Learn the Inspiring Story of the Toronto Raptors' Star Shooting Guard DeMar DeRozan! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! In DeMar DeRozan: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Star Shooting Guards, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's greatest offensive players, DeMar DeRozan. DeMar DeRozan has quickly emerged as one of the premier scorers in the NBA, with a ruthless ability to score that reminds many of none other than a combination of Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady. Since being drafted as the ninth overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft, DeMar has played a significant role in the Raptors' emergence as a force in the Eastern Conference. Paired with Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan and the Raptors are a formidable team in the East, and will likely remain so for years to come. In this unauthorized biography, we'll explore DeMar's incredible life story and impact on the game of basketball. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Childhood and Early Life High School Career College Career NBA Career Getting Drafted, The Rookie Campaign, The Development Years Teaming Up with Kyle Lowry, the Rudy Gay Experiment, First All-Star Season, Playoff Debut, Injury Struggles, Lowry's Evolution into an All-Star Breaking Through to the Conference Finals, Road to Becoming Elite International Career Personal Life and Impact on Basketball Legacy and Future An excerpt from the book: The shooting guard position has always been one of the more difficult spots to play in the NBA. Shooting guards are required first and foremost to be among the best scorers on their team since their primary role of the team is to, of course, shoot and make their shots. While scoring the ball may not sound like the most difficult task to do, what makes the shooting guard a difficult position in the NBA is the level of skill required to be elite. As far as the history of the league is concerned, there have not been a lot of great shooting guards compared to centers, point guards, and forwards due to the relative difficulty the position requires for the player to be elite. But even though there have not been a lot of great shooting guards in the NBA's history, the best of the best happen to be those that play that position. Since the dawn of the league, the first great shooting guard was the NBA logo himself, Jerry West. Then there came guys like George Gervin and Pete Maravich during the dark 70's era of the league. Come the 80's and 90's, Reggie Miller and Clyde Drexler dominated the position. Those that came after them were Kobe Bryant, Ray Allen, Vince Carter, and Dwyane Wade. And Michael Jordan, the greatest player to have ever played the game, is known as a shooting guard. There have not been a lot of great shooting guards, but they were always the best of their respective eras. Tags: DeMar DeRozan Bio, DeMar DeRozan basketball, Toronto Raptors basketball, Kyle Lowry, DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler, Jonas Valanciunas, Paul George, James Harden, Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady

Learn the Inspiring Story of the Toronto Raptors' Star Point Guard Kyle Lowry! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! In Kyle Lowry: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's All-Star Guards, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's All-Star guards, Kyle Lowry. The Toronto Raptors rise in the NBA in recent years has been largely attributed to Kyle Lowry's leadership as he helped guide the Raptors to their first Atlantic Division title in several years. Aside from fellow star guards Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook, few point guards in the NBA can score as easily as Kyle Lowry. It's no surprise Lowry was often compared to Tim Hardaway when he entered the league, as Lowry has the unique ability to not only score at will, but also make smart decisions on the floor. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Childhood and Early Life High School Career College Career ' Kyle Lowry's NBA Career Getting Drafted and Rookie Campaign Bounce Back from Injury Final Season in Memphis First Full Season with the Houston Rockets Becoming a Starter Trade to Toronto Rising with the Raptors, Return to the Playoffs First All-Star Season Slimming Down, Improved Conditioning, Breaking Through to the Eastern Conference Finals Kyle Lowry's Personal Life Lowry's Legacy and Future An excerpt from the book: No journey to NBA stardom is ever quite the same. Some players have had the star pedigree ever since the day they were born, only to be given the status as a superstar even before getting into the NBA. LeBron James is an example of that kind of a star journey. He was figuratively given the brass ring even before he set foot on an NBA hard floor. This was rightfully so because he already had star quality even before he became a professional player. There are also those whose potentials were already apparent, but needed maturing and sharpening. Kobe Bryant, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard are examples. Everyone knew they had the talent, drive, and work ethic to become stars. But they needed time and honing before they achieved their potentials. After the passage of time, those players evolved to become some of the best of their era. And some players had to work their way up from obscurity to be named as one of the elites in the league. Dirk Nowitzki came into the NBA as an unknown, but quickly rose to become one of the all-time greats. You also have Draymond Green and Manu Ginobili, who were both second-round picks, but reached the heights of championships and All-Star appearances nevertheless. All it took was for them to get over the brand of being relatively unknown and work through that to exceed expectations. Different stars had different roads to take for them to be part of the NBA's elite. Some had it easy, while some had it rough. Some took a lot of time, while some took none at all. It all depends on the individual players' pacing. It is not always about the destination, but more about the journey, as they say. But for all the different routes that different NBA players had to take to become stars, it is Kyle Lowry's own road to becoming elite that is most exciting and inspirational. Tags: Kyle Lowry Bio, Kyle Lowry basketball, Toronto Raptors basketball, DeMar DeRozan, Bismack Biyombo, Kyrie Irving, Paul George, Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson

