Sports Illustrated's chief NBA writer, Jack McCallum, only planned to spend the preseason with the Phoenix Suns as an ""assistant coach"" -- and then write a story about his experiences. Instead, he stayed on with the Suns throughout their exciting and controversial 2005-2006 season. Gaining access to everything from locker-room chats with superstar point guard Steve Nash, to coaches' meetings with maverick coach Mike D'Antoni, McCallum learned what makes this wildly popular, innovative, and international assemblage of talented players and brilliant coaches tick -- making Seven Seconds or Less an all-access look at one of the greatest shows in sports.

""This is a fascinating and funny book, a fly-on-the-ball account of what life is really like in the NBA. McCallum writes about basketball the way only a few have ever played it: with a grace and insight that change the way you look at the game. My one complaint: The book, like the season it describes, ends too soon."" -- Steve Rushin, Sports Illustrated