Magic in the Air

December 2, 2024
“The entire social, cultural, and athletic evolution of basketball can be traced through the slam dunk,” according to this energetic history. Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist Sielski (The Rise) notes that in the early 20th century, basketball coaches considered dunking antithetical to the sport’s higher aspirations to improve young men’s moral character, believing the technique too ostentatious. Debates over dunking were inextricably entwined in midcentury basketball’s racial politics, Sielski contends, describing how the National Basketball Committee banned dunking in college and high school hoops in 1967 to stymie the success of UCLA center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was famed for his dunks, and other Black players pushing the sport forward in the late 1960s. Arguing that dunking played a crucial role in turning the NBA into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, Sielski describes how the thrills of the American Basketball Association’s inaugural slam dunk contest in 1976 hastened the decision of the comparatively staid NBA to merge with its competitor later that year. Briskly told and grounded in observant portraits of famous dunkers (New York streetball legend Earl Manigault is portrayed as a tragic figure whose tireless pursuit of transcendence on the court was hampered by heroin addiction), this scores. Agent: Susan Canavan, Waxman Literary.

January 1, 2025
Naysayers can't ground the coolest shot in basketball. A staple of postgame shows and social media feeds, the slam dunk is omnipresent, but the opposite was once true, Sielski, a Philadelphia sportswriter and Kobe Bryant biographer, writes in this informative account. Consider the book's cover star, Julius Erving, who wowed fans by leaping from the free-throw line, 15 feet from the hoop, and slamming the ball home. Born in 1950, "Dr. J" was never more athletic than in the early 1970s, but playing in the ABA, an upstart league without a national TV contract, "he was invisible," a pro basketball executive tells Sielski. At least the ABA let him dunk. While at the University of Massachusetts, Erving, like every other college player from 1967 to 1976, was prohibited from dunking during games. Sielski shows that race was among the factors behind the purportedly safety-minded rule change. By the late 1960s, Black players like UCLA's Lew Alcindor--he'd later change his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar--were dominating the college game. The "Anti-Alcindor Rule," as some called the dunk ban, was meant to temper his above-the-rim supremacy, and Abdul-Jabbar was among those who said the rule change wouldn't have been implemented if he were white. Sielski chases a host of historical leads about early dunkers, yielding memorable, if not always verifiable, anecdotes. Joe Fortenberry, a college player in Texas, dunked in a 1930s game, but his coach said, "Joe, that's not elegant" and forbade further dunks. Holding two basketballs and tossing a third in the air as he jumped, New York City phenom Connie Hawkins could dunk all three before landing. Sielski writes about great recent dunkers, but his chapters on Michael Jordan and Ja Morant offer little that will be new to fans. A suitably vibrant history of spectacular doings on--and above--the hardwood.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 1, 2025
The slam dunk is a ubiquitous part of modern basketball--even if you aren't an avid basketball fan, you know what a slam dunk is. So it may seem strange to think there was a time when the dunk wasn't seen as a display of athletic prowess or skill but solely as a height advantage. For a large part of basketball history, the dunk was an unwelcome addition to the game and was banned in high school and college leagues. Sielski (The Rise, 2022) takes readers through 80-plus years of basketball history to trace the impact the slam dunk has had on the game, from the very first players to dunk to the racial tensions surrounding the dunk ban and the current state of the NBA. There's even a chapter devoted to the WNBA and women who dunk. This well-researched book includes anecdotes from many former players and coaches. The history of the slam dunk is in many ways the history of basketball itself, and any fan, new or longtime, will enjoy Magic in the Air.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

February 7, 2025

A captivating exploration of how the slam dunk has not only shaped basketball but also U.S. culture and society. Blending sports history with sharp commentary, Sielski (The Rise: Kobe Bryant and the Pursuit of Immortality) goes beyond the game to uncover the dunk's profound impact on race, identity, and cultural expression in the United States. He traces the slam dunk's evolution, from its emergence as a symbol of dominance and defiance by a legend like Wilt Chamberlain to its cultural explosion through Julius Erving and Michael Jordan. Drawing upon extensive interviews with players, coaches, and basketball experts, Sielski's narrative captures both the artistry and cultural significance of the dunk, examining how it became intertwined with the civil rights movement and current culture. VERDICT What sets this book apart is Sielski's ability to weave sports storytelling with thoughtful historical and cultural analysis. Readers are treated to iconic moments and behind-the-scenes accounts of players who revolutionized the game, and basketball enthusiasts will appreciate the detailed recounting of legendary players and plays. Those interested in U.S. history and cultural studies will find valuable insights into the expression of sport through race and culture.--Susan McClellan

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