Boys Among Men

January 25, 2016
Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant’s direct ascension from high school seniors to NBA rookies was considered unusual when the Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Hornets drafted the phenoms in 1995 and 1996, respectively. By 2004, with Garnett and Bryant now superstars, the NBA draft’s first 19 selections featured eight right out of high school. The new rage irked then NBA commissioner David Stern, who worked to have draftees be a year removed from high school before going pro. In this excellent effort, Abrams, the gifted hoops writer late of Grantland, examines this controversial phenomenon from every angle. He talks to various basketball insiders, most notably the image-conscious Stern (who deemed pro scouts in high school gyms “unseemly”). He recounts success stories like Jermaine O’Neal (an eloquent opponent of the current restrictions) and busts like Lenny Cooke. Abrams also uncovers some great anecdotes, such as how Bryant eventually landed at the venerable Los Angeles Lakers by simply not working out for some interested teams. (The New Jersey Nets’ trademark incompetence also helped.) With lean, detailed prose and lots of reporting, Abrams shows that teenagers who approached this adult opportunity as a job, not as a right, thrived.

March 1, 2016

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Garnett are among the best players in the history of the NBA (National Basketball Association); all three made the leap to professional directly from high school. Journalist Abrams (Grantland sports blog) examines this generation of prep-to-pro players, and their impact on all aspects of the sport as they face the psychological and physical challenges of competing with grown men. In addition to the superstar success stories, Abrams's work also explores cautionary tales of players who fail to make the transition, most notably Leon Smith. From detailing the astronomical rise of NBA salaries to reports of shoe manufacturers paying high school and college coaches, this account illuminates the inner workings of the industry, including the process by which young athletes are scouted and drafted. Especially intriguing are the behind-the-scenes maneuvers that ultimately led to Kobe playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Abrams further scrutinizes the decision to increase the NBA's minimum age to 19 and questions whether there is compelling evidence for its continuation. VERDICT Especially timely considering Kobe's recent retirement announcement, this essential, well-researched book will appeal to readers interested in basketball's business side as well as the factors that have helped shape the modern NBA.

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