Best Basketball Novels for Young Adults

While basketball, for many of us, is most often enjoyed on the court, there is definitely an allure to reading books and novels specifically related to basketball. And with basketball novels, with the core plot revolving around the game, you are definitely able to get the best of both worlds.

Below, we are going to review the best basketball novels for young adults. These basketball novels are definitely age appropriate for your young adult and will help to further their love of both basketball and reading.

Looking for basketball books for an even younger age group? Definitely check out our review on the best basketball books for toddlers and infants!

Big Shot

Big Shot is one of the best basketball novels for young adults. Centered around the star point guard on the team whose basketball journey is turned upside-down, the book discusses challenges faced by young adults in basketball and in life.

This wholesome basketball story entertains with plenty of on-court and off-court action, and engages readers with thoughtful discussions about integrity, friendship, and happiness.

Beastly Basketball

Beastly Basketball is one of the best and most entertaining basketball books. A Sports Illustrated kids graphic novel, the book centers around Joe. And Joe knows kung fu.

In fact, he loves it more than anything. Every day, Joe walks to his neighborhood kung fu studio to practice for hours on end, until one day he arrives to find his studio is closed.

Rather than letting himself be upset, Joe decides to pursue his basketball. He joins his school’s team only to find that the players are disorganized, timid, and lacking in discipline.

So, Joe uses his experience in martial arts to bring out the best in his teammates by assigning each player a particular style of kung fu that suits their personalities.

This Was Never About Basketball

This Was Never About Basketball is a coming-of-age novel, seventeen-year-old high school basketball star Ezekiel “Zeke” Archer has it all: a sweet jump shot, a full-ride scholarship to a Midwestern basketball powerhouse, and the brightest future.

But when Zeke’s temper gets the better of him in the city championship, he is expelled from school, has to forfeit his scholarship, and is left to ponder his once-hopeful future.

While finishing his final high school days in the California educational system’s version of purgatory, Zeke makes a stunning discovery. With the help of a young autistic classmate Zeke befriends, he learns that the mysterious 7th Dimension, which brought basketball to Earth more than a century ago, has decided to take the game away for good — all because of the ugly event Zeke set into motion in his final game!

Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA Champion

Giannis: The Improbable Rise of an NBA Champion is the story of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s extraordinary rise from poverty in Athens, Greece, to superstardom in America with the Milwaukee Bucks—becoming one of the most transcendent players in history and an NBA Champion.

Shoot Your Shot

‘Shoot Your Shot‘ identifies the key principles that the world’s most elite basketball players have applied to their lives and explains in detail how you can can use those same exact principles to help you navigate through life, accomplish your goals, and realize your dreams.

Divided into Quarters and making you feel like you are in an actual basketball game, ‘Shoot Your Shot’ provides an entertaining and unique reading experience while equipping you with proven tools for success. More than just a book about sports, ‘Shoot Your Shoot’ is suitable for everyone–regardless of age, gender, background, or standing in life.