Learn the Inspiring Story of the Milwaukee Bucks' Rising Star Giannis Antetokounmpo! Read on your PC, Mac, smartphone, tablet or Kindle device. This holiday season, if you buy the print edition as a gift, you can keep the Kindle edition for yourself! In Giannis Antetokounmpo: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Superstars, you will learn the inspirational story of one of basketball's most promising young stars, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Often nicknamed "The Greek Freak", Giannis Antetokounmpo has quickly emerged as one of the most unique players in the league today. His incredible wingspan and athleticism have made him a dominant presence on both the offensive and defensive ends of the basketball court. He is easily one of the most difficult defensive assignments for opposing teams due to his ability to not only start as a forward, but also as a guard. In just four years, Giannis Antetokounmpo has gone from averaging 6.8 points per game to 22.9 points per game. He has also quickly become the face of the Milwaukee Bucks franchise. There is still much to be unveiled in the career of Giannis Antetokounmpo. At the time of this writing, Giannis is just twenty-two years old. In this book, we'll learn more about The Greek Freak's journey into the NBA, his impact on the game, and his growing legacy as one of the best up and coming stars to make his presence known in basketball. Here is a preview of what is inside this book: Childhood and Early Life NBA Career: Getting Drafted, Rookie Season, Working Under Jason Kidd, The Largest Point Guard in the League, and Becoming an All-Star International Career Personal Life Giannis Antetokounmpo's Player Profile and Impact on Basketball Antetokounmpo's Future An excerpt from the book: The NBA loves those rags to riches stories about how a person that lived and grew up through poverty worked his way up to get to the league, not only as an ordinary player, but a superstar ranking among the best in the world. These are the kinds of stories that makes the people adore the player and what he has been through to get to the top. More importantly, these are the stories that inspire young children to work just as hard, if not harder, than their idol to reach the success they aspire to achieve. Several of the greatest players in league history have had to endure poverty before they found success in the NBA. Allen Iverson barely had a home growing up before he starred at Georgetown. In his MVP speech back in 2014, Kevin Durant said that his mother raised him and his brother alone while the family moved from roof to roof. The same was true for LeBron James, who was raised alone by his mother when she was still 16 years old. These players not only earned millions as NBA superstars, but have also become fan favorites because of how they worked themselves up to get to the league. Likewise, the NBA has also found a liking for players that were seemingly genetically engineered to dominate in the game of basketball. These are the types of players that, at a glance, were naturally destined to be a great because of the physical tools they possess. If the NBA was a horse race, these kinds of players are your thoroughbreds judging by how much more physically gifted and talented they are than the rest of the competition. Tags: Giannis Antetokounmpo Bio, Giannis Antetokounmpo basketball, Milwaukee Bucks basketball, Jason Kidd, Kristaps Porzingis, Kyle Lowry, Jabari Parker, Matthew Dellavedova, Russell Westbrook, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Thon Maker

The story of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s extraordinary rise from poverty in Athens, Greece, to superstardom in America with the Milwaukee Bucks—becoming one of the most transcendent players in history and an NBA Champion—from award-winning basketball reporter and feature writer at The Ringer Mirin Fader. As the face of the NBA’s new world order, Giannis Antetokounmpo has overcome unfathomable obstacles to become a symbol of hope for people all over the world; the personification of the American Dream. But his backstory remains largely untold. Fader unearths new information about the childhood that shaped “The Greek Freak”—from sleeping side by side with his brothers to selling trinkets on the street with his family to the racism he experienced. Antetokounmpo grew up in an era when Golden Dawn, Greece’s far-right, anti-immigrant party, patrolled his neighborhood, and his status as an illegal immigrant largely prevented him from playing for the country’s top clubs, making his NBA rise all the more improbable. Fader tells a deeply human story of how an unknown, skinny, Black Greek teen, who played in the country’s lowest pro division and was seen as a draft gamble, transformed his body and his game into MVP material. Antetokounmpo’s story has been framed as a feel-good narrative in which everyone has embraced him—watching him grow up, sign a five-year supermax contract extension worth $228 million, and lead the underdog Bucks to the NBA Championship in 2021. Giannis reveals a more nuanced story: how lonely and isolated he felt, adjusting to America and the NBA early in his career; the complexity of grappling with his Black and Greek identities; how he is so hard on himself and his shortcomings—a drive that fuels him every day; and the responsibility he feels to be a nurturing role model for his younger brothers. Fader illustrates a more vulnerable star than most people know, a person who has evolved triumphantly into all of his roles: father, brother, son, teammate, and global icon. **Instant New York Times Bestseller, Los Angeles Times Bestseller, Wall Street Journal Bestseller, USA Today Bestseller, Publishers Weekly Bestseller** **Mirin Fader Selected as the 2021 Sports Media Author of the Year by The Big Lead** **The Sports Librarian’s Best of 2022 – Sports Books**

