Sep 1st, 2004 · Commentator Frank Deford tells the inspiring story of a friendship that has transcended time. Jack Twyman has kept the spirit of his childhood friend and basketball teammate, Maurice Stokes, alive by helping him enter the hall of fame, three decades after his death.
Aug 27th, 2004 · The U.S. men's basketball team lost to Argentina Friday -- and thus will not win the gold medal. NPR's Tom Goldman reports.
Aug 16th, 2004 · Puerto Rico's men's basketball team deals the U.S. men a 19-point drubbing, defeating the U.S. Olympic team 92-73. It is the first defeat for the U.S. team since it began using NBA players 12 years ago. Hear NPR's Renee Montagne and NPR's Tom Goldman.
Jul 20th, 2004 · NPR's Robert Siegel talks with Harvey Fialkov, sportswriter for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, about the arrival of basketball star Shaquille O'Neal in Miami. O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat by the Los Angeles Lakers last week.
Jun 14th, 2004 · NPR's Tavis Smiley checks in with sports guru George Johnson about the NBA finals and recent comments by basketball legend Larry Bird about white players in the NBA.
Jun 12th, 2004 · Before the NBA championship series began, NPR's Scott Simon and Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Ron Rapoport lamented that it would very likely be boring to watch the Los Angeles Lakers march to victory over the Detroit Pistons. Having watched a week's worth of great basketball from the Pistons, who lead the series 2-1, the prognosticators change their thinking.
Jun 9th, 2004 · NPR's Alex Chadwick speaks with Sal Masekela of ESPN about Tuesday night's basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Detroit Pistons in the NBA finals. The Lakers won in a nail-biting overtime battle, and the best-of-seven series is tied 1-1.