All Things Basketball with GD podcast, hosted by GD That Sports Dude

Show notes:

Intro (00:00 - 00:40)

Preview of our player spotlight on the Captain, Willis Reed (00:41 - 01:35)

Early life including his upbringing and his parents' relocation to Bernice, Louisiana (01:36 - 06:01)

His time at Westside HS; a recruiting visit from Grambling State University head football coach Eddie Robinson (06:02 - 07:59)

Him attending Grambling State University to play basketball; his 4 year career as a Grambling State Tiger including a NAIA championship and three SWAC titles (08:00 - 11:00)

His time representing the United States in the 1963 Pan American Games; his tryout with the 1964 United States Olympic team (11:01 - 11:40)

Drafted in the second round (10th overall pick) of the 1964 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks; his rookie season thus winning Rookie of the Year honors (11:41 - 16:27)

His second and third seasons including switching from center to power forward with the trade for Walt Bellamy, his opening night fight in the 1966-67 season and him being named team captain at the age of 24 (16:28 - 22:31)

His fourth season which brought in rookies Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley and Phil Jackson as well as the hire of coach Red Holtzman (22:32 - 24:52)

His fifth season which saw the pivotal trade of Walt Bellamy and Howard Komives for Dave DeBusschere that opened the door for Willis to return to playing his natural position which is center (24:53 - 29:17)

His sixth season which is the Knicks' initial championship season where Willis wins the All Star MVP, league MVP and Finals MVP; detailing the thigh injury he suffered in Game 5 of the Knicks vs Los Angeles Lakers finals and the circumstances leading up to the historic Game 7 where he valiantly played despite the injury (29:18 - 38:50)

His seventh and eighth season where Willis was beset by injuries but the team still persevered regardless; did lose in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Baltimore Bullets and in the NBA Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers respectively (38:51 - 42:30)

The 1972-73 season where redemption was achieved by beating their nemesis in the Baltimore Bullets, the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers to win their second championship; Willis once again rising to the occasion to win another Finals MVP (42:31 - 44:33)

His tenth and final season as injuries once again robbed him of playing a full year with the Knicks thus leading Willis to retire at season's end (44:34 - 46:25)

Call to action (46:26 - 47:44)

https://www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com/

Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/allthingsbasketballwithgd/support

or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/allthingsbbgd

Intro (00:00 - 01:03)

Review of the previous episode and what's ahead for this episode (01:04 - 02:15)

Fines for Fred VanVleet and Marcus Smart; one game suspension for Dillon Brooks (02:16 - 09:27)

Pau Gasol having his jersey retired with the Los Angeles Lakers; his Hall of Fame resume and career (09:28 - 14:37)

Damian Lillard's loyalty to Portland; him appearing on JJ Redick's podcast The Old Man and the Three and what he had to say about the new NBA and the ring culture (14:38 - 22:07)

JJ Redick arguing with Kendrick Perkins about Nikola Jokic (the whole stat padding notion and his MVP aspirations); his presence on ESPN as an outside-the-box analyst (22:08 - 27:47)

ESPN's all female broadcast team in light of International Women's Month on March 8 (27:48 - 29:58) 

Passing of longtime former communications director for the Indiana Pacers David Benner and the award he received after his death (29:59 - 33:02)

March Madness: NCAA Tournament begins on March 16; the number one seeds and the other teams in contention; the players to watch out for in this tournament (33:03 - 38:25)

Call to action (38:26 - 39:44)

https://www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com/

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/allthingsbasketballwithgd/support or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/allthingsbbgd

Intro (00:00 - 00:51)

Preview of what lies ahead in these episodes (00:52 - 01:24)

Players of the Week for Week 20 and 21: Devin Booker and Julius Randle/Domantas Sabonis and Joel Embiid (01:25 - 08:34)

Ja Morant situation of showing a gun while going on Instagram Live; his previous incidents, his suspension following this action, his stint in a counseling facility in Florida; those who are taking his dad Tee to task for this situation; his sitdown interview with Jalen Rose; what happens for him going forward (08:35 - 24:38)

Injury news and updates on Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson, Zion Williamson, Karl Anthony Towns, Steven Adams and a few other players (24:39 - 33:35)

Player signings of Goran Dragic, Meyers Leonard and Kris Dunn (33:36 - 35:31)

