Hardwood Paroxysm summer reading recommendations

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss, Recommended for Kyle Anderson

By Jared Dubin (@JADubin5)

INT. SAN ANTONIO SPURS PRACTICE FACILITY – DAY

A tall, lanky kid with wispy facial hair stands in front of his new locker. He dons a UCLA practice jersey and a muted expression on his face. He touches the name plate above his locker and smiles warmly. He is KYLE ANDERSON, recent NBA draft pick.

He reaches into the locker and pulls out a different jersey, this one reading SPURS in silver lettering across the chest of the black fabric. He turns the jersey inside out, and sees that the chest now reads SAN ANTONIO in black lettering on silver fabric.

Satisfied, he hangs the jersey back on the hook and begins unpacking his backpack. His adidas shoes go on the top shelf, along with his cell phone, wallet, deodorant and lotion. The bag, with his post-practice sandals and socks now inside it, goes on the bottom.

KYLE ANDERSON: I could get used to this.

KYLE feels a tap on his shoulder. He turns around to see a slightly shorter but still quite tall man with corn rows, also wearing a SPURS practice jersey. This is KAWHI LEONARD, NBA Finals MVP. He hands Kyle a book.

KAWHI LEONARD: Don’t forget this, kid.

KYLE takes the book from KAWHI’s hands and turns it over to take a look at the cover.

KAWHI LEONARD: TP gave it to me when I was a rookie and it worked out pretty well. Now it’s yours.

KAWHI walks out the door to the locker room and makes his way toward the court. KYLE sits at the stool in front of his locker and opens the book.

Across the room another man peeks in through the door. He is a stern, authoritative type with white hair and a permanent scowl on his face. He is GREGG POPOVICH, five-time NBA champion.

GREGG POPOVICH: Getting settled?

KYLE ANDERSON: Yeah, Coach. Just reading.

GREGG POPOVICH: Good.