The Sixth Man - by Andre Iguodala (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Andre Iguodala is one of the most admired players in the NBA. And fresh off the Warriors' fifth Finals appearance in five years, his game has never been stronger.

Off the court, Iguodala has earned respect, too--for his successful tech investments, his philanthropy, and increasingly for his contributions to the conversation about race in America. It is no surprise, then, that in his first book, Andre, with his cowriter Carvell Wallace, has pushed himself to go further than he ever has before about his life, not only as an athlete but about what makes him who he is at his core.

The Sixth Man traces Andre's journey from childhood in his Illinois hometown to his Bay Area home court today. Basketball has always been there. But this is the story, too, of his experience of the conflict and racial tension always at hand in a professional league made up largely of African American men; of whether and why the athlete owes the total sacrifice of his body; of the relationship between competition and brotherhood among the players of one of history's most glorious championship teams. And of what motivates an athlete to keep striving for more once they've already achieved the highest level of play they could have dreamed.

On drive, on leadership, on pain, on accomplishment, on the shame of being given a role, and the glory of taking a role on: This is a powerful memoir of life and basketball that reveals new depths to the superstar athlete, and offers tremendous insight into most urgent stories being told in American society today.

Review Quotes

"The best basketball memoir since Bill Russell's Go Up for Glory...a sports memoir for the ages." --Booklist (starred review)

"Iguodala's story is a compelling and important one that provides a glimpse into what people of color face, from little boys to the height of stardom, in a country 'designed to wreak absolute havoc on the confidence of black people.'"--Shelf Awareness

"A true insider's perspective of the Warriors' championship teams." --Library Journal

"A fascinating look at the intersection of class, race and basketball." --Axios

"A riveting read by one of the NBA's sharpest minds." --Forbes

"A deeply personal look at Iguodala's life growing up in Springfield, Ill., with his single mother and brother, who he says taught him how to be a defender early on. In reflective, conversational prose, Iguodala recounts his early awareness of segregation and racism, the strength and influence of the strong women in his life (and later, coaches), and his gradual realization of how to best harness his intelligence, ambition and drive." --Datebook

About The Author

Carvell Wallace is an author and podcaster based in Oakland, California. He has covered sports, culture, music, race, and the arts for ESPN, MTV, The New Yorker, GQ, and others. He is a regular columnist on Slate and a contributing writer to the New York Times Magazine.