On this episode of the Good Phrase with Goodwill, Yahoo Sports activities senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill is joined by best-selling creator Mirin Fader to speak about her newest e-book, Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon.
Vinnie and Mirin speak about Hakeem blazing a path that has since led guys like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo to seek out their means into the highest tier of NBA gamers. In addition they talk about the blatant racism that Olajuwon confronted when he first acquired to Houston and marvel if issues have gotten any higher for younger gamers coming to America from Africa.
Vince factors out that Hakeem is a connector to NBA historical past. He performed in opposition to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Exterior of Wild Chamberlain and Invoice Russell, Olajuwon performed in opposition to nearly each nice heart that has ever performed within the NBA.
Mirin revisits the 1984 NBA Draft, the place Hakeem was picked #1 by the Houston Rockets earlier than the Chicago Bulls chosen Michael Jordan with the third general choose, to speak about all the potential trades that had been up within the air that night time and all the league-altering outcomes that had been narrowly averted.
Later, Vincent and Mirin discuss in regards to the tales they discover most intriguing within the NBA heading into the 2024-25 common season. For Mirin, she is fascinated by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and may’t wait to observe him take one other leap this yr. For Vinnie, he is anxious that Anthony Edwards is dealing with the identical challenges that failed Ja Morant three years in the past.
The 2 of them end the podcast on the Denver Nuggets, who’re locked right into a core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. for the foreseeable future. A bit over a yr faraway from profitable the championship, has their window already closed? And has any staff been harm extra by the brand new CBA?
(01:30) – Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon
(20:30) – Revisiting the 1984 NBA Draft
(30:50) – Jalen Brunson & the New York Knicks
(33:30) – Is Anthony Edwards able to be the face of the NBA?
(36:00) – Did the championship window shut on the Denver Nuggets?
(38:00) – How did Hakeem find yourself in Houston?
