September 16, 2025
Shea Serrano talks about basketball like an action movie (perhaps he talks about everything like an action movie). This is a great combination of some of basketball's coolest moments (Shea calls them "expensive") and so many pop culture references. Similar to "Basketball (And Other Things)" but with an emphasis on these expensive moments. It's mostly about the NBA, but three WNBA players also get a nod -- I appreciate that. It's just a fun book that's still a great way to learn about or relive 30 or so awesome moments in basketball. I wish more people talked about basketball this way.
November 24, 2025
I love the NBA. I love hearing about great moments, a lot of I watched or at least saw highlights of. I also love the ringer NBA podcasts. I know he's just a writer but...
anyway, despite all that, this book was awful to read. It somehow ruined some of these moments. Not for real but while reading them it diminished these great moments and made them annoying. It felt like each chapter had a required word count by the publisher and he had about a third of that word count ready to go, then just repeated or rephrased everything to meet the count. Seriously painful for a topic I love so much.
anyway, despite all that, this book was awful to read. It somehow ruined some of these moments. Not for real but while reading them it diminished these great moments and made them annoying. It felt like each chapter had a required word count by the publisher and he had about a third of that word count ready to go, then just repeated or rephrased everything to meet the count. Seriously painful for a topic I love so much.
November 5, 2025
I had no idea that I would enjoy this book as much as I did.
Expensive Basketball covers not only iconic moments in the NBA but the greatness in players too, highlighting certain stats and moments that are considered by the author “expensive” or valuable.
His uncensored humour is what really won me over in this book, from his f-bombs to the figurative language I found myself laughing out-loud at times. Great read and an essential for those who love basketball.
Expensive Basketball covers not only iconic moments in the NBA but the greatness in players too, highlighting certain stats and moments that are considered by the author “expensive” or valuable.
His uncensored humour is what really won me over in this book, from his f-bombs to the figurative language I found myself laughing out-loud at times. Great read and an essential for those who love basketball.
January 31, 2026
I can appreciate, I guess, Serrano’s desire to create a book celebrating ground-breaking moments of the game so many of us love - what profoundly holds this book back, though, is its lack of self-awareness.
It seems to me that Serrano was struck by an “a-ha!” moment upon encountering Rick Rubin’s “The Creative Act” in the wild; a beautifully minimalist-designed jacket-less hardback that stands out on any bookshelf or coffee table. More than wanting to write an affective book that reverently captured raw, shining moments from the sport, Shea sought to make a consumer object that telegraphed depth and meaning that are, unfortunately, not to be found throughout its pages.
I went into this book eager to learn more about foundational moments in this great game - I was quickly disappointed reading the introduction section. Shea attempts(?) to explicate the book’s titular term (*~Expensive Basketball~*), and he manages to do this without actually saying *anything.* He starts off okay, explaining how discussion of the game is frequently relegated to statistics, and that there are elements of the game that go beyond the numbers; these are emotional and awe-inspiring occurrences, ones that words often fail to fully capture.
Abruptly, Shea says “And thus EXPENSIVE BASKETBALL.” Literally just like that. No explanation of *why* he’s chosen this word “expensive,” which really annoyed me. I took a beat, thinking maybe he’d explain this further as he got into *what* “expensive basketball” is. Nope, this only annoyed me more.
Shea attempts to explain “expensive basketball” with a series of gun-to-your-head hypotheticals along the lines of (paraphrased) “Let’s say you and I are at dinner. I put a loaded gun to your head and ask you if Ball Moment A or Ball Moment B feels more expensive. BECAUSE the gun is to your head, and you want to live, you choose the right moment. And you’re right, so yep, now you know what I mean when I say ‘expensive basketball.’”
I feel like this is an example of this book not knowing what it is. Shea WANTS you to feel what he’s felt watching this game, but he’s more committed to the presentation of this product’s packaging, rather than crafting any kind of substance. If the way you establish your thesis is by saying “if you can figure out what it is, you’re right,” there’s no identity or foundation to ground what’s to come.
I think this book could’ve been strengthened a couple ways:
1. Ditch the “expensive” of it all! What about “sublime?” “Sensational?” “Cool-as-fuck?” So many words that honestly could have done a lot of the heavy lifting for you, where an explanation isn’t *as* necessary.
