NBA writer Sam Smith

On this week’s NBA A to Z podcast, USA TODAY Sports Insider Jeff Zillgitt talks with veteran NBA writer Sam Smith, who covered Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, about Sam’s new book titled Hard Labor: The Battle That Birthed the Billion-Dollar NBA. Sam shares his insights about an era of basketball that was historical – with its share of political, racial and social issues as players fought for their rights on and off the court. He discusses the way the game was played, Oscar Robertson’s lawsuit, along with other players, that led to free agency, Spencer Haywood’s fight to leave college early and the relationships between players that helped make the game what it is today. Smith also talks about the current state of the NBA, including the Bulls’ rebuilding process and the NBA playoff races.