Hoops: A Cultural History of Basketball in America

History professor Aiello (Dixieball) doesn’t quite sink his shot in what he dubs the first “full cultural history” of basketball. Arguing that the court “embod[ies] conflicts over class, race, and gender, and serv[es] as a public theater for them,” he offers an impressive overview of the game—from its invention in the late 19th century through the rise of pro teams, and the impacts of Title IX and ESPN. The sections on basketball’s early days—including the struggles by Black and female athletes to break into the sport—are especially valuable. Aiello charts the evolution of team rosters in the 1950s as players of color began to dominate the sport, and he takes readers to the present day, touching upon stars like LeBron James who’ve been criticized for voicing opinions on racial issues. However, such timely topics as the rise of non-American players—whether native Africans, including two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, or such Europeans as Luka Doncic—are conspicuously not taken into account. Instead, space is devoted to discussing general manager Sam Hinkie’s plans to tank the 76ers in order to achieve eventual success, as well as to a convoluted linking of the rise of department stores in the late 19th century to sports journalism—both of which distract more than add to Aiello’s ambitious undertaking. This is a good starting point for a deeper dive, rather than a definitive work. (Feb.)