“During my time in New York, I had the pleasure of encountering a wonderful assistant coach by the name of Richie Adubato. He helped me tremendously on the professional level, teaching me the intricacies of the game. His tutelage continued to benefit me after my NBA career was over.”—Patrick Ewing, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer
“Nobody loves basketball, and life, more than Richie Adubato. And nobody knows more about the game. You’ll laugh like you’ve never laughed before.”—Bob Lanier, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
“No one has enjoyed being in or around the game basketball more than Richie Adubato. He has coached and developed great players and people at all levels—from high school to college to the NBA to the WNBA. As a player, coach, and broadcaster, Richie has always had a true passion and devotion to the game and is one of its great personalities.”—Rick Sund, longtime NBA general manager
“Without Coach Richie Adubato, my career would have turned out much differently. I was an undrafted free agent, but not only did Richie appreciate my play, he gave me an opportunity and taught me countless ways to see and play the game of basketball. The added bonus was Richie’s rich and vivid stories, which now make for an incredible read. You are sure to smile, shake your head, scratch your head, laugh out loud, and maybe even shed a tear. Richie is special, and so is his book.”—Becky Hammon, San Antonio Spurs assistant coach
“My first exposure to Richie Adubato came during his tenure as head coach of the New York Liberty. What immediately struck me was the level of preparation he put into his craft and how passionate he was about making sure his players were as prepared as possible for every opponent.”—Doris Burke, NBA analyst and reporter
“Richie Adubato is without a doubt one of the best coaches I ever played for. He is a championship coach and, more important, a championship person. . . . Richie’s love for basketball, for people, and for a great story resonate in his autobiography. He has seen it all, lived it all, and now he tells it all with great passion.”—Bernard King, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer
“Richie Adubato has a gift for teaching basketball and developing talent, which explains why he became such an outstanding coach at every level. . . . And then there is his gift of storytelling, where Richie takes a backseat to no one. . . . He has quite a story to tell, and he has done just that in this gem of a book.”—Hubie Brown, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer
“Two pages in and you fully understand where basketball fit into Richie Adubato’s life. Yet as you move through the pages, you realize it’s more than basketball. It’s a guy who starts from ground zero in coaching and reaches the pinnacle of becoming an NBA head coach, all while maintaining a strong connection to the students he taught.”—George King, sportswriter for the New York Post
“Whether coaching men or women at the high school, college, or pro level, Richie always found a way to succeed, thanks to incredible teaching and coaching skills combined with a passion for the game. Richie is a basketball lifer, and it is a life rich with the kind of inside stories that will keep you turning pages.”—Mike Fratello, broadcaster and former NBA head coach
10/01/2020
Though not a household name with casual fans, Adubato (b. 1937) is familiar to basketball diehards as a renowned coach whose career spanned five decades including stints in college, the National Basketball Association (NBA), and its sister league, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Adubato's memoir, cowritten with journalist Kerasotis, starts with his years as a high school coach in New Jersey during the early 1960s. From there, he earned his way to college and professional games, front-row eyewitness to an era of innovative play amidst cultural turmoil. His range of experiences, along with his personal recollections of pivotal moments in the game's history, make this a unique and significant account of basketball's evolution from the 1960s to the mid-2000s. Hall of Fame players, legendary coaches, triumph, and tragedy are all part of his life story, told here with a seasoned storyteller's voice and an unabashed twinkle in his eye. Basketball fans and sports historians will find this memoir an endearing, highly entertaining chapter of hoops history. VERDICT An appealing account that blends Adubato's own memories with basketball's growth over five decades. Recommended for all sports collections.—Janet Davis, Darien P.L., CT