From Publishers Weekly
Hoye, an established actor, is an unfortunate choice of narrator for this massive, detailed sports diary; prim, polished and melodramatic, his vocal stylings hardly match the audiobook’s sweat-soaked subject. The audio chronicles Jackson’s final season coaching the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2003–2004 season, which turned out to be heartbreaking for fans and players alike. Jackson’s replay begins when Gary Payton and Karl Malone join the team; shortly thereafter, news emerges of the rape allegation against star player Kobe Bryant. This story, coupled with the ongoing tension between the tough Jackson and the egocentric Bryant, tinctures the entire season, even though the team makes it to the playoffs. Jackson dismisses most of his players as prima donnas, and few of them come across as very respectable—bickering, in-fighting and bruised egos are meticulously chronicled. The episodic structure of the book makes it ill-suited for audio; after a while, one heated locker-room argument starts to sound like another, and the decision to not abridge this audiobook begins to seem like a mistake. Jackson’s recollections will no doubt delight basketball lovers, but those fans might be better off seeking out the hardcover, which they can skim at their leisure.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
Basketball fans, especially those with a predilection for Zen Buddhism, will find this account of the Los Angeles Lakers' 2003-04 season, the author's last as head coach, fascinating reading. Here all is laid bare: the egos, tirades, childish behavior, and sacrifice characteristic of play at the highest professional level. Narrator Stephen Hoye is an inspired, and inspiring, choice for this book. At his best, it's difficult to separate his voice from Jackson's, so completely does he reflect the author's persona and inflections. At his worst, he magnifies Jackson's condescension and dogmatic nature, which pervades the book. Overall, though, Hoye is interesting, appropriately dramatic, and easy on the ears. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

FROM OUR EDITORS

On paper, the 2003-4 Los Angeles Lakers were a coach's dream. Coach Phil Jackson's Lakers owned towering center Shaquille O'Neal and power guard Kobe Bryant, the most dynamic duo in the game and the core of the team that had snatched three of the previous four NBA championships. To strengthen their ranks, L.A. had added future Hall of Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton to the already star-studded roster. But all was not well in La-La Land. Before the season was over, "team leaders" Shaq and Kobe had exchanged insults and disparaging second-guesses in the press; Bryant was arrested on felony sex charges; and Jackson's well-laid game plans had disintegrated in the midst of media frenzy, salary disputes, and a general team meltdown. As one fan put it, "The team doesn't need a coach; it needs a psychiatrist." In The Last Season, the ever-reflective nine-time NBA championship coach offers an insider's view of a dream team's nightmare.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

One of the most successful coaches in the history of basketball offers his personal account of a season like no other-the extraordinary ride of the 2003-2004 Los Angeles Lakers.

From the signing of the future Hall-of-Famers Karl Malone and Gary Payton, to the intricacies of managing difficult relationships and public feuds, facing Shaq's injuries, contract disputes, and team meltdowns, all in the shadow of the Kobe Bryant trial-slash-media circus, Phil Jackson somehow guided his team through to its fourth NBA Finals in his five years as its coach.

With explosive revelations and never-before-told insights, Jackson brings to life this amazing season coaching a team as talented, and as troubled as any he's ever known.

FROM THE CRITICS

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