The Cap: How Larry Fleisher and David Stern Built the Modern NBA

Very enjoyable and dare I say suspenseful journey through the negotiations leading to the framework that still sustains the NBA and NBPA . Fascinating dive into the characters , timeline , and negotiations of the time as well as the growth of the nba on its own and in relation to football and baseball especially in terms of labor relations .

Perfect for NBA junkies. The book goes deep into an issue that experts agree saved the NBA from collapse and launched its ascent after the league's nadir in the late-1970s, possibly as much as the arrival of Magic & Bird. Mendelsohn provides clarity and a breezy sense of humor to guide us through the NBA's recent history. The League's success was never a guarantee. Sure, the arrival of Magic & Bird, and then the talent that followed, accounts for a huge part of the league's popularity. But, none of that happens if the NBA would've folded and this book goes far in illustrating that the agreement between the Owners' representative (David Stern) and the Player's Association representative (Larry Fleisher) to implement a Salary Cap provided the electric shock therapy for that helped save the NBA, and was foundational for its unprecedented success. Mendelsohn introduces (or reintroduces) us to the colorful personalities that were involved and weaves a very compelling story. Highest recommendation.

This book is only for true hoop fans who are truly interested in the game behind the game. That said, it's not a hard read but if you don't like hoop it will be tough.

This book was gifted to me because I love the NBA and negotiation. Josh does an amazing job grabbing your attention right from the start. As a life-long fan of the NBA I loved how Josh shared nuggets that have shaped multiple aspects of the NBA, from television deals to franchise success. His descriptions of the collective bargain negotiations are second to none. If you really want to understand the business of the NBA this is a must-read. It is also a must-read if you ever have wondered why certain leaders in the NBA do certain things.

Larry Fleisher is my father and I am very proud of his legacy! It warms my heart to see him honored all these years later. I cannot wait to read this book and to share with Larry’s grandchildren who are now young adults.

Decent details all buildup of cap. Should have had chapters about after cap was installed.

Oh my lord is this book good! An informative and eminently readable piece, about the makings of the salary cap in the basketball. I never thought this story would be so wild, so interesting, so informative. Highly recommend!

An incredible read.I keep thinking about about how I haven’t ever read a book about the NBA that was so smart and well researched and I also can’t imagine reading a book about labor law that is this fun and breezy.Great book.