Pat Williams - NBA List Jam!: The Most Authoritative and Opinionated Rankings from Doug Collins, Bob Ryan, Peter Vecsey, Jeanie Bu

2012 by Pat Williams and Michael Connelly

Published by Running Press,

A Member of the Perseus Books Group

All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions

This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without written permission from the publisher.

Books published by Running Press are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the United States by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 2300 Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or call (800) 810-4145, ext. 5000, or e-mail special..

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012938751

E-book ISBN 978-0-7624-4686-5

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing

Designer: Joshua McDonnell

Editor: Greg Jones

Typography: Avenir and Boton

Running Press Book Publishers

2300 Chestnut Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371

Visit us on the web!

www.runningpress.com

You can contact Pat Williams at:

Pat Williams

c/o Orlando Magic

8701 Maitland Summit Boulevard

Orlando, FL 32810

(407) 916-2404

Visit Pat Williams online:

www.PatWilliamsMotivate.com

www.twitter.com/OrlandoMagicPat

www.Facebook.com/PatWilliams.OrlandoMagic

If you would like to set up a speaking engagement for Pat Williams,

please call Andrew Herdliska at 407-916-2401 or e-mail him at .

Pats Dedication

I dedicate this book to Matt Guokas, the longtime player, coach and now commentator. His input on this project was invaluable.

Michaels Dedication

To my beautiful girlfriend, and now wife, Noreen, who tolerated dates being planned around Larry Birds Celtic schedule. To my lifes joy, my son Ryan, for whom sports has been a wonderful bond between father and son. To my father, John Connelly, Jr., who spent his hard-earned money on a basketball court in the backyard in yet another example of putting his kids before himself. To my mother, Marilyn Connelly, who sat and watched as I scored 28 points in a half one night but would have hugged me had I scored none. To my brothers and sisters who are not just my siblings but my friends.

BY DAVID STERN

BY DAVID BENNER

BY BERRY TRAMEL

BY PETER KERASOTIS

BY GEORGE VECSEY

BY RYAN BAKER

BY DICK JERARDI

BY CLARK KELLOGG

BY BILL RAFTERY

BY JEFF TURNER

BY BOB HILL

BY TOM NISSALKE

BY FRAN DUNPHY

BY NICK ANDERSON

BY BILL FOSTER

BY STUART SCOTT

BY BOBBY CREMINS

BY ERNIE ACCORSI

BY SEAN MCDONOUGH

BY DR. RICHARD LAPCHICK

BY MATT GUOKAS

BY JACK NICKLAUS

BY MATT GUOKAS

Top 10 NBA Players from Michigan State BY MATT GUOKAS

BY MATT GUOKAS

BY MATT GUOKAS

BY ANDY HILL

BY JOHN NASH

BY LEIGH MONTVILLE

BY RICK SUND

BY ERIC MUSSELMAN

BY MATT GUOKAS

BY DEL HARRIS

BY RICK BARRY

BY SWEN NATER

BY MATT GUOKAS

BY SCOTT HOWARD-COOPER

BY TOMMY HEINSOHN

BY MATT GUOKAS

BY TOM TOLBERT

BY WAYNE EMBRY

BY HARVEY POLLACK

BY HARVEY POLLACK

BY MIKE FRATELLO

BY JACK MCCALLUM

BY BILLY CUNNINGHAM

BY RICHIE ADUBATO

BY DOUG COLLINS

BY ANN MEYERS-DRYSDALE

BY CHET WALKER

BY MARK PRICE

BY MARC BERMAN

BY REVEREND JEFF RYAN

BY PETER MAY

BY KEN BERGER

BY STAN VAN GUNDY

BY KEN HUSSAR

BY DAVID TWARDZIK

BY ERIC GORDON, JR.

BY TYREKE EVANS

BY ED RANDALL

BY SAM SMITH

BY STEPHEN CURRY

BY MARV ALBERT

BY CHRIS BROUSSARD

BY IAN THOMSEN

BY JERRY SLOAN

BY BILL FITCH

BY BOB RYAN

BY CHARLEY ROSEN

BY ANDY JASNER

BY BRENDAN SUHR

BY BOB DELANEY

BY BILL VAN GUNDY

BY DON CASEY

BY DAN SHAUGHNESSY

BY JOHN GABRIEL

BY JERRY COLANGELO

BY PAT WILLIAMS

BY STAN KASTEN

BY DAVID FALK

BY KEITH GLASS

BY JEFF TWISS

BY ANDY DOLICH

BY TOM SMITH

BY DON RUTLEDGE

BY MATT GUOKAS

BY PAT WILLIAMS

BY DOLPH SCHAYES

BY JEFF MULLINS

BY ADONAL FOYLE

BY ANDREW BOGUT

BY STEVE SCHANWALD

BY STEVE SCHANWALD

BY JEANIE BUSS

BY SCOTT HESINGTON

BY PAUL KENNEDY

BY STEVE SCHANWALD

BY AL MCCOY

BY ANDREW HERDLISKA

BY CRAIG SAGER

BY TIM FRANK

BY BRIAN MCINTYRE

BY PAT WILLIAMS

BY KEN HUSSAR

BY PAT WILLIAMS

BY PAT WILLIAMS

BY PAT WILLIAMS

BY PETER VECSEY

BY EDDIE DOUCETTE

BY K. C. JOHNSON

BY TERRY PLUTO

BY STEVE BULPETT

BY RALPH LAWLER

BY GEOFFREY CALKINS

BY BOB RATHBUN

BY IRA WINDERMAN

BY GIL MCGREGOR

BY STEVE LUHM

BY AILENE VOISIN

BY SHAUN POWELL

BY MARK HEISLER

BY DAVID STEELE

BY EDDIE SEFKO

BY HERB TURETZKY

BY CARL SCHEER

BY BOB KRAVITZ

BY TOM WILSON

BY MATT GUOKAS

BY JIM FOLEY

BY JIM LYNAM

BY MIKE MONROE

BY MATT GUOKAS

BY JAMES DONALDSON

BY BERRY TRAMEL

BY TOM HANNEMAN

BY KERRY EGGERS

BY JIM BARNETT

BY STEVE BUCKHANTZ

BY DR. JACK RAMSAY

BY PAT WILLIAMS AND MICHAEL CONNELLY

As Commissioner of the National Basketball Association, it is my privilege to preside over the worlds most entertaining sporta game that is truly international in its scope and appeal. NBA rosters currently boast 75 players who grew up (and up and up!) in 30 countries outside of the United States. We not only have the planets best athletes, we most assuredly have the tallest!

Were I to be a teacher (and as a league ambassador I suppose I could qualify for the title), I would award our sport four A-pluses for its athleticism, appeal, action, and for the adrenalin rush fans experience night after night watching games. Since you are reading this book, any more proselytizing would be unnecessary.

While I am awarding A-pluses to the game we love, Pat Williams and Michael Connelly have certainly earned theirs for this addictive collection, NBA List Jam! Like salted peanuts, you cant stop consuming them after you have eaten one. These eclectic lists have been generated by executives, coaches, players, columnists, television and radio commentators, scouts and trainers, and they are sure to stir memories, enjoyment, interest, and debate. They run full-court, covering the leagues rich history to its present-day fastbreak action.

I do sense that I am preaching to the choir, for I am convinced, that just like NBA action, you are going to find this book to be Fan-tastic!

David Stern,

National Basketball Association Commissioner

From the peach basket to Jumbotrons, from the two-handed set shot to a two-handed tomahawk dunk, the game of basketball has evolved from its early days at a YMCA gym in Springfield, Massachusetts, into an international entertainment entity.