Basketball History 101
By Rick Loayza
Categories: Sports, Basketball, History
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 then, I just couldn’t get enough of this amazing game. And the purpose of this podcast and blog is to bring back some of the old stories from basketball’s history. I want to bring you a new story each week from the older days of basketball before there were 22 cameras and instant highlights on your device. Of course, any story from anywhere in basketball history is up for grabs. But I want the focus to be on those stories that are interesting and impactful but long forgotten. I’ll be covering stories going all the way back to the invention of the game in the 1890s, to the barnstorming days of basketball in the 1920s and 30s, to the creation of the current NBA in the 1940s and beyond. So, if you love basketball as much as I do, or you just want to hear a few stories from basketball’s past, then go ahead and subscribe to the podcast and come back to this blog to hear or read a new story each week. For me, this is a labor of love as I get to work with my older son, Jacob Loayza, who serves as my editor and producer. Until next time…
301 episodes indexed on podsearch.
Recent episodes
- Red Auerbach, pt. 2
In Part 2 of our story, we share how Auerbach became the coach of the Boston Celtics. The Celtics had never had a winning season in their history before hiring Auerbach. That changed quickly.Episode 189 re-air.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer…
- Red Auerbach, pt. 1
Red Auerbach is arguably the most influential coach in NBA history. He grew up in Brooklyn as the son of Jewish immigrants, and he was obsessed with basketball. It was the only thing that mattered to him. Join as we follow his story from his upbringing to his first job in the NBA with the…
- The Point of Potential & Damon Bailey
Damon Bailey was probably the most hyped 13-year-old basketball player ever. In rural Indiana people were already predicting that Bailey would dominate the NBA someday. He even made the cover of Sports Illustrated. But he never played a single NBA game. Bailey is one of thousands of players who…
- Larry Costello: The Last Set Shooter
Larry Costello was the last NBA player to employ the two-handed set shot. The one-handed jump shot had taken over basketball in the 1940s, but Costello was still using the old-fashioned shot even in the 1960s. Later during his tenure as the Bucks' coach in the 1970s, he invented the idea of…
- The History of the Big Man
When basketball was first invented, nobody thought about height being an advantage. Most coaches looked for players who were fast and athletic. It wasn’t until the 1930s that some coaches started looking for height. Today, the NBA has 70 players that are 7-feet tall or taller. We go through the…
- Elgin Baylor Takes a Stand
It was 1959 and the Minneapolis Lakers were in Charleston, West Virginia to play against the Cincinnati Royals. As the Lakers were checking into their hotel, Elgin Baylor, Boo Ellis, and Ed Fleming were denied rooms because of the color of their skin. Baylor took it personally and chose to sit out…
- Naismith's Original 13 Rules
Today, Rick covers the 13 rules of basketball that James Naismith, the game's founder, originally created.Episode 87 re-air.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"The Stars and Stripes Forever" by John Philip Sousa"Horizons" by Roa…
- Episode 300 - Bam Adebayo's 83 Points
Bam Adebayo was one of the most unlikely players to score 83 points, but that is what made this story so special. Under the right circumstances, almost anything can happen in basketball.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher…
- Episode 299 - John Havlicek: The Original Sixth Man
John Havlicek was the game’s original 6th Man. He defined the concept created by mastermind Red Auerbach. How do you strategically use 6 players in the rotation to keep pressure on the opponent? The NBA now awards a 6th Man Award, but Havlicek embodied the concept.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head…
- Episode 298 - The Origin of March Madness
College basketball had existed for over 40 years when the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament was created. But why did it take so long? Well, we have the NIT to thank for that.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"Slow Dance" by Doug…
- Episode 297 - What Position Should Magic Johnson Play?
