Explore every episode of the podcast Once Upon A Dribble

The ultimate WESTERN Conference ballot is officially locked in for this final part of our 2 part series. In this episode, we go team-by-team through all 15 Western Conference franchises to carve their 4 ultimate icons into stone.

We jump from icons like LA and Golden State to the conundrums of Memphis and Sacramento, we reveal our final choices and build the ultimate monument to Western Conference basketball history.

Since this is part 2, we hop right into things. If you want a full introduction on our criteria and more context, watch part 1!

Intro (0:00)

Dallas Mavericks (01:51)

Denver Nuggets (07:27)

Golden State Warriors (16:16)

Houston Rockets (23:54)

Los Angeles Clippers (33:03)

Los Angeles Lakers (39:46)

Memphis/Vancouver Grizzlies (49:31)

Minnesota Timberwolves (55:18)

New Orleans Pelicans/Hornets (01:02:33)

OKC Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics (01:06:56)

Phoenix Suns (01:15:08)

Portland Trail Blazers (01:20:06)

Sacramento/KC Kings, Cincinnati/Rochester Royals (01:26:45)

San Antonio Spurs (01:33:52)

Utah Jazz (01:40:28)

Who's on YOUR Mt Rushmore for these squads?

The ultimate Eastern Conference ballot is officially locked in. In this episode, we go team-by-team through all 15 Eastern Conference franchises to carve their 4 ultimate icons into stone.

From the historic dynasties of Boston and Chicago to the modern identity crises of Charlotte and Orlando, we reveal our final choices and build the ultimate monument to Eastern Conference basketball history.

Intro (0:00)

Our criteria (04:39)

Atlanta Hawks (05:40)

Boston Celtics (11:38)

Brooklyn Nets (17:07)

Charlotte Hornets (22:47)

Chicago Bulls (28:27)

Cleveland Cavaliers (34:37)

Detroit Pistons (40:56)

Indiana Pacers (48:00)

Miami Heat (53:44)

Milwaukee Bucks (59:04)

New York Knicks (1:03:35)

Orlando Magic (1:09:39)

Philadelphia 76ers (1:12:59)

Toronto Raptors (1:19:22)

Washington Wizards (01:24:11)

Who's on YOUR Mt Rushmore for these squads?

The NBA has changed dramatically over the last 15 years. Not just on the court, but in the way fans consume the league, how media covers it, and how players shape their own careers.

Joining us is Guardian writer and All-NBA voter Claire de Lune to discuss the evolution of the modern NBA through the LeBron era! We dive into player empowerment, ring culture, media discourse, social media, roster-building, and the forces that shaped today's league.

How much of the modern NBA can be traced back to LeBron James? And what happens when the league finally enters its post-LeBron chapter?

You can follow Claire on X, @ClaireMPLS

You can read Claire's incredible work at the Guardian here:

https://www.theguardian.com/profile/claire-de-lune

Every NBA fan has an MVP definition in their head and what usually ends up happening is they're all different. Is the MVP about team success? Raw production? Efficiency? Narrative?

In this micro episode, I break down why modern MVP debates feel so messy and why we may not even be arguing the same thing anymore. Of course here on Once Upon A Dribble we dive into the historical side of things so join me in the NBA Time Machine!

Who was the best player in the world each year in the NBA?

In this episode of Once Upon a Dribble, Josh is joined by CBS Sports writer Sam Quinn to explore a fun historical thought experiment: the unofficial “Best Player in the World Championship Belt.”

Instead of ranking players all-time, we track the league’s true crown year-by-year asking when the belt clearly belonged to one superstar and when it was up for grabs.

We discuss:

• Michael Jordan’s dominance in the 90s

• Shaq vs. Duncan in the early 2000s

• Kobe’s peak years

• When LeBron truly took the crown

• Steph, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic and the modern era debate

Along the way we dig into the messiest transition seasons, controversial belt holders, and the players who came closest without ever holding the title.

Once Upon a Dribble is a basketball history & ideas podcast focused on context over hot takes.

Once Upon a Dribble — 2011 NBA MVP Revisited

(Notebook episodes are short 15-30 minute solo entries where I give quick hitter context, insight and narrative to various NBA topics)

Was Derrick Rose the right MVP in 2011?

In this episode, we revisit one of the most debated MVP races of the modern era, looking at the full top 10 and the context that shaped the vote.

From Chicago’s resurgence to the backlash against LeBron after “The Decision,” this season was about narrative, team success, fatigue, and timing.

We walk through:

• The biggest storylines of the 2010–11 season

• A brief look at spots 10–6

• Deep dives into Rose, Dwight, LeBron, Kobe, and KD

• And whether history still agrees with the final vote

Let's dive in!

Once Upon a Dribble — What does “heliocentric” actually mean?