Nick Nurse distills the wisdom, insight, and experiences that helped him lead the Toronto Raptors to the NBA championship in his first year as head coach. Foreword by Phil Jackson. NBA fans had modest expectations for rookie coach Nick Nurse and his Toronto Raptors. But what those naysayers didn't realize was that Nurse had spent the past thirty years proving himself at every level of the game, from youth programs and college ball to the NBA D League and Britain's struggling pro circuit. While few coaches have taken such a circuitous path to pro basketball's promised land, the journey-which began at Kuemper Catholic high school in Carroll, Iowa-forged a coach who proved to be as unshakable as he is personable. On the road, he is known to bring his guitar and keyboard for late-night jazz and blues sessions. In the locker room, he's steadfast and even-keeled regardless of the score. On the court, he pulls out old-school tactics with astounding success. A rookie in name but a veteran in attitude, Nurse is seemingly above the chaos of the game and, with only two seasons on his résumé, has already established himself as one of the NBA's most admired head coaches. Now, in this revealing new book-equal parts personal memoir, leadership mani­festo, and philosophical meditation-Nurse tells his own story. Given unprecedented access inside the Raptors' locker room, readers get an intimate study of not only the team culture he has built, but also of a rookie coach's unique dynamic with the star players-such as Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Low­ry, and Pascal Siakam-who helped trail­blaze the 2019 championship run. As much for readers of Ray Dalio as for fans of John Wooden and Pat Summitt, Rapture promis­es to be a necessary read for anyone looking to forge their own path to success.

