Rephonic
Artwork for Basketball History 101

Basketball History 101

Rick Loayza
NBA
Basketball
ABA
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Basketball History
Red Auerbach
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
NBA Draft
Jerry West
Sports History
Bill Russell
Larry Bird
NCAA
American Basketball Association
Wilt Chamberlain
James Naismith
Olympics

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 wi... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes300Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BasketballSportsHistory

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Basketball History 101

Latest Episodes

Back in 1979, Magic Johnson defied basketball convention. Analysts at the time could not figure out which position he would play when coming to the NBA. Would he play point guard? His dribble wasn’t strong enough. What about power forward? His post g... more

YouTube

In 1985, Villanova University did the improbable. As the 8th seed, they toppled the heavily favored Georgetown Hoyas, led by the player of the year, Patrick Ewing. They are still the lowest seeded team to win the NCAA Championship.

CREDITS

Rick Loa... more

YouTube

Johnny Beckman was one of the greatest players of the 1920s and 1930s. In fact, at the time he was considered the greatest player of all time and that is rarified air. Only a very few players ever carried the mantle of the greatest, and Beckman was o... more

YouTube

What if the modern NBA went back to just 8 teams like they had in the 1960s? Only 16% of the current players would still have a roster spot in a reduced league. Everyone else would have to play in the G-league, Europe, Australia, or just get a regula... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
Brian Windhorst & The Hoop CollectiveESPN, Omaha Productions, Brian Windhorst

Recent Guests

Arv Aronson
Host of Total Sports Recall Podcast, sponsor speaker in episode
Total Sports Recall Podcast
Episode: Episode 296 - A Cinderella Story: Villanova 1985
Bo Belanger
Writer, producer and the creative force behind Connie & Jack, A Rigged Game
Self / Connie & Jack project
Episode: Episode 288 - Connie Hawkins: An Interview with Bo Belanger
Zev Eleff
Professor of Jewish American history and president of Gratz College
Gratz College
Episode: Episode 249 - The Zev Eleff Exclusive: The Greatest Of All Time, pt. 1
Bob Kuska
Author of Balls of Confusion, Pro Basketball Goes to War, 1965-1970
Independent Author
Episode: Episode 230 - The Bob Kuska Exclusive: The Great Basketball War, pt. 2
Dean Tolson
Former NBA player and author
Author of Power Forward
Episode: Episode 187 - The Dean Tolson Exclusive: A Retired Seattle SuperSonic's Message for the World

Host

Rick Loayza
Host of Basketball History 101; focuses on forgotten stories from basketball history and hosts with editorial support from Jacob Loayza.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 93 ratings
  • Inconsistent

    I used to listen to this podcast a lot but he’s been getting more and more inconsistent

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    PLEASE UPLOAD MORE!!!!
    United States4 months ago
  • Love it

    I listen to every new episode can’t get enough of this podcast!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    🐐😀😎
    United States6 months ago
  • Best best BEST ever

    This is the best basketball podcast ever!!!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sarebear328
    United Statesa year ago
  • 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.

    Audible
    5
    Allison McMahon
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love this podcast!

    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.

    Audible
    5
    Allison McMahon
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Thoughtful, well-produced history storytelling that deepens basketball fans' appreciation.
A go-to for those who want to understand how early basketball shaped today's game.
The host brings energy and clear passion for the era-specific stories.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#249
United States/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#210
Canada/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#158
Australia/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#140
Denmark/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#206
Japan/Sports/Basketball
Apple Podcasts
#241
Hong Kong/Sports/Basketball

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 249 - The Zev Eleff Exclusive: The Greatest Of All Time, pt. 1
Q: Why are we incapable of just looking at a person's career and evaluating the career for the career?
Zev explains that debates about greatness reflect our values in society, making it difficult to separate a person's achievements from their off-court or off-field persona.
Episode 249 - The Zev Eleff Exclusive: The Greatest Of All Time, pt. 1
Q: What drew you to the concept of greatness?
Zev discusses his interest in how the perception of greatness changes over time and how it varies within different contexts and disciplines.
Episode 256 - Jerry West, pt. 1
Q: What struggles did Jerry West face during his life?
He battled emotional struggles, family issues, and a feeling of never being good enough, despite his success.
Episode 256 - Jerry West, pt. 1
Q: What was Jerry West's impact on the NBA?
He is considered the most impactful individual in NBA history with his teams reaching the Finals 23 times and winning 10 championships.
Episode 229 - The Bob Kuska Exclusive: The Great Basketball War, pt. 1
Q: What were some of the big players the ABA ever took in that way?
Bob mentions that Dr. Julius Irving, known as Dr. J, was one of the biggest players the ABA signed early.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Basketball History 101

What is Basketball History 101 about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show digs into forgotten corners of basketball history, delivering narrative-rich explorations of early leagues, barnstorming tours, and pivotal figures. Episodes blend play-by-play context with biographical sketches, archival puzzles, and thoughtful analysis that connects the sport's past to its present. The host's passion comes through in conversational storytelling, making this a compelling listen for fans who crave deep cuts, context, and a sense of basketball's evolution across eras. A standout angle is the focus on underrepresented players and moments, plus occasional sponsor integrations that feel organically tied to the era being discussed.

Where can I find podcast stats for Basketball History 101?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Basketball History 101. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Basketball History 101 and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Basketball History 101 get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Basketball History 101, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Basketball History 101?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Basketball History 101, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Basketball History 101 have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Basketball History 101 has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Basketball History 101?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Basketball History 101:

1. The Athletic NBA Daily
2. The Bill Simmons Podcast
3. The Zach Lowe Show
4. Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective
5. The Ringer NBA Show

How many episodes of Basketball History 101 are there?

Basketball History 101 launched 6 years ago and published 300 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Basketball History 101?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Basketball History 101?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Basketball History 101 from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Basketball History 101?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Basketball History 101. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Basketball History 101?

Recent guests on Basketball History 101 include:

1. Arv Aronson
2. Bo Belanger
3. Zev Eleff
4. Bob Kuska
5. Dean Tolson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days