Best Rick Loayza Podcasts (2024)

1
Episode 202 - Old School Referees 19:08

2h ago19:08

19:08

NBA refereeing was wild in the early days of the league. Each ref would develop his own styles and tendencies. Some were known to allow fighting, and others were friendly to the away team. There was a lot more flair to the job. Sometimes after games, the referees would even grab a drink with the players and coaches from both teams. CREDITS Rick Loa…

1
Episode 201 - The Lost Teams, pt. 5 20:42

2d ago20:42

20:42

Today, we complete our series on the Lost Teams of the NBA. On this episode we cover the Sheboygan Redskins, the Waterloo Hawks, and the original Denver Nuggets. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "1940's Slow Dance" by Doug "Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK sportshisto…

1
Episode 200 - Kobe's 81-Point Game 16:56

9d ago16:56

16:56

For our 200th regular episode, we are sharing the story of Kobe’s 81-point game against the Toronto Raptors. He was on fire that night, and for some weird reason the Raptors never double-teamed Kobe... CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "Flashing Lights" by MokkaMusic "Horizon…

1
Episode 199 - Bill Garrett and the Broken Big Ten Barrier 20:55

17d ago20:55

20:55

Bill Garrett is the only person to win an Indiana State High School basketball championship as both a player and a coach. He was also the first black player at Indiana University and the Big 10 Conference. He broke barriers for future players and was one of the best people around. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza…

1
Episode 198 - The History of the NBL 20:50

24d ago20:50

20:50

The old NBL paved the way for the NBA in American professional basketball. The efforts of the older league should never be forgotten. The NBL started in 1937, while the NBA did not start until 1946. Today we take a look back at the history of the NBL. Four of their teams are still alive today on the NBA. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer…

1
Episode 197 - The Rivalry of Mikan and Kurland 17:28

1M ago17:28

17:28

In the mid 1940s, college basketball was dominated by George Mikan and Bob Kurland. They played at the same time at DePaul University and Oklahoma A&M University, respectively. During their three years they combined for three championships and three national player of the year awards. But once they left college, their careers went in different bask…

1
Episode 196 - The Lost Teams, pt. 4 17:05

1M ago17:05

17:05

In today's edition of The Lost Teams, we cover the Baltimore Bullets -- who were the 1951 NBA champions -- along with the Indianapolis Olympians and the Anderson Packers. These teams all came to the NBA different ways and all left in different ways. However, all three were able to give the league steady footing that later led to success as a league…

1
Episode 195 - Enforcers and the One-Punch Rule 17:18

1M ago17:18

17:18

From the start of the NBA until the mid-1990s, there existed a role in professional basketball known as an enforcer. Before technical fouls and flagrant fouls, some teams would try to intentionally injure the opponent's star player since it only counted as a normal foul, so enforcers arose to protect those stars and punish anyone who tried to injur…

1
Episode 194 - Dennis Johnson 19:17

2M ago19:17

19:17

Dennis Johnson was one of the most underrated players in the NBA. The man was a 9-time All-Defensive Player, a 5-time All-Star, and a starter on 3 NBA championship teams. What's unique is that he was neither a starter in high school nor recruited to any colleges. He was a classic late bloomer who grew six inches in height after he graduated high sc…

1
Episode 193 - 5 Basic Principles 16:59

2M ago16:59

16:59

James Naismith invented the game in 1891. In doing so, he followed 5 basic principles for developing his idea. We go through those five principles today and show that they are still being used today in modern form. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "The Stars and Stripes Fore…

1
Episode 192 - Elgin Baylor's Retirement 17:58

2M ago17:58

17:58

Elgin Baylor retired in 1971 due to his diminishing skills. However, the timing could not be worse for Baylor. The day that he retired, the Lakers started their famous 33-game winning streak and went on to win the championship... CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "Disco Funk"…

1
Episode 191 - The Lost Teams, pt. 3 16:47

3M ago16:47

16:47

In today’s episode we cover the Detroit Falcons, Pittsburgh Ironmen, and the Indianapolis Jets. All three teams only lasted a single season in the NBA. They were all dysfunctional and struggled for wins and fans, leading to their eventual demises... CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publishe…

1
Episode 190 - Red Auerbach, pt. 3 18:37

3M ago18:37

18:37

Today, we conclude our story on Red Auerbach and his 16 champions, which is more than anyone else in NBA history. From his 8-year championship run on the 1960s to his rebuilding of championship teams in the 1970s and 1980s, we cover the conclusion of his time with the Celtics. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Ed…

