Professional athletes are now joining the trend of book clubs, adding a new dimension to their off-field activities. NBA players Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes of the San Antonio Spurs have initiated a book club, aiming to expand its membership within the team. Similarly, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks, including players like Will Smith and Tyler Toffoli, have a secretive book club that has become a source of amusement among the players.
In the world of women’s sports, athletes from the PWHL and the WNBA, such as the Toronto Sceptres and Montreal Victoire, have embraced book clubs as a way to bond and unwind. Claire Dalton, a forward for the Toronto Sceptres, shared that the idea of a book club stemmed from her time with the Montreal Victoire team and was seamlessly integrated into the culture of the Sceptres.
The Toronto Tempo, a new addition to the WNBA, also established a book club as a means to foster team camaraderie off the court. Guard Kia Nurse highlighted the importance of building friendships within the team, emphasizing the value of understanding her teammates through discussions about various books.
For athletes like Nurse, reading serves as a welcome escape from the pressures of sports and allows them to explore different identities beyond their athletic careers. The impact of these book clubs extends beyond the teams themselves, with initiatives like the Sceptres Storytime event engaging the community and promoting literacy among young readers.
These athlete-led book clubs not only facilitate team bonding but also play a significant role in promoting reading as a fun and collective activity. By showcasing athletes as reading role models, these initiatives aim to break stereotypes and encourage a love for reading among children, bridging the gap between academics and athletics in a positive light.