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Rebound: Soaring In The NBA, Facing An Incurable Disease, And Finding What Really Matters
“Basketball gave me a life; Parkinson’s taught me how to live it.”
—Brian Grant
After 12 years of playing basketball at the highest professional level, Brian Grant could have been forgiven for thinking that the hardest part of his life was behind him, that he’d be able to kick back and enjoy the fruits of his considerable labors.
But soon after his retirement from the NBA, Grant was diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease, ushering in a challenge greater than any he’d faced before, as well as an opportunity to embrace what really matters.
With esteemed basketball writer Ric Bucher, Grant shares his story in raw and candid fashion, as he takes readers to Sacramento, Portland, Miami, and beyond; to the airplane 30,000 feet in the air where he first came to understand the source of the tremors in his hand; and to the summit of Mount St. Helens alongside five others with PD, where he once again put himself to the test and defied expectations.
In Rebound, Grant shares his remarkable life before, during, and after those NBA years with no shortage of compassion and wit.
—Brian Grant
After 12 years of playing basketball at the highest professional level, Brian Grant could have been forgiven for thinking that the hardest part of his life was behind him, that he’d be able to kick back and enjoy the fruits of his considerable labors.
But soon after his retirement from the NBA, Grant was diagnosed with Young-Onset Parkinson’s disease, ushering in a challenge greater than any he’d faced before, as well as an opportunity to embrace what really matters.
With esteemed basketball writer Ric Bucher, Grant shares his story in raw and candid fashion, as he takes readers to Sacramento, Portland, Miami, and beyond; to the airplane 30,000 feet in the air where he first came to understand the source of the tremors in his hand; and to the summit of Mount St. Helens alongside five others with PD, where he once again put himself to the test and defied expectations.
In Rebound, Grant shares his remarkable life before, during, and after those NBA years with no shortage of compassion and wit.
- GenresNonfiction
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2021
7 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 25, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley and Triumph Books for my ARC audio book in exchange for my honest review. This book was published April 6, 2021.
As a Portland native, the Portland Trail Blazers are my home team 🏀 as well as my employer for 5+ years. This book was particularly interesting, providing insight into how the league operates, training, trades, etc. but also how Parkinson’s disease has affected Brian’s life.
It’s a very honest autobiography, dealing with his family, relationships, infidelities, addiction, and ultimately becoming a champion to raise awareness and funds for the disease.
I loved the story about how he summited Mt. St. Helens. I also loved the idea of the “forever” card, given to Brian from Miami Heat coach Pat Riley.
“Basketball gave me a life. Parkinson’s taught me how to live it.”
As a Portland native, the Portland Trail Blazers are my home team 🏀 as well as my employer for 5+ years. This book was particularly interesting, providing insight into how the league operates, training, trades, etc. but also how Parkinson’s disease has affected Brian’s life.
It’s a very honest autobiography, dealing with his family, relationships, infidelities, addiction, and ultimately becoming a champion to raise awareness and funds for the disease.
I loved the story about how he summited Mt. St. Helens. I also loved the idea of the “forever” card, given to Brian from Miami Heat coach Pat Riley.
“Basketball gave me a life. Parkinson’s taught me how to live it.”
October 7, 2023
As a Trail Blazer fan and a person with Parkinson’s Disease, I found Brian Grant’s book both touching and inspiring. He and his coauthor, Ric Bucher, give us a warts-and-all look at Grant as a young Black man growing up in a dysfunctional family in southern Ohio and using his determination to prove doubters wrong as motivation for great success. Grant comes off as a flawed but likable and ultimately admirable guy, one we root for on the court and off.
February 22, 2025
Being a die-hard Blazers fan, I knew I had to read this one, as a physician, I knew I had to read this one and then, because I had a close family friend (who is mentioned in this book), who was diagnosed with the early-onset form of PD, I definitely h ad to read this book. It had been in my possession awhile, but had other books in front of it (I have OCD that I need to read book in the order I purchased them, for the most part at least, LOL).
Of course, the basketball part excited me a lot, to see the behind the scenes, as they have with the other sports books I have read over the years. And yes, it wasn't fun when BG had to talk about the 2000 Western Conference Finals. No one likes digging that up here in Portland.
Learning about Brian's personal struggles with his relationships and even about the pain medications/addictions (not sure I knew that before reading this book) hit home, since I am a family physician having to deal with patients with chronic pain, was very insightful.
Going back to the PD - I had the good fortunate (mixed fortune, as we were there for the close family member I mentioned above) of being at that initial Shake It Til We Make it Gala that Brian described in the book in detail - me and my extended family - my cousins who were also big Blazer fans, got a photo with BG, as well as some of the other stars that were there. And to this day, it was so cool even just being in the same room as the GOAT, Muhammad Ali and others, like the late Bill Russell and of course, Michael J Fox and Pat Riley. Dream come true as far as the sports and NBA nerd in me.
Overall, this was an honest retelling of a life of just about every emotion - highs, lows, heartache, physical, emotional and mental ailments. It's a testimony that despite personal mistakes, a grueling, physical career, that a human can persevere and overcome demons of all types.
I'm glad BG wrote this book. Def a read for NBA, sports fans, as well as those wanting to know what it's like to go through getting diagnosed with PD, especially at such a young age.
Of course, the basketball part excited me a lot, to see the behind the scenes, as they have with the other sports books I have read over the years. And yes, it wasn't fun when BG had to talk about the 2000 Western Conference Finals. No one likes digging that up here in Portland.
Learning about Brian's personal struggles with his relationships and even about the pain medications/addictions (not sure I knew that before reading this book) hit home, since I am a family physician having to deal with patients with chronic pain, was very insightful.
Going back to the PD - I had the good fortunate (mixed fortune, as we were there for the close family member I mentioned above) of being at that initial Shake It Til We Make it Gala that Brian described in the book in detail - me and my extended family - my cousins who were also big Blazer fans, got a photo with BG, as well as some of the other stars that were there. And to this day, it was so cool even just being in the same room as the GOAT, Muhammad Ali and others, like the late Bill Russell and of course, Michael J Fox and Pat Riley. Dream come true as far as the sports and NBA nerd in me.
Overall, this was an honest retelling of a life of just about every emotion - highs, lows, heartache, physical, emotional and mental ailments. It's a testimony that despite personal mistakes, a grueling, physical career, that a human can persevere and overcome demons of all types.
I'm glad BG wrote this book. Def a read for NBA, sports fans, as well as those wanting to know what it's like to go through getting diagnosed with PD, especially at such a young age.
September 11, 2023
Really more like a 3.5 review. I appreciate the honesty but a lot of his personal issues were self-inflicted (obviously not Parkinsons) and he seemed to make excuses for them to the point of coming off as unlikable. Overall, I hope opening up helps others and give him credit for trying to do that but it just wasn't an overly compelling read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews