Shows
Once Upon A DribbleBonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 8 - Western Conference 2000-09, the Laker Renaissance, the Spurs Dynasty Looms Large, Dirk Makes Some Noise, The 7 Seconds or Less Suns and MORE!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+ ye...
2025-02-241h 04Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #36: Family Matters - PART 2 of 2: A Deep Dive on T-Mac, Tracy McGrady
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 t...
2025-02-0553 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #35: Family Matters - PART 1 of 2: A Deep Dive on Air Canada, Vince CarterIn 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 s...
2025-02-0451 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #34: "It's Just A Phase, Mom", the History of the Charlotte Bobcats!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!
2024-12-241h 01Once Upon A DribbleBonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 7 - Eastern Conference 2000-09, Detroit RunsThe East, The King Arrives, Wade and the Heat Catch Fire, Kidd's Nets Go Back to Back and MORE!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+ ye...
2024-11-1856 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #33: An Exercise in Futility, the LONGEST Postseason Droughts for EVERY NBA Franchise, Part 2: Northwest, Southwest and Central DivisionsEvery 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...
2024-10-2936 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #32: An Exercise in Futility, the LONGEST Postseason Droughts for EVERY NBA Franchise, Part 1: Atlantic, Pacific and Southeast DivisionsEvery 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...
2024-10-1741 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #31: The Miracle at Motown - The Story of the 2004 PistonsIf 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...
2024-08-291h 09Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #30: Houston, We Have A Big 3 - Charles Barkley's Time As A RocketAfter 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.
2024-08-1626 minOnce Upon A DribbleBonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 6 - Western Conference 1990-99, Hakeem's Dream Comes True, Utah's Rocky Mountain Reign, a Renaissance in Portland, a Dynasty Looms in San Antonio and More!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+ ye...
2024-07-2751 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #29: Long Live The Logo - A Jerry West TributeJerry 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...
2024-06-2535 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #28: Phil Jackson - The Zen MasterPhil 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 st...
2024-06-051h 01Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #27: "Never-Star", the Story of Some of the Best Players to Never Make the All-Star Team!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...
2024-04-291h 06Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #26: Thunder Boomin', The Story of the 2010s OKC ThunderThe 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 matc...
2024-04-111h 09Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #25: The Rise, Fall and Triumph of Greg OdenIt’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 h...
2024-03-2257 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #24: Top of the Pack, the Story of the 2004 TimberwolvesIn 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...
2024-02-161h 01Once Upon A DribbleBonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 5 - Eastern Conference 1990-99, Jordan and the Bulls Take the World by Storm, Finals in the Big Apple, Miller Time in Indy, the Shaq/Penny Magic and More!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 th...
2024-02-1159 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #23: Big Apple NBA Finals, the Story of the Cinderella 1999 New York KnicksWe 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 a...
2024-01-151h 09Once Upon A DribbleBonus Episode! Hoops on the Holidays: A Brief History of the NBA on Christmas!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.
2023-12-2310 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #22: The Evolution of the 3-Point Shot: From Rare Commodity to the Lethal Weapon of Today!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...
2023-12-0543 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #21: Blood In The Water, some of the GREATEST Elimination and Close-Out Games EverBeing 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...
2023-11-211h 10Once Upon A DribbleBonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 4 - Western Conference 1980-89, It's SHOWTIME in LA as the Lakers Dominate the West, Hakeem's Rockets Have Their Moment and the Weirdest WCF EVER in 1981!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 fr...
2023-11-1145 minOnce Upon A DribbleBonus Episode! 2023-24 NBA Season Preview Part 2: Calvan takes us through the WILD, WILD West!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.
2023-10-1921 minOnce Upon A DribbleBonus Episode! 2023-24 NBA Season Preview Part 1: Josh DIVES into the Eastern Conference!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!
2023-10-1920 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #20: KD K.O. and the Story of the Warriors vs Thunder in the 2016 Western Conference FinalsWe 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...
2023-10-051h 08Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #19: The Unbelievable Story of Larry Legend: A Larry Bird Deep Dive
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...
2023-08-3058 minOnce Upon A DribbleBonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 3 - Eastern Conference 1980-89, Bird's Celtics Run the Decade, Liberty Rings in Philly, The 'Bad Boys' Pistons, the Bucks Can't Break Through and MJ Up Next!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 th...
2023-08-2038 minOnce Upon A DribbleRandom Game Rewind Micro Episode #2: Minnesota Timberwolves vs Cleveland Cavaliers, 2018
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.
2023-08-1017 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #18: Southwest Scramble: Hakeem vs Chuck, the Epic Showdowns From 1994 and 1995Hakeem 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.
