Sometimes the best stories in sports begin long before the bright lights of the NBA. Take the fascinating connection between veteran coach Kenny Atkinson and longtime referee Tony Blair. Atkinson, now 58, has been a fixture on NBA sidelines since 2008, serving as both an assistant and head coach. Blair, 55, is currently in his 18th season as an NBA official, meaning their professional paths in the league started around the same time.

But their bond goes much deeper. Rewind to the late 1980s, and you'll find them as college teammates at the University of Richmond, playing for the legendary "giant killer" Spiders teams. From 1988 to 1990, Atkinson and Blair formed a tantalizing backcourt duo that electrified fans. During that stretch, when Atkinson was a senior and Blair a sophomore, the two led the team in scoring, proving that chemistry on the court can last a lifetime—even if one ends up calling fouls and the other drawing up plays.