The NBA Finals
from The Sporting Almanac Podcast
Episode 10: The NBA Finals - Dynasty and Legacy "I used to joke that if you could bottle all the emotion in a basketball game, you'd have enough hate to fight a war, and enough joy to prevent one." Bill Russell Jack and Ben crossover the Atlantic once more to talk about some people even taller than they are. Ahead of next week's NBA Finals, they dive into the stories of legendary ballers, iconic matchups, and how the NBA grew into the global, star-studded behemoth it is today. We talk heroes of the past including the legendary Bill Russell and his battles with long term adversary (but never rival) Wilt Chamberlain, the changes David Stern made to the game and his impact on it, Michael Jordan (of course) as well as coaches Phil Jackson and Steve Kerr getting a mention too, the latter in particular not just for his rings but also due to his politics and pro-gun control views. We discuss why basketball, more than perhaps any other sport, lionises the individual over the team. What other sport can players be identified so readily by their mononymous titles: Shaq, Kobe, Michael, Steph, Lebron, Magic, Kareem, Giannis and their like? So whether basketball sparks joy, hate or simply curiosity within you, this episode will help you learn how and why it is what it is today.
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