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Basketball History 101

Author: Rick Loayza

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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…
225 Episodes
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Bill Garrett is the only person to win an Indiana State High School basketball championship as both a player and a coach. He was also the first black player at Indiana University and the Big 10 Conference. He broke barriers for future players and was one of the best people around.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"Happy Days" by Chuck Sims"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
The old NBL paved the way for the NBA in American professional basketball. The efforts of the older league should never be forgotten. The NBL started in 1937, while the NBA did not start until 1946. Today we take a look back at the history of the NBL. Four of their teams are still alive today on the NBA.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
In the mid 1940s, college basketball was dominated by George Mikan and Bob Kurland. They played at the same time at DePaul University and Oklahoma A&M University, respectively. During their three years they combined for three championships and three national player of the year awards. But once they left college, their careers went in different basketball directions.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
In today's edition of The Lost Teams, we cover the Baltimore Bullets -- who were the 1951 NBA champions -- along with the Indianapolis Olympians and the Anderson Packers. These teams all came to the NBA different ways and all left in different ways. However, all three were able to give the league steady footing that later led to success as a league.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
From the start of the NBA until the mid-1990s, there existed a role in professional basketball known as an enforcer. Before technical fouls and flagrant fouls, some teams would try to intentionally injure the opponent's star player since it only counted as a normal foul, so enforcers arose to protect those stars and punish anyone who tried to injure them. Then in the 1970s, the “One Punch” rule was created which allowed a player to make one punch before getting kicked out of the game.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"Take Care" by Julian Avila"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
Dennis Johnson was one of the most underrated players in the NBA. The man was a 9-time All-Defensive Player, a 5-time All-Star, and a starter on 3 NBA championship teams. What's unique is that he was neither a starter in high school nor recruited to any colleges. He was a classic late bloomer who grew six inches in height after he graduated high school and turned into a well-deserving Hall-of-Famer.Broadcast clip: https://youtu.be/jwKRVYeYi8Q?si=E46bfqdfckhxU26HCREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"" by "Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
James Naismith invented the game in 1891. In doing so, he followed 5 basic principles for developing his idea. We go through those five principles today and show that they are still being used today in modern form.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 SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
Elgin Baylor retired in 1971 due to his diminishing skills. However, the timing could not be worse for Baylor. The day that he retired, the Lakers started their famous 33-game winning streak and went on to win the championship...CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"Disco Funk" by Jam Morgan"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
In today’s episode we cover the Detroit Falcons, Pittsburgh Ironmen, and the Indianapolis Jets. All three teams only lasted a single season in the NBA. They were all dysfunctional and struggled for wins and fans, leading to their eventual demises...CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug Maxwell"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
Today, we conclude our story on Red Auerbach and his 16 champions, which is more than anyone else in NBA history. From his 8-year championship run on the 1960s to his rebuilding of championship teams in the 1970s and 1980s, we cover the conclusion of his time with the Celtics.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug Maxwell"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
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.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug Maxwell"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
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 Washington Capitols.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug Maxwell"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
Dean Tolson, former Seattle SuperSonic, has an incredibly powerful story of being illiterate through his professional playing days before going back to earn his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as an adult. He now speaks to thousands of kids on the value of an education.Click here to purchase Tolson's book, Power Forward: My Journey from Illiterate NBA Player to a Magna Cum Laude Master's Degree!Click here to go to Tolson's website!CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
LeBron James just reached 40,000 regular-season career points. In order to commemorate this living moment in basketball history, Rick discusses the guys that first reached 10k, 20k, and 30k points, as well as what would be required in order for LeBron's record to ever be broken...CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"Broken" by AJ PRO"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
In the early 1900s, basketball was at risk of branching off and developing into very different versions of the game all over the world. If it had not been for the early rules committee, who oversaw the game's development and ensured its safety, the game could have developed into different sports in different parts of the world. Because of their efforts, we have one game which allowed for it to become a global phenomenon.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 SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
Danny Ainge was an incredible all-around athlete. He was only a 1x All-Star with the Celtics, but in high school he had scholarship offers for basketball, football, and baseball. He was the first high school player to be named an All-American in three different sports. He also played as a 2nd baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"Take Care" by Julian Avila"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
In today’s episode we cover the Chicago Stags, the St. Louis Bombers, and the Cleveland Rebels. All three teams were original NBA teams that went out of business within the first four years of the league. CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"1940's Slow Dance" by Doug Maxwell"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
Jerry West won the very first NBA Finals MVP award in 1969 despite having played for the losing team. Even today, over 50 years later, that is the only time that has ever happened...CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"Funky Retro Funk [Funk Music]" by MokkaMusic"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
Today, we conclude our profile on Pete Newell, The man won an NCAA championship and the Olympics, and then later moved into the NBA. He was everywhere in coaching, and truly one of the geniuses of the game.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"60s and 70s Rock" by Hyde"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
Hall of Fame coach Pete Newell refined and popularized the full court press and weak side defensive help styles of defense in basketball. His ideas are still being used today at all levels of the game. He was one of those basketball geniuses who advanced the game by leaps and bounds. This is his story.CREDITSRick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voiceJacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC"Big Band" by SOUND ART"Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORKsportshistorynetwork.comsportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/ FACEBOOKm.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/ BUSINESS CONTACTbballhistory101@gmail.com
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Comments (7)

Tony Botts

Let's Go Peay

Nov 25th
Reply (1)

Tony Botts

love my weekly basketball history fix

Sep 28th
Reply (1)

Tony Botts

born in the booming Metropolis of Charlotte Tennessee..... my neck of the woods...

Sep 6th
Reply

Tony Botts

interesting

Jul 6th
Reply

Tony Botts

THE GOAT

Jun 29th
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