By the Grace of the Game The Holocaust, a Basketball Legacy, and an Unprecedented American Dream

In By the Grace of the Game, Dan Grunfeld narrates his family's multi-generational journey from the Holocaust to the NBA, a path described as history's only known one from Auschwitz to professional basketball. The story begins with his grandparents, Lily and Alex, who survived the Holocaust, with Lily enduring hiding in a Budapest attic as atrocities unfolded. Their son, Ernie Grunfeld, arrived in America as a refugee, where he overcame challenges like bullying and language barriers to secretly develop his basketball talent on New York City courts. This led him to achieve an Olympic gold medal and a significant career as an NBA player and executive.

This narrative intricately weaves together themes of perseverance, love, and legacy, demonstrating how a simple game can bridge immense heartbreak and unite a fractured family. Dan Grunfeld, a former Stanford basketball standout, shares this account of how his family's American dream unfolded against a backdrop of intense adversity, ultimately detailing how their experiences shaped generations.