1
Episode 189 - Red Auerbach, pt. 2 18:53

3M ago18:53

18:53

In Part 2 of our story, we share how Auerbach became the coach of the Boston Celtics. The Celtics had never had a winning season in their history before hiring Auerbach. That changed quickly. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "1940's Slow Dance" by Doug Maxwell "Horizons" by …

1
Episode 188 - Red Auerbach, pt. 1 18:17

3M ago18:17

18:17

Red Auerbach is arguably the most influential coach in NBA history. He grew up in Brooklyn as the son of Jewish immigrants, and he was obsessed with basketball. It was the only thing that mattered to him. Join as we follow his story from his upbringing to his first job in the NBA with the Washington Capitols. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, w…

1
Episode 187 - The Dean Tolson Exclusive: A Retired Seattle SuperSonic's Message for the World 30:34

3M ago30:34

30:34

Dean Tolson, former Seattle SuperSonic, has an incredibly powerful story of being illiterate through his professional playing days before going back to earn his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as an adult. He now speaks to thousands of kids on the value of an education. Click here to purchase Tolson's book, Power Forward: My Journey from Illiterate…

1
BBH Moments Special - LeBron's 40k Points 8:27

4M ago8:27

8:27

LeBron James just reached 40,000 regular-season career points. In order to commemorate this living moment in basketball history, Rick discusses the guys that first reached 10k, 20k, and 30k points, as well as what would be required in order for LeBron's record to ever be broken... CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza…

1
Episode 186 - Basketball's Sheriffs: The Lawmakers of the Game 18:42

4M ago18:42

18:42

In the early 1900s, basketball was at risk of branching off and developing into very different versions of the game all over the world. If it had not been for the early rules committee, who oversaw the game's development and ensured its safety, the game could have developed into different sports in different parts of the world. Because of their eff…

1
Episode 185 - Danny Ainge: The Three-Sport Phenom 20:20

4M ago20:20

20:20

Danny Ainge was an incredible all-around athlete. He was only a 1x All-Star with the Celtics, but in high school he had scholarship offers for basketball, football, and baseball. He was the first high school player to be named an All-American in three different sports. He also played as a 2nd baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays. CREDITS Rick Loayza: …

1
Episode 184 - The Lost NBA Teams, pt. 2 17:12

4M ago17:12

17:12

In today’s episode we cover the Chicago Stags, the St. Louis Bombers, and the Cleveland Rebels. All three teams were original NBA teams that went out of business within the first four years of the league. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "1940's Slow Dance" by Doug Maxwell "…

1
Episode 183 - Jerry West & the 1969 Finals MVP 18:04

4M ago18:04

18:04

Jerry West won the very first NBA Finals MVP award in 1969 despite having played for the losing team. Even today, over 50 years later, that is the only time that has ever happened... CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "Funky Retro Funk [Funk Music]" by MokkaMusic "Horizons" by…

1
Episode 182 - Pete Newell, pt. 2: The World's Coach 22:02

5M ago22:02

22:02

Today, we conclude our profile on Pete Newell, The man won an NCAA championship and the Olympics, and then later moved into the NBA. He was everywhere in coaching, and truly one of the geniuses of the game. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "60s and 70s Rock" by Hyde "Horizon…

1
Episode 181 - Pete Newell, pt. 1: A Coach's Coach 18:33

5M ago18:33

18:33

Hall of Fame coach Pete Newell refined and popularized the full court press and weak side defensive help styles of defense in basketball. His ideas are still being used today at all levels of the game. He was one of those basketball geniuses who advanced the game by leaps and bounds. This is his story. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, …

1
Episode 180 - The Lost NBA Teams, pt. 1 18:08

5M ago18:08

18:08

In the history of the NBA, there have been 15 teams who went out of business and had to fold their operations. In this episode, we cover three of those teams and what happened to them: the Washington Capitols, the Providence Steamrollers, and the Toronto Huskies. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer…

1
Episode 179 - The Lakers' Win Streak of Destiny 17:28

5M ago17:28

17:28

The 33-Game winning streak by the 1972 Los Angeles Lakers is the longest winning streak in North American team sports history, not just the NBA. This story involved a decades-old rivalry and the mid-season retirement of a legend, but it produced an unbroken record that has stood the test of time. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and vo…

