I love the history of sports team nicknames. Today I am sharing some of the stories behind the nicknames of five NBA teams. Some of these stories are complicated as about half the league has had at least one relocation and/or name change. Other teams are very straightforward and simple. But we are going to do it division by division. You see, there really isn’t a good way that we can fit all 30 teams into a single episode. So, going division by division seemed the best way to give each team adequate time. In today’s episode, we are going to cover the Pacific Division. We will return to this ..read more

Imagine that you are one of the most skilled people in the world at a particular craft. You even have a sense of humility about it, but you know that you have a gift that makes you better at this thing than nearly everyone else in the world. Now, let us also imagine that you have virtually nowhere in which to pursue this craft. And then, very suddenly, your ability to do this thing is taken away. That is what happened to Cheryl Miller, arguably the greatest women’s basketball player ever. The sad end to her playing career came at the age of 24 when she suffered a career-ending knee injury a ..read more

The very first women’s game recorded happened only one year after the game was invented. The game spread very quickly in popularity. Dr. James Naismith invented the game in late 1891. But, the following year in 1892 the first women’s game was organized and played. The game really did gain a very fast following on the east coast of the United States. Senda Berenson: Pioneer Senda Berenson organized the first game between students at all-women’s Smith College, located in Northampton, Massachusetts. Smith College is only 19 miles away from the YMCA where the game was invented in Springfield ..read more

The journey from college courts to the dazzling arenas of the NBA is a path trodden by the college basketball elite. This transition is not just a leap in terms of career but also a testament to the profound influence college basketball holds over NBA draft picks. The developmental arc provided by college basketball, the spotlight on raw talent, and the grit and grace under pressure are pivotal in shaping the careers of countless athletes. Let’s dive into how college basketball molds players into prospective NBA stars. Photo sourced via Unsplash (Credit - Logan Weaver | @LGNWVR) of a baske ..read more

The following is an excerpt from Glass Backboards: A Coast to Coast Anthology of American Basketball by Dr. Charles Ripp. To learn more, you can head to the Glass Backboards website. Basketball is competitive fun, athleticism, and staying-in-shape and enhances all faculties of living (sleep, education, interpersonal relationships, dealing with defeat and team socialization). Playing basketball has a strong statistical association with stronger marriages, finances, and overall life satisfaction indices. There are issues at all levels of basketball. The biggest hurdle is only 5 players on the ..read more

As the calendar flips to March, college basketball fans brace themselves for the annual spectacle known as March Madness. It’s a time when underdogs and giants clash on the hardwood, where every game could be a David versus Goliath story in the making. This year, a handful of teams are lurking in the shadows, ready to shake up the brackets and defy the NCAAB Top 25 Odds. Let’s dive into the squads that could make waves in the tournament. Sourced via Unsplash (credit @hannahmgibbs) of a basketball arena filled with people Florida Atlantic Owls: Soaring High or Grounded Early? The Flor ..read more

Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player ever, Michael Jordan first captivated fans across North Carolina and the nation with his aerial acrobatics and clutch shooting as a young star for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. During his three-year amateur career under legendary coach Dean Smith from 1981-1984, Jordan unleashed his amazing gifts in March Madness, creating magical moments that have become integral to the tournament’s rich lore. Photo sourced via Wikimedia Commons in the public domain of Michael Jordan's college jersey hanging from the rafters at the Dean Smith ..read more

The National Collegiate Athletic Association Basketball (NCAAB) tournament, known as March Madness, has a storied history that has captivated fans for over eight decades. The tournament began in 1939 with just eight teams, but it has grown into one of the biggest annual sporting events in the United States, now featuring 68 teams competing for the national championship. The evolution of the tournament reflects the dynamic nature of college basketball, showcasing the achievements of top teams and legendary coaches. Photo Credit Hannah Gibbs (@hannahmgibbs), sourced via Unsplash of UNI baske ..read more

The quest for perfection in college basketball has been an elusive one. Since Bill Russell and the 1956 San Francisco Dons became the first NCAA Division I Men’s college basketball team to finish the year undefeated with an NCAA tournament national championship, only six other teams have accomplished the feat.  Even so, no program has completed the perfect season since Bobby Knight and the Indiana Hoosiers did so in 1976, with the 3-point line still nine years away back then. As for teams with multiple undefeated seasons ending in national titles, UCLA stands tall above the rest ..read more

The Milwaukee Bucks entered the 2023-24 NBA season with high expectations, riding the momentum of their previous successes and bolstered by significant roster changes aimed at propelling them to the pinnacle of NBA excellence. This season, they are not only in pursuit of victory but also of redefining their legacy in the league. A Look Back Before Bucks' Success The inception of the NBA franchise in Milwaukee traces back to January 22, 1968, when the National Basketball Association approved a Milwaukee-based investor group led by Wesley D. Pavalon and Marvin L. Fishman, under the name Mil ..read more