Basket Ball: The Story of the All-American Game

American Sports Histories

by Kadir Nelson

Award-winning creator Kadir Nelson delivers the perfect gift for basketball fans of any age—a beautifully illustrated history of the game and its key players over the years—in this companion to his bestselling We Are the The Story of Negro League Baseball .

Basketball has evolved by leaps and bounds since its origin over 125 years ago, but what remains is the passion of the players, the heat of competition, and supreme strategy and athleticism on the court. In this visual tour de force, celebrated artist Kadir Nelson weds his love for the game with showstopping paintings that bring its heart-pounding history to life.

The sage voice of an elder player narrates the journey from the early days of the slow game of “basket ball” to today’s dazzlingly athletic and fast-paced sport. Engaging profiles of revolutionary players—including Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry—are featured, along with notable quotes from major figures of the game. With each breathtaking chapter in history, fans young and old will learn the gripping story of the all-American game and meet its iconic, indomitable heroes.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sports, Picture Books, History, Middle Grade, Basketball, Juvenile

112 pages, Hardcover

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

Kadir Nelson is a Los Angeles–based painter, illustrator, and author who is best known for his paintings often featured on the covers of The New Yorker magazine, and album covers for Michael Jackson and Drake. His work is focused on African-American culture and history.

Reviews

[Logan Dalton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous oil paintings from Kadir Nelson! I feel like this would be a great book to enhance a youngster’s love for the game of basketball. I also learned a lot about the early Black pro teams (Harlem Rens!) and appreciate the bits with the ABA, street ball, and chapter on women’s basketball. (Must do ABA deep dive or just chat with my dad and uncle.)

Nelson’s writing style fluctuated from Wikipedia to poetry though and kind of randomly organized once you got out of the early days of the sport.

[Heidi Burkhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. I liked the length of this book. Information in the book was easy to follow and interesting.

I would love to see a part two of this book come out!

[Leonard Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nelson does say the obvious in his end note: that this book covers origins and men’s pro ball at the expense of street, college, and women’s basketball. He pleads length limitations, but I don’t agree the book couldn’t have been more balanced. It does feel like a labor of love, which feels like the truer explanation.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent summation of the game and many of the key players and people who were formative and transformative in its history.
The unexpected accounting of the entrance of men and teams of color — both amateur and professional — into what for too many years was seen as an all-white sport is a real contribution to the historical record.
Although Little, Brown Books for Young Readers published this 112-page, large-format book, older fans will appreciate the well-written information and stories Kadir Nelson has pull together and how he brings to life the historic figures and stars of the game through his colorful paintings.
However.
I foresee multiple complaints from readers who won't be able to understand how their heroes could possibly not be included among the players who received full-page write-ups and full-page images.
For example, New York Knicks fans won't see Patrick Ewing, Willis Reed or Walt Frazier. Nor anyone else in a Knicks' jersey.
Missing too are Shaquille O'Neal and, surprisingly, Kobe Bryant.
The answer may be that those outstanding players didn't change the game in the way the featured players did. That may be true.
And to paraphrase an old editor of mine, the laws of physics apply to the written word; you can only print what fits in the book. At least a photo of Kobe — uni stuck on his lip — graces a two-page spread.
Nelson acknowledges another missing element in his Author's Note in the ending pages. The sole mention of women's basketball comes in a painting of two female professional players on the book's title page. Motivation for a follow-up book?

[Randall Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is nominally a children's book, although I think it entirely appropriate for adults to read as well. Anybody, like me, who grew up playing and spectating at basketball games will find it informative, entertaining and edifying.

I'm a big fan of Kadir Nelson's. I have his book, We Are The Ship, a history of the Negro Baseball League, on my bookshelf. Also a "children's" book, it measures up to the more scholarly, historical volumes about the Negro leagues in my library.

Nelson does a great job distilling the essence of the game, it's creation, early development, growth, and modern iteration into informative yet digestible bites. I was excited to learn it was published, and even more excited to find it at my local library.

I especially enjoy the artwork Nelson creates for his books. Don't know if he started painting to illustrate his books, or started writing books so he had a way to distribute his artwork more widely. Either way, it's working. Please carry on Mr. Nelson!

Even if you're not a kid, pick up this book and enjoy learning something about the game you've likely watched, and/or played your entire life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it as a very GOOD READ!

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only thing that might move this to a five-star read is seeing the finished copy with the illustrations since I was able to get my hands on the Netgalley audio version which was fantastic in sharing an overview of how basketball came to be. As Nelson explains at the end, he could have gone deeper and shared about plenty more, but he wanted it to be an accessible overview for the intended kid audience and it does a phenomenal job demonstrating what that looked like from real baskets to serve as the net that the ball had to be retrieved out of to how the Harlem Globetrotters came to be what they are now (because of their amazing talent- as in they were at one point supposed to be the opening act before the real basketball game but people left AFTER the Globetrotters played and didn't stay for the "real" game-- I love that story).