1
Episode 178 - When the Warriors Sued Rick Barry 17:35

6M ago17:35

17:35

Back in 1967, the San Francisco Warriors sued Rick Barry because he tried to jump to the Oakland Oaks of the ABA. This sent shockwaves through both leagues. What was Barry going to do... stay with the Warriors, or go with the Oaks? Vote for BBH.101 in the Sports Podcast Awards here! CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loay…

1
Episode 177 - The First Game REDUX 20:27

6M ago20:27

20:27

Today we go back a revisit our very first episode on the invention of the game and the first game ever played. After trying several ideas, James Naismith haD an epiphany that would make his game exciting and a huge hit. In this episode, we go back to December of 1891 for the second time on this show... CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, …

1
Episode 176 - Elgin Baylor Takes a Stand 18:52

6M ago18:52

18:52

It was 1959 and the Minneapolis Lakers were in Charleston, West Virginia to play against the Cincinnati Royals. As the Lakers were checking into their hotel, Elgin Baylor, Boo Ellis, and Ed Fleming were denied rooms because of the color of their skin. Baylor took it personally and chose to sit out the game. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, wri…

1
Christmas 2023 Special: Wayne Embry's Missing Uniform 5:37

6M ago5:37

5:37

Merry Christmas! In today's bonus episode, Rick shares the short story of when Wayne Embry showed up for his very first NBA game without his uniform... CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "Christmas Village" by Aaron Kenny "Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK sportshistoryn…

1
Episode 175 - The Physiology of Basketball 16:44

6M ago16:44

16:44

In the early 1900s, doctors and researchers were asking a very important question: Was basketball too strenuous for anyone but grown men to play? There were some in the medical community of the day that thought that basketball could have long term negative effects on the human body. That’s when Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of the game, stepped …

1
SHN Presents: NO NONSENSE, OLD SCHOOL WEIGHTLIFTING HISTORY - SHN Trailers 4:39

6M ago4:39

4:39

NO NONSENSE, OLD SCHOOL WEIGHTLIFTING HISTORY is presented by the Sports History Network, the headquarters for sports yesteryear. ABOUT SHOW: My name is Mark Morthier, and I host yesterday’s Sports on the Sports History Network. As many of you know from reading my articles and listening to my podcasts, I am not only an avid weightlifter but a fan o…

1
Episode 174 - The Kent Washington Exclusive: An American Behind the Iron Curtain 28:26

7M ago28:26

28:26

Today, Rick interviews Kent Washington, the first American to play professional basketball behind the Iron Curtain. He shares his experience as an African-American playing in a communist country. He has an amazing story. To purchase a copy of Kent Washington’s book, click here: kentomania:%20A%20Black%20Basketball%20Virtuoso%20in%20Communist%20Pola…

1
Episode 173 - Muggsy Bogues, pt. 2 17:07

7M ago17:07

17:07

Muggsy Bogues had to prove doubters wrong at every level of basketball, but more so in the NBA than in either high school or university. After a rough start with the Washington Bullets, he found his stride with the expansion Charlotte Hornets, where he excelled as the league's shortest player ever. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and …

1
Episode 172 - Muggsy Bogues, pt. 1 15:18

7M ago15:18

15:18

Muggsy Bogues is still the shortest player in NBA history at 5’3”. And despite that, he played for 14 seasons in the NBA because of his athletic gifts in other areas. He was highly relatable to fans due to his short stature, and he had to overcome many obstacles just to be taken seriously by the NBA. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, an…

1
Episode 171 - Larry Bird vs. Dr. J 15:38

7M ago15:38

15:38

Larry Bird and Julius Erving had one of the most massive fights in NBA history. It was near the end of the 3rd quarter. Bird had 42 points and Erving only had 6 points. Bird was talking major trash to Erving and that led to a throw-down. Between the players and coaches, there were 11 Hall of Famers participating in this game, and they all got in on…

1
Episode 170 - The NBA Logo 13:40

7M ago13:40

13:40

The current NBA logo is the 5th version of the logo, not counting special anniversary logos. The silhouette used is of Jerry West. But is it time to use a new player, perhaps Michael Jordan? Or should tradition win out? CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "Horizon" by Roa SPORT…

1
Episode 169 - Jerry Lucas, pt. 2 16:28

8M ago16:28

16:28

Today, we conclude our story on Jerry Lucas. He played six All-Star seasons in Cincinnati before Bob Cousy traded him away to San Francisco. Eventually, he landed on a loaded Knicks team and won the 1973 NBA championship. But that was just the beginning. He then went into a career writing books and creating products to help people with their memory…

