Deep Bench Chronicles

Walker Kessler’s uncle wishes you a pleasant day

Why bother with Kevin Garnett cards when Dean Garrett exists?

RIP Cliff Hagan, who has passed away at 94. 1958 NBA champion 5× NBA All-Star 2× All-NBA Second Team 1968 ABA All-Star 1951 NCAA champion at Kentucky Basketball Hall of Fame, 1978 One of the great forwards of his era

New story: Paul Mokeski, the role player’s role player. deepbenchchronicles.com/2026… 12 NBA seasons. 763 games. Nine playoff runs. Backup to Moses Malone, Bob Lanier, Dave Cowens, and Jack Sikma. A 7-footer who built his career on screens, toughness, and trust.

Who is he? (and no, it’s not Rik Smits)

Hot Rod Hundley picking his all-time “Showmen” team in his autobiography. Really good book, by the way. Hundley was a two-time All-Star with the Lakers right around the Minneapolis to L.A. transition, but he’s probably best remembered as the voice of the Jazz for 35 years

🆕 New article deepbenchchronicles.com/2026… The Vancouver Grizzlies made plenty of mistakes, but six seasons was never enough time to decide whether the NBA could work in the city. A look back at a franchise that was gone before it ever had a real chance to grow

How many players in this first Vancouver Grizzlies team photo can you name? Big Country, Greg Anthony, Blue Edwards, Byron Scott... but after that?

Beyond being a very useful name to know for Hoops Grid or Immaculate Grid, did you know Tony Massenburg co-wrote a book about Len Bias? Massenburg was a freshman at Maryland during Bias’ final season, while Walt Williams grew up in the area idolizing Bias before eventually playing for Maryland himself.

Yes, I actually mention that in the article

🆕 New on Deep Bench Chronicles: deepbenchchronicles.com/2026… Popeye Jones and the Bad Timing of an NBA Life: 11 NBA seasons: not one playoff minute. His career became a quiet case study in how little control an NBA role player can have over his own timing.

Two cards away from nirvana. All I ever wanted in life was a Chris Ford mustache.

🆕 New article Leo Ferris helped shape the early NBA, played a major role in the creation of the 24-second shot clock, and spent years on the Hall of Fame ballot without ever being inducted. deepbenchchronicles.com/2026… One of the clearest omissions from the Hall’s contributor category, especially at a time when it feels like almost everyone gets in.

Derek Harper rainbow from his first stint in Dallas, all in the green Mavs jersey. These cheap cards from back then do way more for me than modern cards with 150 different parallels of the same card that cost an arm and a leg.

New story ⬇️ deepbenchchronicles.com/2026… Wilt scored 100. Bam 83. Kobe 81. Lisa Leslie scored 101. In 16 minutes