1.
National Basketball Association
–
The National Basketball Association is the major mens professional basketball league in North America, and is widely considered to be the premier mens professional basketball league in the world. It has 30 teams, and is a member of USA Basketball. The NBA is one of the four professional sports leagues in the United States. NBA players are the worlds best paid athletes by average annual salary per player, the league was founded in New York City on June 6,1946, as the Basketball Association of America. The league adopted the name National Basketball Association on August 3,1949, the leagues several international as well as individual team offices are directed out of its head offices located in the Olympic Tower at 645 Fifth Avenue in New York City. NBA Entertainment and NBA TV studios are directed out of offices located in Secaucus, the Basketball Association of America was founded in 1946 by owners of the major ice hockey arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. On November 1,1946, in Toronto, Canada, the Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens, the first basket was made by Ossie Schectman of the Knickerbockers. During its early years, the quality of play in the BAA was not significantly better than in competing leagues or among leading independent clubs such as the Harlem Globetrotters. For instance, the 1948 ABL finalist Baltimore Bullets moved to the BAA and won that leagues 1948 title, Following the 1948–49 season, the BAA took in the remainder of the NBL, Syracuse, Anderson, Tri-Cities, Sheboygan, Denver, and Waterloo. The new league had seventeen franchises located in a mix of large and small cities, as well as arenas and smaller gymnasiums. The process of contraction saw the leagues smaller-city franchises move to larger cities, the Hawks shifted from the Tri-Cities to Milwaukee in 1951, and then to St. Louis in 1955. The Rochester Royals moved from Rochester, New York, to Cincinnati in 1957, japanese-American Wataru Misaka broke the NBA color barrier in the 1947–48 season when he played for the New York Knicks. He remained the only player in league history prior to the first African-American, Harold Hunter. During this period, the Minneapolis Lakers, led by center George Mikan, won five NBA Championships, to encourage shooting and discourage stalling, the league introduced the 24-second shot clock in 1954. If a team does not attempt to score a goal within 24 seconds of obtaining the ball, play is stopped. In 1957, rookie center Bill Russell joined the Boston Celtics, who already featured guard Bob Cousy and coach Red Auerbach, and went on to lead the club to eleven NBA titles in thirteen seasons. Center Wilt Chamberlain entered the league with the Warriors in 1959 and became a dominant individual star of the 1960s, russells rivalry with Chamberlain became one of the greatest rivalries in the history of American team sports. The 1960s were dominated by the Celtics, led by Russell, Bob Cousy and coach Red Auerbach, Boston won eight straight championships in the NBA from 1959 to 1966
National Basketball Association
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The
headquarters of the National Basketball Association in the
Olympic Tower at 645
Fifth Avenue,
Midtown Manhattan,
New York City,
USA.
National Basketball Association
–
Cities that hosted teams that played for more than one season in the NBA and/or
BAA from 1947–1959. Only
New York,
Boston, and
Detroit still have the same franchise.
National Basketball Association
–
Bill Russell defending
Wilt Chamberlain in 1966.
National Basketball Association
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Los Angeles Lakers'
Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics'
Larry Bird in Game Two of the
1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden.
2.
Basketball
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Basketball is a non-contact team sport played on a rectangular court by two teams of five players each. The objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop 18 inches in diameter and 10 feet high that is mounted to a backboard at each end of the court. The game was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a team can score a field goal by shooting the ball through the basket being defended by the opposition team during regular play. A field goal scores three points for the team if the player shoots from behind the three-point line. A team can also score via free throws, which are worth one point, the team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but additional time is mandated when the score is tied at the end of regulation. The ball can be advanced on the court by passing it to a teammate and it is a violation to lift, or drag, ones pivot foot without dribbling the ball, to carry it, or to hold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling. The game has many techniques for displaying skill—ball-handling, shooting, passing, dribbling, dunking, shot-blocking. The point guard directs the on court action of the team, implementing the coachs game plan, Basketball is one of the worlds most popular and widely viewed sports. Outside North America, the top clubs from national leagues qualify to continental championships such as the Euroleague, the FIBA Basketball World Cup attracts the top national teams from around the world. Each continent hosts regional competitions for teams, like EuroBasket. The FIBA Womens Basketball World Cup features the top womens basketball teams from continental championships. The main North American league is the WNBA, whereas the EuroLeague Women has been dominated by teams from the Russian Womens Basketball Premier League, in early December 1891, Canadian Dr. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied, after rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot elevated track. Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball and these laces could cause bounce passes and dribbling to be unpredictable. Eventually a lace-free ball construction method was invented, and this change to the game was endorsed by Naismith, dribbling was not part of the original game except for the bounce pass to teammates. Passing the ball was the means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a part of the game around the 1950s
Basketball
–
Michael Jordan goes for a
slam dunk
Basketball
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The first basketball court:
Springfield College
Basketball
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The 1899 University of Kansas basketball team, with James Naismith at the back, right.
