this post was submitted on 14 Nov 2023
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As others have noted, Simmons Book of Basketball is a great start. The biggest downside is that it has a very frat boy vibe to it. A lot of sexual inuendo jokes, a sprinkle of fart jokes, a ton of 80s and 90s pop culture references.
Don't get me wrong, it's worth reading, but when I read it in my 20s I found it hilarious and captivating, but when I read it again in my 40s I found parts of it to be a bit cringey.
The Free Darko book mentioned is another good one, it's like the exact opposite of BoB - rather than references to Melrose Place, there are references to 1600s French literature and rap, for example. It's also got a pretty cool form factor - big colorful pages, unique artwork, etc. - whereas BoB is more mass paperback form factor (thin pages, black and white, small text, few visual elements).
If you are looking for ABA specifically, or for 50s/60s NBA, there are two good oral hitory books by the same author (Terry Pluto): Tall Tales (about the NBA) and Loose Balls (about the ABA).
Finally, if you like talking hoops history here on Reddit, check out /r/VintageNBA