(Notebook episodes are short 15-30 minute solo entries where I give quick hitter context, insight and narrative to various NBA topics)

It’s not just ball dominance. It’s not just usage.
And it’s definitely not new.

In this Once Upon a Dribble: Notebook episode, Josh traces how heliocentrism evolved. From Wilt and Kareem, to Magic and Jordan, to LeBron, Harden, Luka, and Jokic... and why the league may actually be refining it, not abandoning it.

(01:37) The Pre-Heliocentric Era - '50s-70s

(07:59) The First True Heliocentric Prototypes - MJ and Magic

(13:15) Modern Heliocentrism = Creation Load - LeBron, Harden, Luka, Jokic

(19:13) The Current State of Heliocentrism

(21:30) 3 Misconceptions about Heliocentric Basketball

Today we finish with part 10 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. 

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history? Find out today as Josh tackles the Western Conference in the 2010s!

2010: Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns - Kobe Bryant (02:49)

2011: Dallas Mavericks vs Oklahoma City Thunder - Dirk Nowitzki (09:13)

2012: Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs - Kevin Durant (14:22)

2013: Memphis Grizzlies vs San Antonio Spurs - Tony Parker (20:01)

2014: Oklahoma City Thunder vs San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan (25:12)

2015: Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets - Stephen Curry (30:51)

2016: Golden State Warriors vs Oklahoma City Thunder - Stephen Curry (36:34)

2017: Golden State Warriors vs San Antoni Spurs - Stephen Curry (41:54)

2018: Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets - Kevin Durant (48:16)

2019: Golden State Warriors vs Portland Trail Blazers - Stephen Curry (54:16)

2020: Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers - LeBron James (01:00:01)

2021: Los Angeles Clippers vs Phoenix Suns - Chris Paul (01:09:53)

Recap/Outro: (01:16:27)

Thank you all who enjoyed and listened to this series!

When you really break it down, the whole history of the NBA is still a relatively short amount of time. At 79 years old, there are still many people around who have a living memory of the first NBA season.

The league celebrated 50 years in 1996, with a special reveal of the top 50 players of all-time up to that point, as voted on by media, former player, general managers, and other notable figures.

For the first 50 years of the league, there were several individuals who were obvious locks to make the top-50. Michael, Kareem, Larry, Dr. J and many others easily made the list... but what if we told you that a 9-time All-Star, who at the time sat on 8th on the NBA’s all time scoring list did not make the top 50?

In today’s episode, we take the NBA time machine back to the 80s and 90s, and explore the life and times of one of basketball’s most underrated players of all time, the one and only Dominique Wilkins.

00:00 Introduction

03:43 Early Life, College Years and the Draft

13:41 Superstar Rising - 1982-90

24:50 Achilles Tear and The Trade

35:40 The Twilight Years - Gone Overseas?

45:10 The Legacy of Mr. 51st

On April 19, 2020, ESPN and Netflix released a landmark documentary series that was over two decades in the making, chronicling a behind the scenes look at the supremacy of Michael Jordan’s last years in Chicago. As Americans and people all across the globe were settling into an entirely new life of pandemic quarantine madness, The Last Dance was a much needed escape, and a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of the most popular figures in the history of sports.

But lost in the spectacle of MJ’s unprecedented greatness, and ultimately reduced to something little more than a footnote in the pages of NBA history, the Utah Jazz came away emptied handed again and again, despite fielding a team that likely could have hoisted a championship banner, had they played in any other era.

Led by a dynamic duo of John Stockton and Karl Malone, two players who still stand among the top 10 of all time at their respective positions, the Jazz had spent much of the late 80s and 90s just on the cusp of taking those final steps into championship glory. But always for one reason or another, the stars never perfectly aligned for the team from Utah, and Stockton and Malone would find themselves forever on another and far less desirable all-time list: as some of the best players to never win a ring.

In today’s episode, we take the NBA time machine back to the 1990s, and explore the rise and fall of the team that tried and failed to steal the last dance, and find out just what went wrong for the Utah Jazz.

This is Once Upon a Dribble!

(04:30) The Foundation - Background on the '80s Jazz

(18:14) The Slow Climb - The Ups and Downs of the Early and Mid '90s

(41:29) The 1996-97 Utah Jazz season

(01:08:56) The 1997-98 Utah Jazz

Copyright Disclaimer: - Under section 107 of the copyright Act 1976, allowance is mad for FAIR USE for purpose such a as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statues that might otherwise be infringing. Non- Profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of FAIR USE.

Today we continue in part 9 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. 

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history? Find out today as Josh tackles the Eastern Conference in the 2010s!

2010: Boston Celtics vs Orlando Magic - Paul Pierce (03:10)

2011: Miami Heat vs Chicago Bulls - LeBron James (11:35)

2012: Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics - LeBron James (20:03)

2013: Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers- LeBron James (28:33)

2014: Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers- LeBron James (36:04)

2015: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Atlanta Hawks- LeBron James (42:35)

2016: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors- LeBron James (49:28)

2017: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics- LeBron James (54:39)

2018: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Boston Celtics- LeBron James (01:00:22)

2019: Toronto Raptors vs Milwaukee Bucks- Kawhi Leonard (01:11:11)

2020: Miami Heat vs Boston Celtics- Bam Adebayo (01:19:35)

2021: Milwaukee Bucks vs Atlanta Hawks- Khris Middleton (01:28:16)

Recap/Outro: (01:37:04)

(04:48) What led to the Decision? The Breaking Point in Cleveland

(26:00) The Villain Season - 2010-11

(53:48) Redemption, "It's About Damn Time" - 2011-12(01:10:54) Supernova, Back-To-Back - 2012-13

(01:32:00) The Burnout - 2013-14

July 8th, 2010. A 25-year-old phenom sat across from Jim Gray… and set the basketball world on fire.
"'I’m going to take my talents to South Beach.'"

Seven words that shattered Cleveland... united superstars... and turned a beloved MVP into the NBA's greatest villain overnight.
This is the story of The Heatles. Of dominance. Of legacy. And of how one decision changed the course of basketball history.
But before the championships, before the 27-game win streak, before the redemption...
There was heartbreak.
There was pressure.
And there was a reason he had to leave.

From Cleveland’s collapse… to South Beach’s rise… to the fall in 2014—this is the LeBron Miami saga, as you've never heard it before.

(04:50) Background on basketball in Philadelphia and on Wilt

(23:18) Let's meet the 1966-67 Sixers and look at their regular season

(46:05) The Sixers finally overcome Boston

(55:05) The 1967 Finals

When it comes to the NBA’s all-time greatest players, few can match the raw statistical dominance of Wilt Chamberlain.

From the iconic 100-point game, to the 50 points per game season, to 12 straight seasons averaging over 20 rebounds, Chamberlain’s numbers are simply unbelievable.

But despite statistical dominance, Wilt the Stilt struggled for years to carry his teams over the final hurdle, as year after year, championships eluded him.

While Bill Russell was winning 11 rings in 13 years, Chamberlain was often left watching and waiting .

Finally, in 1967, 9 years into his NBA career, Wilt finally earned his ring, and delivered the first ever NBA championship to the city of Philadelphia .

The story of how Chamberlain and the Sixers got there, however, is one few people know.

In today’s episode, we take the NBA time machine back nearly 60 years, and learn how the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers managed to defeat the nearly-undefeatable dynasty of the Boston Celtics.

This is once upon a dribble!

Today we continue in part 8 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. 

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history?Find out today as Josh tackles the Western Conference in the 2000s!

2000: Los Angeles Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers - Shaquille O'Neal

2001: Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs - Shaquille O'Neal

2002: Los Angeles Lakers vs Sacramento Kings - Shaquille O'Neal

2003: Dallas Mavericks vs San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan

2004: Los Angeles Lakers vs Minnesota Timberwolves - Shaquille O'Neal2005: Phoenix Suns vs San Antonio Spurs - Tim Duncan

2006: Dallas Mavericks vs Phoenix Suns - Dirk Nowitzki

2007: San Antonio Spurs vs Utah Jazz - Tim Duncan

2008: Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs - Kobe Bryant

2009: Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant

In a lot of ways, an NBA locker room is like a family. With all the good times, and the bad times, the brotherhood, and the infighting, family is the perfect metaphor.

But the family dynamic  in the NBA often extends to actual family, over 10% of the 4500 players to have ever played in the NBA are directly related either as brothers, as father and son, as cousins, as grandfather and grandson, or as uncle and nephew.

In many cases, one family member outshines the rest. But occasionally, multiple branches of the same family tree achieve stardom.

Today, we take the NBA time machine back to the late 90s and 2000s, and explore the lives of two family members who hit the highest echelons of the NBA, but failed to take the final steps into NBA immortality 

Join us in PART 1 OF 2 as we look at the lives and times of two cousins from Flordia who became NBA household names: Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady.

Today Calvan talks to us about T-Mac. In Part 1 Josh talked about Vince.

This is once upon a dribble!

In a lot of ways, an NBA locker room is like a family. With all the good times, and the bad times, the brotherhood, and the infighting, family is the perfect metaphor.

But the family dynamic  in the NBA often extends to actual family, over 10% of the 4500 players to have ever played in the NBA are directly related either as brothers, as father and son, as cousins, as grandfather and grandson, or as uncle and nephew.

