Where did you get that? Is that from a FreeDarko publication or something? (FreeDarko is an old basketball blog.) It looks like something that could come out of this book I have by the FreeDarko writers.
I like the guy who started The Classical (this book he made should go on every NBA fan's coffee table), but I don't really enjoy the articles on his site. Their whole point is that they write about sports in a super figurative way, but a lot of the time that means they'll just wax poetic about players without backing anything up at all. It feels like reading some new-to-basketball, permafried guy's thoughts on basketball stars.
That whole article was some overblown stuff ("The memory’s gone and anyway he’s already forgotten, left it in the smoke floating off his sneakers as Tom Thibodeau implores from the sideline for Nate to ignore the pop in his knee and the blood in his lungs and make the most of his 48th minute, Goddammit") followed up with a super general career summary.
Amazing book. The artwork also is incredible. Can’t say enough about it.
https://www.amazon.com/FreeDarko-Presents-Macrophenomenal-Basketball-Almanac/dp/1596915617
I highly recommend their books. There are two and you get can both for less than $5 used on amazon.
The first one is mostly fun but thoughtful essays about contemporary players of the late 2000s: https://www.amazon.com/FreeDarko-Presents-Macrophenomenal-Basketball-Almanac/dp/1596915617
The second one is more about the history of the league and is a little more serious: https://www.amazon.com/FreeDarko-Presents-Undisputed-Basketball-History/dp/1608190838#customerReviews
I prefer the first one but both are worth checking out. If you liked Grantland you will like them.
If you appreciated Grantland, you should look into what FreeDarko was creating years before that they stole. Their two books, The Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac and The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History, are great reads and have amazing art and visualizations.
Published two years before Bill Simmons published his, and infinitely cooler: https://www.amazon.com/FreeDarko-Presents-Macrophenomenal-Basketball-Almanac/dp/1596915617
FreeDarko Presents: The Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History
Both were forerunners to the type of books Shea and Goldsberry wrote. Long form essays, an attempt to apply a taxonomy to great players, and awesome art. Also some irreverent humor.
This graphic is a rip-off of one that was in the first FreeDarko book.
It's an OK book, but I think the best modern basketball books are Freedarko's Macrophenomenal Pro Basketball Almanac and the follow up, Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History. Anyone familiar with Grantland will see the clear connection between those books and the site.
Not allegedly. Highly recommend Free Darko's first book with their chapter comparing Kobe's 81 to Wilt's 100. Probably the best basketball book?