Over and Back: Stories About NBA History

This is the first edition of Hoop Quiz, a new NBA trivia game show that pits two challengers in a battle for trivial supremacy. It's David Ramil (@dramil13), co-host of the Locked on Heat podcast, taking on Philip Rossman-Reich (@philrsquared), editor of Orlando Magic Daily and host of Locked on Magic. Before we get to the trivia, we discuss what's been enjoyable about the Heat and Magic t...

We look how the ABA-NBA merger came about and how the ABA teams paid dearly to get into the NBA in the latest episode of Over and Back's Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. We are joined by basketball historian Adam Criblez (@AdamCriblez) to look at the chaotic final 1975-76 season for the ABA with teams folding and the schedule having to be constantly reworked, how the original 1950 NBL-BAA me...

We discuss Klay Thompson's 60 points in 29 minutes and look at some other fun facts about 60-point games in NBA history in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast. We are joined by Chris Barnewell of The Step Back and At The Hive to talk about Thompson's impressive feat, his lack of time of possession compared to other 60-point games, how his off-ball skills and shootin...

DWe look at the NBA players of the past who inspired rule changes large and small in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA podcast. Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch discuss how 1930s pro basketball star Leroy Edwards inspired the 3-second rule, how the 1950s NBA dealt with superstar George Mikan and his Minneapolis Lakers dynasty by widening the paint, how Syracuse Nationals owner Danny...

With Russell Westbrook averaging a triple-double later in the season than any player since Oscar Robertson, we look into the history of the triple-double stat in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast. Jason and Rich talk about how impressive Westbrook’s feat is especially for a 6-foot-3 guard, why Westbrook shouldn’t be used to disparage Oscar Robertson and vice versa, how Le...

We look at how the ABA and NBA finally came together in the latest edition of Over and Back's Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. This is the final part of our discussion of the off-court battles between the ABA and NBA with Reinis Lacis of The Handle podcast (LamarMatic.com). We talk about ABA MVP George McGinnis flirting with the New York Knicks and how he finally made his way to the Philadel...

NoWe look at some of the incredible stories of bidding wars between the ABA and NBA in the latest edition of Over and Back's Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. This is part three of our discussion of the off-court battles between the ABA and NBA with Reinis Lacis of The Handle podcast (LamarMatic.com). We talk about Bob McAdoo signing a secret contract while still in college and an ABA owner a...

We look at how Spencer Haywood changed the world of basketball and paved the way for underclassmen to join the pros in the latest edition of Over and Back's Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. We are joined once again by Reinis Lacis of The Handle podcast to discuss Haywood signing with the ABA as a sophomore, then breaking the NBA's ban of underclassmen, the many lawsuits that followed, th...

We discuss the formation of the ABA in 1967 and how it battled with the NBA for talent and in the courtroom in the late 1960s in the latest edition of Over and Back's Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. Jason Mann is joined by Reinis Lacis (@lamarmatic) of The Handle Podcast to talk about how the ABA first got together, how the immediate goal was a merger with the NBA, George Mikan's role i...

Just a little over a year after winning an NBA championship in his rookie year, Magic Johnson publicly demanded a trade from the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 18, 1981. In the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA Podcast, Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch discuss what led up to the trade demand, the feud between Magic and Lakers coach Paul Westhead, how Johnson was vilified by fans and media du...

The NBA career of "Pistol" Pete Maravich is discussed in the latest episode of Over and Back's Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s series. Jason Mann is joined by KL Chouinard of Hawks.com and the ATL and 29 podcast, and they discuss why Maravich's brilliant individual skills didn't translate to much team success, his unrivaled fame coming into the NBA, being a favored white star...

Did your NBA team blow a 3-1 lead? There’s always next year. Jason and Rich discuss the teams who squandered a 3-1 advantage in a playoff series and what happened next in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA podcast. With both the Golden State Warriors (in the Finals, you might have heard) and the Oklahoma City Thunder facing seasons after epic 3-1 collapses, we look at how other te...

We look at the 23 worst games of Michael Jordan’s career in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA podcast. Rich Kraetsch and Jason Mann look at Jordan’s performances in each game and tidbits from each situation. While this might seem like an exercise in player-hating from notorious Jordan skeptics, it’s actually impressive how few out-and-out bad performances Jordan had in his career...

