Book

Wish I Was a Baller

Name: Wish I Was a Baller
ISBN: 9781339042442

Amar Shah

Scholastic Inc. · Print & ebook · August 5, 2025

Reading lane: Basketball Stories

A Graphic Novels pick for readers exploring Wish I Was a Baller.

Basketball Basketball Stories sports graphic

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At a Glance

Why This Clicks

Courtside, Growing Up

A graphic memoir pairs NBA-era access with the ordinary complications of being fourteen.

Come here for

A young sports journalist’s perspective on basketball’s golden era
Fandom, ambition, and the thrill of getting near the game

Expect

Real-life NBA encounters alongside high-school friendships and crushes
A coming-of-age story with both swishes and misses

Book Details

Authors: Amar Shah
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: August 5, 2025
Format: Print & ebook
Theme: Basketball Stories · Basketball
Reading lane: Basketball Stories

Affinity

Basketball Stories
82%
Basketball
81%

Publisher Categories

Sports Biographies for Kids
Comics & Graphic Nonfiction
Comics Biographies

About This Book

Read full description

Wish I Was a Baller is part New Kid , part The Tryout , and part Dragon Hoops ! Amar Shah has some story to tell! In 1995, he was a fourteen-year-old aspiring sports journalist (and basketball superfan) angling to get into an Orlando Magic team practice. He did, and it took him on the ride of his life! Wish I Was a Baller is a graphic memoir chronicling Amar's real-life experiences as a fourteen-year-old sports journalist covering the golden era of the NBA, when he befriended Shaq and hung out with Michael Jordan and the Bulls—all while surviving the high school, dealing with crushes, and friendships being tainted by jealousy. "An inspiring story of friendship, family, and the swishes and misses of being a kid. Baller soars and scores!" — Jerry Craft, author of the Newbery Award-winning New Kid