In many cases, one family member outshines the rest. But occasionally, multiple branches of the same family tree achieve stardom.

Today, we take the NBA time machine back to the late 90s and 2000s, and explore the lives of two family members who hit the highest echelons of the NBA, but failed to take the final steps into NBA immortality 

Join us in PART 1 OF 2 as we look at the lives and times of two cousins from Flordia who became NBA household names: Vince Carter, and Tracy McGrady.

Today Josh talks to us about Vince. In Part 2 Calvan will talk about T-Mac.

This is once upon a dribble!

Remember that time, like, that 10-season span when the Charlotte Bobcats were an NBA basketball team?

Us too, but barely. Josh and Calvan did a DEEP dive into the interesting, awkward, yet always entertaining history of the Charlotte Bobcats. Join them in the NBA time machine as they talk about the success of the original Hornets, their move to New Orleans, the establishment of the Bobcats, MJ, Larry Brown, Gerald Wallace, George Shinn, Adam Morrison, Kemba Walker and EVERYTHING in between.

You won't want to miss it!

Today we continue in part 7 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. 

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history?

Find out today as Josh tackles the Eastern Conference in the 2000s!

2000: Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks - Reggie Miller (01:41)

2001: Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers - Dikembe Mutombo (06:10)

2002: Boston Celtics vs New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd (13:31)

2003: Detroit Pistons vs New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd (20:00)

2004: Detroit Pistons vs Indiana Pacers - Ben Wallace (24:08) 2005: Detroit Pistons vs Miami Heat - Richard Hamilton (26:16)

2006: Detroit Pistons vs Miami Heat - Dwyane Wade (32:24)

2007: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Detroit Pistons - LeBron James (37:26)

2008: Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons - Kevin Garnett (44:18)

2009: Cleveland Cavaliers vs Orlando Magic - Dwight Howard (49:41)

Every NBA team at some point in their history has hit a drought so to say. A drought from success that keeps them out of the postseason picture. It can be injuries, poor coaching, bad management, whiffed draft picks or a combination of it all.

In this segment Josh and Calvan look at EVERY NBA franchise and dissect their longest absence from NBA playoff basketball and ask the question, "what went wrong?"

Even the driest of droughts see rain once again and there is light at the end of every tunnel.

In part 2 of this 2 part series, Calvan tackles the Northwest, Southwest and Central divisions. In part 1 Josh covered the Atlantic, Pacific and Southeast.

Minnesota Timberwolves (01:00)

Denver Nuggets (03:04)

Utah/New Orleans Jazz (05:05) Portland Trail Blazers (06:59)

Oklahoma City Thunder (08:47)

Milwaukee Bucks (11:25)

Indiana Pacers (13:34)

Cleveland Cavaliers (15:33)

Detroit Pistons (17:47)

Chicago Bulls (20:16)

Dallas Mavericks (23:00)

San Antonio Spurs (25:03)

Refresher on the Phoenix Suns (27:11)

Memphis Grizzlies (29:18)

Houston Rockets (32:05)

Every NBA team at some point in their history has hit a drought so to say. A drought from success that keeps them out of the postseason picture. It can be injuries, poor coaching, bad management, whiffed draft picks or a combination of it all.

In this segment Josh and Calvan look at EVERY NBA franchise and dissect their longest absence from NBA playoff basketball and ask the question, "what went wrong?"

Even the driest of droughts see rain once again and there is light at the end of every tunnel.

In part 1 of this 2 part series, Josh tackles the Atlantic, Pacific and Southeast divisions. In part 2 Calvan will cover the Northwest, Central and Southwest.

Boston Celtics (01:55)

Philadelphia 76ers (04:29)

New York Knicks (06:11)

Toronto Raptors (08:10)

Brooklyn Nets (10:25)

Los Angeles Lakers (13:15)

Golden State Warriors (16:25)

Los Angeles Clippers (18:29)

Sacramento Kings (21:08)

Phoenix Suns (24:11)

Miami Heat (27:31)

Charlotte Hornets (29:36)

Washington Wizards (32:22)

Orlando Magic (35:51)

Atlanta Hawks (38:10)

If there is a Mount Rushmore for NBA teams that feel like symbolic soulmates for their city, then the 2004 Detroit Pistons are on it.

This team represented the Motor City in every sense of the word. Everyone played a part, constantly being calibrated and re-calibrated toward something greater.

They embodied the qualities of a tough team that the fans living in a tough city needed: Nerves as hard as steel and a burning desire to defy expectations.

20 years ago, the Pistons stood at the brink of a bruising but ultimately dominant championship march over the Los Angeles Lakers, a team brimming with Hall of Famers. To this day, the Pistons’ 4-1 is considered one of the greatest upsets in NBA history.

