 |
 |
|||||||
     |
 |
“Basketball’s Artist Details The Art of Basketball” By Mark Brown, CINCINNATI HERALD, April 11, 2024 In recent years, the game of basketball has elevated to a level that arguably makes it one of the premiere games in all of sports. From toddlers to middle age adults, it has become commonplace to see people of all ages participating in the sport that has made “March Madness” a yearly ritual and Michael Jordan a living legend. While many participants are familiar with the game’s origin, which began with Dr. James Naismith (1891) and a tattered peach basket, thousands of players need help when it comes to understanding the basic fundamental principles of the game. The modern game of basketball has been transformed into an art, where a floor replaces the canvas and proper brush strokes are substituted with skills of dribbling, rebounding and shooting. In order to understand the details of a painting, one seeks the advice of an artist. In order to understand the game of basketball, you may want to seek one of the game’s most successful player’s/artist’s advice in a new book. The artist is known worldwide as “The Big O.” The book is entitled “The Art of Basketball.” With release
of this instructional manual, 12 time all-star and legendary NBA player
Oscar Robertson hones in on the fundamental skills necessary to succeed
at the game of basketball. From proper dribbling and shooting technique
to confidence builders and exercise, Robertson “I had [the book] out in 1965,” said Robertson, a former University of Cincinnati Bearcat and then a Cincinnati Royal. “Back then the book concentrated more on young males trying to become basketball players. Since then women have started to play the game in a big way. I felt they needed to be involved in the book also.” Robertson said he is very impressed with the strides women have made in the sport. He feels the book will not only help them with their game, but anyone, male or female, who has a burning desire to become a better basketball player. Coming from the first player to average the now famed “triple double” for an entire season (30.8 points, 11.4 assists and 12.5 rebounds), it’s safe to assume he knows what it takes to become proficient in the sport. “The Art of Basketball,” 96 pages in all and written in conjuction with Michael O’Daniel, details every imaginable aspect of the game. There are sections on defensive instruction, offensive movement, how and when to pass the ball, plus telling insight on what makes a student of the game pass the course. The book is also filled with helpful instructional photographs (featuring girls and boys), making the written word more understandable. Robertson, a court Picasso, feels that although the physical drills of practicing may become redundant, they are very important when trying to conquer the mental portion of the sport. “When you practice the fundamentals, they can become boring,” said Robertson, whose illustrious 14-year career landed him on the NBA’s 50 greatest players team. “Mentally you think what you’re doing is not going to help and you don’t need it [practicing fundamentals]. But those [fundamentals] are the things that are going to get you by.” (c) 1998 The Cincinnati Herald. Reprinted by permission.
|
||||||