Posted on by

Olajuwon’s legacy, Anthony Edwards as the face of the NBA and are the Nuggets done? | The good word with good will

Olajuwon’s legacy, Anthony Edwards as the face of the NBA and are the Nuggets done? | The good word with good will

This embedded content is not available in your region.

In this episode of “Good Word with Goodwill,” Yahoo Sports senior NBA reporter Vincent Goodwill speaks with bestselling author Mirin Fader about her latest book, “Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon.”

Vinnie and Mirin talk about how Hakeem paved a path that has since led the likes of Joel Embiid and Giannis Antetokounmpo to find their way to the top tier of NBA players. They also discuss the blatant racism Olajuwon faced when he came to Houston and wonder whether things have improved for young players coming to America from Africa.

Vince points out that Hakeem is a connection to NBA history. He played against Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, David Robinson and Tim Duncan. Other than 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 by the Houston Rockets before the Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan with the 3rd overall pick, to talk about all the potential trades that occurred that night There were league-changing results in the air that were narrowly avoided.

Later, Vincent and Mirin discuss the stories they find most intriguing in the NBA ahead of the 2024-25 regular season. Mirin is intrigued by New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and can’t wait to watch him make another leap this year. For Vinnie, he is concerned that Anthony Edwards faces the same challenges that failed Ja Morant three years ago.

The two end the podcast on the Denver Nuggets, who are stuck with a core of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr. for the foreseeable future. With just over a year to go before winning the championship, their window has already closed? And has any team been hurt more by the new CBA?

Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images

Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images

(01:30) – Dream: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon

(8:30 p.m.) – Replay of 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) – Has the championship window closed for the Denver Nuggets?

(38:00) – How did Hakeem get to Houston?

🖥️ Watch this full episode on YouTube

Check out the rest of the Yahoo Sports podcast family at or at Yahoo Sports Podcasts