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