1
Episode 168 - Jerry Lucas, pt. 1 16:07

8M ago16:07

16:07

Jerry Lucas is one of the greatest forwards of all time, but he hardly ever gets mentioned today. This our chance to shine our spotlight on the life and career of this Hall of Famer and member of the NBA’s 75th anniversary team. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "60s and 70s …

1
NBA Season Special - Ursa Major 5:33

8M ago5:33

5:33

In this bonus episode of BBH.101, Rick shares the story of Wilt Chamberlain’s custom-built home in Bel Air, Los Angeles. It was built with a 7-footer in mind, and it possessed an unusual name... CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "Disco Funk" by Jam Morgan "Horizons" by Roa SP…

1
Episode 167 - Larry Fleisher 17:37

8M ago17:37

17:37

Larry Fleisher was never a player or coach, but is still a member of the Hall of Fame. He served as the legal counsel to the NBA Players Association and helped with the legal structure in forming the union in the first place. He also represented the players when they sued the NBA for free agency and in the merger between the NBA and the ABA. He neg…

1
Episode 166 - As Easy as ABCD 17:27

8M ago17:27

17:27

The ABCD Camp was the brainchild of Sonny Vaccaro, the same guy who helped create the Air Jordan basketball shoe. This camp brought together the 100 top high school basketball players in the country to play against each other every year to see who really were the greatest. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor…

1
SHN Presents: Gridiron Greats Magazine Podcast - SHN Trailers 2:52

9M ago2:52

2:52

When Football Is Football is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. NETWORK SPONSORS Row One - the vintage shop for sports history fans! HIGHLIGHTED SHOW I am Chad Cain your host of One Guy with a Mic Presents: History of Dingers and Dunks. I am going to be bringing the history of baseball and basketball to lif…

1
Episode 165 - The Three-Time Hall of Famer 18:23

9M ago18:23

18:23

Only 3% of NBA players end up in the Naismith Hall of Fame even once, and Lenny Wilkens made it in three separate categories. That is incredibly rare. Today we cover his story and go through his various contributions to the NBA that garnered Hall of Fame accolades. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, produc…

1
Episode 164 - "Paging Dolph Schayes to Carousel 3" 12:32

9M ago12:32

12:32

The 1980s Boston Celtics we’re close-knit group. They loved to play jokes on each other. Cedric Maxwell would often refer to Danny Ainge as Dolph Schayes whenever Ainge had a bad game. But one day, that joke came back to bite them... CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "80's Sy…

1
SHN Presents: Total Sports Recall - SHN Trailers 2:44

9M ago2:44

2:44

Total Sports Recall is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. EPISODE SUMMARY “Covering Sports from a Different Angle” HARV ARONSON (HOST) BACKGROUND Harv Aronson was born and raised in Pittsburgh but now lives in Florida with his beautiful wife Melissa. Harv currently writes for Abstract Sports, the Sports His…

1
Episode 163 - Oscar Robertson, pt. 3 19:49

9M ago19:49

19:49

In our conclusion to our profile on Oscar Robertson we cover his NBA career, the creation of the Players’s Union, and his first championship. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "This or That" by Reks "Running" by Jens East "Horizons" by Roa SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK sportshistory…

1
Episode 162 - Oscar Robertson, pt. 2 18:55

10M ago18:55

18:55

In Part 2 of the story of Oscar Robertson we cover Oscar’s college career at the University of Cincinnati. He took the team to the NCAA twice. He was also asked to participate with the national team in 1959 and again in 1960. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher MUSIC "This or That" b…

1
Episode 161 - Oscar Robertson, pt. 1 21:22

10M ago21:22

21:22

Many consider Oscar Robertson to be the best all-around player in history. He would score, rebound, dish out assists, play defense, and was the floor general for his teams. The man had no weakness in his game. On Part 1 of his story, we cover his earliest days through the end of high school. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice J…

1
Episode 160 - No Such Thing as a Hot Hand 20:06

10M ago20:06

20:06

A landmark research study in the 1980s revealed that there is no such thing as a hot hand in basketball. They demonstrated several different way that a player shoots at virtually his same shooting percentage whether he made his previous shot or missed his previous shot. We couldn’t believe it either, until we read the paper and followed the math...…

1
Episode 159 - Ossie Schectman and the NBA's First Points 12:36

10M ago12:36

12:36

The NBA started out by a different name: the Basketball Association of America, or BAA. The very first game was between the Toronto Huskies and the New York Knicks. Ossie Schectman scored the very first basket of the game for the Knicks. This is his story. CREDITS Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and p…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Rick Loayza Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide