Chris Herring

This book shows the workings behind a team that changed the NBA, for better or worse.

The 1990s Knicks played a joyless brand of basketball, and it's easy to see why. The two main protagonists in the book, Pat Riley and Jeff Van Gundy, are both very controlling of all aspects of the team. Riley came off as more paranoid and devious than anything. He perceived almost any innocuous action as an unforgivable slight. When Riley leaves, it's almost a relief. Van Gundy would likely have followed in Riley's footsteps if he'd been a more powerful figure. But starting out as a coach meant that people like Dave Checketts could prevent him from going full Riley. The 1990s Knicks played a joyless brand of basketball that only the purest basketball fans could enjoy. Reading about their coaches shows why they were so.

This book also hits all the beats a good sports book should. The anecdotes are interesting. The game action is described quite vividly. The main characters are well formed. There's also a solid arc of the Knicks' rise and fall. I'd put this up against most sports books written in the last 20 years.

I highly recommend this book for the 1990s NBA or Knicks fan in your life. Others may not find it as engaging as those groups of people will.… (meer)