2. Make the book about you, Shea - I mean, you already did, and that’s not a bad thing. The chapters consist of moments in basketball you find “expensive,” but more than that, they’re moments that mean something to you: Tim Duncan doing Tim Duncan things; Dame Time; Steph at the Olympics; A’ja Wilson’s dominance - to name just a few. Great choices! How these moments are written about is very play-by-play, “this was significant and here’s how it happened in chronological order.” Maybe I’m all the more sour on this because we live in a disheartening age of AI summaries, so I deeeeeeply crave text that goes beyond summation. Chapters also consist of you (Shea) sharing elements of your life: your upbringing, favorite songs and movies, reflections. So make. The book. About. You. Call the thing “Basketball: A Life.” “My Life in Basketball.” “Court Vision: My Life.” Hell, you can do that *and* keep with the Rick Rubin aesthetics you’re chasing. It wouldn’t take anything away from the aura points you’re gunnin’ for here: it’d actually probably earn you more.
Was just really wanting something more meaningful outta this one. Unfortunately felt like I was reading a collection of book reports. I don’t like being super negative or hard on this - it’s a little easier to do it, though, when this book gives itself the word “expensive” in the title and will no doubt only be available in hard cover (embossed details and all) for the foreseeable future. Part of what makes basketball so awesome is how accessible it can be (even though there are PLENTY of ways it’s gatekept and inequality runs rampant): take a ball to the park. Put a mini hoop on the back of your door. Crumple up a piece of paper and shoot it into a wastebasket. There’s nothing about this book that *necessitates* the label of “expensive,” and I even found it a little tone-deaf and somewhat out of touch.
I don’t necessarily feel scammed for having bought/read this book, but because this book over-promised and under-delivered, I feel a little duped. Methinks “Expensive Basketball” will go find another life in a little lending library, I genuinely hope someone else enjoys it more than me for the low low price of free ninety-nine. Expensive basketball? Buyer’s remorse 🥱
It seems to me that Serrano was struck by an “a-ha!” moment upon encountering Rick Rubin’s “The Creative Act” in the wild; a beautifully minimalist-designed jacket-less hardback that stands out on any bookshelf or coffee table. More than wanting to write an affective book that reverently captured raw, shining moments from the sport, Shea sought to make a consumer object that telegraphed depth and meaning that are, unfortunately, not to be found throughout its pages.
I went into this book eager to learn more about foundational moments in this great game - I was quickly disappointed reading the introduction section. Shea attempts(?) to explicate the book’s titular term (*~Expensive Basketball~*), and he manages to do this without actually saying *anything.* He starts off okay, explaining how discussion of the game is frequently relegated to statistics, and that there are elements of the game that go beyond the numbers; these are emotional and awe-inspiring occurrences, ones that words often fail to fully capture.
Abruptly, Shea says “And thus EXPENSIVE BASKETBALL.” Literally just like that. No explanation of *why* he’s chosen this word “expensive,” which really annoyed me. I took a beat, thinking maybe he’d explain this further as he got into *what* “expensive basketball” is. Nope, this only annoyed me more.
Shea attempts to explain “expensive basketball” with a series of gun-to-your-head hypotheticals along the lines of (paraphrased) “Let’s say you and I are at dinner. I put a loaded gun to your head and ask you if Ball Moment A or Ball Moment B feels more expensive. BECAUSE the gun is to your head, and you want to live, you choose the right moment. And you’re right, so yep, now you know what I mean when I say ‘expensive basketball.’”
I feel like this is an example of this book not knowing what it is. Shea WANTS you to feel what he’s felt watching this game, but he’s more committed to the presentation of this product’s packaging, rather than crafting any kind of substance. If the way you establish your thesis is by saying “if you can figure out what it is, you’re right,” there’s no identity or foundation to ground what’s to come.
I think this book could’ve been strengthened a couple ways:
1. Ditch the “expensive” of it all! What about “sublime?” “Sensational?” “Cool-as-fuck?” So many words that honestly could have done a lot of the heavy lifting for you, where an explanation isn’t *as* necessary.
