The Word of God

A cinematic and candid memoir from your favorite basketball players’ favorite basketball player, God Shammgod. Perfect for fans of Becoming Kareem, Straight Shooter, and Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised.

A street ball legend from 1980s and ’90s New York City, a college basketball phenom, and one of the first players whose moves went viral in the digital age, God Shammgod drew a crowd everywhere he played because of his obsessive dribbling skills. He was a peer and eventually a mentor for everyone from Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, Stephon Marbury, Chauncey Billups, and Vince Carter to name a few. His signature move—the Shammgod crossover—is legendary.

But when Sham’s own NBA dream eventually faltered, he had to face a life without his beloved game—only to unexpectedly return as a coach. Sham became a guide to several rising college stars before he eventually made the leap to the NBA, where Mark Cuban brought him onto the Dallas Mavericks staff as the league’s first ball-handling coach.

Told through the relationships Sham has built over a lifetime of goodwill, The Word of God is not only a reflection of an unforgettable NBA career and a nostalgic look at ’90s Harlem, but ultimately a love letter to basketball and a celebration of the game.