TheNewYorkTimesbestsellerfromHallofFamebasketballlegendsLarryBirdandEarvinMagicJohnson.Fromthemomentthesetwoplayerstookthecourtonopposingsides,theyengagedinafiercephysicalandpsychologicalbattle.TheiruncommonlycompetitiverelationshipcametosymbolizethemostcompellingrivalryintheNBA.InCelticgreenwasLarryBird,thehickfromFrenchLick,withlaser-beamfocus,relentlessdetermination,andadeadlyjumpshot,aplayerwhodemandedexcellencefromeveryoneandwhosecausticwitleftopponentsquakingintheirhigh-tops.MagicJohnsonwasMr.Showtime,amagneticpersonalitywithalltherightmoves.Young,indomitable,hewasapiedpiperinpurpleandgold.Andheburnedwithaninextinguishabledesiretowin.Thesewerethebasketballepicsofthe1980s--CelticsvsLakers,EastvsWest,physicalvsfinesse,OldSchoolvsShowtime,evenwhitevsblack.Eachpushedtheothertogreatness--togetherBirdandJohnsoncollectedeightNBAChampionships,sixMVPawardsandhelpedsavetheflounderingNBAatitsmostcriticaltime.Whenitstartedtheywerebitterrivals,butalongthewaytheybecamelifelongfriends.Withintimate,fly-on-the-walldetail,WhentheGameWasOurstransportsreaderstothiselectriceraofbasketballandrevealsforthefirsttimetheinnerworkingsoftwoplayersdeadsetonbestingoneanother.Fromtheheadydaysoftradingchampionshipstothedarkerdaysofinjuryandillness,wecometounderstandLarry’sobsessivedevotiontowinningandhowhisdemonsdrovehimonthecourt.Wehearhimtalkwithcandoraboutplayingthroughchronicpainanditstrulyexactingtoll.InMagicweseeayoung,invinciblestarstrugglewiththestingofdefeat,notjustasaplayerbutasateamleader.Wearetherethemomenthelearnshe’scontractedHIVandhearinhisownwordshowthatdevastatingnewsimpactedhisrelationshipsinbasketballandbeyond.Butalways,inbothcases,weseethemprevail.Acompelling,up-close-and-personalportraitofbasketball’smostinimitableduo,WhentheGameWasOursisareevaluationofthreedecadesincounterpoint.Itisalsoarollickingridethroughprofessionalbasketball’sbesttimes.