2023-07-2454 min
Once Upon A DribbleRandom Game Rewind Micro Episode #1: Utah Jazz vs Chicago Bulls, 1992In 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...
2023-07-1816 minOnce Upon A DribbleBonus Episode! Analyzing the Top 10 Picks of the 2010 NBA DraftJoin 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!
2023-07-1415 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #17: From Lob City to Sob City, the Story of the 2012-17 Los Angeles ClippersAt 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...
2023-06-271h 01Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #16: 2022-23 NBA Season Recap-a-plooza!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!
2023-06-1353 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #15: "Now and Then": Analyzing the Bad Boy Pistons, Twin Tower Spurs and the Shaq-Penny Magic in Today's Game!
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 pro...
2023-05-2744 minOnce Upon A DribbleBonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 2 - Western Conference 1971-79, Kareem's Early Career Dominance, the West/Wilt Lakers, Rick Barry's Legendary Tantrum, the Sonics' Reign and more!
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, wh...
2023-05-0240 minOnce Upon A DribbleBonus Series! Conference Finals MVPs: Part 1 - Eastern Conference 1971-79, Let's Talk Walt Frazier, the Washington Bullets Dominance, Dr. J's First Conference Finals in the NBA and more!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, wh...
2023-03-1840 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #14: How To Kill A King - The 2007 NBA FinalsAt 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...
2023-02-0356 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #13: Chocolate Thunder - Darryl DawkinsIn the annals of NBA lore, former 76ers and Nets center Darryl Dawkins stands out as perhaps the most boisterous and active in perpetuating his own mythology.
He was funny, confident, playful, clever, and articulate. Long before the NBA had seen the likes Shaquille O’Neal or even Charles Barkley, Dawkins was THE one-man quote machine. Not many players would name each of their dunks, let alone claim to be from the planet "Lovetron, a place where love is the only currency".
Join Once Upon The Dribble as we dissect the man, the myth and the...
2022-11-2917 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #12: 2022-23 NBA Preview Part 2 - Over/Under - Western Conference and Season AwardsIn Part 2 of a two-part podcast, join Calvan and Josh as they make their picks for the 2023 regular season win totals in the Western Conference as well as give their picks for all of the season awards and discuss some fun long shots!
2022-10-141h 04Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #11: 2022-23 NBA Preview Part 1 - Over/Under - Eastern ConferenceIn Part 1 of a two-part podcast, join Calvan and Josh as they make their picks for the 2023 regular season win totals in the Eastern Conference as well as give their picks for the conference finals!
2022-10-1454 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #10: The King's CourtCalvan and I collaborated on a research piece about the lost-to-history 2002 Sacramento Kings, a team that came a single Game 7 away from playing in the NBA Finals and defeating the dynasty Lakers.
In this piece we look at the story of the early 2000s Kings, and more specifically, the 2002 Western Conference Finals between Sacramento and Los Angeles.
Game winners, inconsistent officiating, poisoned room service, the road to the last Laker three-peat, this story has it all. Join us as we cover the final chapter in one of the greatest rivalries in recent NBA history.
2022-09-3054 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #9: It's Not So Easy Being Green: The Story of the Post-Larry Bird CelticsThe Celtics are recognized as one of the premier brands in the NBA. They are amongst the most iconic franchises in the sport alongside the Lakers, Bulls, Sixers, Knicks and so on. They have 17 championships to their name, tied with the Lakers for most in league history.
Yet for all the success, they’ve only won 1 championship since 1986. What happened in the post-Bird era that led to a relatively dry run of success for a franchise so accustomed to winning and winning again?
It was poor drafting, bad coaches, natural league expansion and above all so...
2022-09-021h 02Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #8: So Close But No CigarHistory smiles warmly upon the champions who have etched themselves in legend, those who conquered the league by achieving the ultimate goal, winning an NBA title.
Unfortunately, for every winner, there is a loser. Throughout NBA history we find embryos of potential dynasties, champions that never came to be, players and teams that were special if not elite for a time in their own right, but couldn't quite get over that final hump.
Join Calvan and Josh as they look back specifically at the 1980-87 Bucks, 1991-96 Sonics and the 2011-15 Bulls as a few of...
2022-08-151h 04Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #7: The G.O.A.T. of Every NBA Franchise Part 2: The Western ConferenceIn our last episode, we set off on a the ultimate NBA time machine road trip to crown the best player from every NBA franchise. In our race across the Eastern Conference, we highlighted players from practically every era of NBA history.
At times we easily agreed… and then at other times, we went vastly different directions!
Today, come and join us as we finish our trip across NBA America and basketball history, as we debate the greatest player to ever play for each WESTERN conference team.
