HARDWOOD GREATS: PRO BASKETBALL'S BEST PLAYERS © 2020

by Donald Parker

Chris Paul is one of the important players for the Houston Rockets. Drafted by the New Orleans Hornets with the first pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the native of Winston-Salem, NC has proven himself to be a true superstar and one of the league’s Hardwood Great. CP3 is a nine-time NBA All-Star and a nine-time All-Defensive team selection. In the top ten for career steals and assists, Paul is one of the premier point guards in the game, known for having one of the highest basketball IQs in the NBA. In addition to his accomplishments on the floor, he is also president of the NBA Players Association. Each book in the Hardwood Greats series gives you the reader a close-up look at some of the very best of today’s NBA stars. The statistical leaders and championship winners go under the spotlight in a fun to read and visually interesting examination of the player’s outstanding career. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos are offered in chapters through the use of a QR code, that, when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, a speech, or an instructional video. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader’s comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader’s knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

by Donald Parker

Giannis Antetokounmpo, or the Greek Freak as he has come to be known around the league, is certainly a freak of nature. Despite being almost seven feet tall, he has the ability to play all five positions on the floor. Antetokounmpo’s ability to both dribble and shoot the basketball expertly makes him difficult to defend against and is one of the reasons that the Milwaukee Bucks have become a respected and feared team in the NBA. Antetokounmpo was drafted by Milwaukee with the 15th pick of the 2013 NBA draft, taking a chance on a raw and unproven talent from Greece that has paid off beyond all expectations. Each book in the Hardwood Greats series gives you the reader a close-up look at some of the very best of today’s NBA stars. The statistical leaders and championship winners go under the spotlight in a fun to read and visually interesting examination of the player’s outstanding career. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos are offered in chapters through the use of a QR code, that, when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, a speech, or an instructional video. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader’s comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader’s knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

by Donald Parker

Kevin Durant has risen from high school McDonald’s All-American to college All-American to eight-time NBA All-Star and 2014 NBA MVP. He is also a two-time NBA Champion, winning back-to-back championships as a member of the Golden State Warriors (2016 – 2018). Durant is one of the NBA’s elite playmakers who can also score at will or get other players involved, all for the benefit of the team. Durant played one season at the University of Texas (in Austin, Texas, nickname: Longhorns), where he was the first freshman ever to win the Naismith Award for Player of the Year, and he has never looked back. Each book in the Hardwood Greats series gives you the reader a close-up look at some of the very best of today’s NBA stars. The statistical leaders and championship winners go under the spotlight in a fun to read and visually interesting examination of the player’s outstanding career. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos are offered in chapters through the use of a QR code, that, when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, a speech, or an instructional video. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader’s comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader’s knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

by Donald Parker

Take a look at Paul George’s 6 feet, 9-inch (2.06 m) frame and you can see that he has all of the physical tools to be a great NBA player. After spending his first seven NBA seasons with the Indiana Pacers, he joined the Oklahoma City Thunder and altered the balance of power in the league’s Western Conference. George has been named to six NBA All-Star teams, three NBA All-Defensive teams and was named All-NBA four times. He also won the league’s Most Improved Player award for the 2012 – 2013 season. With the Thunder he hopes to add an NBA title to his list of accomplishments. Each book in the Hardwood Greats series gives you the reader a close-up look at some of the very best of today’s NBA stars. The statistical leaders and championship winners go under the spotlight in a fun to read and visually interesting examination of the player’s outstanding career. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos are offered in chapters through the use of a QR code, that, when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, a speech, or an instructional video. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader’s comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader’s knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

by Donald Parker

Russell Westbrook, Jr., is only the second player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season. This accomplishment, which he shares with legendary Hall-of-Fame superstar Oscar Robertson, places him in good company as one of the great guards to have ever played the game. Westbrook, the 2017 NBA MVP, has appeared in the Western Conference Finals four times in his career and in the NBA Finals once, in 2012. He was also a member of the 2010 U.S. Men’s National Basketball team that won the FIBA World Championship and the 2012 Summer Olympic team that took the gold medal at the London games. Each book in the Hardwood Greats series gives you the reader a close-up look at some of the very best of today’s NBA stars. The statistical leaders and championship winners go under the spotlight in a fun to read and visually interesting examination of the player’s outstanding career. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos are offered in chapters through the use of a QR code, that, when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, a speech, or an instructional video. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. Text-Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader’s comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader’s knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

by Donald Parker

Looking at the superstar player James Harden is today, it may be hard for some to remember that he started his career coming off the bench in Oklahoma City. But he even did that with excellence, winning the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 2012. Harden is too good to have been a sixth man for long. The three-time NBA scoring champion is a devastating long-range shooter. The only thing more fearsome than his step-back jump shot may be his famous and prodigious beard. James Harden looks at the player behind the beard and his chase for that elusive first championship with three franchises. Each book in the continuing Hardwood Greats series gives you, the reader, a close-up look at some of the very best of today’s NBA stars. The statistical leaders and championship winners go under the spotlight in a fun-to-read and visually interesting examination of the player’s outstanding career.

by Donald Parker

There has quite probably never been anyone whose sports stardom was more anticipated than that of high school basketball phenom LeBron James. James went straight from high school to the NBA, and that 18-year-old kid never looked back. LeBron James details the meteoric rise to superstardom of the player from Akron drafted first overall in 2003 by his hometown Cavaliers who went on to win four titles and four MVP awards. From his tumultuous years and triumphant return in Cleveland to his championship seasons in Miami and L.A., it’s all here. Each book in the continuing Hardwood Greats series gives you, the reader, a close-up look at some of the very best of today’s NBA stars. The statistical leaders and championship winners go under the spotlight in a fun-to-read and visually interesting examination of the player’s outstanding career.

by Donald Parker

Stephen Curry is not only one of the greatest shooters in the history of the NBA, but he is also one of the league’s great champions. He holds the NBA record for made three-point field goals in a season with 402. The leader of some great Golden State Warrior teams, Curry is also a three-time NBA champion. A dominant outside shooter from when he first entered the league in 2009, Curry is an offensive force and has two NBA scoring titles to prove it. Bit he is no slouch on the defensive end of the floor either, as he has also led the league in steals in 2016. Each book in the continuing Hardwood Greats series gives you, the reader, a close-up look at some of the very best of today’s NBA stars. The statistical leaders and championship winners go under the spotlight in a fun-to-read and visually interesting examination of the player’s outstanding career.