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In this episode of Good Word with Goodwill, Yahoo Sports Senior NBA Reporter Vincent Goodwill joins bestselling author Mirin Fader to talk about her latest book, Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon.
Vinnie and Mirin talk about Hakeem paving a path that has since led to guys like Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo finding their way into the top tier of NBA players. They also discuss the blatant racism Olajuwon faced when he first arrived in Houston and wonder if things have gotten better at all for young players coming to the United States from Africa.
Vince points out that Hakeem is a connector to NBA history. He played against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Aside from Wild Chamberlain and Bill Russell, Olajuwon played against almost every great center to ever play in the NBA.
Mirin revisits the 1984 NBA Draft, where Hakeem was selected No. 1 overall by the Houston Rockets before the Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan with the third overall pick, to talk about all the potential trades that were in store. in the air that night and all the league-altering outcomes that were narrowly avoided.
Later, Vincent and Mirin talk about the storylines they find most intriguing in the NBA heading into the 2024-25 regular season. Mirin is fascinated by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and can’t wait to see him take another leap this year. Vinnie worries that Anthony Edwards will face the same challenges that failed Ja Morant three years ago.
The two finish the podcast on the Denver Nuggets, who are locked into a core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. for the foreseeable future. Just over a year after winning the championship, has your window already closed? And has any team been more harmed by the new collective agreement?
(01:30) – Dream: The life and legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon
(20:30) – Reviewing the 1984 NBA Draft
(30:50) – Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks
(33:30) – Is Anthony Edwards ready to be the face of the NBA?
(36:00) – Is the championship window closed for the Denver Nuggets?
(38:00) – How did Hakeem end up in Houston?
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