Saunders, who over his nearly two decades as a head coach hauled in more than 650 career victories, is best known as the head coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves NBA franchise.
Dawkins played 13 seasons in the NBA after being drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia 76ers. At 6 feet, 11 inches and more than 250 pounds, he broke two glass backboards in one month.
Soccer is the national sport. But this was a big weekend for hoops in Johannesburg. Two top local teams faced off and the NBA played its first African exhibition game.
At 5 foot 3, Muggsy Bogues holds the record as shortest player in NBA history. Criticism of his height started on the basketball courts of the Baltimore projects and continued well into his career.
James is averaging more than 40 points a game, and with him leading the way, his team isn't looking like the underdog these days. But observers wonder what's fueling his on-court rampage.
The NBA Finals spotlight is about to shine on an unlikely starting player. The undrafted 24-year-old went to a small liberal arts college where, his adviser says, he was the academic "real deal."
The Cavaliers, making only their second-ever trip to the finals in James' first season back with the team, will face the winner of the Golden State Warriors-Houston Rockets series.