Player milestones for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook; coaching milestone for Mike Brown; a possible milestone for both Joel Embiid and James Harden (35:35 - 41:01)

Call to action (41:02 - 42:20)

https://www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com/

--- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/allthingsbasketballwithgd/support or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/allthingsbbgd

Show notes:

Intro (00:00 - 00:43)

Review of the previous player spotlights for February; preview of this episode (00:44 - 02:06)

Good news and bad news for Lebron James: breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record and then later in the month suffering a foot injury that will have him out for at least three weeks (02:07 - 06:43)

Trade deadline news including trades of players such as Kevin Durant, Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Darius Bazley, Dario Saric, Russell Westbrook, Mike Conley, D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Bones Hyland, Eric Gordon, Mason Plumlee, Luke Kennard, John Wall, Danny Green, Josh Hart, Cam Reddish, Jakob Poetl, Josh Richardson, Thomas Bryant, James Wiseman, Gary Payton II, Saddiq Bey and Matisse Thybulle; buyouts for Westbrook, Kevin Love, Reggie Jackson, Willie Barton, Green and Dewayne Dedmon (06:43 - 26:59)

All Star Weekend festivities and those results: Rising Star Challenge, Skills Challenge, Three Point Contest, Dunk Contest and All Star Game (27:00 - 44:49)

Call to action (44:50 - 46:08)

https://www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com/ to leave a review and support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/allthingsbasketballwithgd/support or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/allthingsbbgd

Show notes:

Intro (00:00 - 00:46)

Review of the previous episode and preview of this episode  (00:47 - 01:43)

Coaches news including Nate McMillan being fired as well as contract extensions for Jacque Vaughn and Joe Mazzulla (01:44 - 10:09)

Injury updates on Lonzo Ball, LaMelo Ball, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant (10:10 - 13:08)

Damian Lillard goes for 71 points; his loyalty to Portland; can someone ever match or top Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point game? (13:09 - 18:09)

Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2023 finalists announced including Dwayne Wade, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker, Pau Gasol and Greg Popovich (18:10 - 24:23)

February monthly awards:

Players - Nikola Jokic and Jalen Brunson (24:24 - 33:44)

Coaches - Mike Brown and Mike Budenholzer (33:45 - 35:53)

Rookies: Walker Kessler and Paolo Banchero (35:54 - 38:51)

Call to action (38:52 - 40:10)

https://www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com/ to leave a review and support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/allthingsbasketballwithgd/support or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/allthingsbbgd

Show notes:

Intro (00:00 - 00:41)

Preview of the second part of our player spotlight on the phenomenal Maya Moore Irons (00:42 -01:23)

Maya's background coming from a devout Christian home and her support system around her; her aspirations as a person; other tidbits and likes that she has (01:24 - 05:29)

Her godparents investing themselves in a young man named Jonathan Irons who was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated; Maya meeting Jonathan for the first time; their developing friendship and admiration for each other (03:09 -  07:17)

The spark that lit the flame for her advocacy towards social change: the entire Minnesota Lynx team standing in solidarity after the killings of Philandro Castile and Alton Sterling; also joining with the UNICEF Kid Power Foundation initiative; her going on a Christian missions trip to Haiti (07:18 - 08:45)

Maya sitting out the 2019 and 2020 season in the WNBA with a focus on family and her advocacy for Jonathan's case as well as bringing awareness to the need for prosecutorial reform in the justice system through her newly formed non-profit organization Win With Justice, winwithjustice.org; advocacy for the End It Movement which focuses on modern slavery in the global world (08:46 - 10:16)

Jonathan's case getting overturned thanks to the attorneys who put forth evidence that exonerates him of the charges leveled against him; his eventual release from the Jefferson City prison; Maya and Jonathan getting married and the arrival of their child less than two years later (10:17 - 12:41)

The debut of ESPN 30-for-30 documentary called Breakaway which details Maya and Jonathan's story; the announcement of the release of their memoir Love and Justice: a Story of Triumph on Two Different Courts as well as Maya officially retiring from playing basketball during a Good Morning America interview with Robin Roberts (12:42 - 14:14)

Her accolades from her playing days with the AAU teams, Collins Hill HS, University of Connecticut, Minnesota Lynx and the WNBA as well as her exploits overseas including her time with the US national teams; her acceptance speech for the Arthur Ashe Coward Award; her upcoming eligibility for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 (14:14 - 24:00)

Quotes from her own words (24:01 - 32:49)

What others had to say about Maya including her former coaches Geno Auriemma and Cheryl Reeve as well as Minnesota Lynx owner Glen Taylor, Michael Jordan, Professor Harry Edwards and others (32:50 - 45:43)

Call to action (45:44 - 47:02)

https://www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com/

Show notes:

Intro (00:00 - 00:40)

Preview of our player spotlight on the phenomenal Maya Moore Irons (00:41 - 01:57)

Early life including his upbringing with her mom and her extended family (01:58 - 05:02)

Her time at Collins Hill HS where she won three Georgia state championships; also her playing AAU basketball with the Georgia Metros and leading that team to four national championships (05:03 - 08:23)

Her commitment to attending the University of Connecticut in Fall 2007; her 4 year career as a UConn Huskie including two undefeated seasons and two NCAA championships as well as numerous records set while playing there (08:24 - 17:36)

Drafted the number one overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx; her rookie season which culminated in Maya winning Rookie of the Year honors and a WNBA championship (17:36 - 21:30)

Her second and third seasons including a WNBA Finals loss and a WNBA championship the following season where she was named Finals MVP (21:31 - 25:08)

The 2014 season which individually was her finest season with Maya winning league MVP honors as well as leading the WNBA in scoring (25:09 - 27:49)

Her fifth and sixth season including her third WNBA championship and an All Star MVP award followed by a season where her team endured a tough Finals loss to the Los Angeles Sparks (27:50 - 31:44)

Her seventh and eighth season which included her fourth WNBA title, 2 more All Star MVP honors, a quick exit from the playoffs for the first time in her career and the announcement of Maya sitting out the 2019 season as well as the 2020 season and 2020 Olympics (31:45 - 36:06)

Her international career playing in Spain, China and Russia where she won multiple championship in all three countries while still in the WNBA (36:07 - 38:38)

Her time with the US national team playing in the 2010 and 2014 FIBA World Championships as well as the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics thus winning the gold medal in each of those tournaments (38:39 - 45:50)

Call to action (45:51 - 47:09)

https://www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com/

Show notes:

Intro (00:00 - 00:47)

Preview of the continuation of our player spotlight on the great John Thompson (00:48 -01:40)

Two seasons of the Reggie Williams era in which they made two more NCAA tournament appearances (01:41 - 03:08)

1987-88 season with another NCAA tournament bid; John coaching the 1988 Summer Olympic basketball team that earned a bronze medal; his face-to-face meeting with noted drug lord Rayful Edmond III about him befriended two of his players and the result of that sitdown (03:09 - 09:43)

The Alonzo Mourning/Dikembe Mutombo era which saw four more NCAA tournament appearances as well as John protesting the Proposition 48 rule (later called Proposition 42 rule) and its racial implications for disadvantaged lower income student athletes (09:44 - 17:16)

The Othella Harrington/Jerome Williams era including a NIT tournament bid and a return back to the NCAA tournament the following year (17:17 - 18:49)

John's calculated gamble on recruiting and bringing in Allen Iverson to Georgetown and the Iverson era  (18:50 - 22:26)

The last three seasons as Georgetown head coach included the brief Victor Page era with one last NCAA tournament appearance, a NIT postseason bid and John subsequently leaving after 13 games during the 1998-99 season (22:27 - 24:27)

John's life after basketball including a position at Georgetown concerning urban affairs, his seat on American Airlines Flight 77 cancelled, hosting a radio host for ESPN 980 and locally at WTEM, becoming a commentator for TNT and hosting an interview series on various players including Michael Jordan and Isaiah Rider, a new arena and statue dedicated to him at Georgetown (24:28 - 29:00)

His passing and the legacy he left behind including an autobiography done posthumously as well as his sons becoming head coach with John Thompson III following his dad's footsteps at Georgetown and Ronnie coaching at Ball State (29:01 - 33:00)

His accolades including the high school, college and pro careers as a player as well as his career coaching record at Georgetown and all the Coach of the Year honors bestowed upon him, his induction into both the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame and his crowning achievement of 76 of 78 four year student athletes earning their degree at Georgetown (33:01 - 38:07)

