History Daily – Saturday Matinee: Historically Speaking Sports
Date: September 6, 2025
Host (History Daily): Lindsay Graham
Featured Podcast: Historically Speaking Sports
Hosts (HSS): Dana Augusta & Charles Combs
Episode Overview
This special Saturday Matinee on History Daily features an episode from the Historically Speaking Sports podcast, hosted by Dana Augusta and Charles Combs. The main theme is a set of NBA "what if" scenarios: how three pivotal changes in the late 1980s and early 1990s might have rewritten basketball history—specifically, the era dominated by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. The discussion centers on:
- The Celtics keeping Len Bias and Reggie Lewis healthy
- The Portland Trail Blazers acquiring Arvydas Sabonis in his prime
- The Houston Rockets’ twin towers (Olajuwon & Sampson) era that was cut short by injuries and scandal
The episode weaves basketball nostalgia, deep analysis, player comparisons, and plenty of friendly banter as the hosts imagine an alternate NBA where dynasties shifted and Jordan’s six titles weren’t a foregone conclusion.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. NBA "What If" Scenarios – An Introduction
- Hypotheticals: How different franchises and player legacies might have been if key figures did not succumb to tragedy, injury, or remained overseas.
"I've always wondered...if these things would have took place, would [Jordan] have gotten those six titles?" – Charles (06:59)
2. The Celtics: Len Bias and Reggie Lewis
The 1986 Celtics Context
- Celtics won the 1986 championship and, through Red Auerbach’s shrewd deals, owned the #2 draft pick, selecting the ultra-athletic Len Bias.
- If not for catastrophic losses (Bias’s death, Lewis’s death from heart failure), the Celtics core might have been extended past their 80s prime.
Potential Impact
- Younger and far more athletic: Both Bias and Lewis would have given the aging Celtics injection of athleticism, outside shooting, and defensive versatility.
- Bird and McHale’s prime years might have lasted longer:
"I think a lot of people think that Bird would have played a little bit longer...Bias and Lewis would have been able to spell some of those older guys some time while they figured [things] out." – Dana (21:44)
Player Comparisons
- Len Bias: Elements of James Worthy, Kevin Durant, Tracy McGrady, Sean Kemp—an athletic mismatch nightmare.
"He was a walking mismatch...he was too big for your typical three...but you couldn’t put a power forward on him." – Dana (32:47)
- Reggie Lewis: Described as a “Tyrese Haliburton or Michael Redd type,” a professional scorer and tough defender, with comparisons to Allan Houston and Paul Pressey.
"He always gave me elements of...a better version of Allan Houston." – Charles (38:28)
Would They Catch the Bulls?
- In the early 90s, the Celtics, with a healthy Bias and Lewis, might have had enough to make the Finals again ("probably once" in seven games vs Chicago).
"They might have made the finals...But with the experience and everything...they probably would have gotten by [Chicago] at least once." – Charles (48:03)
- The arms race in the East: Celtics, Bulls, Knicks, and deep Cavs teams fuel the discussion.
3. Portland Trail Blazers: What If Arvydas Sabonis Arrived in 1986?
The Missed Dynasty
- Sabonis, a generational Lithuanian talent, was drafted in 1986 but kept in the USSR until age 31, after knee surgeries; he still put up stellar NBA numbers when he finally arrived.
- The podcast presents an alternate Portland featuring:
- Terry Porter, Clyde Drexler, Jerome Kersey, Buck Williams, plus a prime Sabonis, and Dražen Petrović.
- Sabonis: Compared to Nikola Jokic “on steroids”—a passing, shooting, athletic center with the size of Shaq and the skill of Dirk.
"He had all the skills Jokic had...but he had Shaq’s athleticism...this dude was a walking cheat code." – Dana (59:27)
West Power Dynamic
- Blazers would have crushed the “sacrificial lambs” of the West post-Lakers:
"They might have hit 70 wins." – Dana (65:28)
- Rick Adelman’s (sometimes questionable) coaching and Dražen Petrović's lack of minutes discussed.
Petrović: The Steph Curry Prototype
- Described as the “original Steph Curry,” noting the tragic loss and impact on European respect in the NBA:
"I often refer to him as the Jackie Robinson of Europe." – Charles (72:23)
Would They Dethrone the Bulls?
