Basketball History 101

In 1957, Bill Russell and Tommy Heinsohn were rookies together on the Boston Celtics. They were both excellent players, but it was obvious to everyone that Russell was the best rookie in the league. However, Heinsohn won the Rookie of the Year award, along with a check for $300. So, how did this happen? We answer that question in today’s episode.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Happy Days" by Chuck Sims

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

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Despite the fact that the New York Knicks have existed for all 77 seasons of the NBA, Red Holzman is their only coach to win a championship -- and he claimed two, one in 1970 and the other in 1973. He was a fierce point guard for the Rochester Royals in the early days of the league, before becoming one of the NBA’s greatest coaches.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"50's Music" by Dar Golan

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Billy Cunningham is on the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, yet he is rarely talked about as one of the great players in league history. His leaping ability earned him his nickname, The Kangaroo Kid. A rebounding machine, he once averaged 13 rebounds per game while playing alongside Wilt Chamberlain. Here is his story.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"50's Music" by Dar Golan

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Wilt Chamberlain was the NBA’s unstoppable force and Bill Russell was the immovable object. Something had to give when they played each other. In all, they played 143 games against each other. This is the story of their 10-year rivalry in the NBA.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"This or That" by Reks

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

At one time Tom Gola was considered the greatest college player of all time. Not only is he the all-time NCAA leader in rebounds, but he also led LaSalle University to both NIT and NCAA championships -- winning MVP in both tournaments! Even 70 years since his graduation, he is still the only player to have accomplished this.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Happy Days" by Chuck Sims

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Today, Rick interviews Dave Zarum, author of the basketball history book NBA 75: The Definitive History. He is a Toronto-based sports journalist specializing in the Toronto Raptors and the wider NBA, including the history of the league. Dave and Rick walk through a variety of impactful moments from the history of the NBA, sharing in their love of basketball history.

Buy Dave's book here!

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Although it has since been taken over in size by the NCAA, the National Invitational Tournament was once the most prestigious collegiate basketball tournament in the nation. Created by the lack of a national championship, Ned Irish founded the NIT as a way of bringing some of the best teams in the nation to play against one another to determine a final victor. Today, the NIT has lost some of its former glory, but it is still held every March alongside the NCAA tournament with millions of viewers tuning in!

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Mediterranean" by Chiro

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

In all ways, Paul Mokeski did not look the part of an NBA player. His body shape and appearance gave him the image more of an accountant than a professional athlete. All ways, that is, except for one: Mokeski was 7 feet tall. A rare trait in the 1980s, he stayed in the league for 12 seasons and averaged 4 points per game for his career. He was the quintessential journeyman, a representation all of those players who spent a decade or more in the NBA as a role player: showing up every day, putting in the work, pouring blood, sweat, and tears into their craft -- and never seeing major public recognition. Today, we shine a spotlight on those players.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Rock You" by RockSounds

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Sonny Vaccaro changed the advertisement game forever when he paid college teams to wear Nike shoes, inventing the idea of endorsements in basketball, and for the upstart company's next big play, the bosses wanted to sign 20 NBA players to contracts for generic Nike shoes like Converse had done. Vaccaro, however, had an idea. A young player named Michael Jordan was just entering the league, and while he was good in college, that was no certain guarantee of his future stardom in the pros. But against all odds, Vaccaro convinced Nike to go all in on Jordan and create a signature, eponymous shoe for him. Barely earning his green light, Vaccaro set to work to promote the single most famous shoe in all of history -- betting his career, hopes, and dreams on a single kid who was fresh out of college and a pair of shoes called the Air Jordans.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"" by

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]

Recently, we here at BBH.101 did a two-part episode on the great Bob Cousy, the role model for the modern point guard. Today, Rick sat down with Dana Auguster, the founder and host of Historically Speaking Sports, another podcast on the Sports History Network. Dana is a die-hard Celtics fan, and he and Rick had a conversation about the legendary Bostonian player who changed the game of basketball forever.

Historically Speaking Sports covers topics from sports history that happened within the current week of years long past. A former sportswriter and broadcaster, Dana Auguster rewinds time to uncover and highlight some of the greatest moments in sports history. Historically Speaking Sports can be streamed from all major podcast platforms, or you can visit Dana's Twitter @HistoricallySp2.

CREDITS

Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC

"Horizons" by Roa

SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

sportshistorynetwork.com

sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

FACEBOOK

m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

BUSINESS CONTACT

[email protected]