Jerry West

It was only logical that when the National Basketball Association needed a silhouette for their logo that they selected the side view of Jerry West. For forty years, West has been an integral part of N.B.A. history, first as a player and then as a coach and general manager. "Mr. Clutch" made the All-Star team every year of his career and created the dynasties that would win eight championships. This extraordinarily candid memoir shows that behind that greatness was a man whose life was punctuated by poverty, physical abuse, the death of a beloved sibling, and an ongoing battle with depression. An extraordinary autobiography of an extraordinary man.

Jerry West is the greatest paradox--and probably the greatest player--in pro basketball today. He is, in the words of Bill Libby, "too short, too this, too frail, too easily hurt to be a star in the madcap mayhem that is professional basketball. He is too modest, too nervous, too moody to take charge of a team, to stand up under the pressure of this gruelling game. A poor hillbilly kid who is authentically modest, 'sirs' strangers and is respectful even to sportswriters, he is a most unlikely athletic hero."

Los Angeles Lakers history is filled with legendary players who exhibited their own unique style on the court. There was Wilt, Kareem and Magic. Now there's Kobe. This book traces his journey from the high school gym at Lower Merion High in Pennsylvania straight to Los Angeles and the land of Showtime. In the words of Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson, Phil Jackson, Kevin Garnett and others, you'll get to know what makes this solid superstar tick.

The top 25 NBA centers of all time are chronicled in dynamic four-color photos with detailed biographies and statistical summaries of their careers. Heisler's text on each center is enhanced with analysis from legendary big man Pete Newell, who offers a player's perspective on the highlighted centers.