Podcast / Edge of Sports / Feb 20, 2024

The Forgotten Stars of the NBA’s 1980s

On this episode of the Edge of Sports podcast, Arya Shirazi joins the show for yet another installment of the Basketball Butterfly Effect.

Edge of Sports
Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

Basketball Butterfly Effect: The Forgotten Stars of the NBA’s 1980s
byDave Zirin / The Nation

In this episode, we talk about the truly forgotten players of the NBA, particularly during the 1980s, such a unique era in the history of the NBA, and theorize on why they are not remembered as intently as others. 

Zirin, “What the Super Bowl Parade Shooting Has to Do With the Empire of the Gun”

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/super-bowl-parade-shooting-guns-colonialism/

—

http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: [email protected] | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Buck Williams #52 of the New Jersey Nets in action against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1983 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland.

(Focus on Sport / Getty Images)

In this episode of Edge of Sports, we talk about the truly forgotten players of the NBA, particularly during the 1980s—such a unique era in the history of the NBA—and we theorize on why they are not remembered as intently as others.

Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/podcastsubscribe.

Edge of Sports
Edge of Sports

Where sports and politics collide, hosted by Nation magazine Sports Editor Dave Zirin

The Only Western Conference NBA Preview You Need 
byDave Zirin / The Nation

This week, we talk about the politics and promise of the 2026-2027 NBA season with the Hoops Savant Arya Shirazi. It gets no better. 

Zirin, Jalen Hurts Deserved Better. We All Do

https://www.thenation.com/article/society/jalen-hurts-eagles-blood-clot/

—

http://www.edgeofsportspodcast.com/ | http://twitter.com/EdgeOfSportsPod | http://fb.com/edgeofsportspod | email us: [email protected] | Edge of Sports hotline: 401-426-3343 (EDGE)

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Subscribe to The Nation to Support all of our podcasts

Dave Zirin

Dave Zirin is the sports editor at The Nation. He is the author of 11 books on the politics of sports. He is the author of a new book, The People's Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn.

More from The Nation

Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs on October 20, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.

The Only Western Conference NBA Preview You Need The Only Western Conference NBA Preview You Need

Arya Shirazi joins us again for our annual NBA preseason predictions

Podcast / Edge of Sports

Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks shoots the ball against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 12, 2026, in New York City.

The Only Eastern Conference NBA Preview You Need The Only Eastern Conference NBA Preview You Need

Arya Shirazi joins us again for our annual NBA preseason predictions.

Dave Zirin

The NEXTDC data center in the northern Canberra suburb of Bruce, Australia, on August 26, 2026.

The AI Buildout Is a Boon for the Fossil Fuel Industry—With Ketan Joshi The AI Buildout Is a Boon for the Fossil Fuel Industry—With Ketan Joshi

Paris Marx talks to Ketan Joshi about how the data center buildout is driving a surge in fossil fuel investment, and how it’s all playing out in Australia.

Paris Marx

Google headquarters campus in Mountain View, California.

How Mass Layoffs Changed Working in Tech—Clarissa Redwine & JS Tan How Mass Layoffs Changed Working in Tech—Clarissa Redwine & JS Tan

Discussing the state of worker organizing in the tech industry, including how it’s changed since the mid-2010s and where it needs to go from here.

Paris Marx

Congressional Candidate Sam Husseini and Talking NBA Over-Unders

Congressional Candidate Sam Husseini and Talking NBA Over-Unders Congressional Candidate Sam Husseini and Talking NBA Over-Unders

Green Party candidate Sam Husseini joins the show and Arya returns.

Dave Zirin

Tech Fascism Has Come for American Democracy—With Gil Durán

Tech Fascism Has Come for American Democracy—With Gil Durán Tech Fascism Has Come for American Democracy—With Gil Durán

Paris Marx is joined by Gil Durán to discuss Silicon Valley’s embrace of far-right politics and the tech billionaires seeking to consolidate corporate and political power.

Paris Marx

x