Andy Johnson: An Intentional Foul to Remember, 1959

Guerin started swinging, only to find Johnson a sharper hitter. As the two lunged, ramming into the floor-side crowd, they were joined by all the members of the two squads and disappeared from the view. 

Richie Guerin: Knick of Time, 1962

A serious fellow, Richie does not leave his game in the dressing room. He takes it home or on road trips, trying to replay it, detect where he or one of his teammates made a mistake that might have affected the actual outcome.

Bob Cousy: One Magical Night in Boston Garden, 1953

Cooz, the reason for the mass delirium, just sat on the bench, hunched over, trying to hide the tears. “Thanks for everything. Thanks fellas,” he said to well-wishers and his teammates. “There was a prayer going with every shot. I certainly needed them. But I don’t want to have to play a game like that again. Boy, it’s too much. I was lucky.”

Minneapolis Lakers Repeat in College All-Star Game, 1949

If the Lakers aren’t the best team in all professional basketball history, they’ll do until somebody revives the Original Celtics, the pre-war Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, or gives the Harlem Globetrotters enough experienced height to cope with the Ben Berger-Max Winter wizards. 

Pro Basketball’s Fun at Fort Wayne, 1955

“You think I took a helluva gamble entrusting a team—and a franchise—to a man who had never coached college or pro ball and who was at the time a mere referee. It was no gamble to me.”

What’s Wrong with Big-Time Basketball, 1955

Undoubtedly, this is progress. But is it enough? We don’t think so. The NBA could do much to improve its league.