{"product_id":"masters-of-the-game-sam-smith-9798217060726","title":"Masters of the Game: A Conversational History of the NBA in 75 Legendary Players","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe legendary sportswriter and the Hall of Fame, eleven-time NBA champion coach separate the music from the noise in the stories of the greatest who ever played and their impact on the game\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSam Smith and Phil Jackson grew to know and respect each otherin the late 1980s, when Smith was a \u003ci\u003eChicago Tribune \u003c\/i\u003esportswriterand Jackson was an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls. Fortyyears later, the two remain close friends. In 2021, Smith helped theNBA arrive at a list of the seventy-five greatest players of all timein celebration of its seventy-fifth anniversary. Phil Jackson wasasked to participate too, but he's not a big fan of ranking greatness.They've been enjoying the argument ever since. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eMasters of the Game\u003c\/i\u003e, Smith and Jackson chop it up about thebasketball life, the sport, and both the genius and shadow side ofthe all-time greats: Jordan, Kobe, Shaq, Magic, Bill Russell, Wilt, Jerry West, Bird, LeBron, KD, Steph Curry, Bill Walton, and more. Ina conversation full of high-grade analysis and high-grade gossip, wemeet the stars of long-ago eras of basketball and see the mark raceleft on players and the business of the game--and we get a masterclass on character and the alchemy of a good team. And of course, inevitably, these two old heads get into the GOAT debate. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThere are so many huge characters here, and Smith and Jacksoncan hold their own with any of them. Their spirit--sharp, wise, irreverent, honest, respectful of the lore and legacy of the game butnever pious--and the clash of their different perspectives combineto make this book a joyous ride, a short course in greatness opento all students.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Sam Smith,Phil Jackson\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798217060726\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Penguin Books\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/03\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 400\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.74lbs","brand":"Sam Smith","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":49084347449599,"sku":"9798217060726","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/masters-of-the-game-sam-smith-9798217060726","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}