2. Make the book about you, Shea - I mean, you already did, and that’s not a bad thing. The chapters consist of moments in basketball you find “expensive,” but more than that, they’re moments that mean something to you: Tim Duncan doing Tim Duncan things; Dame Time; Steph at the Olympics; A’ja Wilson’s dominance - to name just a few. Great choices! How these moments are written about is very play-by-play, “this was significant and here’s how it happened in chronological order.” Maybe I’m all the more sour on this because we live in a disheartening age of AI summaries, so I deeeeeeply crave text that goes beyond summation. Chapters also consist of you (Shea) sharing elements of your life: your upbringing, favorite songs and movies, reflections. So make. The book. About. You. Call the thing “Basketball: A Life.” “My Life in Basketball.” “Court Vision: My Life.” Hell, you can do that *and* keep with the Rick Rubin aesthetics you’re chasing. It wouldn’t take anything away from the aura points you’re gunnin’ for here: it’d actually probably earn you more.
Was just really wanting something more meaningful outta this one. Unfortunately felt like I was reading a collection of book reports. I don’t like being super negative or hard on this - it’s a little easier to do it, though, when this book gives itself the word “expensive” in the title and will no doubt only be available in hard cover (embossed details and all) for the foreseeable future. Part of what makes basketball so awesome is how accessible it can be (even though there are PLENTY of ways it’s gatekept and inequality runs rampant): take a ball to the park. Put a mini hoop on the back of your door. Crumple up a piece of paper and shoot it into a wastebasket. There’s nothing about this book that *necessitates* the label of “expensive,” and I even found it a little tone-deaf and somewhat out of touch.
I don’t necessarily feel scammed for having bought/read this book, but because this book over-promised and under-delivered, I feel a little duped. Methinks “Expensive Basketball” will go find another life in a little lending library, I genuinely hope someone else enjoys it more than me for the low low price of free ninety-nine. Expensive basketball? Buyer’s remorse 🥱
January 26, 2026
I love the premise of this book, those moments when you watch players transcend everyone else on the planet, they feel expensive—like a work of art.
Shea captures many of those moments well with his signature blend of cultural references, nostalgia and humor. I think this is best enjoyed an essay a day—knocking a star with that in mind because the writing formula and language otherwise felt super repetitive after a while.
Shea captures many of those moments well with his signature blend of cultural references, nostalgia and humor. I think this is best enjoyed an essay a day—knocking a star with that in mind because the writing formula and language otherwise felt super repetitive after a while.
December 23, 2025
Not my favorite one of Shea’s books, but even the “worst” of Shea is still a very fun read. I wish he would have leaned into defining and connecting things to “expensive” a bit more. The book is still full of great stats and stories in the classic Shea Serrano way though.
January 30, 2026
It was not “expensive writing” to share a phrase. I love Shea and I’m only a few years older than him so there were pieces of this book that I thought were wildly successful. I will go Shea style and list you 3 things that worked and 3 that did not.
Worked #1- Chapter on the 1993 Hornets. Just masterful and made me go back and watch LJ.
Worked #2- Kobe’s last game. Zero notes.
Worked #3- Comparisons of jump shots(side-note- I wish we could have quantified how “expensive” different traits or moments were, that would have been far more interesting)
DNW #1- The title and the idea of “expensive basketball.” I get it but I think Shea could have workshopped that a bit more. Also, it’s such a mixed metaphor when you’re using it to describe Tim Duncan and Tracy Mcgrady and Dirk and Ray Allen. I saw T-Mac drop 50 in-person but was it expensive? Explosive and amazing, sure but I can breakdown about 10 things from that single game that worked for highlights but ultimately made T-Mac too 1-dimensional.
DNW#2- The Steph Olympic chapter. It could have been great but you didn’t talk about their DEFENSE at all down the stretch against France. It might literally be the last game LeBron and Steph ever actually played good team and individual defense and it’s somehow completely glossed over!
DNW#3- Some of the repetitive language wore on me towards the end of the book.
Overall, if you watched basketball in 1980-2020 you will enjoy this book but I found it to be a bit mid for large chunks and couldn’t really buy totally into the premise.