Basketball
–
A basketball game between the
Heart Mountain and Powell High School girls teams, Wyoming, March 1944
3.
NBA on ABC
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The NBA on ABC is a presentation of National Basketball Association games produced by ESPN, and televised on the American Broadcasting Company. ABC originally broadcast NBA games from 1965 to 1973, in 2002, NBA games returned to the network as part of a contract signed with the league, along with ESPN. ABC then airs up to nine games during the first five weeks of the NBA playoffs, ABC first signed a deal with the National Basketball Association to become the leagues primary television partner in 1964, the networks first game telecast aired on January 3,1965. For much of the 1960s, ABC only televised Sunday afternoon games and this meant that ABC did not have to televise a potential NBA Finals deciding game if it were played on a weeknight. In 1969, ABC did televise Game 7 of the Los Angeles Lakers–Boston Celtics series in time on a weeknight. The following season, ABC aired the 1970 NBA Finals in its entirety, commentators for the original NBA on ABC included play-by-play announcers Keith Jackson and Chris Schenkel, and analysts Jack Twyman, Bob Cousy and Bill Russell. Curt Gowdy also served on play-by-play for half of the 1967–68 season, jerry Gross and Jack Twyman called that particular broadcast for the network. ABC would continue to televise Christmas games through 1972, the remainder of these broadcasts were based from Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. Chris Schenkel did play-by-play for ABC during this period with the exception of 1970, Jack Twyman remained as color commentator for the broadcasts up until 1971, when the position was assumed by Bill Russell. ABC lost the broadcast rights to the NBA to CBS after the 1972–73 season, from the 1984–85 through 1989-90 seasons, the ABC Radio Network was the official, national radio broadcaster of NBA games, succeeding the Mutual Broadcasting System. ABC Radio was in return, supplanted by Public Interest Affiliates NBA Radio Network, commentators included Fred Manfra on play-by-play and Oscar Robertson, Dick Vitale and Earl Monroe on color commentary. Other announcers included Marv Albert and Chick Hearn on play-by-play and Rod Hundley, Johnny Most, in late 2001, the NBA was in the midst of putting together a new broadcast and cable television deal. At the time, conventional wisdom was that NBC would renew its broadcasting contract with the league. As predicted, NBCs offer to the league was lower than the previous agreements amount, had the NBA agreed to the networks offer, it would have been the first sports league to experience a decline in rights fees. However, the NBA rejected NBCs offer and after the exclusive negotiating period with the league expired, ABC. ABC and ESPN reportedly paid an average of about US$400 million a season, technically, ESPN pays the NBA for its broadcast rights and buys time on ABC to air select games In all, the contract allowed the NBA to increase its rights fees by 25%. Each season, ABC begins its NBA coverage with a Christmas Day doubleheader, from 2004 to 2006, ABC insisted on carrying a Christmas game between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Lakers. Since 2009, ABCs Christmas Day doubleheader has featured a video featuring Mariah Carey performing her hit 1994 single All I Want for Christmas Is You
NBA on ABC
–
NBA on ABC logo, used from 2002 to 2006.
4.
