Monday, January 29, 2018

Betaball: How Silicon Valley and Science Built One of the Greatest Basketball Teams in History

Author: Erik Malinowski



A title like “Betaball” is a miss on many counts. The notion of “beta” is common in Silicon Valley and is short for “beta test” which refers to the trial of a product before it is ready for general consumption. I think the author chose the name to somehow signify that they were always innovating, much like a technology company. Even for someone like myself, for whom technology is a day job and Basketball is relaxation, I felt the title was rather off. 

The book is really a history of the Warriors franchise. I am a relatively recent fan of the Warriors and was happy to learn about the early days and how the band came together. The fact that the owners are venture capitalists and had a more egalitarian approach to managing the team, definitely helped make them who they are. This book tells you about the science behind their journey and you will learn that the Warriors franchise was not always the smooth operation that you see today. It makes for a great read, especially if you are a Warriors fan. Go Warriors!

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