From the authors of the national bestseller Leafs AbomiNation, the story behind the success of one of Canada's greatest athletes, NBA all-star Steve Nash. A small man in a big man's game, a white man in a game dominated by black men, a rare Canadian in a US-based industry, the unlikely rise of Steve Nash, from Victoria high school to Hollywood hardwood, is compelling proof that great things await those who refuse to accept less of themselves. Nearly 2 decades into a Hall of Fame-bound career, Nash is a 2-time MVP, an 8-time all-star and wearer of one of the league's top-selling jerseys. And no one but Nash saw it coming. With the combination of wit and comprehensive reporting that distinguished Leafs AbomiNation, Feschuk and Grange tell the extraordinary story of drive, confidence, commitment and learning to do without that post-game beer that turned a Canadian's improbable NBA dream into the stuff of sporting legend. They convincingly bust a host of oft-repeated myths. That Nash is an inferior athlete is one: he might be one of the best athletes in the world, when factors like coordination, vision, balance and work ethic are given weight alongside size, speed and power. The myth that he overcame his upbringing in Canada to make it in the NBA is another: Growing up in Victoria, B.C., in the mid-1980s was more likely why he turned into the player he did. Revealing, playful and a perfect read for any sports fan, Steve Nash is the inspiring story of the consummate athletic outlier.

Two-time NBA MVP 2005-2006 Leader in Free Throws and Assists 2006 NBA All-Star Game Starter The relatively short kid who in junior high confidently told his mother he would one day play in the NBA has done that and so much more. Steve Nash has beaten overwhelming odds to become not only a top-flight athlete but a widely admired human being. It's been an incredible journey, and Steve Nash: The Making of an MVP is your inside ticket for the entire trip, from Steve's earliest years in Victoria, B.C., where he honed his now legendary work ethic and hoop skills to his current superstar status with the Phoenix Suns. "I'm glad the world has got a chance to learn from a guy like Steve Nash." --Charles Barkley, "TIME" Magazine

Grade level: 4, 5, 6, e, i.

Provides instructions and skills for developing essential basketball skills, covering ball handling, shooting, passing, defense, and rebounding; includes 140 photographs.

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

Steve Nash is one of the NBA's hot young All-Stars, leading the Dallas Mavericks from the bottom of the league standings to becoming one of the top teams. Long Shot tells the story of Nash's journey from a Canadian high school gym to the NBA hardwood. Author Jeff Rud reveals the pressures and expectations that are placed on high-caliber athletes and describes the determination, commitment, and support required to realize an NBA dream. Nash led his college team, the Santa Clara Broncos, to three NCAA Tournaments in four seasons. On June 26, 1996, he was selected fifteenth in the first round of the NBA draft -- the highest ever for a Canadian. After a frustrating first few years in the NBA (he spent time on the bench in Phoenix on a team stacked with point guards), Nash has finally broken through as one of the best players at his position.

Are top scorers really the most valuable players? Are games decided in the final few minutes? Does the team with the best player usually win?Thinking Basketball challenges a number of common beliefs about the game by taking a deep dive into the patterns and history of the NBA. Explore how certain myths arose while using our own cognition as a window into the game's popular narratives. New basketball concepts are introduced, such as power plays, portability and why the best player shouldn't always shoot. Discover how the box score can be misleading, why "closers" are overrated and how the outcome of a game fundamentally alters our memory. Behavioral economics, traffic paradoxes and other metaphors highlight this thought-provoking insight into the NBA and our own thinking. A must-read for any basketball fan -- you'll never view the sport, and maybe the world, the same again.

From the authors of the national bestseller Leafs AbomiNation, the story behind the unpredictable success of an NBA great. With a new afterword for the paperback edition. A small man in a big man's game, a white man in a game dominated by black men, a rare Canadian in a US-based industry, the unlikely rise of Steve Nash from Victoria high school to Hollywood hardwood is compelling proof that great things await those who refuse to accept less of themselves. Nearing the end of a nearly 2-decade Hall of Fame-bound career, Nash is a 2-time MVP, an 8-time all-star and wearer of one of the league's top-selling jerseys. And no one but Nash saw it coming. With the combination of wit and comprehensive reporting that distinguished Leafs AbomiNation, Feschuk and Grange tell the extraordinary story of drive, confidence, commitment and learning to do without that post-game beer that turned an improbable NBA dream into the stuff of sporting legend. They convincingly bust a host of oft-repeated myths. That Nash has been an inferior athlete is one: he might have been one of the best athletes in the world, when factors like coordination, vision, balance and work ethic are given weight alongside size, speed and power. The myth that he overcame his upbringing in Canada to make it in the NBA is another: Growing up in Victoria, B.C., in the mid-1980s was more likely why he turned into the player he did. Revealing, playful and a perfect read for any sports fan, Steve Nash is the inspiring story of the consummate athletic outlier.

A lyrical picture book debut from #1 New York Times bestselling author and presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman and #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long "I can hear change humming In its loudest, proudest song. I don't fear change coming, And so I sing along." In this stirring, much-anticipated picture book by presidential inaugural poet and activist Amanda Gorman, anything is possible when our voices join together. As a young girl leads a cast of characters on a musical journey, they learn that they have the power to make changes—big or small—in the world, in their communities, and in most importantly, in themselves. With lyrical text and rhythmic illustrations that build to a dazzling crescendo by #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Loren Long, Change Sings is a triumphant call to action for everyone to use their abilities to make a difference.

Explores the life and career of the NBA MVP who plays for the Phoenix Suns, discussing not only his athletic success, but also his charitable work outside of the sports world.