NBA on TNT
–
The NBA on TNT is Turner Network Televisions coverage of the National Basketball Association, produced by Turner Sports since 1989. TNT airs many of the NBAs marquee games, in recent years, fans have reckoned it as what NBC was during that networks coverage of the league. TNT would seem to be the NBAs preferred carrier as well, from 2003 to 2005, TNT also airs most of the big games during the regular season, and TNT studio content is streamed to NBA. com via the TNT Overtime section. Ernie Johnson Jr. has been TNTs NBA studio host since the 1990-1991 season, currently, Johnson is joined by Kenny The Jet Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille ONeal. The NBA postgame show which features the four, Inside the NBA, has gained popularity in recent years for the chemistry, occasionally, Johnson, ONeal, Smith and Barkley are joined by Chris Webber, Kevin McHale, David Aldridge or Reggie Miller. TNTs playoff coverage is nicknamed 40 Games in 40 Nights, ESPN airs the other Conference Final, with weekend coverage of the ESPN-covered series and the Finals being broadcast on ABC. For the first round, TNTs coverage of the playoffs is not exclusive, regional networks can still carry a local call. After the first round, only national coverage from TNT or ESPN/ABC is produced, starting in 2000, the NBA spread out playoff series so that only two series would play per day. TNT would air doubleheaders on most weekdays, while TBS would air one doubleheader per week, with the advent of the new NBA television deal in 2003, TNT has aired playoff games alone, including some weekday tripleheaders. The tripleheaders, which were criticized by fans and many in the media, consisted of one game at 6,00 p. m. another at 8,30 p. m. After 2003, the NBA and TNT discontinued the tripleheaders, instead settling for a doubleheader on TNT, however, when Turner Sports acquired NBA TV in 2008, the network abandoned airing the lone non-national Thursday game, instead leaving it up to the local sports networks. However, TBS may still air the start of the game in case the ongoing first game on TNT extends beyond the tip-off time of the second game. Other than their regular Thursday schedule, TNT also airs NBA regular season games on Martin Luther King Day, during which tripleheaders were still used. However, in 2011, ESPN opted to air one matinee game on MLK Day, Albert and Steve Kerr called the game. In addition, NBA TVs Fan Night games gave way to TNT on select Tuesday nights, normally the studio crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley would stay in the TNT Atlanta studios for all of the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs. The substitute studio hosts will also be on hand for Inside the NBA and the other games pre-game and halftime presentations, on May 11,2011, Turner Sports broadcast its 1, 000th playoff telecast. In July 2011, it was announced that Shaquille ONeal would join as an analyst, for the 2012–13 season, Charles Barkley occasionally filled in as a game analyst for select games. During his studio absences, Chris Webber served as a studio analyst
NBA on TNT
–
The NBA on TNT logo used from
1994 to
2001
NBA on TNT
–
NBA on TNT
NBA on TNT
–
Mike Fratello, Reggie Miller and Marv Albert, along with TNT production staff, during an NBA on TNT broadcast
5.
NBA on ESPN
–
The NBA on ESPN refers to the presentation of National Basketball Association games on the ESPN family of networks. The ESPN cable network first televised NBA games from 1983 to 1984, ESPN2 began airing a limited schedule of NBA games in 2002. ESPN on ABC began televising NBA games in 2006, on October 6,2014, ESPN and the NBA renewed their agreement through 2025. ESPN on ABC is the broadcast home of the NBA, ESPN airs NBA games on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Most NBA games on the ESPN cable network air on Fridays at 8,00 p. m ET and 7,30 p. m PT as part of Coast to Coast doubleheaders. Games on Wednesdays are mostly single games, televised at 9,00 p. m ET, ESPNs presentation of games is referred to as NBA. The telecast also was known as ESPNBA. Unless specified, ESPNs NBA broadcasts are not exclusive, in local sports networks may still air the game in their home market. Likewise the first round coverage is not exclusive. Most Conference Final games are televised on ESPN itself, with usually Game 4, outside of the Conference Finals, ESPN airs playoff games only on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. ESPN airs the NBA Draft each season, as well as the NBA Draft Lottery, the game between the New York Knicks and the Miami Heat on December 17,2010, was the first NBA game ever aired on 3D, courtesy of ESPN 3D. The network aired 14 NBA regular season games, as well as playoff games. Starting with 2006–07 NBA season, ESPN used ABCs theme music from two years prior, making it the time the network had used its corporate siblings NBA theme. Following the branding merge, ESPN began to use variations of the used on ESPN Monday Night Football for their NBA broadcasts. With an updated graphics package debuting on Monday Night Football during the 2008-09 season, on March 14,2010, the graphics were refreshed and used in the NBA on ABC Sunday Showcase. ESPN then used the refreshed graphics for their NBA telecasts the following day, starting with the 2010-11 season, timeout indicators were added to the score banner, adopting the feature from ESPNs college football broadcasts. Beginning with the 2011 NBA Playoffs, a composition of ESPNs theme Fast Break was introduced for the postseason. The score banner and other graphics retained their design, and the composition of Fast Break remained as the theme song for the regular season
NBA on ESPN
–
NBA on ESPN
6.
