In the glittering heart of 1980s Los Angeles, basketball reached its highest Hollywood zenith. Showtime Strikes Back: LA Lakers' 1986-87 Revenge Tour is the definitive chronicle of a singular season-one that saw Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pat Riley, and a team of indelible personalities reclaim their place atop the NBA.
This vivid narrative plunges readers into the drama of locker-room banter and big-game brilliance, from the tension-laced days after a bitter playoff defeat to the euphoric parade on Figueroa Street. On the court, the Lakers revolutionized the game with speed, style, and selfless teamwork, while their greatest rivals, the Boston Celtics, stood ready for one last, classic duel. Off the court, the series captures the resonance of broadcast television, the rise of NBA culture on both sides of the Atlantic, and the ways in which the season's spectacle rippled outward-shaping fashion, media, and international fandom.
Meticulously researched and driven by first-hand accounts, Showtime Strikes Back is not only the story of a championship reclaimed, but also a portrait of a sport-and a city-at a defining moment. Perfect for longtime fans, sports historians, and anyone who wants to understand how basketball became a global phenomenon, this is the ultimate celebration of the Lakers' most iconic season and the echo of Showtime across generations.
Buy Showtime Strikes Back: LA Lakers' 1986-87 Revenge Tour by Gigi Romano from Australia's Online Independent Bookstore, BooksDirect.