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How Jack Molinas Almost Destroyed The Game Of Basketball

J.D. Salinger

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Published in The Wizard Of Odds: How Jack Molinas Almost Destroyed The Game Of Basketball

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By Tom Friend

In the annals of basketball history, there are few figures as controversial and enigmatic as Jack Molinas. A brilliant but troubled player, Molinas's career was marked by both brilliance and excess. In his new book, "How Jack Molinas Almost Destroyed The Game Of Basketball," author Tom Friend explores the life and legacy of this enigmatic figure.

The Wizard of Odds: How Jack Molinas Almost Destroyed the Game of Basketball

by Charley Rosen

4.1 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1408 KB
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Print length	:	436 pages

Molinas was born in Puerto Rico in 1943. He began playing basketball at a young age, and quickly showed a prodigious talent for the game. In 1962, he was recruited to play for the University of Kentucky, one of the most prestigious college basketball programs in the country. At Kentucky, Molinas quickly became one of the most exciting players in the nation. He was a gifted scorer and passer, and he had a knack for making spectacular plays. However, Molinas was also a troubled young man. He was often in trouble with the law, and he had a reputation for being a heavy drinker and drug user.

In 1965, Molinas was drafted by the New York Knicks. He quickly became one of the most popular players in the NBA, and he helped lead the Knicks to the NBA championship in 1970. However, Molinas's personal problems continued to plague him. He was arrested for drug possession in 1971, and he was suspended from the NBA for the entire 1971-72 season. Molinas eventually returned to the NBA, but he was never the same player. He retired from the NBA in 1976, at the age of 33.

Molinas's career was a cautionary tale about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. He was a brilliant player who had the potential to be one of the greatest of all time. However, his personal problems derailed his career, and he never reached his full potential. In his new book, Tom Friend explores the life and legacy of Jack Molinas. He paints a portrait of a complex and troubled man who was both a brilliant basketball player and a cautionary tale.

Reviews

"Tom Friend has written a fascinating and tragic story about one of the most enigmatic figures in basketball history. 'How Jack Molinas Almost Destroyed The Game Of Basketball' is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the game." - Bill Simmons, ESPN

"Jack Molinas was a brilliant basketball player who could have been one of the greatest of all time. However, his personal demons derailed his career. Tom Friend's book is a tragic and fascinating look at the life and legacy of this enigmatic figure." - Bob Ryan, Boston Globe