Nelson has a command and love of basketball that shines like his research and I can't wait to see the cherry on top- the illustrations that the audiobook lacked. But as an audiobook, the information was clear and concise. Can't wait to purchase a few copies of this for our library.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kadir Nelson is an amazing author and illustrator and this book is gorgeous. The conversational tone is just right for drawing kids into this great history of basketball, and there's so much underappreciated Black history shared here. HOWEVER, the book gives big "textbook sidebar" vibes when it comes to women's basketball. The book is a chronological history of the sport - all male, followed by vignettes of some of basketball's superstars through the years - all male, and then is followed by a single chapter titled "Overtime" that discusses women's basketball. Why isn't this included in the chronological text? Why are no female superstars included in the vignettes? Either call it "the story of men's basketball," or elevate women's basketball to more than a slim chapter near the end. It's such a missed opportunity in a beautiful book.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a basketball fan, but I still assumed I would find myself mostly flipping through this book to see Kadir's beautiful painting and then just calling it a day. That is not what happened. I sat, unmoving, for over an hour as I slowed down to read and enjoy every part of this book. Kadir's paintings are stunning. Amongst his best work, no doubt. But the conversational tone of the story, pulling greats from history and showing how the game has grown, makes for an unbelievably enjoyable read. Kid readers might be turned off by the length and size of this book, but get them to sit down with it and it will capture them as well.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this 4 stars, heck even 5 stars if there had been more about women's basket ball. I know he mentions that he ran out of space for this book, and needed to focus on certain aspects of the history. Totally get it! I just wish the title some how made clear that this was made to only be about men's basket ball history...I feel like the title makes it seem like it's about basket ball in general, and that should include more than one small chapter on women.
But the artwork and writing are stellar as always for Kadir. And I see lots of kids being interested.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I'm no expert on the history of the sport, I believe Nelson presents a well rounded and broad history of Basketball from it's invention, through it's many evolutions. With focus on several major players, innovators and movers; Basket Ball presents a readable and interesting text. The reader was clear and comfortable for listening. I will be looking forward to some stellar artwork from this amazing illustrator, but I wasn't able to see the pictures for this review.

[Debra Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love basketball! I loved playing it, watching my kids play it, watching the college athletes play it, watching the pros growing up, and love love love watching the women play. This is a wonderful book, beautifully illustrated, for anyone who loves basketball, or who just wants to learn about the history and players of the game. Kadir Nelson is simply a fantastic author/illustrator, and his books are not only for young people. His books are among the most enjoyed books on my bookshelf.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated history of the game of basketball. Terrific stories from the early days, and gorgeously rendered player profiles of the biggest stars in the game. I enjoyed learning more about the Harlem Globetrotters, who I loved to watch as a kid. But- as other reviewers have noted women’s basketball appears to have been an afterthought with just a small handful of pages.That was disappointing, as women have been playing the game since 1899.

[Daniel Dennies · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whoever did the layout for this book did an awful job, the paintings are all cropped in the worst way, so it's not a great way to appreciate the artworks

The text is okay other if you are looking for specific events and highlights of specific men that the author admires, but lacks any real context or connection to history or america

[Carrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Kadir Nelson’s art so so much, though I find that kids don’t prefer that oversize format when it comes to nonfiction. I also wish that women’s basketball was not relegated to the Overtime section almost as if it was an afterthought. Otherwise, this is a fantastic basketball overview with stunning illustrations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am pretty lackluster about basketball, but I am an absolute die-hard fan of Kadir Nelson. His illustrations take my breath away. They are stunning! And for fans of basketball, this book is jam-packed full of all the details about the history of the game, starting in 1891, the major players over the years, and every fact you'd want to know. It was an interesting read.

[Laura Hook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a huge, 100 page picture book mecca of basketball stars, facts, history, etc. The illustrations from Kadir are impeccable. If you are a basketball fan, young or old, this is a book to check out!

[Mary-Esther Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

An energetic and inspiring tribute to the game.

[Stephen Ditman · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.6 stars

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am obsessed with this book. I have to have my own copy. Interesting information and the art is stunning.

[Karen Arendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely fascinating read even for people who don’t follow basketball. The voice is conversational, the artwork mesmerizing, and the anecdotes riveting. I highly recommend this one.

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 5 out of 5]

"[Basket Ball] paints people, places and endeavors relegated to oblivion’s sidelines back onto the hardwood.... Each of Nelson’s portraits sends up a little praise song." [The New York Times]

[Renee Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for big kids and preteens who love facts and basketball

[Mckinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. But I don't think this should be in a picture book list.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course I am going to quibble about the players chosen for profiles!

[Dale Barlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

(JF-NF) 02.01.2026: per Sunday NY Times Children's Book recommendation; this one is a pictorial history of men and women who transformed basketball; prolific author based on books available locally...; 04.12.2026: I presumed I would just scan this books printed information but found myself reading every line; nice balance of the evolution of basketball with specific players the author/illustrator believes have made the game; for anyone marginally interested in the game, this book gives a nice overview of it’s history; 2026 hardcover via Madison County Public Library, Richmond, 112 pgs. (includes Author’s Note, Timeline, Glossary, Notes, Sources, and Index)