The Soul Of Basketball: The Epic Showdown Between LeBron, Kobe, Doc, and Dirk That Saved the NBA

This book did a great job of tying in different events, providing more background info on stars and coaches and painting a good history of how the NBA has evolved in the recent past. I learned a whole lot about Dirk that I didn't know and made me appreciate him as a professional and as a person. I never thought about it until Thomsen brought it up, but the difference between LeBron and Jordan is that Jordan (and to a certain extent Kobe) had to fight, scrap, and claw for everything to get themselves to where they were. Once LeBron was in high school he was already way better than his peers and had to operate in a space with all of the hype from the very beginning and in the social media age. The book does a good job of framing different stories like this in context and the style of going back and forth makes it an engaging read. I also enjoyed the insights on the coaches such as Doc Rivers and Rick Carlisle. Overall a fantastic read for any NBA fan!

The stories Thomsen tells are super interesting, and he's a very talented writer. Getting inside the thought process behind the Decision, and exploring its aftereffects and the rise of Dirk's Mavs in their title-winning year is captivating, told in an engaging and natural narrative style.The only thing keeping it from getting 5 stars is that some of the narrative choices are unusual. There's a whole lot on the Big 3, Doc, Rondo, and the Celtics. Meanwhile, the Spurs and their at least equally interesting coach get short shrift. Similarly, the chapter on Joey Crawford and the referees feels like an afterthought that doesn't serve much of a narrative purpose. But all of that is picking nits-- if you like the NBA, pick this one up.

If you are a basketball nerd and have followed the NBA closely for the last 20 years, this is the book for you. Ian was able to obtain interviews with basically every important NBA figure since and even before "The Decision." There are some unique stories involving the Celtics, Mavericks, Lakers, and the Heat - especially the LeBron recruitment and 4-year period he spent with the Heat. This was an amazing read. I even coincidentally read about why Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul dislike each other so much the day after they fought! It was great timing. I really recommend this book! You'll thank me later!

Great insight into the psychology and thinking of the top players and coaches in the NBA over the past 10 years. As an original Maverick season ticket holder, I especially liked the insightful contrast between Dirk and LeBron, and some of the behind the scenes stories during the 2011 playoffs between the Mavericks and the Heat.

CAME UP A LITTLE SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS. STILL AN ENJOYABLE READ. I READ, MEET ME AT THE RIVERSIDE, RIGHT AFTER, AND THAT DID NOT DISSAPOINT.