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Muggsy: My Life from a Kid in the Projects to the Godfather of Small Ball
A candid and insightful memoir from one the NBA's most unlikely stars.
Growing up, Muggsy Bogues was always told he should do something else, anything besides basketball. He never acknowledged his many doubters except to prove them spectacularly wrong.
Twenty years after receiving his first basketball as a toddler, he stood proud—at five-foot-three—as the starting point guard for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. From the East Baltimore playground courts where he earned his nickname by "muggin'" opponents for possession of the ball, to Dunbar High School where he excelled alongside future NBA players, Bogues set the tone in his early years for the great heights he'd reach professionally.
In this new autobiography, Bogues delves deep into his life and career, reflecting on legendary battles with Michael Jordan, John Stockton, and other generational stars of '80s and '90s hoops. He shares far-ranging anecdotes from playoff runs in Charlotte, filming Space Jam, and even watching a young Steph Curry grow up.
Conversational and clear-sighted, this is a story of uncompromising vision and fleet-footed determination during a golden era for the NBA.
Growing up, Muggsy Bogues was always told he should do something else, anything besides basketball. He never acknowledged his many doubters except to prove them spectacularly wrong.
Twenty years after receiving his first basketball as a toddler, he stood proud—at five-foot-three—as the starting point guard for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA. From the East Baltimore playground courts where he earned his nickname by "muggin'" opponents for possession of the ball, to Dunbar High School where he excelled alongside future NBA players, Bogues set the tone in his early years for the great heights he'd reach professionally.
In this new autobiography, Bogues delves deep into his life and career, reflecting on legendary battles with Michael Jordan, John Stockton, and other generational stars of '80s and '90s hoops. He shares far-ranging anecdotes from playoff runs in Charlotte, filming Space Jam, and even watching a young Steph Curry grow up.
Conversational and clear-sighted, this is a story of uncompromising vision and fleet-footed determination during a golden era for the NBA.
256 pages, Paperback
Published August 8, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 18, 2022
Not a lot of meat to this one. Muggsy has an inspiring story (he was the shortest player to ever play in the NBA), but you have to get through typos, corny writing, and an overly descriptive plot of Space Jam to get to that.
August 19, 2022
Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues is one of my favorite athletes of all-time. Like many reiterate throughout this autobiography, to be 5’3” and continually be able to excel in the land of giants is nothing short of remarkable.
The first half was much more interesting than the second with his growing up in Baltimore and developing into an excellent basketball player in high school & college at Wake Forrest, which he felt he never quite belonged dealing with discrimination off the court.
When we get into his professional NBA career, parts of it just felt like you’re reading his basketball reference page. Muggsy provides personal comments on each season and each different team he played with, while reciting his stats and recapping certain games and moments.
He’s talks about also dealt with tragedy throughout with his father being in jail, and deaths of his friends and a romantic partner. Good book to get a glimpse of Muggsy’s personal life and thought process that allowed him to continue to succeed in basketball.
The first half was much more interesting than the second with his growing up in Baltimore and developing into an excellent basketball player in high school & college at Wake Forrest, which he felt he never quite belonged dealing with discrimination off the court.
When we get into his professional NBA career, parts of it just felt like you’re reading his basketball reference page. Muggsy provides personal comments on each season and each different team he played with, while reciting his stats and recapping certain games and moments.
He’s talks about also dealt with tragedy throughout with his father being in jail, and deaths of his friends and a romantic partner. Good book to get a glimpse of Muggsy’s personal life and thought process that allowed him to continue to succeed in basketball.
May 23, 2022
A look into the life of small in height, large in life, former NBA player, Tyronne “Muggsy” Bogues. “Muggsy” offers a decent look at his rise from the projects in Baltimore through his unlikely tenure as a basketball standout, through the NBA. The description of his journey is okay, with a few nuggets that peak interest and are interesting. Outside of the unlikeliness of his life as a basketball player due to his height, his travels through basketball are relatively dull and typical of the normal athlete’s autobiography. What is more interesting is some of the turns that his life took off the court and the difficulties he faces with regards to family and their ensuing tragedies.
June 12, 2022
I enjoyed this autobiography by Muggsy, the shortest player to ever play in the NBA. He played 14 seasons of pro-basketball. I thought it was an honest appraisal of his childhood and professional career. His amazing dedication and work ethic was obvious.
Thank you, Independent Publishers Group and Triumph Books for this book. I would recommend to any sports fan who appreciates the trials of becoming a pro athlete.
Thank you, Independent Publishers Group and Triumph Books for this book. I would recommend to any sports fan who appreciates the trials of becoming a pro athlete.
February 23, 2023
I love muggsy and all of what he did at this size and his book is also good but.
He is not the God father of small ball and he is not a hall of famer by any meaning.
Small ball gave opportunities for a lot of undersized players but we should not promote only small ball in basketball because if we do there will be also leftovers but in the other side of height measurement scale.
He is not the God father of small ball and he is not a hall of famer by any meaning.
Small ball gave opportunities for a lot of undersized players but we should not promote only small ball in basketball because if we do there will be also leftovers but in the other side of height measurement scale.
September 17, 2024
Muggsy telling the story of his life and how he got into the NBA is more interesting than most of the actual in game NBA stories, but overall this is worth the read about one of the most improbable professional athletes of all time.
July 7, 2022
Interesting but left me wanting a bit more of the 'life' he led.
November 21, 2022
How could you not root for this guy? A good read, filled me in on a lot more of his story, from growing up in Baltimore to finding a home in Charlotte, and everything after.
January 4, 2023
Although repetitive, this story is one worth learning about.
February 23, 2023
As a kid who grew up in 1990s Charlotte, I could not love this book more.
March 20, 2023
Muggy bogues
One of the best point guards in the game. He should be in the hall of fame. He had a great career.
One of the best point guards in the game. He should be in the hall of fame. He had a great career.
January 17, 2025
It's not too bad. Gives lots of inspiration for smaller athletes.
September 8, 2023
MUGGSY 🏀⛹🏽🏙️🩵
“When something important ends, we’re faced with a choice: we can either live in the hurt forever or we can cherish what we had and move on.”
“When something important ends, we’re faced with a choice: we can either live in the hurt forever or we can cherish what we had and move on.”
April 20, 2024
Muggsy is my idol in the game for being the same height as me. He's one of the greatest in the history of NBA. Him able to compete with NBA legends like Pippen, Malone, Bryant, Jordan shows what talent this man has. Wish I had the means to study his games when I was younger as the internet wasn't widespread in the 90's.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews