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NBA 75: The Definitive History
The most iconic moments and stories of the NBA.
In NBA 75, sportswriter and basketball super fan Dave Zarum tells the story of the NBA, all 75 years -- from its early barnstorming days to the multibillion-dollar sports league it is today.
Readers are treated to all the biggest moments and greatest superstars, with over 75 stories ranging from Jerry West's 33-win streak Lakers, through Jordan's repeat three-peat Bulls, to Steph Curry and the 73-win Warriors and beyond. But this retrospective doesn't shy away from the league's controversies, covering its struggles with racial bigotry, Magic Johnson's HIV diagnosis, Len Bias' tragic draft-night death and the cocaine-fuelled late seventies when the Finals were broadcast on tape delay.
Each story is fully illustrated with iconic photos and accompanied by stat boxes and side stories of some of the Association's more curious and overlooked moments.
Some of the events covered in NBA 75
1946: The first professional basketball game between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Huskies 1969: The legendary duels between Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell 1976: The merger of the ABA and NBA 1980: The rivalry of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson 1993: Air Jordan and his Bulls dynasty 2006: Kobe Bryant scores 81 points 2010: LeBron James makes his Miami decision 2016: Steph Curry and the Warriors blow a 3-1 lead to lose the NBA Finals. NBA 75 is the definitive guide to the history of the NBA -- perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about the league they love or simply catch up on what they've been missing. With the 75th anniversary of the NBA in 2021, now is the perfect time to add it to your collection.
In NBA 75, sportswriter and basketball super fan Dave Zarum tells the story of the NBA, all 75 years -- from its early barnstorming days to the multibillion-dollar sports league it is today.
Readers are treated to all the biggest moments and greatest superstars, with over 75 stories ranging from Jerry West's 33-win streak Lakers, through Jordan's repeat three-peat Bulls, to Steph Curry and the 73-win Warriors and beyond. But this retrospective doesn't shy away from the league's controversies, covering its struggles with racial bigotry, Magic Johnson's HIV diagnosis, Len Bias' tragic draft-night death and the cocaine-fuelled late seventies when the Finals were broadcast on tape delay.
Each story is fully illustrated with iconic photos and accompanied by stat boxes and side stories of some of the Association's more curious and overlooked moments.
Some of the events covered in NBA 75
1946: The first professional basketball game between the New York Knicks and the Toronto Huskies 1969: The legendary duels between Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell 1976: The merger of the ABA and NBA 1980: The rivalry of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson 1993: Air Jordan and his Bulls dynasty 2006: Kobe Bryant scores 81 points 2010: LeBron James makes his Miami decision 2016: Steph Curry and the Warriors blow a 3-1 lead to lose the NBA Finals. NBA 75 is the definitive guide to the history of the NBA -- perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about the league they love or simply catch up on what they've been missing. With the 75th anniversary of the NBA in 2021, now is the perfect time to add it to your collection.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published October 8, 2020
16 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 23, 2022
Really enjoyable read into many of the issues, opportunities and hero’s of the league’s 75 year history. I would loved to have seen a consolidated honour board with things like champions and MVP’s for each year.
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July 27, 2021Basketball is one of the most popular sports in history. The sport is praised and honored in NBA 75 THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY. It celebrates 75 years of the sport as the title implies, and makes mention of the most important moments and players in the sport.
Even though we have had to deal with a pandemic for almost two years and sports has taken on a different look, at one time without spectators, that has not detracted from the popularity of basketball. The first pro basketball game was said to have taken place in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens between the Toronto Huskies and the New York Knickerbockers. New York won 68-66. Although it was the first game it was not recognized as such until 1949 when the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball Leagues merged. It is noted the first actual basketball game was played on the campus of Springfield College in Springfield Massachusetts in 1891. It was invented by a Canadian, James Naismith. Rules were different with players kicking, punching, and tackling, but it provided interest in such a sport as rules were altered.
The book follows the progression of basketball on a yearly basis even noting the Harlem Globetrotters beating the Minneapolis Lakers in a 1949 game. The color barrier was broken in the sport in 1950 when Chuck Cooper became the first black player drafted, selected by the Boston Celtics.
