This work investigates the cultural significance of basketball in New York City during the late 1960s and early 1970s, specifically focusing on the intersection of neighborhood identity and professional success. Pete Axthelm, a seasoned sports journalist, utilizes his access to the New York Knicks and the local playground circuit to construct a narrative that links the grit of street-level competition to the professional arena. He argues that the sport serves as a primary social adhesive for the city's diverse urban population. The text employs a blend of investigative reporting and observational prose to document the specific pressures and aspirations of the era.

Critics and sports historians frequently cite this book as a definitive account of the golden era of New York basketball. Readers often note the atmospheric quality of the prose, which captures the specific tension and energy of the city during that period.