Pipeline to the Pros

Parkins and Kaplan, first and foremost, have something that many nonfiction sports texts lack: excellent prose. Too often, sports biographies can feel like they were written by high school freshmen. These two have a no-nonsense writing style that doesn’t talk down to the reader. They inform the reader. Prose aside, the book is an excellent look into the world of NBA front offices and coaching staffs, and the common bond that unites so many of them. Parkins and Kaplan have a passion for the subject matter that is matched only by the passion that Vogel, Pop, Thibs, the Van Gundy brothers, and others have for all facets of the game of basketball.

I heard about this book from Nick Wright's recommendation and it did not disappoint! This is very thorough and covers a lot of ground that you would not have been able to discover if the authors had not done the research that they did to put this together. I truthfully never thought about the backgrounds of a lot of the coaches and front office workers who are established or emerging, but this book did a great job of highlighting their path and their journey. it also provided insight into why Division III players have been sought out and have excelled despite a lack of playing experience at the highest level. It's very insightful, it's tough to put down and it puts a fresh perspective on how the NBA came to be and where it may be evolving to in the future. Highly recommend!

What an incredibly well written book. I’m admittedly not a huge basketball fan, but this was still a super interesting look at a trend in the NBA that even hardcore fans might not be aware is happening. I enjoyed all the anecdotes/quotes, as well as seeing the many connections between people across various levels of basketball and how they all tie to the wider developments throughout the League’s history.I keep coming back to just how well this was written - witty, informative, and humorous throughout … you can feel the joy they have for the subject and basketball in general. A must read for basketball fans, a fascinating read for everyone else.

For us hoop junkies, this is really a great book. Tremendous research by Ben and Danny has resulted in the sharing of incredible stories and coincidences that will leave you saying ‘wow!’.

Rare do you find the combination of curiosity and credibility with such a wide range of experts in a field. Kudos to the authors for the research and interviews that were necessary to bring this book together. What a great contribution to the sport - highlighting that, even at the highest levels, it takes contributions from all levels.

Pipeline to the Pros is a SLAM DUNK for those basketball fans who want to hear the inspirational backstory tales of some of the most influential participants in the sport. This well-written book is filled with facts that may have been unknown until Ben Kaplan and Danny Parkins teamed up to unveil their significance on and off the basketball court!

Must read for all sport fans or fans of the underdog story. The authors interviewed a wide array of players, front office executives, and coaches to tell this story that is so often overlooked and worthy of a deep dive. Its refreshing to find a niche topic that was researched so well and presented in a fun and different perspective.

Pipeline to the Pros delivers so many incredible, eye-opening insights, yet the stories are beautifully woven together; revealing how D3 "nobodies" left their indelible mark on professional basketball. It’s a testament to anyone who may have started small, but dreamed big. I found it nearly impossible to put down.