Add these books to your summer reading list

Mark Podolski has some suggestions if you’re looking for a good sports book, including the “Showtime” Lakers of the 1980s, the MLB draft, the 1984 NBA draft, and the USFL.

The dog days of summer are officially here — at least for sports fans.

With the NBA Finals completed, it’s baseball until NFL training camps open and that’s about it.

Summer time means vacation and relaxation. For many of us, that means finding a good book to read.

If sports books are your thing, try out any of these four during that long plane ride or when relaxing on the beach: • “SHOWTIME: MAGIC, KAREEM, RILEY AND THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS DYNASTY OF THE 1980S” » Anyone who has watched ESPN’s latest — and best-ever — 30 for 30 on the Celtics-Lakers rivalry won’t be able to put down Jeff Pearlman’s book, penned in 2014. Pearlman dives deep into the Lakers of the 1980s with more than 400 pages. There’s no holding back by the author. Even fans who hated the Lakers in the ’80s, but decide to give this a shot, won’t regret it. This book is difficult to put down. There are plenty of offthe-court stories of sex and drugs that offset many of the stories diehard fans already know of one of the NBA’s greatest dynasties. The chapter on Coach Jack McKinney, the originator of the Lakers’ fast-break offense, is as fascinating as it is sad. Honest takes from former players and coaches — especially Pat Riley — make this an easy page-turner and must-read. • “BASEBALL AMERICA’S ULTIMATE DRAFT BOOK” » This is more of a reference book than the traditional sports book, but don’t be fooled: This mammoth effort by Allan Simpson is fantastic and stuffed with so many mini-stories, it might take readers months — maybe years — to get through the morethan 700 pages of draft information. The baseball draft, which dates to 1965, lags far behind the popularity of the NFL and NBA drafts. So there’s plenty of mystery on how it all started for some of the game’s biggest stars. If drafts are your thing, this one is must-order. Each year’s draft from the first to 2016 are categorized in chronological order with an introduction story and tidbit side stories throughout. Some of my favorite includes the 1971 draft, when the Phillies and Royals drafted Mike Schmidt and George Brett, Corey Snyder as the Indians’ No. 1 pick in 1984, Bo Jackson’s incredible draft story in 1986, and Bryce Harper as the top pick to the Nationals in 2010? Look no further if there’s a baseball junkie in your life. This is the perfect gift. • “TIP OFF: HOW THE 1984 NBA DRAFT CHANGED BASKETBALL FOREVER” » With the draft this week, this is the perfect time to refresh yourself about arguably the best basketball draft ever. Written 10 years ago by Filip Bondy, “Tip Off” is a story about the draft that featured Michael Jordan, Akeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley and John Stockton, but there’s a lot more. One of the best chapters chronicles the 1984 Olympics Trials in April at Indiana University, where Coach Bob Knight oversaw many of the draft hopefuls to form his team for the Summer Games. It shouldn’t be a surprise Barkley and Knight butted heads. As great as this draft class was, the chapter about one of the NBA’s biggest busts — Kentucky’s Sam Bowie (drafted before Jordan) — is one of the best. At less than 300 pages, “Tip Off” is a quick, fun read on a draft that gets better with each passing NBA season. • “THE UNITED STATES FOOTBALL LEAGUE” » Pearlman, who wrote the aforementioned “Showtime,” is writing a book about the USFL, and it’s expected to be in bookstores in 2018. Author Paul Reeths has beat him to the punch with an indepth look back at an ambitious group of owners that tried (and ultimately) failed to take on the NFL with a spring football league. It was founded in 1982 and lasted until 1986. The USFL folded that year when it sued the NFL and famously won but only reaped $1 in return. Reeths does his reporting in this book. There’s plenty of scoop on President Donald Trump, who at the time owned the New Jersey Generals and spearheaded the lawsuit against the NFL. One of ESPN’s first 30 for 30 documentaries “Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL?” examines if Trump was to blame for the league’s demise. Reeths has all that covered and more. The only other book to date about the USFL is “One Dollar League,” which was published in 1980s, and is outrageously priced online. Reeth’s book isn’t cheap either, but those feeling nostalgic about the league that landed three straight Heisman Trophy winners in Herschel Walker, Mike Rozier and Doug Flutie will want to pony up for this book.

Mark Podolski