- “They would have beaten the Bulls at least twice” with that roster, forcing Jordan to grind for every championship.
4. Houston Rockets: Twin Towers’ Brief Window
The Setup
- 1986 Finals: Olajuwon (23) and Sampson (25) take out the Lakers, but drugs, injuries, and suspensions disrupt the team.
- If health and discipline persisted, Houston could have defined late-80s/early-90s Western Conference—possibly a Rockets-Blazers rivalry replacing Bulls-Pistons.
Olajuwon’s Edge & Coaching
- Early Olajuwon is cast as a fiery, sometimes volatile leader, pre-Islam rededication, and Bill Fitch’s abrasive coaching style is scrutinized.
Alternate History
- A healthy Rockets squad, with twin towers and supporting cast, could have won multiple titles and complicated Jordan's road.
5. The 1986 NBA Draft – "Shout-out" Segment
(94:14)
Dana and Charles review the remarkable—and tragic—1986 NBA Draft class:
- Key names: Brad Daugherty, Len Bias, Chuck Person, Kenny “Sky” Walker, Roy Tarpley, Ron Harper, Arvydas Sabonis, Dennis Rodman, Mark Price.
- Colorful stories and (sometimes hilarious) nicknames: “John ‘Hot Plate’ Williams,” “Dinner Bell Mel Turpin,” “Baskerville Holmes.”
- Depth of the draft and fun player comparisons.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Red Auerbach:
"The dude drafted Larry Bird a year early...they fleeced them with the draft again." – Charles (13:18)
- On the Celtics’ hypothetical future:
"You talk about athleticism...They would have gotten like a one fell swoop...way more athletic." – Dana (20:47)
- On Bias’s style:
"He would have been too fast for fours, too big for threes." – Charles (32:09)
- On Portland’s missed opportunities:
"If Sabonis is there, Duckworth never even becomes a Blazer." – Dana (56:11)
- On Sabonis vs NBA Centers:
"He had all the skills Jokic had...but Shaq’s athleticism...plus a Dirk Nowitzki shot." – Charles and Dana (58:52-59:27)
- On the demise of the Rockets:
"Just as quickly as it came together, it fell apart just as quick." – Charles (82:53)
- On Michael Jordan’s titles in this alternate timeline:
"I think he would have won four instead of six...it would have been a lot harder for him to finally get over the hump." – Dana (112:05)
Timestamps for Important Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|----------------------------------------------| | 05:39 | Begin sports history discussion | | 09:04 | Introduction of the three NBA what-if scenarios | | 13:18 – 34:10 | Celtics with Len Bias & Reggie Lewis: legacy, impact, player comps | | 35:51 | Match-ups: Celtics with Bias/Lewis vs. Bulls | | 50:01 | Portland with Sabonis & Petrović | | 58:48 | Sabonis compared to Jokic and NBA ramifications| | 76:30 | The 1986 Rockets: Twin Towers derailed | | 94:14 | Shout-out to the 1986 NBA Draft: retro picks, stories| | 112:05 | How many titles would Jordan have won? |
Tone, Banter, and Podcast Style
The conversation is rich with nostalgia, deep basketball knowledge, and the casual (often playful) tone of two lifelong fans who witnessed the era firsthand. There is frequent friendly debate, plenty of jokes about forgotten players and coaches, shout-outs to unheralded role players, and colorful remembrance of NBA lore. Even modern NBA fans will appreciate the way Dana and Charles make history engaging and accessible.
Conclusion
This episode is a treat for basketball historians and nostalgic NBA fans alike. By diving deep into alternate possibilities, Dana and Charles illuminate just how fragile the birth of a dynasty can be—and how easily the Jordan Bulls story might have been rewritten by a bit more luck for the Celtics, an earlier foreign import, or healthier Houston big men. The show ends with a heartfelt reflection on the 1986 NBA Draft before tallying likely alternate championship totals for Michael Jordan’s Bulls.
For More:
- Listen to Historically Speaking Sports for full episodes and more imaginative sports history debates.
- Reach out to the hosts with your own “what if” scenarios at historically.speaking.sports@gmail.com
- Follow them on Twitter and Instagram for daily sports history tidbits.