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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
239 people are currently reading
781 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 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.
March 5, 2026
A book from my favorite author outlining and highlighting moments that helped to form my love for my favorite hobby (and job) on earth! I feel like this book was tailor made for me and I think that speaks volumes to the way Serrano writes. It’s as if every chapter, sentence, and idea is written just for you. He makes you feel like he can articulate the reasons why you fell in love with the game of basketball better than you can even think of them. His writing of these basketball moments and players took me back to the times and places that made me obsess over the sport that I have played for over 30 years, so much so that it even inspired me to look up and relive many of the moments talked about in the book. Just an overall joy to read !
February 5, 2026
I can somewhat appreciate Serrano’s desire to create a book celebrating ground-breaking moments of the game so many of us love, but this book is held back by its lack of self-awareness.
It seems like Serrano was struck by an “a-ha!” moment upon encountering Rick Rubin’s “The Creative Act” in the wild; a striking, minimalist-designed jacket-less hardcover that stands out on any bookshelf or coffee table. “Expensive Basketball” just felt more committed to being a Totally Dope Consumer Product by way of a Rubin-esque mimicry than doing raw, shining moments in the sport justice through the written word 🤷♂️
Idk, kinda felt like I was reading a collection of book reports. I don’t like being super negative or hard on something a person made - it’s a little easier to do it, though, when this book announces itself (literally embossed in gold) as “expensive” and will no doubt only be available as a hard cover for the foreseeable future. Part of what makes basketball so awesome is how accessible it *can* be: 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 found it a little tone-deaf and out of touch at times. Serrano’s concept of “expensive basketball” itself is half-baked and partially explicated *at best* in the intro.
I don’t necessarily feel scammed for having bought/read this book, but because it over-promised and under-delivered, I feel a little duped. I’m gonna put it in a little lending library where someone who will enjoy it more than me can have it for keeps for the low low price of free ninety-nine. Basketball is for everyone! 😄
(Also, maybe it’s just #toosoon to emulate “The Creative Act” lol)
It seems like Serrano was struck by an “a-ha!” moment upon encountering Rick Rubin’s “The Creative Act” in the wild; a striking, minimalist-designed jacket-less hardcover that stands out on any bookshelf or coffee table. “Expensive Basketball” just felt more committed to being a Totally Dope Consumer Product by way of a Rubin-esque mimicry than doing raw, shining moments in the sport justice through the written word 🤷♂️
Idk, kinda felt like I was reading a collection of book reports. I don’t like being super negative or hard on something a person made - it’s a little easier to do it, though, when this book announces itself (literally embossed in gold) as “expensive” and will no doubt only be available as a hard cover for the foreseeable future. Part of what makes basketball so awesome is how accessible it *can* be: 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 found it a little tone-deaf and out of touch at times. Serrano’s concept of “expensive basketball” itself is half-baked and partially explicated *at best* in the intro.
I don’t necessarily feel scammed for having bought/read this book, but because it over-promised and under-delivered, I feel a little duped. I’m gonna put it in a little lending library where someone who will enjoy it more than me can have it for keeps for the low low price of free ninety-nine. Basketball is for everyone! 😄
(Also, maybe it’s just #toosoon to emulate “The Creative Act” lol)
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 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.
March 20, 2026
literally a beautiful work of art basketball loves shea the way he loves basketball i even cried bc i’m insane ig ; tim duncan + dennis ; just never a dull moment i loved the extra notes and explanations — this book was 5/5 russells 🤎🏀
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.
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 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.”
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.
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 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
February 23, 2026
Nick got this book for Christmas and obvi I’m gonna read a book that’s in my home. Shea’s voice is incredibly strong. I think if given a few anonymous paragraphs to pick from, I could pick his out easily. That being said, his descriptions of basketball were incredibly violent at times which isn’t for me. I did finish every chapter thinking “Okay this is the best basketball player ever” only to rethink that the next chapter.
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.
February 16, 2026
Not my favorite by Shea Serrano but made me laugh out loud a bunch of times
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!
January 29, 2026
This reads like random ramblings of a spurs fan. The writing style is not quite my tempo.
I did not understand most of the analogies the author was trying to make, nor do i understand what expensive basketball means. The book is more of a list of cool moments in basketball history, which was sort of cool to relive as a basketball fan.
I did not understand most of the analogies the author was trying to make, nor do i understand what expensive basketball means. The book is more of a list of cool moments in basketball history, which was sort of cool to relive as a basketball fan.
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.
March 13, 2026
i wish i liked it. i love basketball. i love shea. i do not like reading things that happened with little extra insight over and over and over again. i got half way through the book and stopped for a month and every time i went to go read i would remember what i was reading and think to myself, “nah i am good”
February 25, 2026
honestly one of the toughest reads i’ve ever had. the analogies and metaphors are so cringey. it’s so obvious how hard he is trying to be funny and he’s just not. even as a basketball and NBA junkie, this just sucked and i couldn’t wait for it to be over
February 24, 2026
Good, but not great. Loved some of the topics of certain chapters, but grew bored with some others.
This book reads like collection of blog posts smashed together between the covers. The author mentions his previous book (which was better) in multiple different chapters, and also decides to break out into making a list once every couple of paragraphs.
Like I said at the start… good, but not great. Bonus points for the gorgeous hardcover version of this book I bought. Looks so good in person! (6.3/10)
This book reads like collection of blog posts smashed together between the covers. The author mentions his previous book (which was better) in multiple different chapters, and also decides to break out into making a list once every couple of paragraphs.
Like I said at the start… good, but not great. Bonus points for the gorgeous hardcover version of this book I bought. Looks so good in person! (6.3/10)
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
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews