Hard labor
Subtitle: the battle that birthed the billion-dollar NBA
By: Sam Smith
Publisher: Triumph Books
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 351
ISBN-13: 9781629372785
Subjects: Basketball; Finance; National Basketball Association; Basketball players; Salaries; History
Description: "Oscar Robertson is known as one of the best players in NBA history, a triple-double machine who set the stage for the versatility of today's NBA superstars like LeBron James, Russell Westbrook, and Draymond Green. But The Big O's larger legacy may lie in spearheading the fight for his fellow players' financial equity and free agency, joined by fellow stars John Havlicek, Bill Bradley, Wes Unseld, and more. In Hard Labor, Sam Smith, best-selling basketball scribe emeritus and author of The Jordan Rules, unearths this incredible and untold fight for players' rights and examines the massive repercussions for the NBA and sports in the United States in the 40 years since. Diving into how "The 14" paved the way for the record-setting paydays for today's NBA players - stars and role players alike - as well as the harsh consequences faced by those involved in the lawsuit against the NBA, Hard Labor is an essential read for both NBA and sports fans alike"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 345-351).
Table of contents: title: Back in the day; title: You'll never play again; title: Elgin, Wilt, and Bill; title: Mr. Bradley goes to Washington; title: The "bad" influence of "Pogo" Joe Caldwell; title: Rick Barry vs. the world; title: Bob Cousy can't get those dues; title: The mad Russian warrior poet; title: Camaraderie and a crashing plane; title: The kangaroo kram; title: Spencer Haywood was first; title: The subtle art of Wes Unseld; title: Twyman becomes someone to Stokes; title: The decision; title: Afterword.