This is focused on two individuals who both our life long basketball fans and New York Knicks junkies.
One is the author of this book Harvey Araton who has worked for four different daily newspapers the Staten Island advance, New York Post, Daily News and the New York Times he also so is a published author who has received numerous awards for his writing.

The other individual is a 40 year Knicks fan who at the age of 82 has been through all the highs and many lows and almost with the Knick and being that their last championships in the 70's it has been a lot of almost and disappointment. Michelle Musler is a no-nonsense feisty woman who has the attitude that it has happened to me and I survived you will to type of person. She is a divorced mother of five do to financial needs worked her way up the corporate ladder and eventually opened a very successful consulting business. Her one get away from the grind of work and family is her beloved Knicks and overtime her seats are upgrade to where she is sitting behind the Knicks bench and she does not miss much. She is the type of person that ends up at many of the Knicks functions and befriends many of the players and staff. She also befriends the Knicks beat writers and is a source of information for many sports news articles. She seems to beloved by many and this were her relationship develops with the author and his sounding board and the confidant that he turns during different life and work crisis's when he needs a kick in the butt. It is not often when you have a sports themed book that can bring you to tears but when you get towards the end of this book if you have heart you might just shed a few tears. This book is an outstanding read about a one of kind Lady and fan.

A version of this review previously appeared in Shelf Awareness and is republished here with permission.

Harvey Araton was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the print media for his distinguished coverage of the sport. In true form, he drove everyone around him crazy while trying to write his speech. Finally, his wife had two words of advice: "Call Michelle." In Our Last Season, Araton shares his years in sports media and covering the New York Knicks against the backdrop of his long, lovely and perhaps unlikely friendship with superfan Michelle Musler.

Attending Knicks games was Musler's salve for life's difficulties, including raising five children as a single mother, even as she became a successful executive and rose through the ranks of major corporations. From her seats behind the Knicks' bench for more than four decades, she became one of the most well-known and vocal mainstays at the Garden, even straightening coach Jeff Van Gundy's tie before each game.

The Garden was where Araton and Musler's friendship took root, his seat on press row just a few feet from hers. She became "the steady voice of reason in [his] life, the proverbial wise elder, the trusted friend [he] could always count on." Our Last Season details their flourishing bond even as Michelle's health and the fan experience at the arena dwindled, with seats segregated and dedicated fans priced out. Araton writes with a reporter's pen and a friend's heart, providing great copy while making readers wish they had a Michelle Musler in their life.

Harvey Araton had a long, distinguished career in journalism, covering primarily the New York Knicks for the New York Post and New York Times. Most of his career took place during the time reporters had courtside access to NBA games. Nearby, a successful business woman was seated just behind the Knicks bench for nearly 45 years, a prime seat location for any fan. Araton and the woman, Michelle Musler, struck up a friendship that lasted until Musler died. This book is a loving tribute by Araton to his friend.

Musler was no ordinary fan. As a single mother, she often had to make choice on what to do for her children when the Knicks were playing. Once she arrived at Madison Square Garden, she was a well-known and well-loved person by employees of the Garden and even other personnel such as broadcasters (Knicks broadcasters Mike Breen and Walt Frazier often spoke with her), coaches and players. Araton writes about Musler's fandom that does justice, highlighting her ups and downs that she went through with the team. He writes about her professional life with just as much zeal and how it helped shape her to become the type of analytical fan she became.

However, to Araton, Musler was more than just a friend who enjoyed basketball. She was a confidant and he would turn to her for advice regularly when he was having career issues, such as when he switched newspapers for employment or was reassigned from sports writing to features. Musler became much more than just a friend – she was considered part of the Araton family. One only needs to read about when Araton's wife Beth told her parents in no uncertain terms that Musler was part of the family to learn what she meant to them. Something else to note is that while this review refers to her as Musler, Araton never calls her that, always "Michelle."

Araton has been inducted into the writer's section of the Basketball Hall of Fame and it shows in his writing about the game and the Knicks, especially when talking about Musler's knowledge of the game. It was fun to read about the team through the eyes of these two people, whether it was during the time when the Knicks were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference but always fell to the Chicago Bulls, to the days of Pat Riley as the head coach to the current struggles. Just like most followers of the game, Musler places that blame on owner James Dolan, although she has a unique take on him because her business success came through consulting executives on making their businesses even more successful.

The book starts with Araton's anxiety at speaking during his Hall of Fame induction and the guidance given to him by the octogenarian Musler. From there the reader will be fully engrossed in what could truly be called a love story – not romantic love but the deep connection these two seemingly different people had through a professional basketball team. It is an outstanding book that any basketball fan will enjoy.

I wish to thank Penguin Press for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Books for this advance copy*

While covering the New York Knicks Sports Journalist Harvey Araton strikes a friendship with New York Knicks season ticket holder, Michelle Musler, a successful business woman and single mom of five from Connecticut. Michelle and Araton attend games together (she has courtside seats) and chat every Sunday morning on the phone about the Knicks, but Michelle also provides Araton with personal and professional guidance throughout their decades long friendship.

The New York Knicks are the backdrop for their friendship. Araton covers the New York Knicks through some of their best seasons (Patrick Ewing era) to their most frustrating seasons under terrible leadership (losing out on Durant and Irving). Araton's access to players and Knicks personnel combined with Michelle's insight and opinions provides the reader with greater context for their friendship and doesn't take away from the story.

This memoir of Araton's career, and he gives credit to Michelle for encouraging him to take risks and take advantage of opportunities laid before him. Michelle's advise largely comes from her own personal success climbing up the corporate ladder and eventually branching out to start her own highly successful consulting business.

Their friendship is truly special and I loved this story. Michelle is inspiring. She didn't care what anyone thought about her Knicks fandom and her social circle largely revolved around Knicks fans and other season ticket holders. Her children were confused and, sometimes, frustrated by her fandom, but it didn't stop Michelle from making every effort to attend every single Knicks home game.

This is a lovely tribute to a wonderful friend and fanatic.