This book is entertaining. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants an entertaining book about basketball. However, if someone wants an objective, encyclopedic account on the history of the sport, well... it would be for the best that I steer them elsewhere. Simmons writes from the fan experience, which makes sense because he is a basketball fan (or addict, to be more accurate). When he discusses players, games or eras, he simply cannot provide all the minute insights that a player would or even the objectivity as a classic journalist would, and that's perfectly okay. This book largely serves as a platform for Simmons to provide his observations and opinions (mind you, he heavily backs up is opinions with evidence) that he's built up as a fan over the past 30+ years. If you disagree with him, that's fine. In fact I encourage you to do so. Let this book give rise to debates with your friends about who the best team ever was or whether or not Nate Thurmond or Wes Unseld would even start in the NBA today. That is ultimately this books greatest achievement. It gives us what we need (for the most part) to form our own opinions on this highly entertaining subject.