EPISODE · Jul 12, 2026 · 32 MIN
In the Front Row | Rick Mahorn: "I didn't know I was in the NBA until my third year in the NBA....
from Talk'n Shop · host Bleav + TNS Media
Rick Mahorn discusses his unlikely path from being a highly recruited high school football player in Hartford, Connecticut to picking up basketball after a major growth spurt, choosing Hampton (then NAIA) largely for education, and nearly quitting due to homesickness before breaking out as a record-setting, three-time All-American. He recalls being drafted by the Washington Bullets, then struggling with a trade to Detroit before reshaping his career by getting in top shape and embracing the Pistons’ competitive culture under Chuck Daly as the “Bad Boys,” including the physical identity and team camaraderie that helped them beat the Celtics and win the 1989 title. Mahorn describes being taken in the expansion draft by Minnesota, forcing a trade to Philadelphia, later reuniting with Detroit, and transitioning into broadcasting and coaching, including WNBA championships and a Big3 title, while reflecting on humility, survival, and the long-term toll of injuries and back surgery. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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What this episode covers
Rick Mahorn shares how a late high-school growth spurt and a visit to Hampton University shifted him from a football path to basketball, where he became a record-setting, three-time All-American. He recounts being drafted by the Washington Bullets, the difficult adjustment after being traded to the Detroit Pistons, and how the team’s intense, physical “Bad Boys” culture helped them break through to win the 1989 NBA title. Mahorn also discusses the expansion-draft move to Minnesota, forcing a trade to Philadelphia, returning to Detroit, and later coaching and broadcasting while reflecting on humility and the toll of injuries.
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In the Front Row | Rick Mahorn: "I didn't know I was in the NBA until my third year in the NBA....
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