New Kings - by Alex Squadron (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A compelling, eye-opening chronicle of the rise of basketball in modern Africa and the burgeoning talent pipeline poised to transform the NBA

Throughout Africa, basketball has long been an afterthought when compared to sports like soccer, volleyball, rugby, cricket, and track and field. But over the past 30 years, the NBA has dramatically expanded its presence and investment in Africa, and the results are starting to show: at the opening of the 2025-26 NBA season, a record 55 players were from the African continent or were first-generation members of the diaspora.

Through extensive reporting, New Kings chronicles the journeys of three young prospects and how they fit into the budding basketball landscape in Africa, while also recounting the continent's basketball history. At its core, the book is a human story, universal in scope, for basketball fans and those who do not know much about the game, about three young men, their aspirations, their backgrounds, and their efforts to follow in the footsteps of Embiid, Dikembe, and Hakeem--while bringing more attention to Africa in the process.

About the Author

Alex Squadron is a staff writer for Hoops HQ. His byline has appeared in SLAM, the New York Post, The Athletic, Sports Illustrated, and SB Nation. He is the author of Life in the G: Minor League Basketball and the Relentless Pursuit of the NBA.