Book cover for Minnesota Hoops: The State of Basketball by Marc Hugunin and Stew Thornley

Minnesota Hoops

The State of Basketball

2026 Released
280 Pages
4-6 Hours
Ebook Unavailable
Audiobook Unavailable
Paperback Available December 15, 2026
Hardback Unavailable
Minnesota Historical Society PressISBN 9781681343495

Minnesota's basketball tradition rivals other sports, including hockey, with breakout stars and winning teams making headlines. This revised edition proves the case for Minnesota as the state of basketball.

"Minnesota is as much a basketball state as it is a hockey state," says WNBA superstar Paige Bueckers. In fact, the sport has been played here since 1892, and now, over a century later, basketball is Minnesota's most-played sport. In Minnesota Hoops, Marc Hugunin and Stew Thornley present the definitive story of this remarkable journey, offering little-known facts and thrilling tales of the games, the courts, and the personalities that made Minnesota not just the state of hockey but also the state of basketball.

Sit courtside as George Mikan and the Minneapolis Lakers win six championships in seven years. Relive the magic of Lindsay Whalen and the Gopher women's final four appearance. Watch Kevin Garnett's Hall of Fame career from the start. Featuring men's and women's basketball at all levels, Minnesota Hoops offers an unparalleled history for both hardcore fans and curious observers.

This revised edition covers the current golden age, as homegrown talents like Paige Bueckers and Chet Holmgren break out, the Lynx and Timberwolves achieve sustained success, and young Minnesotans play the game in greater numbers than ever.

Marc Hugunin

More by Marc Hugunin

Stew Thornley

Stew Thornley is the official scorer for the Minnesota Twins home games and a member of the Official Scoring Advisory Committee for Major League Baseball. He lives in Roseville, Minnesota.

More by Stew Thornley

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