The Portland Trail Blazers won the NBA title the first time they made the playoffs. Since then, they’ve been a consistent force in the Pacific Northwest. From the pioneers of the 1970s to the global superstars of today, get to know the players who made the Trail Blazers one of the NBA’s top teams through the years.

A New York Times bestseller, David Halberstam's The Breaks of the Game focuses on one grim season (1979-80) in the life of the Bill Walton-led Portland Trail Blazers, a team that only three years before had been NBA champions. More than six years after his death David Halberstam remains one of this country's most respected journalists and revered authorities on American life and history in the years since WWII. A Pulitzer Prize-winner for his groundbreaking reporting on the Vietnam War, Halberstam wrote more than 20 books, almost all of them bestsellers. His work has stood the test of time and has become the standard by which all journalists measure themselves. The tactile authenticity of Halberstam's knowledge of the basketball world is unrivaled. Yet he is writing here about far more than just basketball. This is a story about a place in our society where power, money, and talent collide and sometimes corrupt, a place where both national obsessions and naked greed are exposed. It's about the influence of big media, the fans and the hype they subsist on, the clash of ethics, the terrible physical demands of modern sports (from drugs to body size), the unreal salaries, the conflicts of race and class, and the consequences of sport converted into mass entertainment and athletes transformed into superstars -- all presented in a way that puts the reader in the room and on the court, and The Breaks of the Game in a league of its own.

Guaranteed to delight NBA historians and Blazermaniacs a like, this release chronicles forty years of Portland Trail Blazers basketball with an amazing collection of anecdotes, rare photographs, and more. Guaranteed to delight NBA historians and Blazermaniacs alike, this release chronicles forty years of Portland Trail Blazers basketball with an amazing collection of anecdotes, rare photographs, and more. Blazermania: This is Our Story captures the magic moments and behind-the-scenes stories that have unfolded in the four decades since Harry Glickman and his serendipitous raincoat first brought professional basketball to Portland. The book highlights great moments, reveals long lost anecdotes, and uncovers photographs from the vast archives of the Trail Blazers and The Oregonian. The book takes an in-depth look at an array of topics, including: - The birth of “Rip City” and the team’s rise to prominence. - Dr. Jack Ramsay’s arrival and the road to the 1977 NBA championship. - The career and legacy of Bill Walton, the mercurial, star-crossed center. - Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and the beloved two-time Western Conference champions. - A new tradition of excellence, led by Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, and LaMarcus Aldridge - The team’s biggest characters, overachievers, and winners. Learn how one of the NBA’s smallest cities was transformed into one of basketball’s foremost meccas, hosting 814 straight sellouts, 21-straight playoff appearances, three NBA Finals, as well as the NBA Draft and the historic 1992 Dream Team.

"Describes great comeback stories for teams and athletes from National Basketball Association (NBA) history"--

One of professional basketball's most iconic franchises, the Boston Celtics—along with the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots, both of whom have been the subject of "50 Greatest" treatments by sports historian Robert W. Cohen—represent a multistate region rather than just a city or state. Many of the sport's very best have played for the Celtics, including Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Paul Pierce. But who is the greatest of them all? In The 50 Greatest Players in Boston Celtics History, Cohen attempts to determine just that. Using as measuring sticks the degree to which these players impacted the fortunes of the team, the extent to which they added to the Celtics legacy, and the levels of statistical compilation and overall dominance they attained while wearing a Celtics uniform, this book ranks, from 1 to 50, the top 50 players in team history. Quotes from opposing players and former teammates are provided along the way, as are summaries of each player’s greatest season, most memorable performances, and most notable achievements.

The history of the NBA has been filled with superstars, names known to fans and non-fans alike. But while comparisons between athletes who competed against each other face-to-face is a common occurrence in the sports world, it is not quite as easy to compare players from different eras. How would Wilt Chamberlain stack up against Shaquille O'Neal? What about LeBron James and Larry Bird, or Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson? In Pro Basketball’s All-Time All-Stars: Across the Eras, Robert Cohen not only examines the best players from each era, but also ranks the five greatest players at each position in the history of the pro game. Dividing the history of professional basketball into five distinct eras, this book first describes the style of play that prevailed during each period. From the slow-paced, rough-and-tumble style of play that characterized the NBA during its formative years, to the up-tempo, high-flying style that currently prevails, Pro Basketball’s All-Time All-Stars gives an in-depth view of how the game has evolved. For each of the five eras, Cohen has selected the best players to man the five positions on the court, providing career bios for each. To determine the best of the best, Cohen considers the level of dominance each player reached during his time in the league, his individual statistics, the degree to which he impacted the fortunes of his team, and the extent to which he improved his teammates’ level of play. Individual honors and quotes from teammates and opponents alike are used to support the rankings. Covering NBA greats such as Bob Pettit, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant, this book will appeal to basketball fans of all generations, and to any NBA fan interested in the history of the game.

Along with the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, both of which have been the subject of “50 Greatest” treatments by Bob Cohen, the Boston Celtics is one of the most iconic professional basketball teams, representing a multi-state region rather than just a city or state. Some of the sport’s greatest played for the Celtics: Bill Russell in the 1950s, John Havlicek in the 70s, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish in the 80s, and recently Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett. Sports historian Robert W. Cohen has chosen the best to ever wear the uniform, and he provides a short biographical profile, key stats, and details about each players exploits on the court.

The Inside the NBA series gives readers an inside look at the basketball teams that make up the National Basketball Association. Each team’s history, uniforms, accomplishments, equipment, key players, coaches, and much more are covered in detail in this exciting series. Sports fans will love the brilliant photographs and fun facts of the Inside the NBA series. Each AV2 media enhanced book is a unique combination of a printed book and exciting online content that brings the book to life. Readers can access embedded weblinks, audio and video clips, activities, and other features, such as a slide show, matching word activity, and quiz.

Discusses ten of the greatest pro basketball teams in the history of the game, and explains what made each one great.

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard is one of the NBA's most exciting scorers. Learn how he became a superstar and see what he does on and off the court to be the best.