NBA History Conversations: Basketball Record
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Former NBA/ABA players, coaches, and media share their hoops journeys, with topic-driven episodes and Adam’s Australian take on basketball history.
Episodes
- 1976 ABA All-Star Game Oral History: Gilmore, Knight, Taylor, Vecsey & Babcock
This episode features a panel discussion on the 1976 ABA All-Star Game, marking the 50th anniversary of the league's final showcase. Participants revisit the game's unique format, the ABA's creative style, early adoption of the three-point…
- 1995 NBA Draft Recap: Remembering Reece Pedretti (Tribute Rerelease)
This 1995 NBA Draft recap is a tribute to the late Reece Pedretti, who passed away in February 2025. The host shares a recorded conversation with his friend from August 2013 and reflects on their shared love for 1990s basketball.
- Mike Riordan: 1970 NBA Champion (Knicks) and Providence Hall of Famer
Mike Riordan shares his experiences playing college basketball at Providence and contributing to the 1970 New York Knicks championship team, the franchise's first title.
- Pete Babcock: A remarkable 42-year journey to an NBA championship - AIR144
Pete Babcock discusses his 42-year career in the NBA, covering his roles from scout to front-office executive. He reflects on his time with various franchises, the complexities of trades, and his commitment to humanitarian work and Black h…
- Ahoy! Water cannon madness. Warriors vs Spurs - 1995 season opener [The Soggy Nachos Game] - BTG-10
The 1995 NBA season opener between the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs featured an unusual event when a pregame fireworks display activated the stadium's fire sprinklers, releasing 12,000 gallons of water onto the court.
- Jack Danilewicz - The Greatest Upset Never Seen: Virginia, Chaminade, and the Game That Changed College Basketball - AIR143
Welcome writer Jack Danilewicz to the show. We discuss his 2019 book The Greatest Upset Never Seen: Virginia, Chaminade, and the Game That Changed College Basketball . Future Hall of Famer 7’4” Ralph Sampson and his Virginia Cavaliers – th…
- Jake Uitti - Michael Ray Richardson. Banned: How I Squandered an All-Star NBA Career Before Finding My Redemption - AIR142
Welcome writer Jake Uitti to the show. He co-authored a newly-released book with NBA and European star, Michael Ray Richardson . Jake also released books with Muggsy Bogues and Earl Cureton . Next year, he has two more NBA memoirs set for…
- 1994 NBA Finals: New York Knicks v Houston Rockets [extensive recap - part two] - AIR141
Part two of our 1994 NBA Finals rundown. We continue discussing the battle between the New York Knicks and the Houston Rockets. In part one, we covered through Game 4 of the series. Now, it’s essentially a best two-of-three scenario. As wi…
- Jim Brinson: Broadcast veteran / play-by-play man for Michael Jordan's NBA debut (Oct 26, 1984) - AIR140
Let's welcome long-time broadcaster, Jim Brinson , to the show. We dive into Jim's journey through radio and TV over the years. A highlight of our chat is Jim's experience covering Michael Jordan’s NBA regular-season debut on October 26, 1…
- 1994 NBA Finals: New York Knicks v Houston Rockets [extensive recap - part one] - AIR139
Part one of our discussion of the 1994 NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets. We dissect the history between Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon, comment on the 1994 regular season and much more. The episode features aud…
- Rich Rinaldi (part two): St. Peter's College Hall of Famer, NBA / ABA veteran and European star - AIR138
Part two of my extended conversation with Rich Rinaldi. We now focus on Rico's - he shares the origins of his nickname - professional career. Rich offers fascinating insights into the ups and downs of his NBA and ABA tenure. Aged just 26 a…
- Rich Rinaldi (part one): St. Peter's College Hall of Famer, NBA / ABA veteran and European star - AIR137
Welcome Rich Rinaldi to the show. Part one of our extended conversation about his life. We recorded this on Rich’s 75th birthday (an added treat). A wide-ranging discussion and perfect example of why I love creating my podcast. We talk bas…