NBA TV
–
The network also serves as national broadcaster of the NBA D-League and WNBA games. NBA TV is the oldest cable network in North America to be owned or controlled by a sports league. As of February 2015, NBA TV is available to approximately 57,129,001 households that subscribe to cable, the highest measured audience was a Golden State Warriors vs San Antonio Spurs regular season game on April 10,2016 with an average 2.6 million viewers. After Time Warner shut down the news network CNN/SI in 2002. On October 8,2007, it was reported that the National Basketball Association would transfer the operations to Time Warners Turner Sports division. In a story published by Hoopsworld, NBATV, Surprisingly there has been said about the NBAs decision to sell off NBATV to one of its media partners. Talks had gone on for sometime as ESPN/ABC and Turner both explored scenarios with the league, ultimately it seems Turner has won out, and will take over operation of the leagues flagship cable channel, that reaches some 12 million subscribers. The exact changeover date is not clear, but several months ago a Bloomberg report cited sources saying senior level producers were offered contract buyouts in September. Turner took over the operations on October 28,2008. DirecTV believed the move will make the channel available to an eight million subscribers. Like DirecTV, Comcast estimated that an eight million customers would effectively gain access to the channel. Verizon FiOS added the channel and NBA League Pass to its systems on September 23,2009. The network also signed new agreements with Time Warner Cable, Cablevision and Dish Network on October 22,2009. With all of the carriage deals, the NBA estimates that it would increase NBA TVs overall subscriber reach to 45 million cable. On October 29,2010, AT&T U-verse reached a deal to carry the channels standard definition. NBA TV carries at least 90 regular season games per season, live games on NBA TV are subject to local blackout restrictions, since NBA TV does not hold the exclusive broadcast rights to any of its games. Games carried by NBA TV are also carried by each teams local rights holder, either a sports network or a broadcast television station. Beginning with the 2012-13 season, the score box displayed during NBA TVs game coverage changed to a banner format oriented horizontally across the screen, however, the network does not use timeout or bonus indicators like that seen on the score graphics used on ESPN and TNT
NBA TV
–
NBA TV logo
7.
2010 NBA Draft
–
The 2010 NBA draft was held on June 24,2010, at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The draft, which started at 7,00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, was broadcast in the United States on ESPN, in this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur U. S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. This draft set a record with five players being drafted from the school in the first round. The players were John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Patrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe and this draft also marked the second time that an NBA D-League player was drafted, with the first case coming in 2008. The Washington Wizards, who won the lottery on May 18,2010. The Philadelphia 76ers, who beat the odds in the draft lottery to obtain the second pick. The New Jersey Nets, who had the worst win-loss record in the previous season, the 2010 NBA draft is the last draft conducted at Madison Square Garden until 2014. These players were not selected in the 2010 NBA Draft, but have played in at least one NBA game, the basic eligibility rules for the draft are, All drafted players must be at least 19 years old during the calendar year of the draft. In terms of dates, players eligible for the 2010 draft must be born on or before December 31,1991, the basic requirement for automatic eligibility for a U. S. player is the completion of his college eligibility. Players who meet the CBA definition of international players are eligible if their 22nd birthday falls during or before the calendar year of the draft. U. S. players who were at least one year removed from their high school graduation and have played professionally with a team outside the NBA were also automatically eligible. Former high school player Latavious Williams meets these criteria, having graduated high school in 2009, skipped college basketball, a player who is not automatically eligible must declare his eligibility for the draft by notifying the NBA offices in writing no later than 60 days before the draft. For the 2010 draft, this fell on April 25. Under NCAA rules that take effect with this draft, they only had until May 8 to withdraw from the draft, previously, players who declared for the draft could withdraw as late as 10 days before the draft and still maintain college eligibility. This year, a total of 80 collegiate players and 23 international players declared as early entry candidates, at the withdrawal deadline,48 early entry candidates withdrew from the draft, leaving 50 collegiate players and five international players as the early entry candidates for the draft. A player who has hired an agent will forfeit his college eligibility. Also, while the CBA allows a player to withdraw from the draft twice and this second provision affected Mac Koshwal, Gani Lawal, and Patrick Patterson, all of whom declared for and withdrew from the 2009 draft. The lottery determined the three teams that would obtain the first three picks on the draft, the remaining first-round picks and the second-round picks were assigned to teams in reverse order of their win-loss record in the previous season
2010 NBA Draft
–
John Wall was selected first by the
Washington Wizards.
