24 Seconds to Shoot: The Birth and Improbable Rise of the NBA [Paperback]

Leonard Koppett (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1999

24 Seconds to Shoot is the chronicle of how pro basketball carved its niche within big-time American sports in the 1950s and '60s. From the merger of the Basketball Association of America and the National League into the NBA to the adoption of the 24-second clock to the age of superstardom, Leonard Koppett, who witnessed it all firsthand, offers a unique view of pro basketball's roots.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Total Sports (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892129094
• ISBN-13: 978-1892129093
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,110,095 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars great book for NBA junkies, July 25, 2000

By 

Simon MacFarlane - See all my reviews

This review is from: 24 Seconds to Shoot: The Birth and Improbable Rise of the NBA (Paperback)

the book is a (more or less)short history of the NBA from it's beginnings up until 1970. it is a great book for people who really want to know everything about the NBA (this is a part of that knowledge) but too much information for somebody who just wants to peek in. unfortunately there isn't a lot of information about the economical side of the NBA, which is what I was actually looking for (a book I can advise herefor is "America's Obsession, Sports and society since 1945").

all in all a good book with a lot of facts and numbers (with an extra statistic part included at the end of the book)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great read, February 9, 2011

By 

R. Sanders (Phoenix, AZ, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 24 Seconds to Shoot: The Birth and Improbable Rise of the NBA (Paperback)

I have the NBA Silver (25th) Anniversary hardcover edition of this book, which I won in a drawing having to do with the then brand new Phoenix Suns team when I was a kid. So it holds a special position in my heart and is among my most treasured books. Having said that, I can also honestly say that I have reread it many times over the years. There is a lot of information here but it is presented as a story and is a fast, fun read. If you ever wanted to know about the formation of the NBA, it's early years, and it's original, classic crop of stars, and be entertained while learning about it, this is the book to have. Highly recommended!

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for anyone who wants to know about the start of the NBA!, August 11, 2011

By 

Norman Jones - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 24 Seconds to Shoot: The Birth and Improbable Rise of the NBA (Paperback)

I loved this book because I enjoy reading about the early years of the NBA and all of the great players who contributed to that beginning. Living in Marion, IN at the time and at 13 years of age I was excited about the NBA getting started and was able to attend many games. Not many people will recall that Indiana had three teams in the NBA at one time. They were the Anderson Packers, the Indianapolis Olympians and the Ft. Wayne Zollner Pistons. There are great stories behind all of these teams that basketball fans should be interested in finding out about. I had two favorite players in those early years. Frankie Brian, an All-American out of LSU played for the Packers and the Pistons and Paul Arizin out of Villanova were great players. I got to talk to Frankie not long ago and he is in his 80s and shoots free throws every day. Arizin lead the NBA in scoring a few times and he and I met while I was in high school. He sent me a signed players card and a nice note reminding me that he remembered our meeting. All in all, this book was quite nostalgic for me because I remember seeing games where players mentioned in the book played. Of course TV played a big part in exposing the NBA and I saw many games that way as the league developed. Names like George Mikan, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain will go down in history as those who made the NBA what it is today. Thanks to the author for bringing back many great memories. Norman Jones, Ed. D., author of Growing Up in Indiana:The Culture & Hoosier Hysteria Revisited.