The History of the NBA in Twelve Games

In just twelve games, Sean Deveney expertly tells the story of the NBA through the lens of these key moments, both the well-known and the overlooked. Nearly every major trend in the league's history is explored. From the invention of the shot clock to the rise of the three-pointer, tanking, international stars, player power and dynasties, it's all here. A must for students of basketball history and fans of the modern game alike. --Seth Partnow, Director of Basketball for StatsBomb and author of The Midrange Theory: Basketball's Evolution in the Age of Analytics As someone who loves basketball history, I was amazed at how much I learned about the NBA and those who make it extraordinary through Sean Deveney's idea of telling about the sport through a dozen seminal games. The surprising choices he made help take us closer to its heart. From Wilt to Kareem to Michael to Steph, all of the essential characters are present, but the stories told are not at all what one might expect. Deveney always has taken a fresh approach to his subjects, but his work here is even more inspired than usual. --Mike DeCourcy, Sporting News The History of the NBA in Twelve Games touches on all eras with equal aplomb and insight. Deveney provides a courtside seat to the first game with the 24-second shot clock in 1954, the first tank job before the 1984 draft, the Bulls-Pistons slugfest that wrought 'The Jordan Rules' and LeBron James's finest hour. These aren't history's 'greatest' games but most important ones and you'll be a smarter basketball fan for reading this hoop treasure. --Marc Berman, New York Post basketball writer What a terrific idea for a book, and Sean Deveney pulls it off splendidly, with an appreciation for the NBA's history and minutiae that any basketball fan will appreciate. -- Mike Sielski, author of The Rise: Kobe Bryant and the Pursuit of Immortality