2010 NBA Draft
–
2010 NBA draft
2010 NBA Draft
–
Evan Turner was selected second by the
Philadelphia 76ers
2010 NBA Draft
–
Derrick Favors was selected third by the
New Jersey Nets
8.
List of first overall NBA draft picks
–
The National Basketball Associations first overall pick is the player who is selected first among all eligible draftees by a team during the annual National Basketball Association Draft. The first pick is awarded to the team wins the NBA Draft Lottery, in most cases. The team with the first pick attracts significant media attention, as does the player who is selected with that pick, since the advent of the draft lottery in 1985, only seven number one overall picks have won an NBA title. They are David Robinson, Shaquille ONeal, Glenn Robinson, Tim Duncan, LeBron James, Andrew Bogut, chinas Yao Ming and Italys Andrea Bargnani are the only two players without competitive experience in the United States to be drafted first overall. Note that the drafts between 1947 and 1949 were held by the Basketball Association of America, the Basketball Association of America became the National Basketball Association after absorbing teams from the National Basketball League in the fall of 1949. Official NBA publications include the BAA Drafts as part of the NBAs draft history, List of first overall NBA Development League draft picks List of first overall WNBA draft picks General Specific
List of first overall NBA draft picks
–
LeBron James was one of the most anticipated first overall draft picks. He was also drafted out of high school.
9.
John Wall (basketball)
–
Johnathan Hildred Wall Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards of the National Basketball Association. A Raleigh, North Carolina native, Wall was chosen with the first overall pick of the 2010 NBA draft by the Wizards after playing one year at the University of Kentucky and he plays the point guard position and is a four-time NBA All-Star. Wall is the son of Frances Pulley and John Carroll Wall, when Wall was 8 years old, his father was released from prison but died of liver cancer a month later, on August 24,1999 at the age of 52. Throughout his childhood, Walls mother worked multiple jobs to support Wall, his sister, Cierra, Walls father was incarcerated due to the armed robbery of a convenience store and had served time earlier for second-degree murder. The death of Walls father caused him to reject the authority of adults and led to a path of violence and occasional fighting. Wall played AAU basketball for D-One Sports, Wall played his first two years of high school basketball at Garner Magnet High School in Garner, North Carolina. After his second season, his family moved to Raleigh and Wall repeated his sophomore year at Needham B, despite a very impressive tryout, Wall was cut from the Broughton basketball team for attitude-related issues. As a result, Wall transferred from Broughton to Word of God Christian Academy and it was in Word of God Christian Academy that Wall began mending his attitude related issues. Walls coach Levi Beckwith worked with Wall in order for him to stop demeaning his teammates for missed layups, in the summer of 2007, after his second sophomore year of high school, Wall was invited to the 2007 Reebok All-American Camp in Philadelphia. Wall distinguished himself by scoring 28 points against a team that featured future lottery pick Brandon Jennings, in 2008, Wall played in the Elite 24 Hoops Classic. He scored 10 points and earned co-MVP honors with Dominic Cheek, Maalik Wayns and Lance Stephenson. As a fifth-year senior in 2009 Wall averaged 19.7 points,9 assists, Wall scored 11 points in the game. He was selected to participate in the 2009 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland and he scored 13 points to go along with 11 assists and 5 steals. He was also selected to play in the 2009 Jordan Brand Classic at Madison Square Garden where he notched 6 assists, Wall was originally recruited by the University of Kentucky, Duke University, Georgia Tech, and the University of Kansas. Wall committed to attend the University of Kentucky on May 19,2009 and he was suspended by the NCAA from Kentuckys first exhibition game and first regular season game for travel benefits he received from his AAU coach Brian Clifton, a certified agent at the time. In his first action as a Wildcat, in a game against Clarion University of Pennsylvania. In his collegiate debut at Kentucky versus Miami University, Wall made the winning shot with.5 seconds left on the clock to help then #5 ranked Kentucky win. He finished with 19 points,2 rebounds,5 assists, on December 29,2009, against Hartford, Wall set the Kentucky single game assist record with 16,11 in the 1st half, with only 1 turnover
John Wall (basketball)
–
Wall with the Washington Wizards in 2012
John Wall (basketball)
–
John Wall shooting a free throw at Drew-Goodman League
John Wall (basketball)
–
Wall warming up before a game.
