The best basketball player in the world today is LeBron James. Who was the championship teammate of Dwyane Wade. Whose childhood idol growing up in Chicago was Michael Jordan. Who broke many of the most impressive records of Wilt Chamberlain. Who was coached at Kansas University by Phog Allen. Who learned what he knew directly from James Naismith, inventor of the game of basketball. It seems the stars of today are more closely connected to each other and to the pioneers of the game than you might think.