Learn the Inspiring Story of the Toronto Raptors' Rising Star, Pascal Siakam! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device! One of many riveting reads in the Basketball Biography Books series by Clayton Geoffreys. In Pascal Siakam: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Stars, you will learn the incredible story of one of basketball's emerging stars, Pascal Siakam. Since being selected in the late first round by the Raptors in the 2016 NBA Draft, Siakam has quickly risen as a meaningful player in the evolving league. In 2019, his value to the Raptors was clear as he alongside Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Lowry helped the franchise capture its first NBA Championship. That same year, Siakam was recognized as the league's Most Improved Player. Now with Kawhi Leonard having left Toronto in the 2019 offseason for the Los Angeles Clippers, Pascal Siakam has a great opportunity to truly establish himself as a perennial star in the NBA. It will be exciting to continue to watch Siakam as he becomes one of the next unforgettable power forwards to play professional basketball. Pick up this unauthorized biography today to learn the inspiring story behind rising star, Pascal Siakam! This is the perfect basketball chapter book for sports fans of all ages. Here is a preview of what is inside this Pascal Siakam biography book: Childhood and Early Life Learning How to Play Basketball College Career Getting Drafted, Rookie Season, G-League Finals MVP Playing with the Bench Mob Breakout Season, First NBA Championship, Winning the Most Improved Player Award Life Without Kawhi Leonard, Becoming the Franchise Player Pascal Siakam's Personal Life Siakam's Impact on Basketball Legacy and Future An excerpt from this Pascal Siakam biography: The NBA is full of underdog stories that people all over the world love to follow. We have seen players that literally came from nowhere but suddenly became successful in the NBA and even went on to become stars or champions. These are the stories that are both heart-warming and sometimes tear-jerking because we cannot help but root for such players, who worked their hardest to get to the point where they could be successful in the NBA. The league has never been short of such stories. LeBron James, who grew up without a father, only had his mother to rely on as he went on to use his physical gifts to become one of the greatest players in the world. Stephen Curry, who may have lived a comfortable life in his younger days, was considered someone who could not star in the NBA because of his lack of size and athleticism. However, he went on to become the only player in league history to win the MVP award unanimously. If we are talking about players who lifted themselves from obscurity, we should never forget about Giannis Antetokounmpo. Called the "Greek Freak," Antetokounmpo used to peddle in the streets of his hometown in Greece but worked his way up to become an MVP-caliber player in the NBA. Then there is Joel Embiid, who was an unknown in Cameroon before he picked up basketball at the age of 15, but eventually became one of the greatest centers in the modern-day NBA. Another Cameroonian had a story that is very similar to what Joel Embiid had gone through in life. Born in Cameroon, a developing country where basketball is still in its infancy stage, Pascal Siakam did not play basketball until he was about 15 years old. His life had a different direction during his early teen years, and he had little to no interest in becoming a basketball player much less an NBA player. Tags: Pascal Siakam biography, Pascal Siakam story, Toronto Raptors basketball, Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, books for basketball fans, rising basketball stars

Chronicles the Phoenix Suns' 2005-2006 basketball season, discussing players, coaches, games, organizational changes, and more.

Kentucky’s charismatic coach shares the secrets of creating one of the premiere programs in college basketball, revealing how he transforms a group of former high school superstars into selfless, cohesive teams—including a remarkable squad last year that fell just one game short of a perfect season. Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari is known for his unparalleled ability to recruit the nation’s best young players, some of whom will spend just one year with him before going to the NBA, and convincing them to commit to the team without sacrificing their personal goals. It is a promise he makes to them: "Fully invest in the present—and each other—and I guarantee it will serve your future." Here, for the first time, he distills his team-building methods in ways that apply to CEOs, business owners, coaches, teachers and leaders of all kinds—lessons for anyone seeking to inspire talented individuals to reach for their best selves and contribute to a greater good. A basketball team is an intimate workplace, in which blend is everything and character matters. As such, it is a window into the nature of successful leadership. Calipari views each new team like a startup business—one composed of new players, new relationships, and new challenges. Each season is a series of discoveries as he learns how to unleash the extreme talent in each of his players and mold them into championship material as college basketball comes to a crescendo every spring. While he can’t control everything, he is responsible for everything—just like a CEO. An enlightening look at leadership, management, and team building, Success Is the Only Option offers the keys to winning, on and off the court.

Now available as a board book for budding basketball fans!My First Book of Basketball introduces young kids to the game of basketball with a visual retelling of a professional basketball game— from the jump ball to the game-winning basket! Dribbling, passing, traveling, shooting, dunks, and more are all explained using a fun mix of Sports Illustrated action photography, simple text, and awesome graphics. Illustrated "Rookie" characters provide fun facts and simple explanations to help kids better understand the game. Perfect for the youngest hoopers, My First Book of Basketball is meant to be a shared reading experience between parents and their little rookies before, during, and after the game.

