The Addiction That Drove Me

Henry Bibby has been a winner his entire life. From three consecutive NCAA men's championships as the point guard for legendary Coach John Wooden's UCLA Bruins, to a contributor off the bench for Red Holzman's 1973 world championship New York Knicks, and winning a CBA title in 1989, while also leading the USC Trojans to the Elite Eight in 2001 as a head coach.

However, the impetus for writing this book was not to list his myriad accomplishments in basketball that spans over a half century but to pay homage to the people who helped on his sojourn-family, coaches, teammates, and teachers.

He hopes to enlighten the next generation of basketball coaches to avoid some of the pitfalls he experienced. With the coauthor, Douglas T. Branch, who came aboard on the recommendation of Hall of Fame National Basketball columnist Peter Vecsey, the pair conducted hours of interviews.

Henry cultivated a tireless work ethic growing up on the family's modest farm in rural North Carolina and needed it, as he traversed the globe after his playing days. Coaching at basketball outposts abroad, such as Pico, Puerto Rico; Venezuela; Winnipeg; and most of the lower forty-eight, from Oklahoma City to Savannah, Georgia. He persevered partly for the love of the game and necessity.

Finally, he had a modicum of security at USC for parts of nine seasons, then the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, and as an assistant coach for three NBA teams (Philadelphia, Memphis, and Detroit).

His desire to still coach never wanes.

Anyone who is a fan of the rich history of basketball will be interested to hear his thoughts on basketball, past and present, and the broaching of subjects from family to religion.