Professional athletes are now joining the trend of organizing book clubs for their teams, adding a new dimension to the popular book club phenomenon. NBA players Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes from the San Antonio Spurs have initiated a book club and are encouraging more teammates to participate, as revealed in a video on the league’s YouTube channel. The San Jose Sharks in the NHL have also established a book club involving players like Will Smith, Macklin Celebrini, Tyler Toffoli, and Ty Dellandrea, with a humorous twist of keeping their reading selections a secret.
Athletes from the PWHL and the WNBA, including teams like the Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, Toronto Tempo, and New York Liberty, are embracing book clubs as a means of bonding. Claire Dalton, a forward for the Toronto Sceptres, shared her enthusiasm for reading and how the book club has naturally fostered connections within the team. Initiated by Dalton and goalie Raygan Kirk, the Sceptres’ book club gathers over coffee during the season, utilizing online resources for discussion prompts. Their reading list includes titles like “Gone Before Goodbye,” “The Heir Apparent,” and “Palm Villa.”
The Toronto Tempo, a new addition to the WNBA, was inspired to start a book club by guard Kia Nurse and teammate Nyara Sabally, emphasizing the importance of off-court chemistry for a freshly formed team. Nurse highlighted how engaging in book discussions has provided insights into her teammates’ perspectives and created enjoyable dialogues. The team’s inaugural book, “It Should Have Been You,” by Andrea Mara, was a hit among players, with the first discussion taking place on a team flight, accompanied by treats.
For athletes like Nurse, reading serves as a valuable escape from the pressures of sports, offering a different avenue for self-expression and exploration. The impact of these sports teams openly discussing their book club activities has resonated with fans and the community, sparking interest in reading and literacy. The Toronto Sceptres’ involvement with The Children’s Book Bank led to a collaborative event called Sceptres Storytime, where players engaged with children through reading sessions and discussions, promoting the joy of reading and diverse role models.
The integration of book clubs within professional sports teams not only fosters team camaraderie but also showcases a different facet of athletes’ identities beyond their sport, demonstrating the power of shared interests and community engagement.