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The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It | Roland Lazenby
The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It | Roland Lazenby
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Experience the definitive oral history of the Los Angeles Lakers, told entirely through the raw, unfiltered voices of the legendary players, coaches, and executives who built the dynasty.
Narrative Overview
The Los Angeles Lakers have long been one of the NBA's most exciting and culturally significant franchises. In The Show, critically acclaimed sportswriter Roland Lazenby brings the story of this charismatic team to life through an unprecedented, definitive oral history. Tracing the team's origins from their 1946 birthplace in Minneapolis to their monumental successes—and spectacular failures—in Los Angeles, Lazenby utilizes his flair for storytelling and eye for meticulous detail to document the evolution of a sports dynasty.
Told entirely in the words of those who lived it, the narrative features in-depth interviews with legendary players such as Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson, alongside modern icons like Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Augmented by insights from coaches and key front-office figures, this comprehensive history explains exactly why the Lakers are a celebrated favorite for sports fans all over America.
Core Audience
- Die-hard fans of the Los Angeles Lakers and NBA history.
- Readers who enjoy immersive, interview-based sports journalism and oral histories.
- Sports historians looking for primary source accounts of basketball's evolution.
Author & Contributors
Roland Lazenby is a critically acclaimed sportswriter and the author of numerous books on basketball, known for his deep research and compelling narratives on the sport's greatest figures.
Tex Winter, who provides the foreword, was an innovative basketball coach and the primary architect of the renowned triangle offense, which was instrumental in multiple Lakers championship runs.
Product Specifications
| Full Title | The Show: The Inside Story of the Spectacular Los Angeles Lakers in the Words of Those Who Lived It |
|---|---|
| Author | Roland Lazenby |
| Foreword | Tex Winter |
| Publisher & Imprint | McGraw-Hill Education |
| Publication Date | December 26, 2005 |
| Binding Format | Hardcover (Trade Cloth with Dust Jacket) |
| Edition | 1 |
| Print Length | 480 Pages |
| Language | English |
| ISBN-13 | 9780071430340 |
| ISBN-10 | 0071430342 |
| Library of Congress (LCCN) | 2005018571 |
| Primary BISAC Genre | SPORTS & RECREATION / Basketball |
| Product Dimensions | 6.28 x 1.55 x 9.30 inches |
| Item Weight | 28.8 oz (approx. 1.80 lbs) |
| Condition | Pre-Owned / Very Good |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this book a standard continuous narrative or is it structured differently?
This book functions as a comprehensive, multi-voiced oral history. Instead of a singular author narrative, the entire history of the franchise is told through direct quote excerpts from interviews, stringing together first-person accounts to recreate historical events.
Does the book only cover the glamorous "Showtime" era of the 1980s?
No, it maps the absolute genesis of the team. The historical coverage tracks the franchise completely from its 1946 roots as the Minneapolis Lakers—exploring the dominance of center George Mikan—before moving through the transition to Los Angeles, the Magic Johnson era, and the 2000s Shaq-and-Kobe dynasty.
What unique credentials and authority does Roland Lazenby bring to this project?
Author Roland Lazenby is globally celebrated as one of the preeminent sports biographers of our time. Because he spent decades reporting directly on the NBA and previously penned highly acclaimed books about coach Phil Jackson and superstar Kobe Bryant, he possessed massive baseline trust with the players and executives interviewed inside.
Does the narrative shy away from off-court controversies or internal drama?
Not at all. The text is famous for its raw, unfiltered look at the franchise's dark sides. The second half of the volume addresses structural team dysfunctions, locker-room ego clashes, financial standoffs with demanding owners like Jack Kent Cooke, and the specific partying and drug subcultures that surrounded NBA players in the 1970s and 1980s.
How is the visual layout of this first edition hardcover designed?
This premium first printing includes an extensive selection of rare historical photographs peppered through the text, a detailed index for scanning specific player anecdotes, and a formal foreword penned directly by legendary assistant coach and basketball innovator Tex Winter.
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