NBA 75: The Definitive History

Sportswriter Zarum chronicles the 75 years of the National Basketball Association’s alternately painful and explosive growth, to the $4 billion behemoth it is today, in this thoroughly researched photographic history of the organization. Bold-faced names and immediately recognizable faces are featured throughout—notably the various dynasties of the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, and the worldwide popularity of Michael Jordan (and the Chicago Bulls). But Zarum addresses often overlooked highs and lows. The arrival of Black players during the Jim Crow era gets due coverage, as does the introduction of the 24-second shot clock (“With teams sitting on the ball—sometimes literally—basketball was becoming boring”) and the impact of forgotten legends such as Dolph Schayes and Elgin Baylor. The photographs provide a visual narrative—the shorts get longer; white faces become less prominent as Black players begin to dominate lineups; the jumps get higher—outlining the significant cultural and historical shifts behind the rise of a sport that at one point could barely engage a television audience. Packed with facts and action-shot photos, this is an ideal resource for hoops fans. [em](Oct.) [/em]