Basketball has seen its share of great players over the years, with every one of them noted in the book. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson and dozens more are profiled, along when they joined their respective teams and the accomplishments of each of them. Records are noted such as the Los Angeles Lakers holding the longest winning streak, 33 games in 1973.
Any fan of the sport will enjoy this most complete edition, a definite keepsake as the sport is honored for what it has brought to the lives of players and fans.
Even though we have had to deal with a pandemic for almost two years and sports has taken on a different look, at one time without spectators, that has not detracted from the popularity of basketball. The first pro basketball game was said to have taken place in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens between the Toronto Huskies and the New York Knickerbockers. New York won 68-66. Although it was the first game it was not recognized as such until 1949 when the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball Leagues merged. It is noted the first actual basketball game was played on the campus of Springfield College in Springfield Massachusetts in 1891. It was invented by a Canadian, James Naismith. Rules were different with players kicking, punching, and tackling, but it provided interest in such a sport as rules were altered.
The book follows the progression of basketball on a yearly basis even noting the Harlem Globetrotters beating the Minneapolis Lakers in a 1949 game. The color barrier was broken in the sport in 1950 when Chuck Cooper became the first black player drafted, selected by the Boston Celtics.
Basketball has seen its share of great players over the years, with every one of them noted in the book. Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal, Magic Johnson and dozens more are profiled, along when they joined their respective teams and the accomplishments of each of them. Records are noted such as the Los Angeles Lakers holding the longest winning streak, 33 games in 1973.
Any fan of the sport will enjoy this most complete edition, a definite keepsake as the sport is honored for what it has brought to the lives of players and fans.
Read
May 22, 2023This book talks about the NBA over its 75 years of existence. It highlights key events and players from each year as well as how the game has evolved and changed to what it is now. It shows how the NBA went from a small organization to the multibillion dollar corporation it is today. I picked this book because I love basketball and I love learning about its history and how the players and the game has adapted and evolved together. I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys sports and basketball. I did basketball books for most of my books this year as its one of my favorite activities and subjects to learn about. Overall a great book and a good reading experience.
April 7, 2024
I learned quite a bit especially about the early days of the NBA, the merger, and racism. My biggest complaint would be that each chapter was treated as completely independent so there was a lot of repeated information that was stated like we hadn’t already been taught about it in a previous chapter.
February 2, 2023
3.5 - Nie powiem, że to must have dla fanów NBA, ale we mnie jako w fanie ta książka rezonowała. Pomimo, że znam historię ligi i znam poszczególne historie przytoczone w książce, to uśmiechałem się czytając o nich kolejny raz :)
June 3, 2025
I loooove the concept of the year by year history. And the big concepts within basketball. I would love to read another one of these in like 50 years.
October 30, 2022
I must admit that being a huge fan of basketball, I could not pass by this position indifferently.
Basketball, like any other sport, has developed over many, many years. The story outright brilliantly described by Dave Zarum clearly shows that the NBA league (originally ABA, NBL etc) had its ups and downs.
The founders had many problems on their way, such as finding a way to attract fans, race and salary problems. Today all these things may seem trivial and completely incomprehensible, but the league did not always look like it is today.
The author, after reading hundreds of books, materials and many interviews, describes us with information in a nutshell about players, their development and individual seasons of the NBA from the very beginning.
The edition I have had the pleasure to read has hundreds of high-quality color photos. Being honest thanks to this, many times while reading, I had the impression that I was in the stands in one of the American halls and heard the enormous noise of fans. In other words, I think every fan will get lost in this book!
Basketball, like any other sport, has developed over many, many years. The story outright brilliantly described by Dave Zarum clearly shows that the NBA league (originally ABA, NBL etc) had its ups and downs.
The founders had many problems on their way, such as finding a way to attract fans, race and salary problems. Today all these things may seem trivial and completely incomprehensible, but the league did not always look like it is today.
The author, after reading hundreds of books, materials and many interviews, describes us with information in a nutshell about players, their development and individual seasons of the NBA from the very beginning.
The edition I have had the pleasure to read has hundreds of high-quality color photos. Being honest thanks to this, many times while reading, I had the impression that I was in the stands in one of the American halls and heard the enormous noise of fans. In other words, I think every fan will get lost in this book!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews