Assouline’s Basketball Book is a Special Look Through NBA History

With nearly 80 years of history, the National Basketball Association has witnessed countless iconic moments. The NBA is, after all, considered the world’s premier professional basketball league. Assouline’s book offers a visual celebration of the NBA, showcasing the league’s 100 significant moments in stunning photographs. 

Basketball: The Impossible Collection, written by renowned journalist Howard Beck, explores notable NBA moments throughout the decades. Howard Beck has been covering the NBA since 1997, with a focus at times on specific teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. His insightful commentary is combined with remarkable photographs of players in action. The book comes in an embossed rubber clamshell case, making it feel like you’re holding the classic orange basketball in your hands. 

While basketball fans endlessly debate over the greatest player or best team in NBA history, there’s a shared consensus on the important moments that have defined the league. Naturally, among these occasions are championship-winning buzzer-beaters, legendary player partnerships, and shocking transfers. Regardless of how fans rank them, this book captures them all.

Consider the renowned pairing of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, who together won six rings with the Chicago Bulls. Their match is rivaled only by Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, who led the Lakers to three straight championships.

The tome features the Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—then still known as Lew Alcindor, a six-time NBA Most Valuable Player. A striking photo shows Abdul-Jabbar’s signature move, the indefensible skyhook shot. Charles Barkley, who took the MVP crown from Michael Jordan in 1993, is featured in a photo taken by Andrew Bernstein, a renowned NBA photographer. Other legends mentioned in the book include Magic Johnson, Dr. J, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, and Larry Bird.

Of course, no NBA book would be complete without Lebron James. Though he’s made more recent history with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, one can’t forget his 2010 transfer to the Miami Heat’s superteam, a move that was documented in a TV special called The Decision.

Basketball: The Impossible Collection also features more recent moments in the NBA, such as Kawhi Leonard’s buzzer-beater shot in 2019, and the Black Lives Matter demonstration by players in 2020.

Filled with incredible sports memories on and off the court, this photography book is a must-have for basketball fans and history buffs alike.

Basketball: The Impossible Collection is available at Assouline.com