- Australia's No Bull Tour [the truth]. Chicago Bulls' Luc Longley, Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant - AIR136
My recap of the final stop on the No Bull Tour (Sydney). Australian legend, Luc Longley, invited his former Chicago Bulls teammates, Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant, to our friendly shores. The show was even better than I could have imagin…
- Tom Chambers - NBA All-Star MVP, 16-year veteran and Basketball Hall of Fame candidate - AIR135
Let's welcome the legendary Tom Chambers to the show. A massive thanks to our mutual friend, Jeff Wells . Jeff was my guest on episode 128 . We detailed his campaign for Tom to enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame . We also spoke at…
- Walter Davis - The life and times of North Carolina legend and six-time NBA All-Star (retrospective) - AIR134
On November 2nd, 2023, six-time NBA All-Star Walter Davis died of natural causes while visiting family in Charlotte. Today, I welcome back Adam Beechen - a great friend of the show. We discuss Walter’s life on-and-off the basketball court.…
- Reggie Lewis' tragic death (1993) and impact on the Boston Celtics [expanded re-release] - AIR133
Reggie Lewis tragically passed away 30 years ago (1993) at the age of just 27. This is an updated re-release of episode 27 with my great mate, Todd Spehr . We recorded our chat ten years ago to mark the 20th anniversary of Lewis' sudden pa…
- Beef Brothers (Mahorn and Ruland) - 2023 Conference Finals, NBA lottery, Ja Morant and Rick on Isiah - BB6
The legendary Beef Brothers ( Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland ) return for episode six. 01:49 2023 NBA Draft Lottery - Wemby to San Antonio Spurs 06:21 Ralph Sampson (and Bill Walton) - similarities to Victor? 07:16 Manute Bol was how old when…
- Bill Willoughby: High school phenom to the 1975 NBA Draft (eight-year veteran) - AIR132
Let's welcome Bill Willoughby to the show. There are many more strings to his bow – as you’ll hear in my introduction - however, Bill rose to national awareness during the 1981 NBA Playoffs, by virtue of his excellent defense against the l…
- Beef Brothers (Mahorn and Ruland) - 2023 Playoffs (round one winds-up), Rick and Jeff's fun / frivolities - BB5
The legendary Beef Brothers ( Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland ) return for episode five. 01:12 2023 NBA Awards thus far 03:23 Rick Mahorn nominated for Washington Wizards President?! 05:12 Players who find a great fit on the right team 06:23 K…
- Adam on Hard Quiz (TV). Michael Jordan, Scouts Australia, The Incredibles and Penny Farthings - AIR131
Watch Adam's TV debut. Or, listen to this audio and learn how his adventure went. Can he justify his self-proclaimed title of Michael Jordan / NBA-history obsessive?! I recently made my first - and perhaps last - appearance on television.…
- Beef Brothers (Mahorn and Ruland) - 2023 Playoffs, Jeff denies MJ ('84) and Zeke punches Rick ('90)! - BB4
The legendary Beef Brothers ( Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland ) return for episode four. 00:50 NBA reg-season recap (best records, league leaders) 01:18 NBA MVP picks for 2023 season 02:41 League parity 04:03 Did Suns win Durant trade? 04:52 W…
- Beef Brothers (Mahorn and Ruland) on All-Star Game fixes, Rick's Pistons trade (1985) and Jeff's 1984 ASG - BB3
The legendary Beef Brothers ( Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland ) return for episode three. - NBA season thru Mar 1, 2023 - All-Star Game fixes? - Rick's trade from the Washington Bullets to Detroit Pistons (1985) - Jeff's 1984 All-Star Game mem…
- Beef Brothers (Mahorn and Ruland) on today's NBA, Paul Silas, Manute Bol and more - BB2
The legendary Beef Brothers ( Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland ) return for episode two. - NBA season thru Dec 11, 2022 - Rick and Jeff's iconic Beef Brothers photo shoot - Paul Silas' recent passing (3x NBA Champ) - Manute Bol memories (2x Blo…
- Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland - Meat the Beef Brothers (new series) - BB1
The debut episode of a new series featuring the legendary Beef Brothers , Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland . Our goal is to regularly release episodes of 45 minutes or less. Rick and Jeff share their opinions on today's NBA, before we go back i…
