Illustrated by Leslie Jean-Bart. James has always settled for watching his big brother play basketball from the sidelines. Then one day a player is injured and James is asked to join the older boys' game. This is James' chance to prove himself on the main court, and he knows there is much more than game point' riding on his last shot. Illustrated throughout in full colour. Ages 6 and up.'

How many NBA players have averaged forty points in a season? Who is the worst free-throw shooter in NBA history? Which team has won the most NBA titles since 2000? Who became the first player in NBA history to reach 20,000 points and 10,000 assists? Which three NBA players have scored more than 35,000 career points? (Hint: Michael Jordan is not on the list.) In Strong to the Hoop, veteran sports writer and trivia expert Ken Shouler has compiled 1,501 trivia questions, quotations, and factoids, broken into more than twenty-five categories that are designed to challenge, inform, and delight fans of pro basketball at every level. Whether you root for the Knicks, Lakers, Celtics, Warriors, or any other NBA franchise, Strong to the Hoop will test your knowledge of your favorite team and league.

Ten-year-old James tries to hold his own and prove himself on the basketball court when the older boys finally ask him to join them in a game.

This award-winning book tells the story of ten-year-old James, who gets to join his brother's basketball game when a player is injured. James must guard powerful Marcus, whose strength intimidates him. James is skilled, but can he prove himself against the odds? Full-color photos & illustrations.

A girl on the JV basketball team was injured, and Mel has been asked to take her place. Mel is thrilled. But the girls on the freshman team aren't happy for her. In fact, they're being downright mean. How can Mel play to win when she doesn't have teammates on her side?

Rusty Young wants to play basketball in the summer league, but his parents object because Rusty has been diagnosed with diabetes. That is only one of the obstacles Rusty has to overcome before he can join the team.

Taking over a rowdy gym class right before winter vacation is not something James Naismith wants to do at all. The last two teachers of this class quit in frustration. The students—a bunch of energetic young men—are bored with all the regular games and activities. Naismith needs something new, exciting, and fast to keep the class happy—or someone's going to get hurt. Saving this class is going to take a genius. Discover the true story of how Naismith invented basketball in 1891 at a school in Springfield, Massachusetts.