When former Tall Black Mark Dickel was a promising College player in the United States, he almost bled out on court. His head had hit the hardwood floor with a horrible thud, after a freakish mid-air collision during a pick-up game in a Las Vegas gym.

Bleeding profusely, Dickel began to have a seizure and stopped breathing. He was saved by the presence of a former United States Senator, who was working out nearby and used his veterinary training to stem the bleeding, while also administering CPR.

That episode is one of many remarkable tales in this book, which tells the stories of the 11 men (so far) who have played 100 basketball tests for this country. Some are household names across New Zealand sport, like Pero Cameron and Kirk Penney. Some were shooting stars for a period, others closer to sporting journeymen, albeit still talented ones.

Most have engrossing stories. Who knew that Cameron – probably regarded as the greatest Tall Black – would stow away in his mother’s car as she headed off to basketball training in Whangarei, so he could sneak onto a vacant court with his mates?

There’s the glamour – squaring up against NBA legends – and the gritty reality, epitomised by one future centurion living in a janitor’s closet in an empty stadium during his early journey in the sport.

Basketball in New Zealand has often existed on the margins. It’s one of the most popular participation sports but is traditionally ignored by the government funding agencies, who have prioritised chasing success (and medals) in sports with much smaller global footprints.

Basketball has also struggled for media coverage, though the inception of the Breakers in 2003 and their subsequent success (they won the NBL in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2015) has helped. The Tall Blacks make headlines if they do something truly exceptional – like finishing fourth at the 2002 World Championships – but otherwise often battle away fairly anonymously, usually in unfavourable time zones.

But Beynon hopes to change that, uncovering the legends and the legacy of the team. It’s fertile ground too, as unlike our rugby players, cricketers, sailors and netballers, who are feted by media from the dawn of their careers, precious little is known about our basketballers.

And, as tends to happen with sports that straddle the line between amateur and professional, New Zealand basketball has produced some wonderful characters, far removed from the “vanilla” types that might grace courts on bigger stages around the world.

There’s often no easy route to success as an aspiring Kiwi basketballer, far away from the hot bed of the sport in North America and Europe, so those that make it need special qualities as much tenacity as talent.

In the close-knit hoops world, Beynon has good access, which elicits plenty of frankness, fun and irreverent tales. He takes you inside the world of the Tall Blacks, who usually face bigger and more powerful teams, but can upset the odds with their kinetic mix of blue-collar values, Kiwi flair and brotherhood.

And for a long time, it was done on a shoestring; up until the early 2000s players had to pay for their overseas ventures, which included punishing economy class trips and budget accommodation.

The book is derived from lengthy interviews with each century maker, though Beynon has avoided using quotes and writes entirely in the third person. It’s well structured, with a passionate and conversational tone. There is extensive use of footnotes within the text, which is a handy device for extra facts and statistics, as well as some jokes or digs from the author.

Beynon expertly puts the Tall Blacks’ achievements in perspective, especially their eye-catching feats at the 2002 and 2010 World Championships.

Strictly celebrating the century makers means the likes of Stan Hill and Sean Marks are left out, which is a shame give their immense contributions to the sport, but as Beynon acknowledges, he had to start somewhere.

Some pivotal games aren’t covered in the depth ardent fans might expect but this book is more about personalities than points and plenty of territory is explored with the space allowed. So, it should have wide appeal beyond just basketball nuts, given the human-interest emphasis of the book. The clean layout is enhanced with a generous selection of photos and statistical fodder, while the level of research and finer details within the text is impressive and at times staggering.

There have been precious few books on New Zealand basketball published in the last decade or so (though John Saker’s Open Looks was a beauty) and this hearty, fascinating and humorous read is a much-needed addition to the nation’s sporting literature.

Reviewed by Michael Burgess