Could Kevin Durant be included in the conversation for greatest of all time? What would it take for him to get there? What would the Golden State Warriors need to accomplish? Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch discuss this and more on the latest episode the Over and Back Classic NBA podcast, now at The Step Back. Time Stamps: 3:45 Where Durant ranks in all-time categories 6:00 How behind LeBron James in...

The hair, the fashion and jerseys of the 1970s are discussed in the latest episode of the Over and Back Classic NBA podcast’s Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s series. Video Accompaniment: http://bit.ly/OnB-70sFashion Jason Mann and Rich Kraetsch discuss on and off the court basketball fashion of the 1970s — the good, the ugly and the plaid! Jerseys such as the Miami Floridians, Indiana Pacers, Ne...

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Bill Walton: Could this rivalry have saved the NBA from a late 1970s malaise had Walton remained healthy? We discuss what was and what could have been in the latest episode of Over and Back's Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. We consider the parallels between Abdul-Jabbar and Walton with Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, look at the head-to-head matchups between Walto...

We look at some of the most spectacular stat lines and box scores in the NBA and ABA in the latest episode of Over and Back's Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. We discuss the incredible duel over the scoring title in 1978, with David Thompson scoring 73 points and George Gervin with 63 on the final night of the regular season, other players who scored more than 60 points in a single game duri...

We discuss the most incredible NBA and ABA moments of the 1970s in the latest edition of Over and Back’s Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. We go through some of the most exciting and clutch moments of the decade, including Jerry West's 60-foot shoot in Game 3 of the 1970 NBA Finals, Willis Reed walking through the tunnel in Game 7, Fred Carter's jumper for the Baltimore Bullets against th...

We look at Bill Walton and how revolutionary he was in his politics, lifestyle and on the basketball floor in the latest episode of Over and Back's Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. The redheaded center was an amazing passer, defender, shotblocker, and crafty scorer with a range of smarts and skills whose Portland Trail Blazers seemed on the verge of a dynasty when Walton’s foot injury in 197...

Kevin Garnett wore #21 and played 21 seasons in the NBA. It only seems fitting that we bid The Big Ticket adieu with 21 questions about Garnett's life and career. Questions and topics include who was Kevin Garnett, where does Kevin Garnett rank among players, by the numbers, Is there an argument Garnett is the most versatile player in NBA history, what were his best instances of trash talk, ou...

We look at key on-the-court battles between the warring NBA and ABA in the latest episode in Over and Back’s Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s with Reinis Lacis (@LamarMatic), host of The Handle podcast. Known for many legal battles off the court, the ABA and NBA battled often on the court, with two interleague all-star games and dozens of exhibition games throughout the 1970s. We discuss the NBA’...

We look at Wilt Chamberlain’s time in the ABA as coach of the San Diego Conquistadors in the latest episode in Over and Back’s Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. We discuss how Chamberlain, fresh off leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the 1972 title and 1973 Finals, jumped to the ABA as a player-coach but was unable to play because of contract issues and what a difference he might have made had he...

We discuss Kermit Washington’s infamous punch that severely injured Rudy Tomjanovich in 1977 and the NBA’s fighting culture of the time in the latest edition of Over and Back’s Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. We look at the evolution of the NBA from a rough-and-tumble game with lots of fouling and physical play in the 1950s into more of a finesse game, how early black players with often pigeonh...

We look at why there were so many playoff upsets and so much parity during the 1970s in the latest edition of Over and Back’s Basketball Mysteries of the 1970s. We discuss how parity increased in the NBA as the decade wore on and peaked in the late 1970s after the NBA-ABA merger, how 1970s series dominate the list of biggest NBA upsets ever, how there were more major 7-game playoff upsets during t...

We look at how Julius Erving’s game and persona evolved during the late 1970s and early 1980s years with the Philadelphia 76ers, where they reached the NBA Finals three times before finally winning a championship in 1983 with Moses Malone. We are joined by frequent guest and pro-basketball historian Curtis Harris @ProHoopsHistory of ProHoopsHistory.com. We discuss how Erving personified ‘70s cool...