It's tough to picture this special championship run happening anywhere but Detroit. From the underdogs who made up the starting lineup to their surprising victory over a more glamorous, well-known rival, Detroit seems like the only place where our unexpected heroes could have truly emerged.

Today we dive deep into the Miracle at Motown, the story of the 2004 Pistons. And THIS is Once Upon a Dribble.

After back-to-back championships, the Rockets were suddenly trending in the wrong direction after a turbulent 1996 season. Charles Barkley, over in Phoenix, had grown impatient in the Valley of the Sun. The stars aligned for both parties in the summer of 1996 when the Rockets made a blockbuster trade to form one of the "Big 3s" of yesteryear by acquiring Barkley to pair with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.

In today's bonus episode Josh details those years in Houston to determine if the Barkley trade was really worth the gamble.

Today we continue in part 6 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. 

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history?

Find out today as Josh tackles the Western Conference in the 1990s!

1990: Phoenix Suns vs Portland Trail Blazers - Terry Porter (03:10)

1991: Los Angeles Lakers vs Portland Trail Blazers - Magic Johnson (07:14)

1992: Portland Trail Blazers vs Utah Jazz - Terry Porter (10:35)

1993: Phoenix Suns vs Seattle SuperSonics - Charles Barkley (15:13)

1994: Houston Rockets vs Utah Jazz - Hakeem Olajuwon (21:34)

1995: Houston Rockets vs San Antonio Spurs - Hakeem Olajuwon (26:15)

1996: Seattle SuperSonics vs Utah Jazz - Shawn Kemp (31:48)

1997: Houston Rockets vs Utah Jazz - John Stockton (35:52)

1998: Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz - Karl Malone (41:36)

1999: Portland Trail Blazers vs San Antonio Spurs - David Robinson (44:36)

Jerry West, who was selected to the Basketball Hall of Fame multiple times in a storied career as a player and executive and whose silhouette is considered to be the basis of the NBA logo, passed away earlier this month.

Few people have ever seen the game as clearly — from so many angles and across so many different eras — as West did. His the influence he had on his profession is profound and will be felt for generations to come.

Join Calvan and Josh in a brief tribute to Jerry, talking about his early life, resiliently elite NBA career, impeccable executive career and the lasting impact he had on his peers.

Long live the Logo. S/O: Foobas Sports on YouTube for the audio in the intro.

Phil Jackson is the most successful coach in NBA history, the owner of 11 rings, and the architect of some of the most iconic basketball moments of all time.

From his roots in small town North Dakota, to Chicago, Los Angeles, and even the Big Apple, his career in basketball has taken him all over the country.

His style of coaching and his unorthodox approach to life earned him one of the most recognizable nicknames in sports: the Zen Master.

You can’t tell the story of the NBA without mentioning the coaching of the great Phil Jackson... but just how was Jackson able to sustain so much success for so long?

Come along with us in today’s episode, as Josh and Calvan take a look at the life and times of one of the most accomplished coaches in all of sports. This is Once Upon a Dribble.

The first ever NBA All-Star game was played on March 2, 1951. Since that time, 454 players have played in that game. Thousands of other NBA players have never played in the game.

In today's episode of Once Upon A Dribble, Josh and Calvan go over four of the most baffling All-Star game snubs. Players who had great careers, but for one reason or another, never received the Star call.

We dive deep into the live and times of some of the finest players in the game, who never had their greatness properly recognized.

The Thunder were the Warriors before the Warriors. Well, except for the titles.

Young, homegrown talent emerges as a dominant force in the league, consistently vying for the NBA championship. This straightforward strategy, exemplified by the successes of Oklahoma City and Golden State in the 2010s, is seldom as effective as they made it appear.

However, the OKC's inability to clinch an NBA championship is integral to their story, just like their enduring success. Equally integral is the element of excitement. Few teams have engaged in as many thrilling matches with iconic players, all within the passionate embrace of one of the league's most fervent fan bases.

Whether victorious or defeated, the Thunder's inaugural decade in the NBA was an exhilarating ride. Here at Once Upon a Dribble, Calvan and Josh bring on OKC superfan Prhymate as we recount the standout moments, beginning with the team that defined the decade.

Check out Prhymate's YouTube basketball content here:

https://www.youtube.com/@Prhymate777

It’s easy to look back now and wonder how Oden ever could have been selected ahead of a superstar like Kevin Durant. After all, KD had averaged 25.8 points and 11.1 rebounds a game as a lanky freshman at Texas, leading the Big 12 in both categories, as well as blocks.

Durant was a sure thing, like Michael Jordan was in the 1984 draft … so why draft Sam Bowie?

Because Greg Oden was never supposed to be Sam Bowie. Oden was Hakeem Olajuwon.

