NBA History Conversations: Basketball Record

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the highest-grossing basketball movie of all-time, Nigel and Nate pull back the curtain and share inside stories on the iconic Space Jam.

Nigel and Nate were vital contributors, both in-front of and behind the cameras. They also played a crucial role in the smooth running of the legendary Jordan Dome. Both gentlemen are close friends of Michael Jordan and recall some fantastic stories from on the set and discuss how the genre-bending movie came to be.

Topics / links discussed (include):

• How ‘Hare Jordan’ led to Space Jam’s creation
• The Green Team
• Space Jammin’: Michael and Bugs Hit the Big Screen (book)
• Funny story: Kris Johnson, Cedric Ceballos and the Jordan Dome

People mentioned in this episode, include: Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley, Dennis Rodman, Marques Johnson, Larry Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Muggsy Bogues, Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing and Shawn Bradley.

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

- Mike Carey - covering the Boston Celtics on a daily basis

- Marvin Barnes' importance to the success of the 1986 Celtics

- What is was like to travel with the Celtics throughout the season

- How Mike and Danny Ainge first heard news of Len Bias' tragic death

- Insightful minutiae, all but lost to the annals of basketball history

The ultimate episode of #NB86. We finish our series with an in-depth interview, inviting award-winning (Boston Herald - 1980s) Celtics beat writer, Mike Carey, on the show. He discusses his experiences travelling with the mighty Boston Celtics.

Tune in to hear this and plenty more, as we uncover some hidden gems from the NBA’s golden era.

Links discussed:

* 1985 NBA Finals. The Lakers defeat the Celtics on the famed parquet floor
* Bill Walton's importance and his undying love for the Celtics franchise
* Michael Jordan's 63-point explosion versus Boston
* The Boston Celtics celebrate a 16th NBA title
* From jubilation to complete despair. Len Bias' tragic death

This episode concludes our coverage of the 1985-86 NBA season. Thanks for taking the time to listen to the series. If you enjoyed the content, please share it with your friends!

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

- Playoffs through 1986 NBA Finals (April 17 through June 8)

- Insightful minutiae, all but lost to the annals of basketball history

The penultimate episode of #NB86. We discuss numerous happenings from the 1985-86 NBA season. This time, the Playoffs through NBA Finals. Make sure you stay tuned for our final episode, when award-winning (1980s) Celtics beat writer, Mike Carey, joins the show.

Notable milestones:

* Larry Bird - won his third-consecutive Most Valuable Player Award
 * Patrick Ewing - named Rookie of the Year
 * Alvin Robertson - named Most Improved Player & Defensive Player of the Year
 * Michael Jordan - set a single-game playoff record, scoring 63 points at Boston
 * Hakeem Olajuwon - tied a then-NBA Finals record, with eight blocks
 * Calvin Natt - scored a career-high 40 points
 * Randy Wittman - scored a career-high 35 points
 * Wes Matthews - scored a career-high 30 points
 * Spud Webb - registered a career-high 18 assists

Links discussed:

* Dudley Bradley goes glass
* Adam's inadvertent Twitter fracas with Pat O'Brien
* Ralph Sampson's miracle shot

Tune in to hear this and plenty more, as we uncover some hidden gems from the NBA’s golden era.

Others mentioned in this episode, include: Doug Collins, Jerry Sichting, Terry Teagle & Xavier McDaniel.

This episode continues our coverage of the 1985-86 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!

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Notre Dame great, two-time NBA All-Star and broadcaster, Kelly Tripucka.

Part two of an in-depth, wide-ranging conversation about Kelly's career.

Topics / links discussed (include):

• The NBA's highest-scoring game
• 1984 NBA All-Star Game
• The famous Pistons v Knicks series from the 1984 NBA Playoffs
• The stunning details on how Kelly heard news of his trade from Detroit to Utah
• Kelly's trade to the newly-minted Charlotte Hornets
• The Charlotte Hornets' first game and inaugural NBA season
• The faux-controversy surrounding "Frank" and "Dick" (via Kelly's Wikipedia page)
• Kelly's career in (TV and radio) broadcasting
• Starting Lineup (NBA) figures and items Kelly still receives to this day, in the mail

People mentioned in this episode, include: Bill Laimbeer, Julius Erving, Bernard King, Jerry West, Dave Bing, Kiki VanDeWeghe, Pete Maravich, Rex Chapman, Bill Hanzlik, Dell Curry, Adrian Dantley and Muggsy Bogues.

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Notre Dame great, two-time NBA All-Star and broadcaster, Kelly Tripucka.

Part one of an in-depth, wide-ranging conversation about Kelly's career.