- 1993 NBA Eastern Conference Finals - Bulls vs Knicks (What if?) - BTG-9
A sliding doors moment from the 1993 NBA Playoffs would have significantly impacted the course of NBA history. Though I’m not normally a fan of what-if scenarios, let’s entertain one. Specifically, an examination of Game 5 of the 1993 East…
- Memorable NBA Games: Detroit's Dumars dazzles in Cleveland (Apr 18, 1989) - Pistons at Cavaliers - AIR130
We journey back to 1989 and discuss a key matchup between Central Division rivals, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons. Let's welcome a new friend to the show – Ryan Van Dusen – an archivist and curator of Detroit Pistons and NBA-h…
- Brian Burnsed: Shawn Bradley wrestles with life at 7'6" in a wheelchair (Sports Illustrated) - AIR129
Brian Burnsed is a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated . We do a deep dive into the process behind his brilliant – yet sobering - profile of 12-year NBA veteran, Shawn Bradley . Existing fans of my show will likely know that I’ve be…
- One fan's campaign for Tom Chambers to enter the Basketball Hall of Fame - AIR128
Jeff Wells is a Tom Chambers superfan. This is a super-fun conversation about Jeff’s excellent YouTube channel – TC24 – devoted to showcasing Tom’s fantastic career and advocating his worthiness for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of…
- Tom Chambers' [Hall of Fame] dunk on Mark Jackson (Jan 27, 1989) - BTG-8
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame recently announced the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2022, including high-profile first-time nominee, Tom Chambers. Behind the Game - this episode details one of the NBA’s all-ti…
- Adam on 200 episodes and how fans can support the show
Hey, it's Adam here. A quick podcast update for you as we near the end of 2021. It's official. My recent conversation with the great Jerry Colangelo was episode number 200 overall. It was the 127th edition of 'In all Airness'. The remainin…
- Jerry Colangelo: Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Team USA and more - Godfather of Arizona Sports - AIR127
Let's welcome ‘The Godfather of Arizona Sports’, Jerry Colangelo. Jerry’s contributions to professional sports are immeasurable. In this conversation, we focus primarily on his incredible basketball journey. Jerry discusses his high school…
- Joanne Borzakian Ouellette: Reebok Global Marketing Director NBA Basketball (former) - AIR126
Joanne worked with Reebok for over 15 years. Her family has links to the Boston Celtics dating back nearly five decades. Joanne details what it was like to grow up within the confines of the Boston Garden and the unique relationships she h…
- Dave Cowens: Hall of Fame legend, 2x NBA Champion, MVP, 8x All-Star and Boston Celtics great - AIR125
I’m excited to welcome Basketball Hall of Fame legend, Dave Cowens. The first NBA Most Valuable Player to appear on the podcast. In this fun, insightful and wide-ranging conversation, Dave discusses his days at Newport Catholic HS and run-…
- NBA trivia: player nicknames (1950s to 1990s - questions via Basketball-Reference) - AIR124
How good is your knowledge of NBA trivia? This episode is all about nicknames. 30 questions in total, courtesy of the mighty Basketball-Reference . Players from the 1950s thru 1990s. Only one question went unanswered. Test your knowledge a…
- Memorable NBA Games [re-release]: Dominique Wilkins returns to Atlanta (Mar 25, 1994) - Clippers at Hawks - AIR123
[2015 re-release] Adam and Aaron discuss Dominique Wilkins' return to Atlanta - his first game versus the Hawks as an opposition player. Nique dropped 36 points on his former team, as the L.A. Clippers defeated the Atlanta Hawks by three p…
- Luc Longley: One Giant Leap - Australian Story's Caitlin Shea and Greg Hassall - AIR122
I’m very pleased to welcome Caitlin Shea and Greg Hassall - co-producers of Australian Story ’s two-part feature on Luc Longley - ‘ One Giant Leap ’. Personally, this podcast episode is extra special. Luc contacted me in June to ask if I’d…
- Adam's 1994 NBA Tour: Iconic arenas and countless memories. Where's MJ?
Approximately 20 basketball crazies here in Australia, flew to the USA for two weeks of NBA experiences we’ll never forget. It was an amazing time that I’ve occasionally mentioned throughout the course of this podcast’s existence. You’re a…
- Terry Davis: (MCI) Center of Attention - survival, adversity and conquering long odds - AIR120
I’m very pleased to welcome Terry Davis (10-year NBA veteran). All going to plan, Terry will join the show at a future date for a deep dive on his life in basketball. Here, Terry reflects on his NBA return and pivotal role in the debut of…
- Bob Ryan: 1976 NBA Finals - Game 5 (3OT) - [45th anniversary - Suns v Celtics] - AIR119
Last week marked the 45th anniversary of Game 5 (3OT) of the 1976 NBA Finals. Phoenix Suns at Boston Celtics . It's often called The Greatest Game Ever Played. Let's welcome back legendary Basketball Hall of Famer, Bob Ryan . Plus, my good…
- 1991 NBA Eastern Conference Finals (30th anniversary) - BTG-7
This week marks the 30th anniversary of the NBA's 1991 Eastern Conference Finals. Chicago versus back-to-back NBA Champion, Detroit. Chicago and Detroit had met in each of the previous three postseasons. In 1988 it was the ECSF (Pistons 4-…
- Adam guests on NBL Pocket Podcast - AIR118
My friend, Joseph Corr - host of NBL Pocket Podcast - invited me on his show. We recorded this evergreen conversation in August of 2019. The episode was released on his podcast feed in early 2020. This is my edit of the hour-long episode t…
- Mandy Cohen: Live Sports Producer - WGN-TV Chicago, 1990s Bulls and The Last Dance - AIR117
Eight-time Emmy Award winner, Mandy Cohen, witnessed NBA history as a vital member of WGN-TV Chicago in a decade where the Bulls won six NBA titles in eight years. This is a fun and insightful conversation about Mandy’s life in sports. Her…
- Bob Ryan: Legendary Boston Globe columnist and Basketball Hall of Famer
Let's welcome iconic Boston Globe columnist and Basketball Hall of Famer, Bob Ryan. His excellent book, Scribe: My Life in Sports (2014), will be the framework of our multi-part conversation. In this first instalment, we cover Bob’s early…
- Danny Manning: NCAA Champion, NBA All-Star and Sixth Man of the Year - AIR115
Danny Manning has a storied career in basketball. We cover lots of topics, including his formative years of watching and learning the game, his family’s move to Kansas where he starred for the Jayhawks in college and ultimately was selecte…
- Andrew Goldberg: Collecting 1,264 Michael Jordan NBA game tickets - AIR114
Andrew Goldberg's mission? To collect each-and-every ticket from Michael Jordan's NBA career - regular-season, postseason and All-Star games included. You’ll be surprised at the unique, delightful ways Andrew has obtained some of the ticke…
- Butch Beard: Mr. Basketball, UofL Hall of Famer, NBA All-Star / Champion - AIR113
Alfred 'Butch' Beard was named Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball in 1965. He paints a picture of life in 1960s Kentucky - the civil rights movement and his exposure to racism. Butch starred at the University of Louisville and is a member of their…
- Jeff Turner: Vanderbilt standout, 1984 gold medalist and ten-year NBA veteran - AIR112
Jeff Turner was a standout - on-and-off the court - at Vanderbilt University. Before turning pro, he had played internationally and won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. This is a fun, insightful chat about Jeff’s life…
- Steve Johnson: Oregon State University great, NBA All-Star and ten-year veteran - AIR111
Steve Johnson starred at Oregon State University and was selected by the Kansas City Kings with the seventh-overall pick in the 1981 NBA Draft. He was named an All-Star in 1988. This is an enlightening chat about Steve’s unique rise from h…
- Eldridge Recasner: Husky Hall of Famer, CBA MVP / Champion and eight-year NBA veteran - AIR110
Eldridge Recasner is a member of the Washington Huskies' Hall of Fame. His rise from college to the NBA is filled with plenty of twists and turns. We discuss the unique path that led to him enjoying an eight-year run at the highest level w…
- Jeff Sanders: Georgia Southern Hall of Famer and five-year NBA veteran - AIR109
Jeff Sanders is the first of numerous former players - that I had the pleasure of meeting in Chicago (All-Star Weekend 2020) - to guest on the podcast. Sanders was one of the Chicago Bulls' three first-round picks in the 1989 NBA Draft. Th…