Basketball's Greatest Stars - 5th Edition by Michael Grange (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Profiles of the very best NBA players and a definitive history of the game."--

Book Synopsis

In Basketball's Greatest Stars, author Michael Grange takes you courtside for a look at the 50 best players in NBA history. From the early days of Bob Cousy to the Showtime era of Magic Johnson, from Michael Jordan's electrifying dunks to LeBron James' all-out dominance -- the legends are here! Relive the moments and revel in the triumphs of the NBA's superstars, including Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Larry Bird, Stephen Curry, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, Oscar Robertson, Kevin Durant, and many more.

With a foreword by NBA great Wayne Embry, Basketball's Greatest Stars features insightful essays that highlight the leading figures and defining moments that have shaped the NBA, international basketball and statistical analysis. Profiles of the NBA's 30 franchises round out this incredible volume.

Updated for 2023, this fifth edition contains a new crop of 15 young stars who are dominating today's game and could one day reach the heights of Basketball's Greatest, including:

• Zion Williamson
• Luka Doncic
• Ja Morant
• Jayson Tatum
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
• Donovan Mitchell.

Jam-packed with unforgettable stories, mind-blowing stats and over 120 photos that capture the on-court excitement, Basketball's Greatest Stars is the ultimate book for every NBA fan.

Review Quotes

[Review of earlier edition: ] Basketball fans will find all kinds of interesting information in this book. It will appeal to readers at the junior high and senior high school levels who are involved in the sport or just have an interest in it.--Victoria Pennell "Resource Links" (1/1/2011 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of earlier edition: ] Basketball's Greatest Stars is a collection of 5O profiles of some of the greatest players in the game, from Bob Cousy and Bob Pettit to Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Grange divides them in the "Best of the Best" and the "Best of the Rest." given over to players who, despite their great talents, never quite made superstar status -- Dave DeBusschere, Elvin Hayes, Pete Maravich, and John Stockton. And it's loaded with great game images of high-flying, slam-dunking players.--James D. Watts Jr. "Tulsa World" (12/19/2010 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of earlier edition: ] Detailed profiles of the 50 players the author believes are the greatest and most exciting in the history of the game, including career highlights of superstars Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Kobe Bryant, as well as players in the "Best of the Rest" section, from Steve Nash to Isiah Thomas. Included is a list of franchises and a chart of NBA Finals history. Illustrated with exciting action shots.--Mary Ann Grossmann "Pioneer Press Saint Paul Minnesota" (12/10/2010 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of earlier edition: ] Photo-laden showcases of a sport's greatest players are fairly commonplace, but this one, compiled by Canadian sportswriter Grange, stands out from the rank and file for several reasons.... Best of all, though, are the photos; beautifully reproduced, the four-color images jump off the pages, showing the various stars in signature shots... A sweet combination of superb browsing and surprisingly substantive commentary.--Bill Ott "Booklist" (9/1/2010 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of earlier edition: ] This beautiful volume presents the sportswriter's selection of basketball greats from all eras, a concise history of the game, profiles of the franchises, and even coverage of international basketball, as well as stats on each featured player, a remarkable effort for a game that originally "featured only 13 rules." Grange is a colorful writer, and his examination of the development of gurus, consultants, and the science of success is fascinating. Magic Johnson is described as "[a] late bloomer who was off the radar at the University of Massachusetts...defining the rebel league with his majestic flights, the signature red-white-and-blue ball a grapefruit in his outstretched hands." Speaking of failing to stop Michael Jordan from scoring 63 points in a playoff game, Larry Bird said, "That was God disguised as Michael Jordan." ... Jump for joy on this one.-- "Publishers Weekly" (1/7/2011 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of earlier edition: ] Typical of many Firefly books, this is a colorful, picture-driven reading experience. Don't expect an exhaustive history of the NBA, but an interesting summary of stars and teams. ... Recommended for fans of the NBA who seek a quick reference to the best players the game has ever seen and for all libraries collecting accessible and colorful basketball books.--Todd Spires, Bradley University Library, Peoria, IL "Library Journal" (1/15/2011 12:00:00 AM)

[Review of earlier edition: ] Was Magic Johnson better than Larry Bird? How does Shaquille O'Neal compare to Wilt Chamberlin? Hoops fans will quibble with the author's ranking of the sport's 50 top players, past and present. But even casual readers will thrill to the dazzling court-action photos and be enlightened by the thoughtful essays on the superstars and moments that have defined the NBA.--Neil Pond "American Profile" (12/5/2010 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Michael Grange is a sports reporter and on-air personality for Sportsnet, as well as an award-winning magazine writer who has written for the New York Times and ESPN.