Game: An Autobiography

“Doubting my sincerity about the game [is] like questioning my existence,” proclaims seven-time NBA All-Star Hill in this stellar account of his remarkable career. He begins by briskly charting his prodigious rise through the ranks of high school basketball in Reston, Va., in the 1980s, before arriving at Duke University, where, in the early ’90s, he led the Blue Devils to two National Championships. Following Duke, Hill was drafted by the Detroit Pistons and went on to make his name over 18 seasons as one of the NBA’s most talented players. As he revisits “lightning-in-a-bottle” moments on and off the court, Hill conveys his deep reverence for the sport, vividly evoking its febrile draw—where, he writes, “the ball possesses its own kinetic energy”—and bringing to life the inimitable spirit of his mentor and coach Mike Krzyzewski, who, Hill recalls, “spliced [his expletives] carefully, almost artfully.” However, Hill’s achievements came at the cost of a number of injuries, and multiple ankle surgeries led to his retirement in 2013; in closing chapters, where his family life provides a contemplative denouement, he remarks that some days “each stride feels like a timid probe on fiery coals.” Even so, his passion for the court never wavers—as he confesses, “My life still revolves around it.” Hoops fans shouldn’t pass this up. (June)