Mike Bantom Interview: Former NBAer, Olympian, Talks About Controversial '72 Game With Soviet Union On AAA

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Mike Bantom (7) and teammates James Forbes (10) and Ed Ratleff refused to accept second place medal in the 1972 Olympic game loss to the Soviet Union. (Getty Images)

Recently, former NBA player and Olympian Mike Bantom, the current head of NBA officials, was a guest on the African-American Athlete talk show hosted by AfricanAmericanAthlete.com columnists Michael Roberson and Rickey Hampton.

Bantom, a native of Philadelphia, discussed his career from his playing days at St. Joseph University, to the famous 1972 Olympics, where he was a member of the USA basketball team that was cheated out of a Gold medal by Russia. The USA team has yet to accept the Silver medal.

Bantom, was the No. 8 overall pick in the 1973 NBA draft by Phoenix, and went on to play nine years in the NBA, and six years overseas, before transitioning into the NBA corporate offices.