This "part memoir, part sports story" (Wall Street Journal) from the New York Times bestselling author of The Big Bam chronicles the clash of NBA titans over seven riveting games—Celtics versus Lakers, Russell versus Chamberlain—covered by one young reporter. Welcome to the 1969 NBA Finals! They don’t set up any better than this. The greatest basketball player of all time - Bill Russell - and his juggernaut Boston Celtics, winners of ten (ten!) of the previous twelve NBA championships, squeak through one more playoff run and land in the Finals again. Russell’s opponent? The fearsome 7’1” next-generation superstar, Wilt Chamberlain, recently traded to the LA Lakers to form the league’s first dream team. Bill Russell and John Havlicek versus Chamberlain, Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. The 1969 Celtics are at the end of their dominance. The 1969 Lakers are unstoppable. Add to the mix one newly minted reporter. Covering the epic series is a wide-eyed young sports writer named Leigh Montville. Years before becoming an award-winning legend himself at The Boston Globe and Sports Illustrated, twenty-four-year-old Montville is ordered by his editor at the Globe to get on a plane to L.A. (first time!) to write about his luminous heroes, the biggest of big men. What follows is a raucous, colorful, joyous account of one of the greatest seven-game series in NBA history. Set against a backdrop of the late sixties, Montville’s reporting and recollections transport readers to a singular time – with rampant racial tension on the streets and on the court, with the emergence of a still relatively small league on its way to becoming a billion-dollar industry, and to an era when newspaper journalism and the written word served as the crucial lifeline between sports and sports fans. And there was basketball – seven breathtaking, see-saw games, highlight-reel moments from an unprecedented cast of future Hall of Famers (including player-coach Russell as the first-ever black head coach in the NBA), coast-to-coast travels and the clack-clack-clack of typewriter keys racing against tight deadlines. Tall Men, Short Shorts is a masterpiece of sports journalism with a charming touch of personal memoir. Leigh Montville has crafted his most entertaining book yet, richly enshrining luminous players and moments in a unique American time.

"From front offices to college campuses, Jake Fischer takes you on an engrossing tour of the NBA in its latest golden age, when some of the most captivating teams won by losing." —Lee Jenkins, former Sports Illustrated NBA writer An insider account of modern NBA team-building, based on hundreds of exclusive interviews A single transcendent talent?can change the fortunes of an NBA franchise. One only has to recall the frenzy surrounding recent top pick Zion Williamson to recognize teams' willingness to lose games now for the sake of winning championships later. It's a story that weaves its way behind closed doors to reveal intricate machinations normally hidden from public view. Backed by extensive reporting and hundreds of interviews with top players, coaches, and executives, Jake Fischer chronicles secret pre-draft workouts, feuding between player agents and executives, surprising trade negotiations, interpersonal conflicts, organizational power struggles, and infamous public relations fiascos, making for a fascinating look at the NBA. The definitive account of the NBA's tanking era, when teams raced to the bottom in the hope of eventually winning a championship.

The groundbreaking National Book Award Finalist and Michael L. Printz Honor Book with more than 3.5 million copies sold, Speak is a bestselling modern classic about consent, healing, and finding your voice. "Speak up for yourself—we want to know what you have to say." From the first moment of her freshman year at Merryweather High, Melinda knows this is a big lie, part of the nonsense of high school. She is friendless, an outcast, because she busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now nobody will talk to her, let alone listen to her. As time passes, Melinda becomes increasingly isolated and practically stops talking altogether. Only her art class offers any solace, and it is through her work on an art project that she is finally able to face what really happened at that terrible party: she was raped by an upperclassman, a guy who still attends Merryweather and is still a threat to her. Her healing process has just begun when she has another violent encounter with him. But this time Melinda fights back—and refuses to be silent. From Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award laureate Laurie Halse Anderson comes the extraordinary landmark novel that has spoken to millions of readers. Powerful and utterly unforgettable, Speak has been translated into 35 languages, was the basis for the major motion picture starring Kristen Stewart, and is now a stunning graphic novel adapted by Laurie Halse Anderson herself, with artwork from Eisner-Award winner Emily Carroll. Awards and Accolades for Speak: A New York Times Bestseller A National Book Award Finalist for Young People’s Literature A Michael L. Printz Honor Book An Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist A Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist A TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time A Cosmopolitan Magazine Best YA Books Everyone Should Read, Regardless of Age