Hang Time: My Life in Basketball

In "Hang Time: My Life in Basketball," Elgin Baylor transcends his role as one of the NBA's earliest black superstars to detail his profound impact on both the sport and social justice. Published on April 10, 2018, this powerful memoir unveils Baylor's journey from executing game-changing plays to challenging racial injustices within the league and beyond. He shares vivid accounts of his dual life navigating the U.S. Army and the Lakers, spearheading the fight against segregation by boycotting the 1964 All-Star game, and his executive struggles against the discriminatory practices of LA Clippers' Donald Sterling. Baylor's narrative not only revisits the evolution of basketball from a horizontal to a vertical spectacle but also mirrors the shifting landscape of America's social justice issues, including racial, gender, and economic equality. Ideal for middle-school readers, this book offers an inspiring look at perseverance and advocacy through the eyes of a sports legend who played as passionately for human rights as he did for basketball.