Reinis Lacis's Basketball Blog

The Handle Podcast – Chuck Mencel: 01/30/19

Minnesota Golden Gophers legend Chuck Mencel came on the podcast to relive his life and career. Plenty of stories proved to be very insightful about the events from that time. From stories about George Mikan to an innovative shooting drill he created…

January 30, 2019 · 1 Comment

The Handle Podcast – Kerry Eggers: 12/28/18

We talk everything concerning the late 90’s, early 2000’s Portland Trail Blazers with Kerry Eggers, Portland Tribune’s journalist and author of “Jail Blazers: How the Portland Trail Blazers Became the Bad Boys of Basketball”. Topics include the research…

December 28, 2018 · Leave a comment

The Handle Podcast – Keith “Mister” Jennings: 11/30/18

East Tennessee State Buccaneers legend Keith “Mister” Jennings joined the program to talk about his almost 60-60-90 senior year, influence of Isiah Thomas and difficulties of making the NBA as a small guard. Having ultimately made the Golden State…

November 30, 2018 · Leave a comment

The Handle Podcast – Audie Norris: 09/28/18

There are so many ways I could introduce Audie Norris. European basketball star with Barcelona, former Portland Trail Blazer, global ambassador of the NBA, even a certified backboard breaker. We talked about everything. From coaching kids…

September 28, 2018 · Leave a comment

The Handle Podcast – Hal Wissel: 09/05/18

Coach Hal Wissel came on the podcast to talk about a wide array of topics. From his humble beginnings as the head coach of Trenton State to working out Kobe Bryant as the Director of Player Personnel of the New Jersey Nets, there was a whole lot for me to ask as the host and so much was still left on…

September 5, 2018 · Leave a comment

The Handle Podcast – Don Kojis: 08/24/18

“The jumpingest white boy I’ve ever seen” is how Wilt Chamberlain described two-time NBA All-Star Don Kojis. Kojis, after all, might have been the first basketball player to regularly throw down alley-oops when he did so with the Phillips 66ers. He also managed to have great success with Team…

August 24, 2018 · Leave a comment

The Handle Podcast – Ron Grandison: 08/02/18

When Ron Grandison turned 30 in the summer of 1994, the following was the list of his past basketball experiences: UC Irvine – Tulane – University of New Orleans – CBA – Boston Celtics – hiatus from basketball – Athletes in Action – CBA – Charlotte Hornets…

August 2, 2018 · Leave a comment

The Handle Podcast – Glenn McDonald: 05/31/18

Glenn McDonald, the hero of the legendary 1976 NBA Finals Game Five! The former Boston Celtic revealed what persuaded him to play for the underdogs that were the Long Beach State 49ers, how veterans like John Havlicek took him under their wings at Boston…

May 31, 2018 · Leave a comment

The Handle Podcast – Coby Dietrick: 05/24/18

This episode could have been called “Coby Dietrick Steals the Show” if I actually did titles for each conversation. A 13-year pro in the ABA and the NBA, most notably with the San Antonio Spurs, and someone with experiences in Europe and the CBA, Dietrick had…

May 24, 2018 · Leave a comment

The Handle Podcast – Brian Taylor: 03/08/18

Two-time ABA champion and All-Star Brian Taylor came on the podcast to take us through the significant stops he has had in his basketball career. From being quite the pioneer at Princeton and a New York Net in the ABA to fun times with the San Diego Clippers…

March 9, 2018 · Leave a comment