That narrative, that four-letter word, haunted him for a long time. It hurt to hear. It hurt to explain. But that word doesn’t capture the spirit of his struggle, his journey, his resilience, his joy, and, most importantly, where his path has taken him today

Article by Mirin Fader quoted: Greg Oden's Long Walk Home

Music: Signal to Noise by Scott Buckley, all credit to him.

In 2023-24, the Minnesota Timberwolves are seeing a resurgence as one of the premier teams in the league as we head towards the 2024 NBA playoffs. How far do you have to go back to find the last Timberwolves playoff run? 20 years in fact. 2004 is the last time the Wolves won a playoff series. In that year Kevin Garnett was MVP and got them 2 games within the NBA Finals. Join Josh and Calvan as they bring on Jeremiah, lifelong T-Wolves fan, to talk about KG, Sam Cassell, Flip Saunders, Latrell Sprewell, today's Wolves and MUCH more. This is Once Upon A Dribble. Follow Jeremiah/SmartTakes on X: https://x.com/_smarttakes_?s=20

Today we continue in part 5 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. 

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history?

Find out today as Josh tackles the Eastern Conference in the 1990s!

1990: Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons - Isiah Thomas (02:17)

1991: Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons - Michael Jordan (09:38)

1992: Chicago Bulls vs Cleveland Cavaliers - Michael Jordan (12:40)

1993: Chicago Bulls vs New York Knicks - Michael Jordan (17:50)

1994: Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks - Patrick Ewing (23:35)

1995: Indiana Pacers vs Orlando Magic - Shaquille O'Neal (28:07)

1996: Chicago Bulls vs Orlando Magic - Michael Jordan (33:09)

1997: Chicago Bulls vs Miami Heat - Michael Jordan (38:09)

1998: Chicago Bulls vs Indiana Pacers - Michael Jordan (44:01)

1999: Indiana Pacers vs New York Knicks - Marcus Camby (52:36)

Final award tally - (55:50)

We are going back to the year of 1999. Picture this: the New York Knicks, one of the most iconic brands in sports, a team that defied the odds, embraced the role of Cinderella, is etching their names in basketball immortality amidst age, lockouts, injury and more. But as the saying goes, heroes emerge in the face of adversity. 

From unexpected stars stepping into the spotlight to unforgettable victories that echoed through Madison Square Garden, this is a tale of determination, passion, and the indomitable spirit of a team unwilling to back down

So, buckle up as we travel back to a time when underdogs became giants, and the 1999 Knicks etched their names in the annals of NBA folklore. This is a podcast that goes beyond the box score, capturing the essence of a team that refused to be counted out, even when the odds seemed insurmountable.

Get ready for a nostalgic ride through the highs and lows of a Cinderella story that unfolded on the hardwood. This is Once Upon a Dribble

NBA Christmas day games have been an annual tradition since the league's second season in 1947. Let’s take a step in the NBA time machine and look at some of the best moments in NBA Yuletide Lore.

In 1987 Michael Jordan averaged 37.1 points per game. In 2006 Kobe Bryant put up 35.5 points per game. And in 2019 James Harden lit up the stat sheets to the tune of 36.1 points per game. These three marks rank as the best individual scoring seasons of the modern era

And how those 3 prolific scorers achieved those historical remarks was in extremely different ways.

Harden attempted 13 threes per game during his campaign, Bryant only tried 6.5. But the leader of them all, MJ, attempted less than 1 per game, averaging just 0.8 threes per game

3 all-time great, 3 unique and distinct play styles. 

On today’s episode, we take the NBA time machine across several stops, as we into the history of the 3 Point shot, how it has evolved over some 40 years, and imagine what may lie ahead for the game we all love.

This is Once Upon a Dribble

Being a team leader during the regular season and playoffs is vital to a team’s success and a chance at a championship. 

Normally, there are 1 or 2 guys who step up when their team needs it the most to go get themselves a clutch basket or completely take over on the offensive end. 

There are also the guys who elevate their game when their backs are against the wall. They are players who leave it all out on the floor when they are facing elimination from championship contention. 

These guys do whatever it takes to keep their team’s hopes alive for at least one more day.

There are also the situations where you are one game away from closing out a series, or even a championship, and you need your best guy to give their team that final push across the proverbial finish line. 

These guys do whatever it takes to ensure the job is finished, the guys who smell blood in the water and go for the kill. 

And we are the guys who will take you through NBA history talking about some of the GREATEST elimination and close-out games of all time. 

Today we continue in part 4 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. 

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history?

Find out today as Josh tackles the Eastern Conference in the 1980s!

