Seven Seconds or Less by Jack McCallum (2007, Paperback, Reprint)

Over the last 17 years that I’ve been watching, reading, writing, and playing everything and anything that is related to the NBA, I’ve never come across a book which has truly captured the very essence of the league and the game of professional basketball until I read Jack McCallum’s “:07 Seconds or Less [My Season on the Bench with the Runnin’ and Gunnin’ Phoenix Suns].

Jack McCallum, Sports Illustrated chief NBA writer, had the unique privilege “come aboard” and take part as a member of the Phoenix Suns staff during the 2005-2006 NBA season. McCallum made the most of the opportunity and in the process penning an undaunted and realistic look at what goes on behind the closed doors of Phoenix Suns Basketball—from the coaches, players, trainers, broadcasting, management, and even the eccentric owner’s perspective to the colorful metaphors (profanity laced statements) that they use as a means of self-expression from time-to-time.

McCallum captures classic moments (Gentry’s Anthony Mason and B.J. Armstrong story (pp. 129); The sounds of a “jungle bird” in the Suns shower story (pp.180); The Eddie House story (pp. 74; 94); and McCallum’s definition of coaching (pp.144); among others) and also meticulously explains several of the Suns basketball terminologies such as “dribble-ats” – “terms used to described when “the ball handler dribbles toward his teammate and either uses him as a screener or, more typically, hands off to him to keep the offense moving;” “Gold” – “term for fronting an offensive player, thus discouraging a pass from even being thrown;” and my favorite, “clickety” – Steve Nash’s word for the “clock that clicks off the time until tip-off .”

Overall, it’s one book that you can’t put down. An amazing ride from start to finish and if you’re not yet a Phoenix Suns fan, you will be after this book.