Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA

Name: Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA
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4.0 of 5 Stars: Basketball - Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA

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Book Synopsis: A vital narrative history of 1970s pro basketball, and the Black players who shaped the NBA. Against a backdrop of ongoing resistance to racial desegregation and strident calls for Black Power, the NBA in the 1970s embodied the nation’s imagined descent into disorder. A new generation of Black players entered the league then, among them Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Spencer Haywood, and the press and public were quick to blame this cohort for the supposed decline of pro basketball, citing drugs, violence, and greed. Basketball became a symbol for post-civil rights America: the rules had changed, allowing more Black people onto the playing field, and now they were ruining everything. Enter Black Ball, a gripping history and corrective in which scholar Theresa Runstedtler expertly rewrites basketball’s “Dark Ages.” Weaving together a deep knowledge of the game with incisive social analysis, Runstedtler argues that this much-maligned period was pivotal to the rise of the modern-day NBA. Black players introduced an improvisational style derived from the playground courts of their neighborhoods. They also challenged the team owners’ autocratic power, garnering higher salaries and increased agency. Their skills, style, and savvy laid the foundation for the global popularity and profitability of the league we know today.

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Experience the untold story that shaped the NBA as we know it today with Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA. This gripping historical account takes you back to the 1970s, a turbulent era of racial desegregation and Black Power movements. Against this backdrop, a new generation of Black players, including legends like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Spencer Haywood, entered the league and faced immense criticism from the press and public.

But don't believe the hype. In Black Ball, acclaimed scholar Theresa Runstedtler presents a captivating narrative, challenging the prevailing narrative of the NBA's decline. With her insightful analysis and deep understanding of the game, Runstedtler reveals how this period was actually pivotal to the rise of the modern-day NBA.

Discover how Black players revolutionized the sport, bringing their improvisational style from the neighborhood playgrounds to the professional courts. Through their skills, style, and strategic prowess, they laid the foundation for the global popularity and profitability of the NBA that we see today.

Don't miss out on this must-read book for any basketball enthusiast. Gain a new perspective on the sport's history and immerse yourself in fascinating stories of resilience, empowerment, and cultural transformation. Get your copy of Black Ball: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Spencer Haywood, and the Generation that Saved the Soul of the NBA now and experience the game like never before.

Get your copy of Black Ball today and embark on an enlightening journey through the history of the NBA.

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