1980: Los Angeles Lakers vs Seattle SuperSonics - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (03:33)

1981: Houston Rockets vs Kansas City Kings - Moses Malone (07:06)

1982: Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs - Magic Johnson (09:54)

1983: Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (12:13)

1984: Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns - Magic Johnson (15:05)

1985: Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers - James Worthy (22:16)

1986: Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers - Hakeem Olajuwon (25:18)

1987: Los Angeles Lakers vs Seattle SuperSonics - James Worthy (31:28)

1988: Dallas Mavericks vs Los Angeles Lakers - Magic Johnson (35:19)

1989: Los Angeles Lakers vs Phoenix Suns - Magic Johnson (40:21)

Final award tally - (42:00)

Here we are! The 2023-24 NBA season will be here before you know it. Opening night is just around the corner, it's time to prepare for what should be another season of intense competition.

There are plenty of storylines to follow and Calvan takes you through the wild, wild West for what promises to be a memorable race to the playoffs.

Here we are! The 2023-24 NBA season will be here before you know it. Opening night is just around the corner, it's time to prepare for what should be another season of intense competition.

There are plenty of storylines to follow and Josh takes you along the East coast to keep an eye out for what should be a top heavy race!

We all remember the memes. “Golden State blew a 3-1 lead”. The unfortunate demise of the NBA’s record-breaking 73-win team that failed to win a ring.

While we remember the astonishing efforts of LeBron James to bring a championship to Cleveland against impossible odds, we often overlook the events that occurred just before that.

Losing a series after going up 3-1 is a tough pill to swallow. But many forget that Golden State overcame a 3-1 deficit themselves just days before.

The 2016 Western Conference Finals is perhaps one of the greatest playoff series in NBA history, for both what happened on the court, and the shocking aftermath. 

Join us today as we take the NBA time machine back just seven years in real time, but find ourselves in a place that feels like a whole different era to many NBA fans.

This, is Once Upon a Dribble.

He’s regarded as one of the top 10 basketball players of all-time, maybe even top 5, and the story of his rise from relative obscurity to Boston Celtic legend is one of the most unlikely of all-time.The story of Larry Legend is one that Celtic fans have passed down through multiple generations. For Josh as a life-long Celtics fan, it’s a story that’s rooted into his basketball DNA. And In today’s special episode of Once Upon a Dribble, he is passing the story down to Calvan, a lifelong Jazz fan, of just how Larry Bird became the face of basketball in Boston.

Today we continue in part 3 of a 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. 

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history?

Find out today as Josh tackles the Eastern Conference in the 1980s!

1980: Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers (03:10)

1981: Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers (07:17)

1982: Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers (09:50)

1983: Milwaukee Bucks vs Philadelphia 76ers (12:00)

1984: Boston Celtics vs Milwaukee Bucks (15:53)

1985: Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers (20:00)

1986: Boston Celtics vs Milwaukee Bucks (22:59)

1987: Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons (26:30)

1988: Boston Celtics vs Detroit Pistons (29:21)

1989: Chicago Bulls vs Detroit Pistons (30:38)

Final award tally - (33:57)

An 82-game regular season has been the norm in the NBA for the better part of 5 decades now. In a regular season where action takes place every night, even the most dramatic of moments can be fleeting, especially in today’s age of social media where it’s all about clicks and impressions before our brains starve for the next piece of content. Rightfully and fairly so, the greatest NBA moments belong to the Finals and the postseason, where herculean heroes duke it out for eternal glory in the lore of this beautiful game.

In today’s episode we continue our series of Random Game Rewind, where we hope in the NBA time machine and take a visit to some of the forgotten games from regular season history, and analyze how they’ve gone on to affect the grand scheme of things. Pack  your winter gear, bundle up, and join me as we take a short trip back to a cold February night in Cleveland just 5 ½ years ago.

Two years before LeBron James and Jimmy Butler would square off in the 2020 NBA Finals, they put on a big time show, specifically LeBron James, in a random regular season game just two years prior to their championship tilt.

This is Once Upon A Dribble. 

Hakeem Olajuwon and Charles Barkley are widely known as two of the game's greatest players. Both have incredibly unique and fascinating stories of how they triumphed all odds to make it to the pro ranks and scale the NBA hierarchy until twice in the mid 1990s their teams met as they were at the peak of their individual powers.

Join Calvan and Josh as they deep dive into the fascinating stories of Hakeem and Chuck as well as their pivotal playoff matchups in 1994 and 1995 and how those series shaped their careers.

This is Once Upon A Dribble!

In today's micro episode of Once Upon a Dribble (@OnceDribble), Calvan (@CJRealHoops1) begins a new mini-series: Random Game Rewind.

January 2nd, 1992, was a freezing cold day in Salt Lake City, Utah. But the NBA action in the newly built Delta Center was as hot as can be, as the World champion Chicago Bulls, in pursuit of their 2nd straight NBA title, landed in the salty city to take on the Utah Jazz, who led by prime John Stockton and Karl Malone, had title aspirations of their own.

