On the Friday edition, Howard Beck welcomes three legends from the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team: Bob Pettit, Elvin Hayes and Rick Barry. They discuss the state of today’s game, player empowerment, guarding Wilt and Russell and much more.
The following transcript is an excerpt from The Crossover NBA podcast. Listen to the full episode on podcast players everywhere or on SI.com.
Howard Beck: What's up, it's The Crossover Pod, Friday edition. I'm Howard Beck, senior writer for Sports Illustrated. Fantastic show for you today. Not one, not two ... I sound like LeBron James ... but three hall of Famers, all of them part of the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team. They are Bob Pettit, an 11-time All-Star and two-time MVP and NBA champion in 1958 with the St. Louis Hawks. Followed by Elvin Hayes, a 12-time All-Star and NBA champion in 1978 with the Washington Bullets. And lastly, Rick Barry, 12-time All-Star and NBA champion in 1975 with the Golden State Warriors. Rick in particular, as always had a lot to say, but a lot of fun stuff too with Mr. Hayes and Mr. Pettit. Had the honor and the pleasure of sitting down with all three of these gentlemen during All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, many thanks to the National Basketball Retired Players Association, also known as “The Legends,” for setting us up. Shout out to Julio Manteiga who does a great job over there. Next week's Friday Crossover, by the way, will also feature a legend and member of that 75th Anniversary Team, but that's a more extended conversation. I'm just going to leave that as a teaser. Won't tell you who yet, but you do not want to miss that one either... Okay, my chats with three of the greatest players in NBA history are coming up.
Howard Beck: Now very pleased to be joined by an 11-time All-Star, two-time MVP, member of the 75th Anniversary Team, Bob Pettit. Bob, thanks for joining me.
Bob Pettit: It's a pleasure to be here. It's a beautiful day in Cleveland if you don't step outside.
Howard Beck: We are inside, we are safe from the ice and snow. When you come back to an event like this, when you get a chance to be immersed in today's NBA again, what about today's NBA strikes you the most?