Topics / links discussed (include):

• Kelly's family life and unique sporting background
• Denver Broncos re-retiring Frank Tripucka's (Kelly's dad) #18
• High School: Bloomfield, New Jersey
• Jersey City Collegiate League and summer pick-up games
• College: University of Notre Dame
• 'A Class with Class' [Sports Illustrated: Nov 27, 1978]
• 'The bubble bursts' [Feb 28, 1980]
• 1981 NBA Draft

People mentioned in this episode, include: Peyton Manning, Isiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Julius Erving, Mark Aguirre, Dave Bing, Kiki VanDeWeghe, Pete Maravich, Danny Ainge, Bill Hanzlik, Albert King, Orlando Woolridge and Magic Johnson.

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

- NBA regular season - March 24 through April 13, 1986

- Insightful minutiae, all but lost to the annals of basketball history

In this episode, we discuss numerous happenings from the 1985-86 NBA season. The Chicago Bulls finished the regular season with ten games in twenty days – six wins and four losses.

Michael Jordan - who buoyed his Bulls' chances of returning to the playoffs - led Chicago in a tug of war against the Cleveland Cavaliers. As the regular season drew to a close, both teams were fighting for the right to contend in the postseason. Tune in to hear this and plenty more, as we uncover some hidden gems from the NBA’s golden era.

Links discussed: Erving buries Boston

This episode continues our coverage of the 1985-86 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!

Others mentioned in this episode, include: Dominique Wilkins, Danny Ainge, Adrian Dantley, Mike Gminski, Larry Bird, Jerry Reynolds, Louis Orr, Charles Barkley, Herb Williams, Ken Bannister & Keith Lee.

Chicago Bulls games discussed:

86-03-25 - New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls

86-03-28 - Chicago Bulls @ New Jersey Nets

86-03-29 - Chicago Bulls @ New York Knicks

86-04-01 - Chicago Bulls @ Milwaukee Bucks

86-04-03 - Chicago Bulls @ Indiana Pacers

86-04-05 - Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls

86-04-07 - Milwaukee Bucks @ Chicago Bulls

86-04-08 - Chicago Bulls @ Atlanta Hawks

86-04-11 - Washington Bullets @ Chicago Bulls

86-04-13 - Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers

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

- NBA regular season - March 9 through 23, 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 1985-86 NBA season. The Chicago Bulls played eight games in this span – three wins and five losses.

Michael Jordan returned to the court in an effort to drive the Bulls into the NBA Playoffs. Tune in to hear this and plenty more, as we uncover some hidden gems from the NBA’s golden era.

Links discussed: The Mozart of Basketball: The Remarkable Life and Legacy of Drazen Petrovic | The Starters

This episode continues our coverage of the 1985-86 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!

Others mentioned in this episode, include: Charles Oakley, Larry Bird, Adrian Dantley, Herb Williams, Gene Banks, Karl Malone, George Gervin, Rod Higgins, James Bailey, Benoit Benjamin, Kevin Willis, Chris McNealy, Drazen Petrovic & Keith Smith.

Chicago Bulls games discussed:

86-03-09 - New York Knicks @ Chicago Bulls

86-03-11 - New Jersey Nets @ Chicago Bulls

86-03-13 - Denver Nuggets @ Chicago Bulls

86-03-15 - Milwaukee @ Chicago Bulls

86-03-17 - Chicago Bulls @ Atlanta Hawks

86-03-19 - Chicago Bulls @ Philadelphia 76ers

86-03-21 - Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics

86-03-22 - Chicago Bulls @ Cleveland Cavaliers

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NCAA Championship finalist, NBA / CBA veteran and broadcaster, Michael Holton.

Michael was a great player in high school. As a senior (1979), he averaged 27 points per game. He discusses his fondest memories of playing high school basketball. Fifteen years later – when Michael entered the coaching ranks – he’d reunite with his high school coach, George Terzian. Michael also talks about his decision to sign with the UCLA Bruins.

Michael was a starter as a freshman and was named the Bruins’ outstanding first-year player. He recalls his initial fear of perhaps not being good enough to succeed on the next level – that fear was quickly allayed. After winning only eight of the first 14 games, the Bruins caught fire at the perfect time; steamrolling through the 1980 NCAA Tournament, all the way to the Championship Game versus the Louisville Cardinals. For perspective, here’s the list of teams that UCLA defeated and some of the big-time players Michael encountered:

Old Dominion (Mark West) / DePaul (Terry Cummings & Mark Aguirre) / Ohio State (Kelvin Ransey & Clark Kellogg) / Clemson (Larry Nance & Mitchell Wiggins) / Purdue (Joe Barry Carroll).

In the 1980 Championship game, UCLA lost 59-54. The Cardinals were littered with future-NBA players: Darrell Griffith, Derek Smith, Rodney McCray & Jerry Eaves. Michael reflects on that amazing run to the final.

Holton’s freshman season was the senior year for Kiki VanDeWeghe – who went on to star in the NBA, notching-up seven seasons of 20-plus points per game in the 1980s – Michael talks about the importance influence of the Bruins’ junior and senior players.

As a sophomore in 1981 (outright) and junior in 1982 (tied with Ralph Jackson), Michael was named the Bruins’ Outstanding Team Player. UCLA made the second round of the 1981 NCAA Tournament, but missed the post-season in 1982. Former guests and friends of the show, Mark Eaton and Nigel Miguel, joined the Bruins around this time, too. Michael talks about the transition from (coaches) Larry Brown to Larry Farmer.

As a senior, Michael was named captain and led the team in free-throw percentage. His college career ended (1983) with a second-round exit to the Utah Utes. After reaching the title game as a freshman, Michael contrasts his feelings about exiting the tournament early (as a senior).

We discuss the 1983 Draft. Michael’s opportunity to play in the NBA would have to wait one season. After Golden State waived him (October, 1983), he signed with the Coquis; the Continental Basketball Association’s (CBA) newly-minted expansion franchise. The Coquis made it to the playoffs, before bowing out to Phil Jackson’s Albany Patroons in the semi-finals.

In late September of 1984, Michael signed with the Phoenix Suns as a free agent – joining former Bruins teammates, Mike Sanders and Rod Foster. Holton recalls the step-up from Puerto Rico to the Suns. His Suns met the would-be NBA Champion, L.A. Lakers, in the first round (0-3) of the 1985 Playoffs. Hear this and much more in our chat.

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

- NBA regular season - February 22 through March 8, 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 1985-86 NBA season. The Chicago Bulls played seven games in this span – two wins and five losses.

Chicago continued to fight for playoff position, as the on-court return of Michael Jordan finally seemed a real possibility. In his absence, the great play of Michael Holton - a recent CBA All-Star signee - helped the Bulls steady the ship in a season riddled with significant injuries.

In other NBA news, the Boston Celtics became the first team to reach 50 wins for the season. That milestone also marked a seventh-consecutive season of 50-plus victories for the franchise.

Charles Oakley's star continued to rise as he was named February's Rookie of the Month. His stellar play was putting pressure to perform on fellow teammate and Bulls veteran, Sidney Green. Tune in to hear this and plenty more, as we uncover some hidden gems from the NBA’s golden era.

This episode continues our coverage of the 1985-86 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!

Others mentioned in this episode, include: Dominique Wilkins, Mark Aguirre, Moses Malone, Sidney Moncrief, Doc Rivers, Charles Barkley, Robert Parish, Micheal Ray Richardson, Rod Higgins, Tony Brown & Bryan Warrick.

Chicago Bulls games discussed:

86-02-22 - Seattle SuperSonics @ Chicago Bulls

86-02-24 - Chicago Bulls @ Detroit Pistons

86-02-25 - Philadelphia 76ers @ Chicago Bulls

86-02-28 - Cleveland Cavaliers @ Chicago Bulls

86-03-04 - Boston Celtics @ Chicago Bulls

86-03-05 - Chicago Bulls @ Boston Celtics

86-03-07 - Atlanta Hawks @ Chicago Bulls

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

- NBA regular season - February 7 through 21, 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 1985-86 NBA season. The Chicago Bulls played six games in this span – two wins and four losses.

Michael Jordan sought second (and third) opinions on his broken foot, before ultimately making the difficult decision to postpone his would-be (February) comeback plans. His Chicago Bulls were facing the distinct possibility of missing the 1986 NBA Playoffs, if the team's form continued to plummet.

In other NBA news, Alvin Robertson entered rarefied air, becoming just the second player in history (joining Nate Thurmond) to record a quadruple-double, in the San Antonio Spurs' win versus the visiting Phoenix Suns.

Larry Bird continued to star, as his league-leading Celtics became the first team to register forty regular-season wins. Tune in to hear this and plenty more, as we uncover some hidden gems from the NBA’s golden era.

This episode continues our coverage of the 1985-86 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!

Others mentioned in this episode, include: Herb Williams, Moses Malone, Dominique Wilkins, Charles Barkley, Michael Holton, Kevin McKenna, Micheal Ray Richardson, Julius Erving, Kyle Macy, Mike Gminski & Jeff Lamp.

Chicago Bulls games discussed:

86-02-12 - Chicago Bulls @ Philadelphia 76ers

86-02-14 - Indiana Pacers @ Chicago Bulls

86-02-16 - Dallas Mavericks @ Chicago Bulls

86-02-17 - Chicago Bulls @ Indiana Pacers

86-02-19 - Chicago Bulls @ New Jersey Nets

86-02-21 - Portland Trail Blazers @ Chicago Bulls

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