Bill Simmons, Bill Walton and Isiah Thomas: What Else Do You Need?

Slammin' Sam on Sports Media

The whole week I was away, I wondered, “Had my book arrived? Had my book arrived?” Any other literature could take six months to hit my doorstep. Not this. I pre-ordered “The Book of Basketball,” so it better be there when I returned. Sure enough, it was. Might as well have been in a box marked “fra-gee-lay.” [With] the snap of a few sparks, a quick whiff of ozone, and the [book] blazed forth in unparalleled glory.”

As you can already tell from my fervor, this post is going to be a little different. Let me tell you why you should buy this book, not just read it.

1. The book is 697 pages long. It is packed with history, including a look at the NBA by era, (Book, Ch. 3) player and what-if analysis. For example, “What if the Knicks never hired Isiah Thomas?” (185) and why The Sports Guy ranks Tim Duncan as the seventh greatest player of all time, based on five criteria. (573) Unless you want to make 30-40 trips to the library, do yourself a favor and just buy the behemoth.

2. Simmons also divulges the secret of success for winning basketball teams (40). It may not be what you think.

3. Written like a mailbag with plenty of digressing, random pop culture references and footnotes on about every page, the book is like The Simpsons epic movie but retains quality from pg. 4 to pg. 697. I know because I read pg. 4 and pg. 697 (as well as others in between.) What better way to open a book than with a decision between a motorcycle and Celtics season tickets and to bring it to a close than with a visit with Bill Walton? I mean, really.

Until next time, I am his reader. And I thank you for reading Free Keon.

Sam Miller/Free Keon