Love you Shea
Worked #1- Chapter on the 1993 Hornets. Just masterful and made me go back and watch LJ.
Worked #2- Kobe’s last game. Zero notes.
Worked #3- Comparisons of jump shots(side-note- I wish we could have quantified how “expensive” different traits or moments were, that would have been far more interesting)
DNW #1- The title and the idea of “expensive basketball.” I get it but I think Shea could have workshopped that a bit more. Also, it’s such a mixed metaphor when you’re using it to describe Tim Duncan and Tracy Mcgrady and Dirk and Ray Allen. I saw T-Mac drop 50 in-person but was it expensive? Explosive and amazing, sure but I can breakdown about 10 things from that single game that worked for highlights but ultimately made T-Mac too 1-dimensional.
DNW#2- The Steph Olympic chapter. It could have been great but you didn’t talk about their DEFENSE at all down the stretch against France. It might literally be the last game LeBron and Steph ever actually played good team and individual defense and it’s somehow completely glossed over!
DNW#3- Some of the repetitive language wore on me towards the end of the book.
Overall, if you watched basketball in 1980-2020 you will enjoy this book but I found it to be a bit mid for large chunks and couldn’t really buy totally into the premise.
Love you Shea
January 3, 2026
This book is called Expensive Basketball but it might as well be called “Shea Serrano Breaks Basketball Into a Million Tiny Pieces, Ranks Them, Argues With Himself About Them, and Somehow You Learn Stuff While Laughing.”
Here’s what happens:
You open the book planning to read “one chapter.”
Next thing you know, it’s 45 minutes later, you’re nodding aggressively to an argument about Tim Duncan, and you’re rethinking your entire stance on basketball feelings, legacy, and whether dunking on someone should count as emotional damage.
Shea does the thing he always does:
• Takes a question you didn’t know you cared about
• Treats it like it’s EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
• Makes you care about it just as much as he does
It’s funny without trying too hard. It’s smart without being annoying. It’s emotional in a sneaky way, like when you realize you actually do care about basketball memories and where you were when certain moments happened. Also the illustrations are great. Shoutout to the illustrations. Always shoutout the illustrations.
You don’t need to be a hardcore basketball nerd to enjoy this book. You just need to:
1. Like basketball a little
2. Like lists
3. Like arguing hypotheticals that do not matter but also matter a LOT
Five stars.
Read it.
Then immediately hand it to a friend and say, “Just read any chapter. Doesn’t matter which one.”
Here’s what happens:
You open the book planning to read “one chapter.”
Next thing you know, it’s 45 minutes later, you’re nodding aggressively to an argument about Tim Duncan, and you’re rethinking your entire stance on basketball feelings, legacy, and whether dunking on someone should count as emotional damage.
Shea does the thing he always does:
• Takes a question you didn’t know you cared about
• Treats it like it’s EXTREMELY IMPORTANT
• Makes you care about it just as much as he does
It’s funny without trying too hard. It’s smart without being annoying. It’s emotional in a sneaky way, like when you realize you actually do care about basketball memories and where you were when certain moments happened. Also the illustrations are great. Shoutout to the illustrations. Always shoutout the illustrations.
You don’t need to be a hardcore basketball nerd to enjoy this book. You just need to:
1. Like basketball a little
2. Like lists
3. Like arguing hypotheticals that do not matter but also matter a LOT
Five stars.
Read it.
Then immediately hand it to a friend and say, “Just read any chapter. Doesn’t matter which one.”
January 31, 2026
I incorrectly assumed this book was about the monetary scale of certain plays and players, with financial evidence of the income created. That would be really interesting!
Well, that’s not what this is. “Expensive basketball” literally just means, “memorable plays and players.” I have no idea why the whole, “expensive” thesis was applied to this at all. It’s described in just a few pages of the intro and then never revisited.
This is more of what I’d describe as a “fun encyclopedia.” It’s a list of unforgettable players, teams, and players. All described with the author’s casual and humorous tone.
If you want to relive famous basketball moments, this is for you. If you’re looking for something that dives deeper into those moments, this is not that.
Well, that’s not what this is. “Expensive basketball” literally just means, “memorable plays and players.” I have no idea why the whole, “expensive” thesis was applied to this at all. It’s described in just a few pages of the intro and then never revisited.
This is more of what I’d describe as a “fun encyclopedia.” It’s a list of unforgettable players, teams, and players. All described with the author’s casual and humorous tone.
If you want to relive famous basketball moments, this is for you. If you’re looking for something that dives deeper into those moments, this is not that.
January 7, 2026
Shea Serrano is the most enjoyable story teller I’ve ever seen. He writes like I’m sitting by a campfire with my closest friends reliving whatever moment feels important that time. In a way, I wish I hadn’t experienced these moments he talks about before live because otherwise this would have made me truly feel like a 5 year old falling in love with basketball again
January 4, 2026
Shea is always great. Each passage whizzes by, and although free-flowing (and sometimes a little wild), the order seems very cohesive. Like Magic on a fastbreak, it's an all out sprint and the ball always finds its way in the hoop. Shea's voice is 1-of-1.
January 10, 2026
This book starts out with an interesting premise and then goes on to immediately not deliver it. Chapter one on Tim Duncan “he is really good and I like him m a lot”. This reads like it was written by a seventh grader.
January 19, 2026
Shea is the best
February 2, 2026
It’s simple. I read a Shea Serrano book, I give it 5 stars.
Maybe not quite up to the level of B(OAT) but still an incredibly fun read with great observations from one of my favorite writers.
Maybe not quite up to the level of B(OAT) but still an incredibly fun read with great observations from one of my favorite writers.
December 6, 2025
I have never, in my entire life, laughed so hard and so often when reading a book. Shea is the fucking man. He writes a true love letter to basketball and the players have made the sport beautiful.
November 11, 2025
Shea is a top 10 writer for me. His style and voice make watching basketball and listening to music richer. I don't buy many books because the library exists, but I bought this one. Gotta support Shea!
December 8, 2025
This book was a gift, literally and figuratively, from my girlfriend who knew I'd love it and from Shea, who loves the Spurs as much as I do. Shea, these 5 stars (like Timmy's 5 rings) are for you.
December 13, 2025
Absolutely fantastic.
Exceptional storytelling.
Contender for favorite nonfiction read of 2025.
Exceptional storytelling.
Contender for favorite nonfiction read of 2025.
January 4, 2026
This book should’ve been a set of YouTube videos
November 29, 2025
4.5
First off, I think it is wild that Tim Duncan is seen as "expensive" basketball. Shea letting his bias for his home SA team really show. Starting off the book with a chapter that is contradictory to his whole premise- is weird. No one else, including his editors, pointed this out to him? Duncan will be forever known as one of the most fundamentally sound players, and one the most accomplished ballers of all time who literally will never get his proper flowers, solely because of his lack of "expensiveness"! There is not a soul on earth that is searching for a Duncan highlight right now on youtube (which says something), and like Shea said, Duncan retired without anyone even noticing. How expensive are you, when nobody knew or cared you retired? He is literally the opposite of everything the book is about. Without a rebuttal section like the Rap year book, I guess no is going to point this out. Tim Duncan will forever be the best player that one really cares about or has an emotional attachment to (outside of being a Spurs fan)
This is another great book though. Don't let me initial critique be interpreted as anything other than a catalyst to spark an engaging convo about something I disagreed with. His books always get me thinking and debating. That's part of the reason I like em so much. I like all his work and even his good movie blog. The rap year book being my clear fav.
...I love em, so i am more critical than I would be with other books. I almost analyze them from a different stance, thinking about how they could be better as if I am contributor to the project. i normally don't feel attachment or involvement in that way, so again that is a huge compliment. I think including the chapters about women ballers was nice, but unnecessary. For a book that relies heavily on statistics, it would be pretty evident, based on the stats, that a majority of the readers that gravitate toward this content are unfamiliar with the wnba, and therefore are less interested in those sections.
