Full Court Press

by Mike Lupica

When the owner of the worst pro basketball team in the world decides to sign Dee Gerard, the first woman ever to play in the NBA, chaos ensues as Dee tries to play the best game there is while spoiled young millionaires, personal and professional relationships, and the press wreak havoc on her life, in a rollicking and hilarious new novel by the author of Bump and Run. 125,000 first printing.

Genres: Sports, Fiction, Basketball

320 pages, Hardcover

Published November 12, 2001

About the author

Michael Lupica is an author and American newspaper columnist, best known for his provocative commentary on sports in the New York Daily News and his appearances on ESPN.

Reviews

[Aodhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It was funny, intense, interesting, and very inappropriate, which makes it even better! Definitely one of the best books I've ever read, and even if you're not into sports, you should definitely read this.

[Corey Butler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it and since it is something that could really happen that made it more interesting. A girls playing in the NBA would be weird to see in today's society.

[Mathew Barrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. It is a good book for young adults that like sports novels. IT also appeals to all ages. It has amazing details and well written action. I also like how it uses real basketball players. I would recommend this book to lots of people.

[Cyndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was loose and the play by play of basketball was almost too much. More basketball than story.

[Robert Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the book “Full Court Press” by Mike Lupica, the main character is a girl named Dee Gerard. She is the daughter of a playground basketball extraordinaire and she want’s to follow in her father’s footsteps, except take it one step further. In her journey, she runs into many problems, but one problem really sticks out from the others.

Gerard was a star basketball player back in Europe, but retired due to poor playing conditions and minimal play. She was good, but it didn’t seem as if her career was going to advance any further, until one life changing moment. A scout for the New York Knights watched Gerard play and was impressed with her. He called one of his bosses to talk about the possibility of signing her. The scout purposely forgot to mention one thing to his boss. That she was a girl.

Why was this such a significant detail to leave out? No girl has ever played in the NBA before and the media presence surrounding this signing would be never-ending. She may be talented, but the fact that she was a girl could have ruined the deal. But it didn’t.

The deal became official and Dee was now a member of the New York Knights. Moving from Europe to New York was a life changing thing for her. She would leave her family and friends to pursue her dreams of playing in the NBA.

Once the season started, Dee waited and waited for her opportunity to play. Many games went by and she didn’t get her chance. The crowd was restless and wanted to see Dee play. They began to chant “We want Dee! We want Dee! We want Dee!” (173), but the coaching staff continued to ignore the fans’ demands. Due to this, the Knights fired their head coach.

With a new coach at the helm, Dee finally got her shot. In her playing time, Dee impressed and looked like she belonged on the court. Her team was in the playoff hunt, but were unlikely to advance to the playoffs.

Unlikely wasn’t a word found in Dee’s dictionary. She fought until the very end and that attitude quickly spread throughout the team’s locker room. After going on a win streak, Dee and the Knights had one game to go. The game was for all the marbles. Win and advance or lose and go home.

The Knights were facing the Heat, but the Knights had home-court advantage. In sports, this kind of advantage could be the deciding factor. The advantage didn’t show and the Knights were down 68-54 in the third quarter.

Facing a 14 point deficit, Dee put the team on her back. Even if she was the only woman in the NBA, she was the Knights’ leader. After facing doubt her whole life, coming back from this kind of deficit was well within her reach. Slowly but surely, the Knights trimmed away at the Heat’s lead. With less than a minute to go, Dee and the Knights led the Heat 110-104. Time eventually ran out and the Knights, led by Dee Gerard, were headed to the playoffs in a miraculous comeback.

[Bruce Snell · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading five books by Mike Lupica, I have come to the conclusion that he only has one story in him, and simply changes the names and details as he re-writes it over and over. In this case the sport is basketball, and the audience is adults, but he could have used the same story outline as he used for the first four of his books I read. And the only real difference between his kids books and his adult books is language and sex in the adult version. However, after having said all that, I still enjoyed the story (even though I knew exactly what was going to happen throughout the book), and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fun, easy to read sports oriented story.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Court Press
Mike Lupica
G. P. Putnam's Sons
2001

I'm a huge fan of Lupica's Young Adult novels, so I thought I would try this novel for adults. Especially since the subject was one that I am interested in, a woman joining the NBA. I enjoyed the book, but some of his prose and style seemed stuck in the 80s and had a faux noir feel to it. If this is an example of his writing for adults, I think I will stick with his young adult novels.

3 stars.

[Gurpal Singh]

I stopped reading this book because it was boring. I thought it would be about basketball but it was mostly about other stuff and basketball was rarely mentioned. I stopped reading this book on page 50. I don't recommend this book because it made me almost fall asleep while reading , that's how boring it was.

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good bood. It was an easy read, and the story was great, especially since I have 3 daughters. I would not call this great literature, but it was fun to read. If you like basketball, or sports for that, and have some free time, go and give it a shot.

[Ace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recognized his name as a sports journalist, but I've never read one of his novels. Still, since I grew up on sports related fiction, Chip Hilton, mainly, I figured I'd give this book a read. And I wasn't disappointed. Of course, like I said, I'm a sucker for sports novels.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the subject interested me, this story didn't live up to my expectations. It was pretty predictable. Including the relationship, that doesn't seem very realistic (too fast and I don't see the connection).

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women in the NBA? Why not. They would probably beat my Sixers.

[Brian Stark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent story of a female basketball player trying to make it in the NBA. Not one of Lupica's best, however.

[Dee Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, but nothing great either. I may read more of his stuff, but it will not be a priority.

[Denise]

CD

[D.jordon]

this was a really great book funny at first and great for people that are in to sports boooks

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed most of it, but I am so not a fan of the ending.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. All the things I love power of women and basketball. What more could there be in a great book.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

You don't have to know basketball to enjoy this sports themed story. It was a fun kicky read that was fairly predictable. It was a little better than 2 stars but not quite 3.

[Danielle]

Imagines the first woman drafted to the NBA. Perfect beach read.

UPDATE

I started this, but after a few chapters found it was not what I was in the mood for.

[Stephen Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Recommended.

[Ethan Stump · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very interesting, it gave a very insightful look into women in men's professional sports.

[Brady · Rating 3 out of 5]

engaging and great plot

[Landon]

I really liked this book. It was something that could potentially happen in real life. I think that it was so cool. This girl went out and showed all these dudes what they can do. She ended up being really good too. Most girls wouldn’t want to be on a boys team. I liked how she kept fighting though and wanted to prove herself to others. Overall it was a great book and I would advise you to read it.

[Lance Koresh · Rating 5 out of 5]

was a great book

[Buckeyebet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lupika cites a lot of basketball history which is very interesting. He also describes player/coach thinking and planning.

[Bradley Brill · Rating 3 out of 5]

3+ star rating.

[Steven Botell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is really a 3.5. Great fun for basketball lovers

[Francine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. New York City in the 90s, a girl playing in the NBA, and a sassy writing? Yes. Sign me up.

[Max Voss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full court press, is about the story of a young hot shot owner of the worst team in the NBA, the New York Knights, and how he is trying to save the team by sending his lead scout, Eddie Holtz to Europe, to find some old NBA talent to bring back, but the whole basketball world is in shock, when he brings back Dee Geread, a female to try to play point guard in the NBA.