Learn the Inspiring Story of the Denver Nuggets' Star Center Nikola Jokic! 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 Nikola Jokic: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Stars, you will learn the incredible story of one of basketball's most exciting young centers, Nikola Jokic. Once just a second round pick in the 2014 Draft, Jokic has quickly become the future of the Denver Nuggets franchise, most recently securing his first All-Star selection. He is one of the best recent international players to transition their game successfully into the NBA. Still so young, Jokic has his prime years ahead of him as he continues to become a stronger and more skillful player. Time will tell as to whether his leadership abilities and talents on the court can translate to championships, but at the time of this writing, he is just twenty-four years old. A renaissance has occurred for the Nuggets organization, and Nikola Jokic is largely a reason for it. Get this book today if you want to know the inspiring story behind basketball's latest rising star. Perfect for sports fans of all ages. Here is a preview of what is inside this Nikola Jokic biography book: Childhood and Early Life Early Professional Career in Serbia Getting Drafted, Rookie Season, The Franchise Star, The MVP Contender International Career Jokic's Personal Life Impact on Basketball Legacy and Future J An excerpt from this Nikola Jokic biography: The influx of international talent into the NBA has contributed to the way the game has rapidly evolved. From a game that relied on size and athleticism, the NBA now has a lot of players that have become stars in their own right thanks to their rare combination of skills. It is now imperative that you come into the league with a complete skillset if you want to be a star in the NBA. But this trend is nothing new. We saw the foundations of this evolution back in the late '90s and early 2000s when international players brought something new to the NBA. We saw European players bring the Euro-step, which has now become a favorite move among elite NBA superstars. Then there was Dirk Nowitzki, a seven-footer that could hit jump shots like a shooting guard. We have also seen particularly big players such as Hedo Turkoglu and Peja Stokajovic who have the size of power forwards but the skills of guards. That trend has paved the way for the "unicorn" movement in the NBA. Unicorns are considered to be players 6'10" or above but with the skills of guards and wingmen. The rise of unicorns has led to matchup nightmares in the NBA and the evolution of basketball itself. In that regard, among some of the best unicorns we see today are Kristaps Porzingis, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Ben Simmons. Though most of the unicorns we see in the league today are still international players, even the Americans have gone on to become a lot more skillful for their size. Now we see 6'11" Kevin Durant dribbling and shooting like a guard. There is also the 6'10" Anthony Davis, who moves with the grace of a wingman. And then there are seven-foot centers such as Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, and DeMarcus Cousins shooting three-pointers. Tags: Nikola Jokic Bio, Denver Nuggets basketball, marc gasol, jamal murray, paul millsap, gary harris, devin booker, luka doncic, isaiah thomas, joel embiid

Giannis Antetokounmpo "The Greek Freak" is an unusual and popular professional basketball player. But before Giannis accomplished his dream of being a famous basketball player for an NBA team. He was just a little poor kid growing up with his family in Greece. This is the story of that young boy who showed what it takes to make a dream a reality and accomplish a huge goal. This level 4 reader is perfect for the middle school level reader to read on their own or the even younger basketball fan to read-along with their mom or dad. Gorgeous cartoon illustrations, full color written in a beautiful rhyming style.

Read about the inspirational story of basketball's star, Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant has been the face of the Lakers dynasty for the past two decades and for good reason. Few players have commanded a basketball court as much as Kobe in historical performances such as his notable 81-point performance in just under 42 minutes of playing time in 2006 against the Toronto Raptors. Whenever Kobe Bryant decides to retire, he is not going to do so on his own terms as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Few players can parallel with Kobe Bryant in terms of competitive fire and will to win. His polarizing figure defines him and makes even those who do not like him at the very least respect him. Read on to learn about the days of when Kobe played alongside Shaquille O'Neal, Robert Horry, Metta World Peace, Derek Fisher, and Pau Gasol in some of the greatest times of Los Angeles Lakers' basketball history.

On a sunny, hot day two boys sat on the basketball court of a park in a run-down section of Greece. They casually chatted and laughed as one took off his shoes and gave them to the other boy so that he could have his turn playing the sport it seemed like their long, athletic bodies were built for. But with no formal training, they were clumsy and awkward. No one would have thought to look at the two boys that one of them was destined to be the MVP of the NBA.Giannis Antetokounmpo tells the story of one of the best athletes in the game today, Giannis. From selling trinkets on Greek streets to thrilling sold-out arenas, Giannis has truly persevered and made a name for himself and a life for his family. In Giannis, you will hear the whole story and be inspired to overcome the adversity that you are facing in your life!

Learn the Inspiring Story of the Dallas Mavericks' Star, Luka Doncic! 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 Luka Doncic: The Inspiring Story of One of Basketball's Rising Stars, you will learn the incredible story of one of basketball's rising stars, Luka Doncic. In his rookie season, Luka Doncic has taken the league by storm. It's clear that he will be an important star to watch as his career unfolds. Just twenty years old at the time of this writing, Doncic has many of his best years ahead of him. This book highlights Luka's accomplishments before he entered the NBA, and through much of his rookie season. Pick up this unauthorized biography today to learn the inspiring story behind Luka Doncic. Perfect for basketball fans or late elementary to early high school readers. Here is a preview of what is inside this Luka Doncic biography book: Childhood and Early Life Career in Europe Getting Drafted, The Phenomenal Rookie Season Luka Doncic's Personal Life Doncic's Impact on Basketball Legacy and Future An excerpt from this Luka Doncic biography: The evolving trend, not only in the NBA but in the entire world of basketball as well, is that skill has become far more crucial than it has ever been. Because the NBA now relies more on a pace and space game that requires all five guys out on the floor to have a complete set of skills on both ends of the floor, players with refined tools now trump those with raw athletic and physical talents. Size and athleticism are still critical factors for crafting an NBA star or successful basketball talent. Especially in today's fast-paced game, you need someone who can provide you with speed and length on both ends of the court. However, those with refined skills are now just as important or even more vital to the success of an NBA team because their tools fit the way the game is being played today. As the league trends towards a more position-less style, you can virtually interchange positions but still expect the same results if you have players with a complete package of skills. In that sense, you want all five players on the floor to handle the ball, make plays, and shoot. Otherwise, there will be weak points in your pace and space offense. And when you talk about players with complete skills, you cannot just forget about international players and stars coming out of Europe. Over the last two decades, some of the most refined offensive players have come out of Europe or other similar international countries. Manu Ginobili, who hails from Argentina, has enjoyed a stellar NBA career with his crafty scoring moves and mastery of the Eurostep. His former teammate Tony Parker, a quick guard who was not exactly big or athletic, maneuvered himself to several All-Star appearances and a lot of NBA titles with his ability to finish near the basket with precision moves. And who could ever forget Dirk Nowitzki, who is arguably the best European player in NBA history? The legendary German has made a career out of redefining the big man position by hitting long jumpers like a guard at seven feet tall and introducing his patented one-legged fading shot. Tags: Luka Doncic Bio, Dallas Mavericks basketball, luka doncic book, books for basketball fans, dirk nowitzki

Describes the life and career of the NBA player, from his childhood and early career to his success with the Milwaukee Bucks.

"Beautifully illustrated and sharply written, SprawlBall is both a celebration and a critique of the 3-point shot. If you want to understand how the modern NBA came to be, you'll need to read this book." --Nate Silver, editor of fivethirtyeight.com From the leading expert in the exploding field of basketball analytics, a stunning infographic decoding of the modern NBA: who shoots where, and how. The field of basketball analytics has leaped to overdrive thanks to Kirk Goldsberry, whose visual maps of players, teams, and positions have helped teams understand who really is the most valuable player at any position. SprawlBall combines stunning visuals, in-depth analysis, fun, behind-the-scenes stories and gee-whiz facts to chart a modern revolution. From the introduction of the 3-point line to today, the game has changed drastically . . . Now, players like Steph Curry and Draymond Green are leading the charge. In chapters like "The Geography of the NBA," "The Interior Minister (Lebron James)," "The Evolution of Steph Curry," and "The Investor (James Harden)," Goldsberry explains why today's on-court product--with its emphasis on shooting, passing, and spacing--has never been prettier or more democratic. And it's never been more popular. For fans of Bill Simmons and FreeDarko, SprawlBall is a bold new vision of the game, presenting an innovative, cutting-edge look at the sport based on the latest research, as well as a visual and infographic feast for fans.

The celebrated memoir from LeBron James - a poignant, thrilling tale of the power of teamwork to transform young lives, including his own "A book that will incredibly move and inspire you.” —Jay-Z "A heartwarming story of boys who became men, teammates who became brothers, players who became champions, wonderfully told through the maturing eyes of basketball's greatest star." — John Grisham Before LeBron James was an NBA superstar, he was just a kid from Akron, Ohio, who loved to play basketball on a team called the Shooting Stars. This is the story of how this motley group of ten-year-olds grew into a team and became men together - surviving the challenges of inner city America and enduring jealousy, hostility, exploitation, and the consequences of their own overconfidence in their quest to win a national championship. Shooting Stars is a poignant, thrilling tale of the power of teamwork to transform young lives.