overall, highly recommended
First off, I think it is wild that Tim Duncan is seen as "expensive" basketball. Shea letting his bias for his home SA team really show. Starting off the book with a chapter that is contradictory to his whole premise- is weird. No one else, including his editors, pointed this out to him? Duncan will be forever known as one of the most fundamentally sound players, and one the most accomplished ballers of all time who literally will never get his proper flowers, solely because of his lack of "expensiveness"! There is not a soul on earth that is searching for a Duncan highlight right now on youtube (which says something), and like Shea said, Duncan retired without anyone even noticing. How expensive are you, when nobody knew or cared you retired? He is literally the opposite of everything the book is about. Without a rebuttal section like the Rap year book, I guess no is going to point this out. Tim Duncan will forever be the best player that one really cares about or has an emotional attachment to (outside of being a Spurs fan)
This is another great book though. Don't let me initial critique be interpreted as anything other than a catalyst to spark an engaging convo about something I disagreed with. His books always get me thinking and debating. That's part of the reason I like em so much. I like all his work and even his good movie blog. The rap year book being my clear fav.
...I love em, so i am more critical than I would be with other books. I almost analyze them from a different stance, thinking about how they could be better as if I am contributor to the project. i normally don't feel attachment or involvement in that way, so again that is a huge compliment. I think including the chapters about women ballers was nice, but unnecessary. For a book that relies heavily on statistics, it would be pretty evident, based on the stats, that a majority of the readers that gravitate toward this content are unfamiliar with the wnba, and therefore are less interested in those sections.
overall, highly recommended
November 13, 2025
I’ve always liked Shea’s writing. He brings subjects that I enjoy (basketball, music, pop culture, etc.) to life in a way that nobody else in the world can, through a mixture of heart, sophomoric humor, unlikely connections, and genuine appreciation. This book had some wins - the holy grail / Holy Ghost moments, the Kobe chapter, the Larry bird chapter, and some others, but overall, I found it to be the most repetitive, and least creative of his books. There were a lot of chapters that were just retellings of a highlight, interspersed with excitement and metaphors, and it didn’t do enough to elevate the content. Kind of like when, in the TV show chopped, the judges say a contestant hasn’t raised the profile of an ingredient by connecting it to other non-box ingredients. I also thought the initial premise had some promise (expensive basketball), but the connections to the stories seemed to just be things shea has enjoyed. Also, making the Ray Allen shot a tier III moment is egregious. It’s ok, will buy and read his next book.
September 7, 2025
The best way to read this book is maybe one per day. I did that for the majority of the book and was able to enjoy each mini essay. Otherwise, each chapter is too rich (or expensive, if you prefer, possibly also overwritten). There are plenty of fine basketball memories included with an emphasis on the San Antonio Spurs, since that's the way the author leans. I don't think the term "expensive" quite lands, but I appreciate the effort of coming up with a new term for "cool."
December 24, 2025
Shea Serrano has become an instant buy for me in recent years - between his (And Other Things) trilogy, his short stories and website, and two of his podcasts, No Skips and Six Trophies, he is putting out incredible work that cannot be missed. In his newest book, Expensive Basketball, readers can expect to see Shea in his element, talking about basketball in an incredibly entertaining, humorous, and informative way. He mixes in elements of movie culture as well, which adds to the entertainment of reading this book. I loved that both NBA and WNBA coverage was included. I would say this book could easily be read straight through, or could also be read in sections of essays. It will be a great read, especially for those who love basketball. Thank you to Net Galley, Grand Central Publishing, and Shea Serrano for a chance for an early look at this book.
November 1, 2025
A book probably best enjoyed in smaller doses. That way, you don't begin to notice the author indulges in the same writing tricks... particularly constant pop culture references and repetitive phrasing... over and over again. There is some good stuff here... personal preferences were the stories about Reggie Miller and Aja Wilson... but it will be seen if this work can stand the test of time as memorable basketball literature.
December 13, 2025
This offering of Serrano's isn't without a few little things that might slightly irk a reader, but for someone like me, it's far outweighed by what makes him so much fun as a writer. Namely, his sheer joy in writing about the things he loves, along with his ability to spin a hilariously over-the-top narrative retelling of great moments.
Like a few other commenters here, I did find that Serrano's attempt to use the word "expensive" as an alternative to "high quality" was admirable but a tad forced. Kudos to him for swining for the fences on this one, but I'm not sure it totally worked. But that's a minor thing, just like his love of lists and footnotes. I find it mostly amusing, as Serrano is abundantly self-aware of how goofy this is, but it can elicit the occasional eyeroll.
