x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Basketball History 101

I am your author and host, Rick Loayza. This is the blog and podcast where we bring to life some of the forgotten stories from basketball history. I love basketball. I love watching it. I love reading about it. I love learning about its history. I am, for all intents and purposes, a basketball junkie. I’ve coached all three of my kids in youth basketball. In fact, I still coach my youngest each winter. Something just happened to me when I was 11 where I was bitten by the basketball bug. And starting

sports basketball

All Episodes

14:31

Episode 275 - Bill Laimbeer

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/11/18

Bill Laimbeer was one of the biggest villains in NBA history. He was an easy player to hate if you were not a fan of the Detroit Pistons. However, he was a player who grew up with luxury and privilege in Southern California. So where did he develop his attitude on the court? Today we share that story.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Take Care" by Julian Avila"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

16:35

Episode 274 - The ABL: Basketball's First Pro League

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/11/11

The American Basketball League (ABL) was the first major pro basketball league starting in 1925. They paid their players enough money that the players did not need another job. It was the first league of its kind and set the blueprint for future leagues like the NBA.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"A Slow Day" by Chiro"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

18:46

Episode 272 - Chuck Daly: The People's Coach

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/10/28

Chuck Daly is one of the greatest coaches the NBA has ever seen. He is also one of the most beloved coaches. He made lifelong friends everywhere he went. That is rare in an environment as competitive as the NBA. Today, we focus on his relationships with his players.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

15:52

Episode 269 - UCLA's Friendliest Manipulator

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/10/07

UCLA won 10 National Championships under Coach John Wooden. But what many don’t know is that behind the scenes a booster named Sam Gilbert had been providing improper financial benefits to UCLA players for decades. This is his story.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Funky Retro Funk [Funk Music]" by MokkaMusic"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

15:15

Episode 268 - The Impact of Magic and Bird

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/09/30

The NBA was struggling financially in the late 1970s. They needed something to turn things around. In 1979, two rookies joined and led their teams to the two best records in the entire league and made the NBA popular and fun again.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Take Care" by Julian Avila"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

12:13

Episode 267 - Jeremy Before Linsanity

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/09/23

Everyone knows about Linsanity. But in this episode, we take you back to Lin’s childhood in Palo Alto, California where he was an undersized point guard who seemingly had no chance to make the NBA.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Broken" by AJ PRO"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

16:05

Episode 266 - Drafting a Champion

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/09/16

In 78 years of NBA Drafts, the top pick has helped his team to a championship only 10 times. Here is that list.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Flashing Lights" by MokkaMusic"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com

en

17:43

Episode 265 - Kareem and the Million Dollar Check

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/09/09

The ABA did everything they could to land Lew Alcindor as an ABA player with the New York Nets. They prepared a file on him and were ready to offer nearly a million dollars more than the Milwaukee Bucks. So, why did Alcindor sign with the Bucks? The ABA misread the negotiations, and this is that story.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"60s and 70s Rock" by Hyde"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

14:40

Episode 264 - Johnny Neumann

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/09/02

Johnny Neumann was one of those players who should be remembered as an ABA superstar. But his youth and immaturity undermined his own career. He started out hot, averaging 18 points/game as a rookie, but then quickly saw his numbers drop. Neumann is a cautionary tale about what it takes to achieve greatness in the pros.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Disco Funk" by Jam Morgan"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

16:12

Episode 263 - The Original Big 3

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/08/26

The NBA has had a variety of Big 3s in its history, but we want to go back to the 1940s to share the story of the original Big 3. We share the championship run of the Minneapolis Lakers, which featured George Mikan, Vern Mikkelson, and Jim Pollard.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"1940s Slow Dance" by Doug"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

15:26

Episode 262 - Ray Allen’s Biggest Shot

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/08/19

The shot to tie Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals was the biggest shot of Ray Allen’s career But did you know that he had been practicing that scenario for years? This is the story of that preparation.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Flashing Lights” by MokkaMusic"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

14:39

Episode 261 - The Friendship of Cousy & Russell

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/08/12

Bob Cousy and Bill Russell won six NBA championships in just seven seasons as teammates. But after their careers ended they rarely spoke. It wasn’t until later in their lives that they were able to reconnect. In today’s episode we delve into why they were not able to maintain that connection.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"" by "Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

15:34

Episode 260 - The ABA Dunk Contest

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/08/05

The formal professional dunk contest was the 1976 ABA Dunk Contest. It featured Dr. J, David Thompson, and George "Ice Man" Gervin. It was a great idea, but nobody knew how to run a dunk contest. What were the rules? And should the dunkers plan out their dunks, or just improvise?CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Disco Funk" by Jam Morgan"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

19:13

Episode 259 - The Medal of Lies: The 1972 Olympics

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/07/29

The 1972 Olympic Gold Medal Match was between the USA and the USSR. This was more than just a game. This was a battle of political ideologies. Going into the game the USA had never lost an Olympic game. But the Soviets would not be intimidated.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Коробейники" by VladimirGLenin"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

17:11

Episode 258 - Jerry West, pt. 3

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/07/22

We wrap our story on Jerry West by reviewing his time as an NBA executive. He was arguably a better executive than he was a player, and was already one of the greatest players of all time. As an executive alone he went to the NBA Finals 14 times. That is some true excellence.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"50s Noir Jazz" by TaleKeeper Studios"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

16:38

Episode 257 - Jerry West, pt. 2

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/07/15

Jerry West played in the NBA Finals 9 times and won the championship only once. It was a career that frustrated him to the point that he threatened to retire several timesCREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"50s Noir Jazz" by Talekeeper Studios"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/BUSINESS

en

14:04

Episode 256 - Jerry West, pt. 1

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/07/08

The life of Jerry West is one of triumph and torment. He is one of the greatest players of all time, but also quite tormented by demons from his childhood. In this first part we take a look at his upbringing.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"" by "Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

16:30

Episode 255 - Chuck Daly's Dream Team

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/07/01

The job that Chuck Daly did with the Dream Team is nothing short of a masterclass in basketball coaching. How do you take a team full of All-Stars and future Hall of Famers and get them to form a real team with role players and pecking order?CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Rap Beat" by MaverickMyers"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

16:54

Episode 254 - The NBA's First Scout

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/06/24

In today’s NBA, the level of scouting is incredible. Every team keeps a complete file on every other NBA player and every significant university and overseas player. But where did all of this scouting come from? It came from the mind of Bill Bertka, the first full time scout in the NBA. He was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1968 and he still works for the Lakers today at the age of 97.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Funky

en

18:13

Episode 253 - When Jordan Was Cut From The Varsity

Basketball History 101 ·

2025/06/17

Michael Jordan was famously cut from the varsity team when he was in high school. However, we rarely hear the full story. This is the full story of why he was cut and it made a lot of sense.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisherMUSIC"Take Care" by Julian Avila"Horizons" by RoaSPORTS HISTORY

en

89 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN