We talk to "The Jordan Rules" author Sam Smith about his new book, "Hard Labor: The Battle that Birthed the Billion-Dollar NBA," which documents the labor battles between the NBA and its players in the 1960s and 1970s and shares stories about the key players in that fight, including Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, Rick Barry, Bill Bradley, John Havlicek, Chet Walker, Joe Caldwell, and Wes Unseld.

We discuss Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinsohn's efforts to strengthen the union in the 1950s and early 1960s, how black players dealt with virulent racism, the threatened 1964 All-Star Game boycott by players, the NBA players blocking the planned NBA-ABA merger in 1970, Spencer Haywood joining the pros early and fighting against the NCAA and NBA, the players getting a sympathetic ear in Congress, Barry pitting himself against the NBA players and testifying in favor the merger (to get back into the NBA), the NBA players recently agreeing to fund medical benefits for retired players, and much more.

Original airdate: 11/20/17