The National Basketball Association’s history is full of exceptional players. They hold numerous records as well as provide their fans with countless awesome memories. The NBA is mostly dominated by A-Listers, but there are a few stories about lesser known players too.
What is the NBA?
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946, the NBA grown to become one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. With players from all over the globe coming to compete at the highest level.
Today, the NBA made up of 30 teams – 29 in the U.S. and 1 in Canada. And each team plays 82 regular season games per year. The league’s regular season runs from October to April, with each team playing 41 home games and 41 away games. The top eight teams in each conference then advance to the NBA Playoffs, a best-of-seven series that determines the league champion.
Over its history, the NBA seen some of the greatest players ever to take to the court. Including legends like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. These players helped make the NBA into one of the most exciting and popular sports leagues in the world, watched by millions of fans every year.
The Players
Since its inception in 1946, the National Basketball Association has been home to some of the greatest athletes in all of professional sports. From early pioneers like George Mikan and Bob Cousy to modern-day superstars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry, the NBA has seen some truly legendary players grace its hardwood courts.
While there have been too many famous white basketball players to list them all here, we’ve compiled a few of the most memorable names in NBA history:
George Mikan:
One of the earliest stars in NBA history, George Mikan was a dominant center for the Minneapolis Lakers during the 1940s and 50s. He was a four-time NBA champion and two-time MVP, and is widely credited with popularizing basketball as a mainstream sport.
Bob Cousy:
A true pioneer of the game, Bob Cousy was one of the first players to really showcase the potential of the point guard position. He won six championships with the Boston Celtics during the 1950s and 60s, and named MVP in 1957.
LeBron James:
Arguably the greatest player of his generation, LeBron James has established himself as one of the best players in NBA history. He’s a three-time champion and four-time MVP and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
Stephen Curry:
One of the most prolific shooters in NBA history, Stephen Curry has rewritten what it means to be a successful scorer in today’s game. He’s a two-time MVP and two-time champion and is currently leading the Golden State Warriors to another NBA Finals appearance.
Records
In the NBA, players are measured by their individual and team accomplishments. Among the league’s most coveted individual records are: Most points in a game: Wilt Chamberlain holds the record with 100 points in a game against the New York Knicks in 1962. Most points in a season: Michael Jordan averaged 37.1 points per game during the 1986-87 season. Also assists in a game: Magic Johnson had 30 assists against the Seattle Super Sonics in 1989.
Most blocked shots in a game: Elvin Hayes had 11 blocks against the Detroit Pistons in 1973. Most steals in a game: Chris Paul had 12 steals against the Golden State Warriors in 2008.
These individual player records help tell the story of who some of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA are. But there are also team records that are equally as impressive and worth mentioning. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers hold the record for most wins in a season with 69, which they accomplished during the 1971-72 campaign. The Warriors, meanwhile, set the single-season record for best regular season record with 73 victories during the 2015-16 season.
And then there are other more unique records that have been set over the years such as John Stockton’s mark for most career assists or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time leading scorer record. These types of records help add to the lore and history of not only specific players but also of entire teams and franchises.
Memorable Moments
The NBA has a long and storied history, filled with great players, records and moments. Here are some of the most memorable moments in NBA history:
– The Miracle on Manchester:
In 1984, the Los Angeles Lakers staged an incredible comeback to defeat the crosstown rival Los Angeles Clippers. Trailing by 16 points with just over 10 minutes to play, the Lakers went on a stunning 27-7 run to win the game by one point. It was one of the most improbable comebacks in NBA history.
– The Shot:
In 1989, Michael Jordan hit one of the most famous shots in NBA history. With time running out in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Jordan hit a jump shot over Cleveland Cavaliers’ defender Craig Ehlo to give the Chicago Bulls a 103-101 victory. The shot sent the Bulls to the NBA Finals and cemented Jordan’s status as one of the greatest players ever.
– The Block:
In 2008, LeBron James made one of the most memorable plays in NBA Finals history. With his team trailing by two points in Game 2 against the San Antonio Spurs, James blocked a potential game-winning shot by Spurs’ guard Bruce Bowen. The block helped preserve a 96-95 victory for the Cavaliers and gave them a 1-1 tie in the best-of-seven series.
These are just a few of the many memorable moments in NBA history. What are your favorite Records and memories?