Back in 1979, Magic Johnson defied basketball convention. Analysts at the time could not figure out which position he would play when coming to the NBA. Would he play point guard? His dribble wasn’t strong enough. What about power forward? His post game wasn’t strong enough. He was a conundrum…
- Episode 296 - A Cinderella Story: Villanova 1985
In 1985, Villanova University did the improbable. As the 8th seed, they toppled the heavily favored Georgetown Hoyas, led by the player of the year, Patrick Ewing. They are still the lowest seeded team to win the NCAA Championship.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza…
- Episode 295 - Johnny Beckman: The Original GOAT
Johnny Beckman was one of the greatest players of the 1920s and 1930s. In fact, at the time he was considered the greatest player of all time and that is rarified air. Only a very few players ever carried the mantle of the greatest, and Beckman was one of them.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher…
- Episode 294 - The NBA is 8 Teams Again
What if the modern NBA went back to just 8 teams like they had in the 1960s? Only 16% of the current players would still have a roster spot in a reduced league. Everyone else would have to play in the G-league, Europe, Australia, or just get a regular job. We took the top 80 players from the…
- Episode 293 - Oscar Schmidt
For decades Oscar Schmidt was the greatest scorer in basketball history, amassing over 49,000 points for club and country. He played for 29 years at the professional level. For many years he was considered the best player in the world outside the NBA. So why did he never join the NBA? Today, we…
- Episode 292 - Charles "Tarzan" Cooper
Charles “Tarzan” Cooper was the best center of the 1930s. He was only 6'3, but a hundred years ago that meant you were a big man. He played the center position like few others and scored almost at will. He also helped lead his team to the 1939 World Basketball Championship, an integrated…
- Episode 291 - Team USA vs. the NBA All-Stars
The 1984 Olympic Team played eight exhibition games against a team of NBA All-Stars to prepare for the LA Olympics. The Olympic team, made up of college amateurs, won all eight games. The NBA All-Star team included players like Magic, Isiah, Bird, and McHale.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher…
- Episode 290 - The Reign Man
Shawn Kemp should be in the Hall of Fame, if only his prime years could have lasted longer. He was unstoppable in the open court, but weight issues derailed his career when he should have been at his peak. This is the story of the Reign Man.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and…
- Episode 289 - How Julius Became "The Doctor"
Julius Erving is better known as Dr. J, or just The Doctor. But where did that nickname come from? We answer that in today’s episode.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"Disco Funk" by Jam Morgan"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY…
- Episode 288 - Connie Hawkins: An Interview with Bo Belanger
Connie Hawkins has a fascinating story of initially being banned by the NBA and later suing the league to be allowed to play. And it all started with a simple loan he took from gambler, Jack Molinas. We interview Bo Belanger about his new podcast series “Connie & Jack: A Rigged Game”.CREDITSRick…
- Episode 287 - David Robinson's High School Years
David Robinson was an incredibly gifted student who had walked away from basketball at the age of 13 to focus on his studies and playing the saxophone. However, three years later the basketball coach at his high school convinced him to try out for the team. And just five years after that Robinson…
- Episode 286 - Mike D'Antoni's Italian Adventure
Mike D’Antoni grew up in West Virginia with a dream of someday playing in the NBA. He achieved his dream by playing with the Kings. But he was out of the NBA in only three years. Then he had a chance to play in Italy where he became a superstar for Olimpia Milano. This is the story of his Italian…
- Episode 285 - Magic Johnson to the Kings
In 1978 Magic Johnson nearly left college early to go to the NBA. The Kansas City Kings were ready to take him with the 2nd pick in the draft. So what led to him waiting until 1979 before leaving for the NBA? That’s what today’s episode is all about.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and…
- Episode 284 - Max Zaslofsky
Max Zaslofsky led the NBA in scoring during the second season of the league in 1947-48. He put the Chicago Stags on the basketball map. Later he led the Knicks to three straight NBA Finals. He was one of the greatest players from the early years of the league.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher…
- Episode 283 - Thump & Bump
Thump & Bump was one of the most obscure duos of NBA basketball. It was a short lived era for the Philadelphia 76ers featuring Charles Barkley and Rick Mahorn. They never came close to a title, but they were fun to watch.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor…
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