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Roland Lazenby
@lazenby
Author of Michael Jordan: The Life (Little Brown), now in 23 languages worldwide. Also bios of Kobe, Magic, Jerry West, Phil Jackson. VMI, Hollins writing MA.
Almost Hoops Heaven
bit.ly/40XuwNo
Joined March 2007
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  • user avatar
    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Dec 24, 2022
    After what seems like endless rounds of proofing and editing, I have come to the final stages of my 832-page Magic Johnson biography. Yes, I know that's ridiculous, but the dude has a very big life. I feel the lifting of an immense pressure that has weighed me down 5 years.
    396K
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    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Mar 8, 2022
    I've been working four years on a biography of Magic Johnson, now slated for release in 2023.
  • user avatar
    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    May 4, 2023
    Here's the cover of my Magic Johnson bio, to be available in stores Oct 24. Today it is available online for the all-important pre-sale for those interested. The shot's from NBA photographer and friend Steve Lipofsky, who also provided the cover shot for Michael Jordan, The Life
    134K
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    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Jan 26, 2020
    I have to think of Tex Winter on this most awful of days. Tex so loved Kobe, was a stalwart in his defense so many times. He was Kobe's truth-teller as well. I assume they'll debate the triangle in heaven now. RIP
  • user avatar
    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Jul 16, 2024
    Rest in peace, Jellybean. It's you and Kobe now, back together, in hoops heaven, playing that ol' one on one, like you did when he was 12 and Pam was fussing at you to not be so physical. Truth be known, you had your hands full. Even then. #Showboat #Mamba #Lakers
    70K
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    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Dec 22, 2017
    So Melo laughs that he slept through Phil's mindfulness sessions? That's his legacy. Too cool for school. If he had done a fraction of the work MJ or Kobe did in the triangle, there wouldn't be this discussion. He's joined the league of cashing big checks without earning them.
  • user avatar
    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Nov 24, 2017
    One of the big moments of my 21 yrs teaching college was the day in 1994 that sophomore @MartySmithESPN announced his intentions to someday work for ESPN. He was a kid with a B average and a thick Southwest Virginia accent. Look at him now. He's one of the all-time greats.
  • user avatar
    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Jul 2, 2018
    His people apparently approached the Lakers some months ago inquiring if they might let go Luke Walton and hire David Fizdale. Apparently Jeanie Buss declined to do that. She still got her man.
  • user avatar
    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Oct 11, 2018
    A major force not just in my life, but in the life of so many, Tex Winter has passed. I'm figuring up in heaven they better be prepared to run the triangle.
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    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    May 9, 2020
    Jason Hehir, the director of the Last Dance doc-series on ESPN, messaged me on twitter yesterday and said this of "Michael Jordan, The Life": "Your bio was one of my bibles these past few years. Great work, and thanks so much." Nice guy.
  • user avatar
    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Jun 23, 2015
    Nicholas Dawidoff has written a great homage to Tex, Phil, Krause, Jordan, Pip, Bryant, Shaq +the triangle. Great.
    A copy of “The Triple-Post Offense,” which was published in 1962 by Fred “Tex” Winter, then the head basketball coach at Kansas State.
    The Obtuse Triangle (Published 2015)
    From nytimes.com
  • user avatar
    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Mar 10, 2022
    The producers of HBO's "Winning Times" are having fun lampooning the great Jerry West, but none of the people involved would be able to make all this money from the Lakers' legacy if West hadn't been so intent on building it. The depiction comes across as ignorant and classless.
  • user avatar
    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Jul 4, 2016
    What West didn't tell Durant: I'm the NBA Logo because I was lionized as a competitor. Yes, I lost 7 Finals but I'd never have joined Boston
  • user avatar
    Roland Lazenby
    @lazenby
    Jan 27, 2020
    Funny the things that come back to you. Kobe wrote out a note to my then-12-year-old daughter Morgan, an AAU player, telling her to hold onto her dreams. Today's she's a mom with memories of how important Kobe was in the building of her own fierce work ethic.