Tokyopop Inc. has inked an agreement with the National Basketball Association to develop a first-of-its-kind series of NBA Sports Manga capturing the signature moves and greatest moments of the league's top stars.  The fumetti-style volumes will utilize full color digital images freeze-framed into action-packed spreads and peppered with 'manga-style' word balloons and captions.  The debut series, entitled Greatest Stars of the NBA, features individual volumes celebrating the careers of Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Jason Kidd.  Each of the four volumes will retail for $7.99.

The Greatest Stars of the NBA series will become part of the NBA's Read to Achieve program, the most extensive educational outreach initiative in the history of professional sports.  The fumetti-style Sports Manga is the latest spin-off of Tokyopop's Cine-Manga imprint.