10.
Washington Wizards
–
The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D. C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association, as a club of the leagues Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays its games at the Verizon Center, in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington. The team now known as the Wizards began playing as the Chicago Packers in 1961, as the first modern expansion team in NBA history, an expansion prompted by Abe Sapersteins American Basketball League. Rookie Walt Bellamy was the star, averaging 31.6 points per game,19.0 rebounds per game. During the All-Star game, Bellamy represented the team while scoring 23 points, Bellamy was named the league Rookie of the Year, but was the team finished with the NBAs worst record at 18-62. The teams original nickname was a nod to Chicagos meatpacking industry, their home arena, however, it was extremely unpopular since it was the same nickname used by the NFLs Green Bay Packers, bitter rivals of the Chicago Bears. After only one year, the changed its name to the Chicago Zephyrs. Their only season as the Zephyrs boasted former Purdue star Terry Dischinger, in their first year in Baltimore, the Bullets finished fourth in a five–team Western Division. Prior to the 1964–65 NBA season the Bullets pulled off a trade, sending Dischinger, Rod Thorn and Don Kojis to the Detroit Pistons for Bailey Howell, Don Ohl, Bob Ferry. The trade worked out well, Howell proved to be a hustling, in the 1965 NBA Playoffs, the Bullets stunned the St. Louis Hawks 3–1, and advanced to the Western Conference finals. In the finals, Baltimore managed to split the first four games with the Los Angeles Lakers before losing the series 4–2. In the late 1960s, the Bullets drafted two future Hall of Fame members, Earl Monroe, in the 1967 draft, number two overall, and Wes Unseld, in the 1968 draft, also number two overall. The team improved dramatically, from 36 wins the season to 57 in the 1968–69 season. The Bullets reached the playoffs with high expectations to go far, the next season the two teams met again in the first round, and although this one went to seven games, the Knicks emerged victorious again. In the 1970–71 season, the 42–40 Bullets again met the 1970–71 Knicks and they were swept in four games by the powerful Milwaukee Bucks led by future Hall of Fame members Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson. Even after the trades of Earl Monroe and Gus Johnson, the Bullets remained a playoff contender throughout the 1970s. Following a less than spectacular 1971–72 season, Baltimore acquired Elvin Hayes from the Houston Rockets and drafted Kevin Porter in the third round, out of St. Francis in Pennsylvania
Washington Wizards
–
A ticket for a
1988-89 game between the Bullets and the
Hornets.
Washington Wizards
–
Washington Wizards
Washington Wizards
–
The Wizards moved to the MCI Center (now named
Verizon Center) in 1997.
Washington Wizards
–
Michael Jordan served as president of basketball operations and was a minority owner.
11.
