  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 09/01/2021 In a belated sequel to Hoop Kings (2004), Smith pays tribute to 12 NBA stars of today—pairing high-action photo montages of each player (in color) beating one or more opponents (in black and white) or gearing up for a shot with rapid, staccato rhymes evocative of the game’s fast pace. As he explains in his closing notes, each poem is spun around a particular motif or idea. If the results aren’t always seat-pounders (Joel Embiid’s entire tribute: “Juggernaut / Of / Extreme / Length”), in general his creative flair and ear for language make the beats compelling, whether he’s using weather imagery to capture “Freak of Nature” Russell Westbrook’s play style, dubbing LeBron James “the Fearless Prince / Emperor of Improvisation,” or praising “Slippery” Stephen Curry’s “shimmy / with the dip / with the hesi / hesi / tation / to the finger-roll flip.” Despite the occasional stumble, this poet’s still got game . . . and his many fans would surely be delighted to see a similar companion update to Hoop Queens (2003), too. - Copyright 2021 Booklist. Loading...
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