Really though, it's just a blast to read. Serrano isn't a "critic" of basketball. He's a true enthusiast. He isn't going to waste time breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of players or teams. He isn't going to write paragraphs about how the game has degenerated in recent years. He loves basketball with all his heart, and he only has time to share the players, teams, and moments that have brought him infinite joy over the nearly 40 years he's been watching. And he does it like no other basketball writer, constantly dipping into his bottomless bag of hyperbolic similes, metaphors, and analogies to paint one fantastic picture after another. It's raucous and ridiculous much of the time, but that's as it should be. Basketball is a game, ultimately, and it should be enjoyed as such.
I don't know how much appeal this book will have for someone who doesn't at least know and appreciate NBA and WNBA basketball (Serrano admittedly knows next to nothing about college ball) on some level. But for those of us who do, this is a must-read.
Like a few other commenters here, I did find that Serrano's attempt to use the word "expensive" as an alternative to "high quality" was admirable but a tad forced. Kudos to him for swining for the fences on this one, but I'm not sure it totally worked. But that's a minor thing, just like his love of lists and footnotes. I find it mostly amusing, as Serrano is abundantly self-aware of how goofy this is, but it can elicit the occasional eyeroll.
Really though, it's just a blast to read. Serrano isn't a "critic" of basketball. He's a true enthusiast. He isn't going to waste time breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of players or teams. He isn't going to write paragraphs about how the game has degenerated in recent years. He loves basketball with all his heart, and he only has time to share the players, teams, and moments that have brought him infinite joy over the nearly 40 years he's been watching. And he does it like no other basketball writer, constantly dipping into his bottomless bag of hyperbolic similes, metaphors, and analogies to paint one fantastic picture after another. It's raucous and ridiculous much of the time, but that's as it should be. Basketball is a game, ultimately, and it should be enjoyed as such.
I don't know how much appeal this book will have for someone who doesn't at least know and appreciate NBA and WNBA basketball (Serrano admittedly knows next to nothing about college ball) on some level. But for those of us who do, this is a must-read.
December 26, 2025
My favorite book of 2025 and it’s not close. I preordered this book a while back and I was looking forward to this for the longest time. If you’ve read “Basketball and Other Things” or “Hip Hop and Other Things”, read this ASAP. You’ll go through different moments and players throughout the history of the NBA and the WNBA. Basketball junkies like myself will know a lot of these moments already but you’ll learn something new.
This felt like shooting the shit with one of your homies and you lose track of time because the conversation is so good. I double dipped and listened to the audiobook as well as the physical copy. The narrator of the audiobook Cary Hite added a level of enthusiasm to these moments that made me relive them as I was going through the book. I suggest a book like this is best with the Youtube Time Machine at the ready so you can look up these highlights. I would’ve finished this sooner but I had to savor this good ass book. My only complaint is that I wish this book was longer. I’m greedy, what can I say? Similar books to this are books by Joe Posnanski called “Why We Love Football” and “Why We Love Baseball”. Sports fans need to check this out ASAP. Fantastic read!
This felt like shooting the shit with one of your homies and you lose track of time because the conversation is so good. I double dipped and listened to the audiobook as well as the physical copy. The narrator of the audiobook Cary Hite added a level of enthusiasm to these moments that made me relive them as I was going through the book. I suggest a book like this is best with the Youtube Time Machine at the ready so you can look up these highlights. I would’ve finished this sooner but I had to savor this good ass book. My only complaint is that I wish this book was longer. I’m greedy, what can I say? Similar books to this are books by Joe Posnanski called “Why We Love Football” and “Why We Love Baseball”. Sports fans need to check this out ASAP. Fantastic read!
November 28, 2025
What a treat it is to see the world, and specifically basketball, through Shea Serrano's eyes. No one else consumes the sport the way he does. I will rewatch a play he described after reading a chapter on it and see it entirely differently than I did before. He has a unique ability to take in moments as if they are movies. A 5 second long play can span pages. He does this with thoughtful reflection, the most wild comparisons anyone could ever think of, and laugh-out-loud humor. I feel like a book will rarely make me burst out laughing while reading, but Shea's always do. Nobody does what he does.
