Basketball Books: The Top 25 List

Basketball Books: Perfect for Giving or Receiving

Whether you are looking for your next book to read or are looking to find a book for the basketball fan in your life; this list of basketball books is perfect for you.

The following list covers our favorite basketball books and our recommendations for you. The books on this list will cover coaching, playing, life in general, and many other topics that apply to the sport of basketball. We are confident that you will find what you are looking for in our list of the top 25 basketball books.

From one basketball junkie to another, enjoy!

Basketball Books: The Top 25 List

1. Toughness: Develog True Strength On and Off the Court (link)

Jay Bilas has always been one of the more outspoken college basketball commentators. He has been able to make a name for himself giving good insights into the game of college basketball.

Before that though he was also one of the great college basketball players to play under Coach K at Duke, and was a part of two national championship teams. This book is going to talk about what the toughness that it takes on and off the court to be successful in basketball and life.

2.Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success (link)

It is incredible to think that Phil Jackson was able to win 11 NBA championships. For this one fact he is worth listening to when it comes to basketball.. This books is going to cover what went into Phil's ability to be successful for so long in the NBA as a head coach.

3.Life is Not an Accident (link)

Before Jay Williams became a basketball analyst he was a promising NBA player who had one of the best college basketball careers of anyone to ever play the game. This book is going to talk about his life after his motorcycle accident and how he reinvented himself and how there is more to life than just basketball.

4.Tales from the Kentucky Wildcats Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest Wildcat Stories Ever Told (link)

Kentucky has one of the most storied college basketball programs of all time. Getting a look behind the scenes at this success is something that has to appeal to any true basketball fan. This book includes stories from the players, coaches, and other members of the progam that have been a part of this dynasty over the years.

5. The Jordan Rules (link)

Michael Jordan is widely considered the best basketball player to ever play the game, but there is always more than meets the eye. This book is going to give an inside look at MJ and some of the areas that he dealt with off the court in his first championship season with the Chicago Bulls.

6.Sum It Up: A Thousand and Ninety-Eight Victories, a Couple of Irrelevant Losses, and a Life in Perspective (link)

You cannot create a list of the best basketball coaches of all time without including the name Pat Summit. She started coaching at the University of Tennessee when she was 21 and over the next 38 years won over 1,000 games. This book is going to give you the lessons that she learned along her journey as a head coach for the Vols.

7.The Assist (link)

This book is going to center around a high school basketball team in the Boston area that competes for a state championship every year while also dealing with; race, social class, and other factors that go into living in the inner city. You will get an in depth look into what makes sports so great, and the barriers that sports is able to overcome.

8. Bleeding Orange: Fifty Years of Blind Referees, Screaming Fans, Beasts of the East, and Syracuse Basketball (link)

You are not able to talk very long about a 2-3 zone defense without Jim Boeheim or Syracuse University coming up. Coach Boeheim has been a staple of college basketball over the years and this book is going to cover what he has learned in his 50 plus years at Syracuse University.

9.Pistol: The Life of Pete Maravich (link)

Pistol Pete Maravich was one of the most skilled players to ever play the game of basketball. This book is about more than just his basketball accomplishments thought. In this book author Mark Kriegel discusses what it took for Pistol Pete to accomplish all of his success. He also covers what it cost him and his family along the way.

10.Wooden: A Coach's Life (link)

You are not able to talk about college basketball coaching greats without bringing up the name John Wooden. At one point he had an 88 game win streak and was a part of winning 10 NCAA championships in a 12 year span. This book is primarily written by author Seth Davis. However, it include stories from over 200 different people that interacted with him over his life.

11. When the Game Was Ours (link)

Larry Bird verses Magic Johnson was one of the best player rivalries of any sport. The competitiveness and desire to win that both players brought to the court every time they played reminisces a time when gladiators fought in the Coliseum. What started out as a bitter rivalry turned into a lifelong friendship at the end. This book is going to cover this time period in the NBA and what it looked like from both players perspective.

12.The Miracle of St. Anthony (link)

Many basketball experts have labelled Bob Hurley as the best high school basketball coaches to ever coach the game. Some of his team's at St. Anthony's are that of legend. This book is going to follow coach Bob Hurley through an entire season with one of his St. Anthony teams. In this book he looks to lead his team to success while also making sure his players taken care of outside the lines.

13.Players First: Coaching from the Inside Out (link)

College basketball continues to turn into a one to two year stop for players that have NBA promise, the turnover rate with new players becoming faster and faster. No one knows this better than John Calipari. This book covers John Calipari's first four years at Kentucky and the struggles of coaching a brand new team of 18 year old players each season.

14.Fab Five (link)

The Fab Five is one of college basketballs great stories. 5 freshmen leading their team to the national championship game. When you mix in the off court findings and the allegations of recruit tampering the story gets even more interesting. This book is going to breakdown this epic run and the full story of the Fab Five of Michigan.

15.The Winner Within: A Life Plan for Team Players (link)

Pat Riley is one of the most winning basketball coaches to ever coach the game. His book about winning from within will help you with basketball and with life.

16.Wooden on Leadership: How to Create a Winning Organization (link)

If you win 10 national college basketball championships you deserve to have more than one book listed in the top 25 basketball books. This specific John Wooden book is going to focus on creating a winning organization and the importance of being a great person in life.

17.Showboat: The Life of Kobe Bryant (link)

Kobe Bryant is one of the most captivating sports figures of his generation. His work ethic alone is worth a book. Add in the success that he has had on the court and some of the off the court issues during his career, and you have a gold mine for a book.

18.The One Day Contract: How to Add Value to Every Minute of Your Life (link)

This book is written by hall of fame coach Rick Pitino and it is not only going to focus on basketball specific concepts, but also what it takes to have a successful life. You will be challenged to live everyday as a one-day contract.

19. Leading with the Heart: Coach K's Successful Strategies for Basketball, Business, and Life (link)

Leading with the Heart was written in 2001. The teaching still applies today when it comes to coaching and living a successful life. This book is going to cover topics like; leadership, communication, dealing with pride, and the importance of trust.

20.The Hoops Whisperer: On the Court and Inside the Heads of Basketball's Best Players (link)

Idan Ravin has worked with players like; Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and many other high level players. This book is going to breakdown some of the drills and techniques that he uses with these elite level players.

21.The Golden Whistle: Going Beyond: The Journey to Coaching Success (link)

The coaches that have endorsed this book are; Coach K, George Raveling, and John Calipari. The book is going to cover 10 different learning opportunities that a young coach finds himself confronted with. You will not only find truths to help you become a better coach, but also a better person as well.

22.Stuff Basketball Player Should Know (link)

This book is a must for every player that is serious about their game. This book is broken down into bite sized pieces to make it easy to understand and apply for players.

23.My Losing Season (link)

"We are either winning or we are learning" is a pretty common phrase that coaches use. If you are learning from your loses you really can never lose in the grand scheme of things. This book is going to cover the lessons that Pat Conroy learned when he played college basketball at the Citadel.

24.Practical Modern Basketball (link)

This is the third and final John Wooden book and it is just as good as the other two. This book is going to cover philosophy, skill development, and a ton of other coaching keys.

25.The Last Shot (link)

This book is going to cover the story of an up and coming basketball player from NYC. It will give you a glimpse into the culture of New York City basketball, and allow you to be a part of one player's journey.

Basketball Books: Honorable Mentions

This list had to cap at some point, but that doesn't mean that there aren't more than 25 great basketball books out there. We would love to hear your feedback in the comments below. Let us know if there is a book you think that should've made the list. Here are a few basketball books that deserved an honorable mention.

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