Mark Jackson and Shannon Sharpe dicuss today’s NBA: ‘Today’s players are more athletic and skilled and more versatile, the one thing they are not is not as smart.’

Mark Jackson remembers playing the Los Angeles Lakers the night Magic Johnson announced he tested positive for HIV. ‘I’m sitting in my hotel room looking at the ceiling and my head is gone, we play the Lakers tonight and Magic just gave an announcement. Back then we thought it was a death sentence, so I’m shattered as a kid.’

Mark Jackson talks to Shannon Sharpe about player empowerment in the NBA. ‘LeBron James changed the game and doesn’t get enough credit for that. He allowed guys to realize the power they have. I was on a team where the best player, Patrick Ewing, didn’t realize the power that he had.’