If you read and enjoyed Basketball and Other Things, this book is essentially a continuation of that. It's called Expensive Basketball, and he doesn't go through all that much trouble to tell us what Expensive Basketball means, and it really doesn't matter. Because it's more of a feeling. But also, it's just another way we are invited into Shea's mind. Reading this book is like Shea letting you borrow his glasses to watch some of the best basketball ever played for a while. It's a blast. We are lucky to have him.
If you read and enjoyed Basketball and Other Things, this book is essentially a continuation of that. It's called Expensive Basketball, and he doesn't go through all that much trouble to tell us what Expensive Basketball means, and it really doesn't matter. Because it's more of a feeling. But also, it's just another way we are invited into Shea's mind. Reading this book is like Shea letting you borrow his glasses to watch some of the best basketball ever played for a while. It's a blast. We are lucky to have him.
December 13, 2025
I’ve seldom picked up a book that left me smiling ear to ear as often as Expensive Basketball did.
This book is a collection of essays loosely tied together around the idea of certain players feeling more “expensive” than others, but the premise of expensive basketball doesn’t really matter in the long run, it’s just an excuse for Shea to talk about some of his favorite basketball players. To be clear, Shea is very good at talking about his favorite basketball players. Between his spot on pop culture references, childlike wonder, and palpable excitement, Expensive Basketball was just plain fun to read. For example, upon finishing the chapter about Klay Thompson’s 37 point quarter I couldn’t help but watch the YouTube video of that quarter twice and I don’t think I stopped smiling the whole time.
I do feel like I have to say this book is probably not for everyone. Shea’s writing is not necessarily brimming with nuance, and a handful of chapters felt flat, but if you’re looking for a celebration of basketball that reads the way the 2010s Clippers were trying to rip the rim off the hoop, this is the place for you.
This book is a collection of essays loosely tied together around the idea of certain players feeling more “expensive” than others, but the premise of expensive basketball doesn’t really matter in the long run, it’s just an excuse for Shea to talk about some of his favorite basketball players. To be clear, Shea is very good at talking about his favorite basketball players. Between his spot on pop culture references, childlike wonder, and palpable excitement, Expensive Basketball was just plain fun to read. For example, upon finishing the chapter about Klay Thompson’s 37 point quarter I couldn’t help but watch the YouTube video of that quarter twice and I don’t think I stopped smiling the whole time.
I do feel like I have to say this book is probably not for everyone. Shea’s writing is not necessarily brimming with nuance, and a handful of chapters felt flat, but if you’re looking for a celebration of basketball that reads the way the 2010s Clippers were trying to rip the rim off the hoop, this is the place for you.
December 22, 2025
One sign of true writing talent to me is if an author can make me care about something I probably wouldn’t otherwise be super interested in. I love Shea Serrano’s writing so I wanted to check this out even though I’m a lukewarm basketball fan at best. He succeeded in making me care deeply about these players and these memorable sports moments.
As with everything else I’ve read from him, Shea made me laugh out loud pretty much in every chapter. His way of writing about sports makes them accessible and interesting to any audience member. There were a lot of lists which I get not everyone might love but I don’t mind it. I do wish there was a little more WNBA but honestly having a few WNBA players talked about throughout is better than most sports books do, so I’ll take it.
Overall, if you’re a devoted basketball fan, you’ll probably get even more out of this. But even if you’re a casual basketball watcher, Shea pulls you in with humor, excitement, and passion for the sports and these athletes’ lives. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
As with everything else I’ve read from him, Shea made me laugh out loud pretty much in every chapter. His way of writing about sports makes them accessible and interesting to any audience member. There were a lot of lists which I get not everyone might love but I don’t mind it. I do wish there was a little more WNBA but honestly having a few WNBA players talked about throughout is better than most sports books do, so I’ll take it.
Overall, if you’re a devoted basketball fan, you’ll probably get even more out of this. But even if you’re a casual basketball watcher, Shea pulls you in with humor, excitement, and passion for the sports and these athletes’ lives. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
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