NBA History Conversations: Basketball Record

University of Wyoming standout, five-year NBA veteran, Chris Engler.

Chris discusses his childhood in Minneapolis and how his links to the sport of basketball began early in life. Between eighth and ninth grade of high school – whilst participating across numerous sports – Chris had a six-inch growth spurt and a focus on basketball became more appealing.

We chat about Chris walking-on at the University of Minnesota, where he’d play alongside future (NBA) stars Mychal Thompson and Kevin McHale. After two seasons with the Gophers, Chris transferred to the University of Wyoming, where he had more opportunity to develop his game. His final college appearance was an NCAA Tournament match-up against Patrick Ewing and the mighty Georgetown Hoyas.

Chris shares memories from his five years in the NBA, plus, experiences in the CBA, travelling overseas to play professionally and also winning back-to-back gold medals (1994 and 1998) at the World Masters Games.

Links discussed (include):
* Chris’ (1984) NBA Stars vs Team USA game in Minneapolis, coinciding with Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA Tour

People mentioned include Michael Jordan, Trent Tucker, Sleepy Floyd, Bill Garnett, Bernard King, Charles Bradley, World B. Free, Ernie DiGregorio, Rick Brown, Orlando Woolridge and Mark Landsberger.

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Senior NBA Photographer and Director of Photography for Staples Center, Andrew Bernstein.

He hasn't played a single minute in the NBA. However, Andy Bernstein is a perennial contender for league MVP (Most Valuable Photographer). The 2017 NBA Finals marked the 35th-consecutive time that Andy has covered the Association's showcase event.

We discuss Andy's rise from amateur shutterbug - his love for the camera was fostered by a (teenage) trip to the Western United States with his dad - to becoming one of the world's greatest sports photographers.

Highlights of our conversation include Andy's memories of an iconic rendition of the national anthem at his first All-Star Game (1983), his crucial involvement in creating the (taken from his bio) position of Senior Director of NBA Photos - a position he held for 25 years - a discussion about the meteoric changes in camera technology over recent decades and of course, he details wonderful stories behind how some of his most-historic photos came to be.

Links discussed (include):
* Marvin Gaye's amazing performance at the 1983 NBA All-Star Game
* Follow Andy's wonderful output on Instagram
* Journey to the Ring: Behind the Scenes with the 2010 NBA Champion Lakers

People mentioned include Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Lon Rosen, Terry Lyons, Pat Riley, David Stern, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Porter McKinnon.

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Adam & Aaron celebrate the 30th anniversary of Michael Jordan's third season in the National Basketball Association. This episode covers:

- NBA regular season – December 16 through 30, 1986
- Insightful minutiae, all but lost to the annals of basketball history

In this episode, we discuss numerous happenings from the next 15-day block of the 1986-87 NBA season. The Chicago Bulls played seven games in this span – four wins and three losses.

Notable milestones:
Magic Johnson - career-high 46 points
James Bailey - career-high 35 points
Kenny Gattison - career-high 29 points
Sidney Green - career-high 23 rebounds
Charles Oakley - career-high 15 assists

Links discussed:
* Patrick Ewing defeats Michael Jordan's Bulls, just in the Knick of time

This episode continues our coverage of the 1986-87 NBA season. We encourage your interaction. Feel free to suggest specific games, moments and events from within the season, for us to cover in future episodes of the series. Thanks for taking the time to listen to the show. If you enjoy the content, please share it with your friends!

People mentioned include Bill Laimbeer, Chuck Person, Dave Corzine, Fat Lever, Alex English, Bob Hansen, Darrell Griffith & Derek Smith.

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Adam & Aaron celebrate the 30th anniversary of Michael Jordan's third season in the National Basketball Association. This episode covers:

- NBA regular season – December 1 through 15, 1986
- Insightful minutiae, all but lost to the annals of basketball history

In this episode, we discuss numerous happenings from the next 15-day block of the 1986-87 NBA season. The Chicago Bulls played eight games in this span – three wins and five losses.

Notable milestones:
Pat Riley - won his 300th game as coach
Dominique Wilkins - scored an equal career-high 57 points

Links discussed:
* Michael Jordan's thunderous jam around Mark Eaton
* Human Highlight Film versus Air Jordan

This episode continues our coverage of the 1986-87 NBA season. We encourage your interaction. Feel free to suggest specific games, moments and events from within the season, for us to cover in future episodes of the series. Thanks for taking the time to listen to the show. If you enjoy the content, please share it with your friends!

People mentioned include Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, Tom Chambers, Alvin Robertson, Charles Oakley, Alex English, Wilt Chamberlain, David Greenwood, Mike Brown, Isiah Thomas & Curtis Kitchen.

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High school, college and NBA coaching great, Don Casey.

To say that Don Casey is an important figure to the game of basketball, is to massively undersell his contributions. His head-coaching journey began in 1958, when he was just 21 years old. Almost by accident, Don found basketball; perhaps, basketball found Don. He enjoyed great success, leading Bishop Eustace High School to two state championships (Class B and A in successive seasons) in six years.

We discuss Don’s transition to the college ranks, where he spent nine seasons as the head coach of Temple University. We also chat about his long-time mentor, the legendary Harry Litwack.

The NBA came calling for the 1983 season. Don remained at the highest level (as an assistant and/or head coach) for almost 20 years. We talk about his memories and experiences from that stage of his life. He went from the sleepless nights and frustrations of leading the L.A. Clippers (through 1990), to joining Chris Ford‘s coaching staff on the Boston Celtics (1991). We reflect on Don’s memories of Boston, including his links to the great Jack McCallum, who at one time, lived with Don whilst researching Unfinished Business. Don would move to New Jersey after the 1996 season, to work for John Calipari, before finishing his NBA (coaching) career as head coach of the New Jersey Nets.

The conversation concludes with a brief discussion about Don’s post-NBA interests.

Links discussed (include):
* Boston Celtics vs Indiana Pacers (1991 NBA Playoffs)
* New Jersey Nets vs Chicago Bulls (1998 NBA Playoffs)

People mentioned include Terence Stansbury, Chuck Person, Jim McIlvaine, Kendall Gill, Bob Hill, Jim Lynam, Larry Bird, Red Auerbach, Reggie Miller, Sherman Douglas, Ernie Grunfeld, Gene Shue, Don Chaney and John Bagley.

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Adam & Aaron celebrate the 30th anniversary of Michael Jordan's third season in the National Basketball Association. This episode covers:

- NBA regular season – November 16 through 30, 1986
- Insightful minutiae, all but lost to the annals of basketball history

In this episode, we discuss numerous happenings from the next 15-day block of the 1986-87 NBA season. The Chicago Bulls played five games in this span – two wins and three losses.

Notable milestones:
Don Nelson - won his 500th game as coach

Links discussed:
* Michael Jordan saves the day, as Bulls nix Knicks

This episode continues our coverage of the 1986-87 NBA season. We encourage your interaction. Feel free to suggest specific games, moments and events from within the season, for us to cover in future episodes of the series. Thanks for taking the time to listen to the show. If you enjoy the content, please share it with your friends!

People mentioned include Moses Malone, John Paxson, Alvin Robertson, Marques Johnson, Charles Oakley, Ed Nealy, Dave Feitl, Ben McDonald, Robert Parish, Hot Rod Williams, Alex English, Sleepy Floyd & Darren Daye.

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This episode covers:

- details behind Jordan's sole-performance in jersey #12 [Feb 14, 1990]

Behind the Game. Links discussed:
* Chicago Bulls at Orlando Magic [February 14, 1990]
* Game highlights

People mentioned include Andrew Bernstein, Larry Guest & Johnny Red Kerr.

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Tom Chambers’ iconic jam on Mark Jackson. This episode covers:

- details behind one of the NBA’s all-time greatest slam dunks [Jan 27, 1989]

The first in a new series of podcast episodes: Behind the Game. Learn why Tom Chambers and Mark Jackson are forever linked in NBA history.

Links discussed:
* New York Knicks at Phoenix Suns [January 27, 1989]
* Game highlights
* Pigeons and statues

People mentioned include Eddie Johnson, Jeff Hornacek, Kevin Johnson, Mark West, Tyrone Corbin, Larry Nance, James Edwards, Jay Humphries, Dan Majerle, Tim Perry, Andrew Lang, Patrick Ewing & Gerald Wilkins.

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Adam & Aaron celebrate the 30th anniversary of Michael Jordan's third season in the National Basketball Association. This episode covers:

-  NBA regular season – October 31 through November 15, 1986
- Insightful minutiae, all but lost to the annals of basketball history

In this episode, we discuss numerous happenings from the first 16 days of the 1986-87 NBA season. The Chicago Bulls played eight games in this span – five wins and three losses.

Michael Jordan ensured Doug Collins' coaching debut was a memorable one. Jordan registered his first 50-point game at New York and his scintillating form led Chicago to start the season with three-consecutive wins.

Notable milestones:
Mark West - scored a career-high 27 points
John Long - scored a career-high 44 points
Bill Hanzlik - scored a career-high 33 points

Links discussed:
* Bowie’s persistent leg-related problems led to a shocking incident versus Dallas

This episode continues our coverage of the 1986-87 NBA season. We encourage your interaction. Feel free to suggest specific games, moments and events from within the season, for us to cover in future episodes of the series. Thanks for taking the time to listen to the show. If you enjoy the content, please share it with your friends!

People mentioned include Earl Cureton, Ron Harper, Sam Bowie, Adrian Dantley, Granville Waiters, Dave Corzine, Rory Sparrow, Chuck Person, Johnny Dawkins & Mike Smrek.

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Adam & Aaron celebrate the 30th anniversary of Michael Jordan's third season in the National Basketball Association. This episode covers:

- Off-season news, notes and quotes
- 1986 NBA Draft
- Chicago Bulls 1986-87 training camp and preseason games
- Insightful minutiae, all but lost to the annals of basketball history

We're back with a new series. Starting early-to-mid June, 1986, we discuss a wide array of interesting topics and happenings, from the NBA's off-season.

We cover the 1986 NBA Draft and how the Bulls planned to retool for the upcoming season. We recap Chicago's 1986-87 preseason games. The results were mixed. Michael Jordan was ever-reliable, however, most other players were still looking to cement their position and importance to the team.

To round out the episode, we talk about the Bulls' efforts to put forth a competitive and cohesive team, on the eve of the regular season.

Links discussed:
* Moses Malone a Piston?
* UNC Pro-Alumni Game
* John Shasky wearing (Bulls) #45 - same year (1995) MJ did
* ‘The Trail’ (Arvydas Sabonis episodes)
* Mike 'Gibbo' Gibson - Australian journalist
* Stan Albeck's parting shot (see full show notes) [Chicago Tribune]

People mentioned include Doug Collins, Brad Sellers, Gene Banks, Pete Myers, Orlando Woolridge, Steve Colter, Hot Rod Williams, Jeff Ruland, Dave Corzine, Olden Polynice, Jawann Oldham, Chuck Person, Granville Waiters, Joe Barry Carroll, Bob Hansen, Elston Turner, Johnny Dawkins, Kenny Walker & Alfredrick Hughes.

This episode begins our coverage of the 1986-87 NBA season. If you enjoy the content, please share it with your friends! For context, here's our 15-episode series, exploring Michael Jordan's sophomore campaign.

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