Chicago Bulls
–
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association as a club of the leagues Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on January 16,1966, the team plays its home games at the United Center, an arena shared with the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League. The Bulls saw their greatest success during the 1990s and they are known for having one of the NBAs greatest dynasties, winning six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998 with two three-peats. All six championship teams were led by Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, the Bulls are the only NBA franchise to win multiple championships and never lose an NBA Finals series in their history. The Bulls won 72 games during the 1995–96 NBA season, setting an NBA record that stood until the Golden State Warriors won 73 games during the 2015–16 NBA season. The Bulls were the first team in NBA history to win 70 games or more in a season. Many experts and analysts consider the 1996 Bulls to be one of the greatest teams in NBA history, Michael Jordan and Derrick Rose have both won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award while playing for the Bulls, for a total of six MVP awards. The Bulls share rivalries with the Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Miami Heat, the Bulls rivalry with the Pistons was highlighted heavily during the late 1980s and early 1990s. On January 16,1966 Chicago was granted an NBA franchise to be called the Bulls, the Chicago Bulls became the third NBA franchise in the city, after the Chicago Stags and the Chicago Packers/Zephyrs. The Bulls founder, Dick Klein, was the Bulls only owner to play professional basketball. He served as the Bulls president and general manager in their initial years, after the 1966 NBA Expansion Draft, the newly founded Chicago Bulls were allowed to acquire players from the previously established teams in the league for the upcoming 1966–67 season. The team started in the 1966–67 NBA season, and posted the best record by a team in NBA history. In their first two seasons, the Bulls played most of their games at the International Amphitheatre, before moving to Chicago Stadium. Fan interest was diminishing after four seasons, with one game in the 1967–68 NBA season having an attendance of 891. The Bulls under Williams and head coach Dick Motta qualified for four straight playoffs and had attendances grow to over 10,000, in 1972, the Bulls set a franchise win-loss record at 57 wins and 25 losses. During the 1970s, the Bulls relied on Jerry Sloan, forwards Bob Love and Chet Walker, point guard Norm Van Lier, the team made the conference finals in 1975 but lost to the Golden State Warriors,4 games to 3. After four 50-win seasons, Williams returned to Philadelphia, and Motta decided to become GM as well, the Bulls ended up declining, winning only 24 games in the 1975–1976 season
Chicago Bulls
–
Michael Jordan was drafted third overall by the Bulls in
1984. He won six championships and six
Finals MVPs for Chicago.
Chicago Bulls
–
Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
–
United Center
Chicago Bulls
–
Scottie Pippen
12.
NBA Most Valuable Player Award
–
The National Basketball Association Most Valuable Player is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1955–56 season to the best performing player of the regular season. The winner receives the Maurice Podoloff Trophy, which is named in honor of the first commissioner of the NBA, until the 1979–80 season, the MVP was selected by a vote of NBA players. Since the 1980–81 season, the award is decided by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada, each of whom casts a vote for first to fifth place selections. Each first-place vote is worth 10 points, each vote is worth seven, each third-place vote is worth five. Starting from 2010, one ballot was cast by fans through online voting, the player with the highest point total wins the award. As of May 2016, the current holder of the award is Stephen Curry, every player who has won this award and has been eligible for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has been inducted. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the award a record six times, both Bill Russell and Michael Jordan won the award five times, while Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James won the award four times. Russell and James are the players to have won the award four times in five seasons. Moses Malone, Larry Bird and Magic Johnson each won the three times, while Bob Pettit, Karl Malone, Tim Duncan, Steve Nash and Stephen Curry have each won it twice. Only two rookies have won the award, Wilt Chamberlain in the 1959–60 season and Wes Unseld in the 1968–69 season. Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria, Tim Duncan of the U. S. Virgin Islands, Steve Nash of Canada, Stephen Curry in 2015–16 is the only player to have won the award unanimously. Shaquille ONeal in 1999–2000 and LeBron James in 2012–13 are the two players to have fallen one vote shy of a unanimous selection, both receiving 120 of 121 votes. Since the 1982–83 season, every winner was from a team won at least 50 games in the regular season that year. Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award NBA Development League Most Valuable Player Award General Specific
NBA Most Valuable Player Award
–
Wilt Chamberlain won the award four times in his NBA career.
NBA Most Valuable Player Award
–
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the award a record-setting six times in his career.
NBA Most Valuable Player Award
–
Michael Jordan won the award five times in his career.
NBA Most Valuable Player Award
–
LeBron James is a four-time NBA MVP.
13.
