Basketball History 101

By Rick Loayza

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... more

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FAQs about Basketball History 101:

How many episodes does Basketball History 101 have?

The podcast currently has 315 episodes available.

Basketball History 101 episodes:

October 21, 2025 Episode 271 - Jumpin' Joe Fulks
Jumpin’ Joe Fulks was the NBA’s very first scoring leader back in 1947. He also led his team, the Philadelphia Warriors, to the very first NBA championship. Yet, he hardly ever gets talked about today. We correct that with this episode.
CREDITS
Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice
Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC
"1940s Slow Dance" by Doug
"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]
...more
14min
October 14, 2025 Episode 270 - Kobe Bryant's Airballs
Kobe Bryant once shot four airballs in five minutes in a playoff game against the Utah Jazz. But that failure had a direct impact on Kobe becoming one of the greatest players of all time.
CREDITS
Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice
Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC
"Rap Beat" by MaverickMyers
"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]
...more
17min
October 07, 2025 Episode 269 - UCLA's Friendliest Manipulator
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.
CREDITS
Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice
Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC
"Funky Retro Funk [Funk Music]" by MokkaMusic
"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]
...more
16min
September 30, 2025 Episode 268 - The Impact of Magic and Bird
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.
CREDITS
Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice
Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC
"Take Care" by Julian Avila
"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]
...more
15min
September 23, 2025 Episode 267 - Jeremy Before Linsanity
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.
CREDITS
Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice
Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC
"Broken" by AJ PRO
"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]
...more
12min
September 16, 2025 Episode 266 - Drafting a Champion
In 78 years of NBA Drafts, the top pick has helped his team to a championship only 10 times. Here is that list.
CREDITS
Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice
Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC
"Flashing Lights" by MokkaMusic
"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]
...more
15min
September 09, 2025 Episode 265 - Kareem and the Million Dollar Check
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.
CREDITS
Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice
Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC
"60s and 70s Rock" by Hyde
"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]
...more
18min
September 02, 2025 Episode 264 - Johnny Neumann
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.
CREDITS
Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice
Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC
"Disco Funk" by Jam Morgan
"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]
...more
15min
August 26, 2025 Episode 263 - The Original Big 3
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.
CREDITS
Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice
Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC
"1940s Slow Dance" by Doug
"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]
...more
16min
August 19, 2025 Episode 262 - Ray Allen’s Biggest Shot
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.
CREDITS
Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice
Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

MUSIC
"Flashing Lights” by MokkaMusic
"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]
...more
17min

FAQs about Basketball History 101:

How many episodes does Basketball History 101 have?

The podcast currently has 315 episodes available.

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