Basketball History 101 Podcast By Rick Loayza cover art

Basketball History 101

Basketball History 101

By: Rick Loayza
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About this listen

 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 about it. I love learning about its history. I am, for all intents and purposes, a basketball junkie. I’ve coached all three of my kids in youth basketball. In fact, I still coach my youngest each winter. Something just happened to me when I was 11 where I was bitten by the basketball bug. And starting then, I just couldn’t get enough of this amazing game. And the purpose of this podcast and blog is to bring back some of the old stories from basketball’s history. I want to bring you a new story each week from the older days of basketball before there were 22 cameras and instant highlights on your device. Of course, any story from anywhere in basketball history is up for grabs. But I want the focus to be on those stories that are interesting and impactful but long forgotten. I’ll be covering stories going all the way back to the invention of the game in the 1890s, to the barnstorming days of basketball in the 1920s and 30s, to the creation of the current NBA in the 1940s and beyond. So, if you love basketball as much as I do, or you just want to hear a few stories from basketball’s past, then go ahead and subscribe to the podcast and come back to this blog to hear or read a new story each week. For me, this is a labor of love as I get to work with my older son, Jacob Loayza, who serves as my editor and producer. Until next time…Rick Loayza Basketball World
Episodes
  • Episode 256 - Jerry West, pt. 1

    Episode 256 - Jerry West, pt. 1
    Jul 8 2025

    The life of Jerry West is one of triumph and torment. He is one of the greatest players of all time, but also quite tormented by demons from his childhood. In this first part we take a look at his upbringing.

    CREDITS

    Rick Loayza: Head researcher, writer, and voice

    Jacob Loayza: Editor, producer, and publisher

    MUSIC

    "" by

    "Horizons" by Roa

    SPORTS HISTORY NETWORK

    sportshistorynetwork.com

    sportshistorynetwork.com/podcasts/basketball-history-101/

    FACEBOOK

    m.facebook.com/Basketball-History-101-103801581493027/

    BUSINESS CONTACT

    bballhistory101@gmail.com

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Sports History Network Theme Song

    This theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic/sports-history-network?authuser=0
    Show more Show less
    14 mins
  • Episode 255 - Chuck Daly's Dream Team

    Episode 255 - Chuck Daly's Dream Team
    Jul 1 2025

    The job that Chuck Daly did with the Dream Team is nothing short of a masterclass in basketball coaching. How do you take a team full of All-Stars and future Hall of Famers and get them to form a real team with role players and pecking order?

    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

    bballhistory101@gmail.com

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Sports History Network Theme Song

    This theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic/sports-history-network?authuser=0
    Show more Show less
    17 mins
  • Episode 254 - The NBA's First Scout

    Episode 254 - The NBA's First Scout
    Jun 24 2025

    In today’s NBA, the level of scouting is incredible. Every team keeps a complete file on every other NBA player and every significant university and overseas player. But where did all of this scouting come from? It came from the mind of Bill Bertka, the first full time scout in the NBA. He was hired by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1968 and he still works for the Lakers today at the age of 97.

    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

    bballhistory101@gmail.com

    Mentioned in this episode:

    Sports History Network Theme Song

    This theme song was produced by Ron "Tyke" Oliver of Music Meets Sportz https://sites.google.com/view/sportsfanztastic/sports-history-network?authuser=0
    Show more Show less
    17 mins
All stars
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Some really good history here...love it!...look forward to more stories...hope they keep it up...makes me enjoy the game more.

Good Stuff!

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I love that he has witnessed some of the history so he gives a better picture of what he is talking about. Another reason that I love this podcast is that each episode is so interesting. A third reason why I love this podcast is that I’m learning new facts about basketball every episode. In conclusion, this is why I love this podcast.

Love this podcast!

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