5 books every Michael Jordan fan needs to read
Michael Jordan, popularly known by his initials 'MJ' needs no introduction. One of the greatest basketball players of all time, MJ was integral in popularizing the NBA (National Basketball Association) all over the world in the 1980s and 90s. He is also known for his product endorsements. MJ fueled the success of Nike's Air Jordan sneakers, which were introduced in 1984 and remain sought after even today. He is also the central focus of the Emmy Award-winning documentary miniseries 'The Last Dance' (2020). Today, as MJ turns a year older, here are 5 books on him every fan should read.
'Playing for Keeps' by David Halberstam
In this, Halberstam takes full measure of MJ’s epic career, one of the great American stories of our time. Brimming with revealing anecdotes and penetrating insights, the book chronicles the forces in MJ’s life that have shaped him into history’s greatest basketball player and the larger forces that have converged to make him the most famous living human being in the world.
Pic credit: Crown
'The Jordan Rules' by Sam Smith
The book chronicles the season that changed everything for MJ and the Chicago Bulls. After losing in the playoffs to the “Bad Boys” Detroit Pistons for three consecutive years, the Bulls finally broke through and swept the Pistons in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals, on the way to their first NBA championship.
Pic credit: Gallery Books
'Michael Jordan: The Life' by Roland Lazenby
It explores both sides of MJ's personality to reveal the fullest, most compelling story of the man who is Michael Jordan. Lazenby draws on his personal relationships with MJ's coaches, countless interviews with MJ's friends, teammates, and family members; and interviews with MJ himself to provide the first truly definitive study of him as a player, icon, and man.
Pic credit: Little, Brown and Company
'Dream Team' by Jack McCallum
As a writer for Sports Illustrated, McCallum enjoyed a courtside seat for the most exciting basketball spectacle on earth, covering the Dream Team from its inception to the gold medal ceremony in Barcelona. He takes the readers inside the team’s Olympic suites for late-night card games and bull sessions where superstars like MJ, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird debated the finer points of basketball. And he narrates a riveting account of the legendary intrasquad scrimmage that pitted the Dream Teamers against one another in what may have been the greatest pickup game in history.
Pic credit: Ballantine Books
'Michael Jordan: A Biography' by David L. Porter
The book highlights MJ's on and off the court accomplishments and examines his relationship with Chicago Bulls' coaches, his commercial endorsements, and his role as part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. A chronology, photos, career stats, and a bibliography of print and electronic resources round out this biography of one of the most influential athletes of the 20th century.
Pic credit: Greenwood Press
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