Basketball Stars: Stories and Skills from the Nba's and Wnba's Best Players

A collection of stories about great basketball players to inspire young fans, with famous skills they'll want to try out on the court

Is your child obsessed with basketball? Do they talk nonstop about their favorite players and unforgettable games? Basketball Stars: Stories and Skills from the NBA's and WNBA's Best Players is the perfect gift for young players and fans of the sport--a treasure trove of some of the greatest and most inspiring stories in the history of professional basketball, tailored for young readers.

Authored by a sportswriter/basketball superfan, this book will teach readers about each player's signature skills and how they practiced them to win. Readers will learn about Steph Curry's rise to becoming a global basketball icon and his supreme ball-handling skills; Caitlin Clark's success story and the art of the step-back; LeBron James's path to legendary status, including his iconic moves; and many more inspiring stories and techniques from other top players. Basketball Stars features:

• 10 captivating stories about legends and soon-to-be legends of basketball. Go beyond just the stats to discover the secrets that propelled each player to greatness and the inspiring life lessons they learned along the way.
• Signature skills from every featured player to try on the court, with step-by-step instructions to practice and improve your game.
• Engaging illustrations that show each player in action, with dynamic visuals for each signature skill.

Ideal for basketball fans ages 8-12, this book will inspire both basketball fans and new readers excited to learn more about the game of basketball.

Author: Chris Navalta
Publisher: Z Kids
Published: 07/22/2025
Pages: 128
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.90h x 5.80w x 0.40d
ISBN: 9798217151578
Audience: Ages 9-12

About the Author
Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chris Navalta studied journalism at Sacramento State University. As a sports reporter, he covered the NBA from 2000 to 2003, including several players in this book, like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Muggsy Bogues. He joined the Sacramento Kings' media relations team in 2003. The same year, he began working as a publicist for Golden State Warriors player Adonal Foyle, who he continued to work with for 20 years. Chris has also worked on projects with other basketball players including Gary Payton II, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Aaron Gordon. Chris loves basketball so much, he even got married at an NBA player's home! Today, Chris leads award-nominated PR campaigns in the gaming industry. He continues to work with basketball players, connecting them with the video games they love to play.

Anderson Carman is an award-winning illustrator and sequential artist specializing in traditional ink, watercolor, and digital illustration. He graduated from SCAD Atlanta with a BFA in sequential art. Anderson still lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife and three kids. He enjoys Braves baseball, listening to Broadway tunes, and playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends.