"Brilliantlyaudacious...written with the profundity of a sage baller and the acuity of aseasoned journalist."--Kiese Laymon, New York Times bestselling author ofHeavy
An award-winning journalist's behind-the-scenes account from theepicenter of sports, social justice, and coronavirus, Can't Knock the Hustleis a lasting chronicle of the historic 2019-2020 NBA season, by way of thenotorious Brooklyn Nets and basketball's renaissance as a cultural force beyondthe game.
The Nets were already the most intriguing startup in the NBA: a teamof influencers, entrepreneurs and activists, starring the controversial KevinDurant and Kyrie Irving. But this dynasty-in-the-making got disrupted by theunforeseen. One tweet launched an international scandal, pitting the team'sChinese owner and the league's commissioner against its players and LeBronJames. The sudden death of Kobe Bryant, after making his final publicappearance in Brooklyn, sent shockwaves through a turbulent season.
Then came the unimaginable. A global pandemic and a new civil-rightsmovement put basketball's trend-setting status to the ultimate test, asbusiness and culture followed the lead of the NBA and its empowered stars. Noteam intersected with the extremes of 2020 quite like the Brooklyn Nets, andMatt Sullivan had a courtside view.
Can't Knock the Hustle crosses from on thecourt, where underdogs confront A-listers like Jay-Z and James Harden, to offthe court, as players march through the streets of Brooklyn, provoke DonaldTrump at the White House, and boycott the NBA's bubble experiment in DisneyWorld.
Hundreds of interviews--with Hall-of-Famers, All-Stars, executives, coaches and power-brokers across the world--provide a backdrop ofthe NBA's impact on social media, race, politics, health, fashion, fame andfandom, for a portrait of a time when sports brought us back together again, like never before.
About the Author :
Matt Sullivan has been an editor at The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Esquire and Bleacher Report. His work in sports, celebrity and investigative journalism has been honored more than a dozen times by The Best American Sports Writing, the National Magazine Awards and the Edward R. Murrow Awards. A native New Yorker and graduate of Duke University, he lives with his wife, their daughter and a French bulldog.
Will Damron has won several Earphones Awards and been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. He has had acting roles off-Broadway and on stage and screen throughout the country.
Review :
"A must-read for its in-depth look at the mental, economic, and political tribulations of NBA players."
-- "Library Journal (starred review)"
"More than a basketball book, this helps explain race relations, celebrity power, and personal choice in a changed world."
-- "Kirkus Reviews"
"No narrative has captured the dynamics of the 'player empowerment' movement quite like Can't Knock the Hustle. Sullivan has written about as revealing a basketball book as there's been in a long time: an insider's account with an outsider's moxie."
-- "Dave Zirin, sports editor, The Nation"
"Takes readers on a propulsive ride in his tour-de-force debut...Sullivan's detailed account will intrigue anyone who cares about sports and the role it plays in social justice today."
-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)"
