Mad Game : The NBA Education of Kobe Bryant [Paperback]

Roland Lazenby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 30, 2002

Now in paperback, this title offers an insider look at the NBA phenom, including the Lakers' 1999-2000 championship season. When Kobe Bryant joined the glitzy Los Angeles Lakers in 1996 right out of high school, he faced a wave of media hype that declared him the next Michael Jordan. Now a veteran of five NBA seasons at the age of 23, Bryant has earned a place among pro basketball's elite. "Mad Game" documents his hard lessons on the road to stardom, his rapid rise through the NBA, and his conflicts with - and, at times, alienation from - his teammates, including his on-and-off-again relationship with Shaquille O'Neal. This is a story of triumph, of an unusually gifted young athlete trying to remain true to himself and his game.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...the writing is sharp, and it's clear Lazenby knows his stuff. "Mad Game" creates an image of a young player whose determination leaves him aloof, whose lack of a college experience deprives him of some necessary team skills and whose playground style frustrates his teammates." -- Washington Times

"Subtitled The NBA Education of Kobe Bryant, the 313-page biography is proof that there is no such thing as a charmed life...Lazenby's book makes startlingly clear Bryant, 21, also is like you and me, tiptoeing around hostile co-workers and getting blamed for every little thing that goes wrong on the job and knowing at least one of the smiling faces he sees every day is trashing him behind his back." -- LA Daily News --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

The behind-the-scenes story of Kobe Bryant's meteoric rise

In Mad Game, Roland Lazenby explores the world of Kobe Bryant, who, at 23, is already a seasoned NBA veteran and the owner of two championship rings with the Los Angeles Lakers. Yet the road to glory has not been an easy one for Bryant. It has taken his iron will and enormous self-assurance to battle elements both within the NBA and on his own team that could force him to reshape his dreams of being number one, of being "The Man."

When the 17-year-old phenom left high school in 1996 to join the glitzy Los Angeles Lakers, Bryant faced a wave of media hype declaring him the next Michael Jordan. Mad Game is the story of how these circumstances propelled his rapid rise through the NBA, only to result in conflict with--and, at times, alienation from--his veteran teammates.

A cautionary tale emerges from the hard lessons Bryant learned along the road to NBA stardom. Yet this is also a story of triumph, of a uniquely gifted young athlete with an uncanny, instinctive feel for the game who matures as a player while trying to remain true to himself. In this updated paperback edition, Lazenby adds new material on the continued rise of Bryant through the 2000-2001 season, including his on- and off-court clashes with Shaquille O'Neal and how their conflicts nearly cost their team the NBA championship.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (January 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809296055
• ISBN-13: 978-0809296057
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #524,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #10 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( B ) > Bryant, Kobe
  • #49 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Basketball > Professional

More About the Author

I teach journalism at Virginia Tech, about 100 writing students each semester. I also do some broadcast work, calling games on a local ESPN affiliate. I have appeared in more than three dozen TV shows and and sports documentaries, including more than a dozen Sports Centuries on ESPN. I have authored or contributed to 60 books, including The NBA Encyclopedia, Total Basketball and several others.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars #1, May 11, 2000

By 

Adam (north dakota) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mad Game : The NBA Education of Kobe Bryant (Hardcover)

welcom to the world of kobe bryant this book is nomber 1 out of2,865 books i have read (still counting) this book doesnt just tellyou about kobe it tells you about the whol lakers history and abot how other players reflect on kobe bryant like m.j. & magic Johnson I've read this book 3 times and i never get tierd of it i could tell you at least 5 things kobe has remarked of the top of my head I'm 11 years old & for me to type this much I'd have to love this book! & allso the author r. lazenby is supurb!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Book, June 18, 2002

By 

A customer "mistermaxxx" (usa) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Mad Game : The NBA Education of Kobe Bryant (Hardcover)

Kobe Bryant is all Ready a Important Player but wait until a few years down the line His Best shall come.the Guy is a Good Balance of Talent&Flaw.He is gonna be Scary in years to Come.this Book brings all those Elements&More out.He has had to deal with alot of things On&Off the COurt but He is Headed for Something Special with His Career.the Sky is the Limit for Him.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mad Game, now Mad NBA CHAMPION!, June 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Mad Game : The NBA Education of Kobe Bryant (Hardcover)

I read the book a little while back, and I thought it was a great read on the most electrifying basketball player today. At that time, Kobe was going through a lot of growing pains, a lot of failures, crticisms, bad chemistry with teammates. And now, this season, I've seen Kobe's maturation and improvement in the league, playing more under control, playing in Phil Jackson's triangle offense, having better rapport with Shaq and his teammates. His incredible performance in Game 4 of the NBA Finals in overtime was unforgettable and it is only the beginning. Now he is finally an NBA champion with the Lakers, and hopefully, this will be the beginning of another great Laker dynasty, the first of the 21st century!