Best Basketball Books [2019 Buyers Guide] – Top 15 Books For Players, Coaches and Kids

The Hoops Whisperer offers a rare glimpse into the basketball lives of some of the best athletes such as Kevin Durant, Stephan Curry and James Harden, to name a few.  It shares a fascinating story of how one man, Idan Ravin, engaged, inspired and challenged some of the best basketball players to improve their potential and better their game.

Extremely entertaining and ESPN.com sports guy Bill Simmons tells all on the past, present and future of the NBA in this comprehensive, controversial and comedic book.  Read about how he re-evaluates the Hall of Fame, questions which team was/is truly the best of all time and who some of the best basketball players of all time actually are.

Basketball (and other things) takes readers on a journey through the history of Basketball with a set of pivotal and ridiculous questions and arguments and answers. What season was Michael Jordan the best version of Michael Jordan? Who's in The Disrespectful Dunk Hall of Fame? What's allowed and absolutely not allowed in a game of pickup basketball? Incredible art work by Arturo Torres will engage you in all the stories and be a book you can't put down.

​Take a dive inside the mind of one of the best basketball players of all time in this book - The Mumba Mentality.  In this book, Bryant shares his vast knowledge and insights into the game of basketball.  Readers of this book will uncover how he read his opponents, stayed motivated and passionate and persisted through injury and mental hardship.

​The sixth man, a memoir by Iguadala, traces his journey through life, from childhood to the NBA.  Gain insight into his life both on and off the court.  This book will teach you about leadership, accomplishment, glory and success.

Whether your new to the world of coaching or looking for some new tricks and tips, Coaching Basketball For Dummies is one of the best basketball books on the market to meet your coaching needs.  This book delivers a crash course on the rules and regulations of the game as well as numerous offensive and defensive drills and tips to help your team perform at its best.

​This is an inspiring read for any coach wanting to take their team to the next level and aim for championship status.  What better advice could you get than from back to back national championship coach with over 20 years experience - Mike Krzyzewski.  Coach K talks about leadership, trust and communication as integral to his teams successes.

You Win in the Locker Room is a must read book for any coach wanting to explore the best principles for effective teams.  This book will provide coaches with a strategy for building a successful team organisation and will provide a framework with the tools required to instil a positive culture, teamwork, strong relationships and a team with a champion mindset.

It's no wonder that Eleven Rings: The soul of Success is in the top 5 best basketball books for coaches.  There couldn't be anyone better to learn from than Phil Jackson, a coach who has won more championships than any coach in the history of professional sports.  Full of revelations, this book talks of championship player personalities and mentalities, motivation and competition at the highest levels and what it takes to bring out the best in ourselves and others.

Greg Popovich shares insight into how he was able to adapt the direction of his coaching in a unique way.  Hear about his inspirational stories in The Leadership Lessons of Greg Popovich.  Gain a number of key lessons such as maximising players potential, earning respect, creating team expectations and building culture.

This is the inspiring true story of NBA superstar Steph Curry.  This unique picture book biography will inspire kids to follow their dreams.   Read about how Steph overcame critics who told him he was too small and weak to play basketball.  Against all odds, he followed his dreams and became an NBA superstar.

A great book for kids with hoop dreams. Kids can learn about how patients, determination and hard work are invaluable skills for anyone chasing their sporting dreams. This heartwarming and inspirational story of Michael Jordan is a great read.  

The Boy Who Became King is a inspirational story of NBA superstar Lebron James.  For children aged 8-12 this book tells the story of a young Lebron who with the help and support of his coaches and family became the star he is today.

Kids who love basketball will love reading all of the top 10 lists of everything basketball found in this book.  This book is comprehensive, making it a good read, but also fun filled with exciting action photos, to help kids stay engaged.  Complete with both trivia and facts, this book will be the definitive kids book on pro basketball.

Young baller fans will be jumping at the chance to read about their favourite basketball players in this book.  This is a great book for young readers who are confident enough to enjoy longer text but also still crave the excitement of colourful pictures.