Quotes from his own words (38:08 - 47:40)

What his teammates and various others had to say about John including his former players Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, Allen Iverson and Fred Brown as well as luminaries such as Paul Tagliabue, Val Ackerman, Adam Silver, Michael Wilbon, Jim Boeheim and many others (47:41 - 65:56)

Call to action (65:57 - 67:15)

https://www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com/

Show notes:

Intro (00:00 - 00:45)

Preview of our player spotlight on the great coach John Thompson Jr (00:46 -01:37)

Early life including his upbringing with his parents, living in a segregated Washington DC area and his introduction to the game of basketball (01:38 - 06:13)

His time at Archbishop Carroll HS where he won 3 Catholic league championships and once had a 55 game winning streak (06:14 - 07:25)

Attended Providence University where he excelled as a student-athlete leading the school to the NIT and its first NCAA tournament appearance ever as well as earning a bachelor's degree in economics (07:26 - 10:31)

Drafted the third round and 27th overall in the 1964 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics where he played for two years and won two NBA championships (10:32 - 12:42)

Upon being left exposed and available in the 1966 expansion draft he decided to return to Washington DC to coach St Anthony's HS basketball team as well as have a position as a guidance counselor to the students thanks to his Masters degree in counseling from the University of DC (12:43 - 15:03)

In the running for the head coaching job at Georgetown University along with Morgan Wooten and George Raveling with the university rolling the dice in hiring John; the stipulations which included the hire of Mary Fenlon serving as academic coordinator and later assistant head coach as well as the rules he put in place upon getting the head coaching job (15:04 - 21:03)

After a rocky 2 year start he gets his third year team to its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1943 while facing a racial taunt and call for his resignation (21:04 - 23:03)

The next 4 seasons which included two more NCAA tournament appearances, two NIT tournament appearances and a revolutionary hire of Lorry Michel as his athletic trainer (23:04 - 26:29)

Georgetown joins the newly formed Big East Conference and that's where the team's success begin to take off; John's recruitment of a young center named Patrick Ewing (26:30 - 30:08)

1982-83 season which began the Patrick Ewing era at Georgetown where the school made three NCAA Finals losing to North Carolina and Villanova by a mere three points combined and their triumphant season beating Houston to win John's only NCAA championship (30:09 - 45:37)

Call to action (45:38 - 46:56)

https://www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com/

Show notes:

Intro (00:00 - 00:39)

Preview of the continuation of our player spotlight on the great Oscar Robertson (00:40 -01:06)

Debut season with the Milwaukee Bucks following him agreeing to a trade and the eleventh season of his career: a triumphant season thus a first place finish throughout the league and thus ending the playoffs with the team winning a NBA championship (01:07 - 05:49)

Twelfth and thirteenth season: two more first place finishes in the division and playoff appearances (05:50 - 08:13)

Fourteenth and final season: another first place in the division and a disappointing NBA Finals loss to the Boston Celtics; him deciding to call it a career from playing basketball; his career averages (08:14 - 10:53)

Historic ruling on the class action antitrust lawsuit he filed against the NBA which is also known as the Oscar Robertson Rule and its longstanding ramifications throughout the NBA and other major sports; him joining the class action lawsuit in the Ed O'Bannon court case against the NCAA (10:54 - 13:57)

Being one of the five founding members of the National Basketball Retired Players Association along with Archie Clark, Dave Bing, Dave DeBusschere and Dave Cowens (10:55 - 16:03)

Briefly had two different stints as a color commentary for both CBS and TBS (16:04 - 16:47)

Becoming a renowned businessman as well as being involved in many charitable organizations (16:48 - 17:30)

His health crisis including donating a kidney to his daughter Tia and his own battle with prostate cancer along with his advocacy for both causes (17:31 - 19:03)

Involved with a group of investors in placing a ballot initiative for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes (19:04 - 20:00)

His accolades including the high school, college and pro careers, writing two books and also congratulating Russell Westbrook on being the first player since him to average a triple double for the season (20:01 - 30:28)

His open letter on the Players Tribune website to the Milwaukee Bucks players and fans prior to the 2020-21 team winning the NBA championship (30:29 - 39:14) 

What his teammates and various others had to say about Oscar (39:14 - 48:01)

Call to action (48:02 - 49:10)

https://www.allthingsbasketballwithgd.com/