Expensive Basketball - by Shea Serrano (Hardcover)

About the Book

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Rap Year Book and Basketball (and Other Things), a witty & fun reexamination of some of the most iconic-read: "expensive"-players, moments, and games from the NBA. Everything in basketball is measured. Everything in basketball is counted, quantified, and computed. And yet, no matter how expansive the list of various pinpoint-specific statistical categories gets, some basketball things remain uncountable or unquantifiable. Some moments are more poetry than calculation, rising to art than numerical value. More feeling than data processing. And thus: Expensive Basketball. From Kobe's 81-point game to Sue Bird's crossover, from the majesty of Ray Allen's legendary 3-pointer to the beautiful mystery of Allen Iverson, Expensive Basketball is an affirmation of feelings. It's an affirmation of basketball as virtuosity. It's an affirmation of how sometimes you watch a person perform on the basketball court and it feels the same way it does when you lie in the grass at night and stare up at the moon for long enough that you start to think about how incredible it is that you really, truly, honestly, actually exist"--

Book Synopsis

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - One of Barnes & Noble's Best Sports Books of 2025

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Rap Year Book and Basketball (and Other Things), a clever and inventive examination of some of basketball's most iconic players, moments, games, and more, with original illustrations by Ian Klarer.

Everything in basketball is measured. Everything in basketball is counted, and quantified, and computed. And yet, no matter how expansive the list of various pinpoint-specific statistical categories gets, some basketball things remain uncountable, and unquantifiable.

Some moments are more poetry than calculation; more art than numerical value; more feeling than data processing. And thus: Expensive Basketball.

From the final 196 seconds of Kobe Bryant's playing career to the Sue Bird backpedal, from the erosive terror of Tim Duncan to the Larry Bird memory carousel, Expensive Basketball is an affirmation of feelings.

Review Quotes

"Serrano is irresistibly passionate, a fan-writer who greets each game as a chance to be awed...Infectiously enthusiastic appraisals of NBA and WNBA stars."--Kirkus Review

"Serrano pushes back against the the stats and analytics that have come to dominate sports coverage in favor of an emotionally driven appreciation of hoops stars such as Tim Duncan and Sue Bird."--San Antonio Express-News

"Serrano is one of the few writers whose on-the-page enthusiasm is infectious, who can describe a particular spin move executed during a regular season game from 2006 and successfully transfer his excitement about it to the reader--even if you didn't watch that game, never cared about that team, are only hearing about that player for the first time."--LitHub, Most Anticipated List

About the Author

Shea Serrano is an author, journalist, and podcaster. He's the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Rap Year Book, Basketball (And Other Things), Movies (And Other Things), and Hip-Hop (And Other Things). He lives in Texas with his family.