Professional athletes are jumping on the book club trend, a new way for teammates to bond off the field. In the NBA, San Antonio Spurs players Victor Wembanyama and Harrison Barnes are leading a book club effort to involve more team members. Similarly, the NHL’s San Jose Sharks boast a secretive book club featuring players like Will Smith and Tyler Toffoli, with a running joke about keeping their reading choices under wraps.
Athletes from the PWHL and the WNBA, such as the Toronto Sceptres, Montreal Victoire, and Toronto Tempo, are also engaging in book club activities to strengthen team camaraderie. Toronto Sceptres forward Claire Dalton initiated the club with goalie Raygan Kirk, inspired by their love for reading and a desire to connect with teammates. Kirk mentioned that the Sceptres’ book club discussions revolved around various books like “Gone Before Goodbye” and “The Heir Apparent.”
The Toronto Tempo, a newly formed WNBA team, established a book club as a way to build chemistry among players during their inaugural season. Guard Kia Nurse, a book enthusiast, highlighted the value of discussing books as a means to understand teammates better. The Tempo’s first book club selection was the thriller “It Should Have Been You” by Andrea Mara.
Reading serves as an escape for athletes like Nurse, offering a break from the pressures of sports and a chance to explore different worlds. The impact of these athlete-led book clubs extends beyond the teams, with social media posts attracting fan interest and even leading to community events promoting literacy.
Collaborations with organizations like The Children’s Book Bank have further extended the reach of these initiatives. Events like the Sceptres Storytime, where players read to children and engage in book-related activities, showcase the positive influence of athletes as reading role models. By breaking stereotypes and demonstrating that reading is for everyone, these athletes are inspiring young readers and fostering a love for books in the community.