What resulted was one of the longest, most hard-fought regular season games in NBA history, that far too few NBA fans actually even remember!

In Random Game Rewind, the OUD team take a look at some of the best (yet at times overlooked) regular season games in NBA history!

Join Josh as he takes a look at the top 10 picks of the 2010 NBA draft class and deems if the pick was a "hit" or a "miss" for the team that drafted them. Do you agree or disagree? Give us your thoughts!

At the end of the 1983-84 NBA season, the owner of the San Diego Clippers made the bold decision to move the franchise 120 miles north up the California coast to the city of Los Angeles.

While it can be argued if an attempt to share the City of Angels with the NBA’s hallmark franchise was or was not a 'slam dunk' of a business move, there were certainly no slam dunks being made on the court as over the next 26 years the Clippers would produce just four playoff berths on just three .500+ seasons, as they flopped to an overall record of just 730-1370, a winning percentage of just .347

In an era in which the Lake Show won 8 championships, the 'Clip Show' would finish dead last in the regular season standings 6 times.

Despite often finding themselves in an advantageous draft position, the Clippers often failed and failed miserably, selecting only 3 future all-stars in 26 years. However, fate finally changed for the NBA’s most hapless franchise in 2009 when they used the #1 overall pick to select the national college player of the year out of Oklahoma, Blake Griffin, followed by the acquisition of the Point God himself, Chris Paul, just two years later

Over the next six years, the eclectic duo would lead the Clippers to six straight playoff appearances, and title aspirations became a regular expectation for the newly dubbed “Lob City Clippers”... but in the end, a blue and red banner never joined the many purple and gold banners hanging from the Staples Center Rafters, as the team fell short, time and time again.

This is the story of how Lob City, turned to Sob City, squandering championship potential in dramatic fashion

This, is Once Upon a Dribble!

Intro Music: Beat Chill Trap - MMS

Outro Music: Corrupt Kind - DJ BAI

Join Calvan and Josh as they review their predictions for the 2023 NBA season by looking at how some of the big teams fared this year. Calvan and Josh review their win, playoff and award predictions and see how close they actually were to how things played out!

The NBA was founded on June 6, 1946. In the 77 years since, we’ve seen dynasties rise up and then crumble apart, and superstars ascend and then fade away. Throughout that time, there have been several transcendent moments and quintessential teams that have shaped the history of basketball as we know it. But how would some of these remarkable teams fare in today’s NBA? In an ever-changing and evolving game, would the greats of yesteryear still be great if they played in 2023?
In today’s episode, Josh and Calvan take the NBA Time Machine across three different stops, as we project how some of the most iconic and unique teams of the last 35 years would stack up in the modern NBA.
{3:21}: 1988-90 Bad Boy Pistons
{16:10}: 1994-95 Shaq-Penny Magic
{28:36}: 1999 Twin Tower Spurs

Today we embark on part 2 of a brand new, 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. 

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history?

The Conference Finals, the Final 4 of the NBA, have gifted us fans with some of the most iconic and enduring moments in league history. Signature teams and players have indelibly left their mark on us through unforgettable series and games. Join Josh has he takes the time machine through each decade and each conference to retroactively highlight some of the most remarkable, high-pressure playoff performances from yesteryear. Which NBA legends deserve to have their performances backed by a Conference Finals MVP?

Today we continue in the 1970s with the Western Conference! Part 2 of a 10 part series.

Today we embark on part 1 of a brand new, 10-part series at Once Upon a Dribble!

During the 2022 playoffs the NBA began awarding MVP awards to the best performing player of each conference finals: the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award and the Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player Award, named for the two players credited for building the league up to greater popularity in the 1980s. 

This begs the question, with the award just being handed out for the first time last season, who are the deserving winners from the previous 50+ years of NBA history?

The Conference Finals, the Final 4 of the NBA, have gifted us fans with some of the most iconic and enduring moments in league history. Signature teams and players have indelibly left their mark on us through unforgettable series and games. Join Josh has he takes the time machine through each decade and each conference to retroactively highlight some of the most remarkable, high-pressure playoff performances from yesteryear. Which NBA legends deserve to have their performances backed by a Conference Finals MVP?

Today we start in the 1970s with the Eastern Conference! Part 1 of a 10 part series.

At some point within the 2022-23 NBA season, LeBron James will become the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. In a paramount career, LeBron has established himself as an undisputed top 3 player ever, and in the opinion of many, the Greatest Of All Time.

But even GOATs have to take their lumps.

Today, Josh and Calvan take the NBA time machine back to June 2007, when LeBron led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first ever Finals appearance only to fall horrendously to Tim Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs. 

What went so wrong? 

Find out as Once Upon A Dribble reviews how the Spurs showed the world how to kill a king!