The NBA time machine is gassed up...
2022-07-221h 32
Once Upon A DribbleEpisode #6: The G.O.A.T. of Every NBA Franchise Part 1: The Eastern ConferenceIt’s the classic "barber shop" question among fans in any sport, in any era: who is the greatest of all time?
In basketball, the debate most often comes down to Michael Jordan or LeBron James, and maybe the occasional fringe candidate here and there but the truth is, the GOAT debate may never be fully settled in any sport. As even the factors and conditions and numbers required to make a determination are seldom agreed upon by fans.
In truth, any GOAT debate will probably never provide a truly definitive answer... but that’s sure...
2022-05-231h 29Once Upon A DribbleJosh's Nook #1: Quick Thoughts on the Stretch Run of the 2021-22 NBA SeasonWith Calvan and Josh's NBA Time Machine getting some brief repairs, we take a quick detour with Josh as he shares some thoughts on all of the NBA teams jockeying for playoff position as we close in on the 2022 NBA Playoffs.
2022-03-1225 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #5: The Bummer YearsIn the 1990s, Michael Jordan set a new standard of dominance in American sports, bringing six championship banners to Chicago. His talent, accomplishments, and sheer force of will made him the greatest basketball player of all-time.
But that didn't happen overnight.
In the 1980s, while a young Michael Jordan was setting numerous scoring records on a regular basis, he found himself marred in year after year of playoff disappointment, as the hapless Bulls floundered in a pre Scottie Pippin, pre Phil Jackson era.
In today's episode of Once Upon a Dribble, Josh and C...
2022-01-2844 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #4: UnbreakableToday Calvan and Josh hop back in the NBA Time Machine and take it all over the league's history to discuss the Association's most unbreakable records.
Part of what makes our the game we love so addicting is seeing the world's very best athletes push the limit on what we think is possible. Those who reach that threshold leave behind some of the most astounding records and feats that we have ever seen.
From inspiring records, like Wilt's 100-point game, to uninspiring records, like Houston's 27-consecutive missed 3's in the 2018 WCF, we tackle it all. Wi...
2021-12-1044 minOnce Upon A DribbleMicro Episode #2: Overreactions to Week 1 of the 2021-22 NBA SeasonThe NBA time machine is in the shop today, as Josh and Calvan give their opinions and predictions on the 2021-22 NBA season after one week of play
2021-10-2815 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #3: The Team That (Almost) Did the Impossible Twice: The 1993-94 Denver NuggetsIn 1994, a young Dikembe Mutombo led a group of misfits, has-beens, and fringe guys to a 42-40 record and an 8-seed in the western conference playoffs to take on the vaunted 63-win Seattle Supersonics, led by prime Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. At the time, an 8-seed had never beaten a 1-seed, and many questioned if such a feat would ever happen.
Over the next five games, however, something truly remarkable unfolded as the team from the Mile High City upset the odds-on title favorites in five games to pull-off the upset that many people said was...
2021-10-2842 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #2: Traded Across The Hallway: How Kobe Bryant ALMOST became a ClipperLife is full of a lot of almost moments. We almost took a different job, we almost married a different person, we almost moved to a different city. Back in 2004, something almost happened that would've changed the destiny of the whole NBA as we know it in innumerable ways. Join Josh and Calvan as they break down the time Kobe Bryant almost left the Los Angeles Lakers, and almost became a Los Angeles Clipper.
(Intro and outro music generously provided by bensound.com)
2021-09-2337 minOnce Upon A DribbleEpisode #1: The Worst NBA Draft Class of All-TimeThe NBA draft is where legends are born. A single night that can change the trajectory of a franchise for years. A good decision can elevate a team to championship heights (we're talking to you, 2009 Golden State Warriors), and a bad decision can just as easily trap a team in the proverbial cellar (we're talking to you, 2009 Minnesota Timberwolves). A bad draft selection and the accompanying "what if" can haunt a fanbase for decades.
In the case the 2000 NBA draft, however, it wasn't so much about good decisions or bad decisions. From first first pick down to...
2021-08-2732 min
Once Upon A DribbleMicro Episode 1: The Nickname GameOnce Upon a Dribble kicks off a special series of micro-episodes! In these quick and crisp mini shows, all 15 minutes or less, Calvan and Josh discuss the lighter side of NBA history. With a mixed bag of NBA trivia, off-beat discussions, and what-if scenarios, the Once Upon a Dribble Podcast micro-episodes are perfect for the on-the-go NBA fan!
In the first episode of our micro-series, we play "The Nickname Game". Join Calvan and Josh as they guess the identity of players behind some of the wildest nicknames in NBA history!
2021-08-1511 min