ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - NBA legend Bill Cartwright returned to Elk Grove to promote and sign his memoir at the Elk Grove Historical Society on Saturday, March 22.

More than 150 people attended the book signing for Cartwright’s memoir, “Living Life at the Center.” Cartwright said that the idea of writing the book came about during the pandemic, which provided him ample time to start writing. 

He said he wanted to tell the story about his family, growing up in the Sacramento region and playing basketball, and winning a state championship with Elk Grove High School in 1975. He also touches on his experience at the University of San Francisco and his time as part of the three-peat NBA Champion Chicago Bulls.

“I had to be able to tell the story about how a guy from Elk Grove, California, goes to USF and then goes on to be an NBA player for 16 years and an NBA coach,” Cartwright said. “I thought it would be fun to tell the story, but it wasn’t easy because I had never written a book before.”

Cartwright noted that writing the book had some challenges, but the process eased as he progressed through writing it.

“It was a little easier after I figured out how to format, how I wanted to write it,” Cartwright said. “It took a year to figure that out and then it got easier.”

Cartwright delivered his opening speech and told stories about his life and career before a Q&A with some of the attendees, some of whom were his teammates on the Thundering Herd. 

Bret Bartholomew, president of the Elk Grove Historical Society, said he was happy to see the turnout.

He noted that the Historical Society partnered with the Elk Grove Unified School District First Foundation with plans for Cartwright to host the event. 

“To have 150 people show up on a beautiful Saturday, I couldn’t be happier,” Bartholomew said. “Cartwright’s been all smiles the whole time. Listening to him talk, you can hear the passion. The man had people who played with him during his childhood to come see him.”

A line was formed after the speech for attendees to have their books signed. Books were also being sold at the event, too. 

Elk Grove resident Amanda Lawrence bought two copies, one for herself and the other for her father. Lawrence said she had been a big sports fan growing up and read other memoirs from athletes and is looking forward to reading Cartwright’s book.

“I am particularly a fan of memoirs that athletes have written and I am looking forward to reading this one,” Lawrence said. “It seems he references Elk Grove quite a bit, so I’m looking forward to the hometown connection.”