The high-stakes action you never get to see

The New NBA is the hottest game in town, a showcase for big men and bigger money. But the real games have always taken place off the court. Now, three of America's top sports journalists have teamed up to create a fascinating, thoroughly documented behind-the-scenes portrait of the NBA. For the first time, Money Players tells the complete stories behind:

<LI>How the Detroit Pistons superstar Isiah Thomas was said to be heavily in debt from dice games, raising questions about the depth of his ties to a sports-betting ring involving organized crime figures

<LI>The murder of Michael Jordan's father, the superstar's retirement and triumphant return, and his high-stakes gambling with shady characters

<LI>The rise of Commissioner David Stern, whose billion-dollar success story is now dangerously at odds with the reckless superstars it created

<LI>The entrenched racism in the NBA; the power of agents over players and entire franchises; a new generation of players on the edge; and much more. </UL>