“Burrowing skillfully and deeply into the important discussion of culture and race within the sport of basketball, Jeffrey Lane positions himself in Under the Boards as a young and forceful commentator on the American-game-gone-global. This intelligent and comprehensive work is the literary equivalent of the complete player: it not only energizes and enlightens, it defies conventionality.”—Harvey Araton, New York Times columnist and author of Crashing the Borders: How Basketball Won the World and Lost Its Soul at Home “Basketball offers a rich resource for those trying to understand not only the world of sports but the current political pulse in this country. Jeffrey Lane breaks new ground, and challenges us to raise our understanding of the game. A must read—whether you've ever laced up hightops or not.”—Dave Zirin, author of What’s My Name, Fool? Sports and Resistance in the United States “Under the Boards is the best account of race and basketball I know of. Written by a brilliant new author, this book will change how we understand the role of sport and very much more about American culture.”—Charles Lemert, author of Muhammad Ali: Trickster in the Culture of Irony “Lane’s personal dialogue complements his rich account of the history of modern hoops. When examining the relationships that exist between the NBA and hip-hop, big sneaker companies and high school studs, Lane’s gatherings register dead-on and true.”—Matt Caputo, SLAM “Lane [has] developed a keen eye for the racial, generational and power dynamics at play in his favorite pastime, which is evident in his new book. . . . Lane proves that the culture of basketball not only influences American life but accurately reflects wider social patterns and what transpires in the locker room, the press box or the owner’s office is worth as much examination as the action on the hardwood.”—WireTap