Derrick Rose
–
Derrick Martell Rose is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association. He played one year of basketball for the Memphis Tigers before being drafted first overall by his hometown Chicago Bulls in the 2008 NBA draft. After being named the NBA Rookie of the Year, Rose, at age 22, Rose was born and raised in the Chicago area, and attended Simeon Career Academy. He was highly recruited by NCAA scouts and coaches, eventually choosing to join the University of Memphis under Coach John Calipari. Rose led the Memphis Tigers to the most wins in NCAA history, their first number one ranking in 25 years, in 2009, an NCAA investigation revealed that Roses SAT scores had been invalidated, and as a result, the NCAA vacated Memphis entire 2007–08 season. Rose has struggled with significant knee injuries since his 2010–11 MVP campaign, in the first round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers, Rose tore his ACL in his left knee. Rose required surgery and was sidelined for the entire 2012–13 season. Rose returned to play in 2013–14, however, on November 22,2013, during a regular season game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Rose injured his right meniscus which caused him to miss the remainder of the season. Rose returned once again the season, but knee injuries continued to riddle him. In June 2016, he was traded to the New York Knicks, Rose was born and raised in the Englewood area, one of the most dangerous neighborhoods on Chicagos South Side. He is the youngest son of Brenda Rose after Dwayne, Reggie, all three were talented basketball players who taught Rose the in and outs of basketball on nearby courts. As his talent for the sport grew, Rose began to attract much more attention in Chicagos basketball circles, leading his mother. She feared he would be exploited and his path to the NBA diverted by outside parties like street agents, by the time Rose enrolled at Simeon Career Academy in 2003, he was a hot commodity for collegiate coaches. Despite his reputation, he played freshmen and JV basketball for the Wolverines and he wore No.25 in honor of Ben Benji Wilson, a promising player who was murdered by a gang member during his senior year in 1984. Rose was not allowed on varsity due to a tradition that head coach Bob Hambric. Hambric softened his stance and allowed the freshman a chance to play on varsity in the state tournament, the next year Hambric retired and Robert Smith was hired, opening the path to varsity. In Roses debut, he had 22 points,7 rebounds and 5 steals over Thornwood High School in a game filled with college scouts. He led the Wolverines to a 30–5 mark while averaging 19.8 points,5.1 rebounds,8.3 assists and 2.4 steals, Roses play garnered him his first national award, a Parade All-American third team spot
Derrick Rose
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Rose with the Bulls in February 2011
Derrick Rose
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Rose while playing at the
University of Memphis
14.
Kevin Durant
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Kevin Wayne Durant is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association. Durant has won an NBA Most Valuable Player Award, four NBA scoring titles, the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and he has also been selected to six All-NBA teams and eight All-Star teams. Durant was a heavily recruited high school prospect and he played one season of college basketball for the University of Texas, where he won numerous year-end awards and became the first freshman to be named Naismith College Player of the Year. In the 2007 NBA draft, he was selected with the second pick by the Seattle SuperSonics. After his rookie season, the relocated to Oklahoma City. Durant helped lead Oklahoma City to the 2012 NBA Finals, losing to the Miami Heat in five games and he played nine seasons for the Thunder organization before joining the Warriors in 2016. Durant was born on September 29,1988 in Washington, D. C. to Wanda, when Durant was an infant, his father deserted the family, Wanda and Wayne eventually divorced, and Durants grandmother Barbara Davis helped raise him. By age 13, his father re-entered his life and traveled the country with him to basketball tournaments, Durant has one sister, Brianna, and two brothers, Tony and Rayvonne. Growing up, Durant wanted to play for his team, the Toronto Raptors. During this time, he began wearing #35 as his number in honor of his AAU coach, Charles Craig. Prior to the start of the season, he committed to the University of Texas, at the conclusion of the year, he was named the Washington Post All-Met Basketball Player of the Year, as well as the Most Valuable Player of the 2006 McDonalds All-American Game. He was widely regarded as the second-best high school prospect of 2006, for the 2006–07 college season, Durant averaged 25.8 points,11.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. The Longhorns finished the year with a 25–10 record overall and a 12–4 record in conference, Durant was the first freshman ever to win any of the National Player of the Year awards. On April 11, he declared for the 2007 NBA draft. His jersey was retired by the Longhorns. Durant was selected with the second pick in the 2007 NBA draft by the Seattle SuperSonics. In his first career game, he registered 18 points,5 rebounds, on November 16, he made the first game-winning shot of his career in a game against the Atlanta Hawks. At the conclusion of the season, he was named the NBA Rookie of the Year behind averages of 20.3 points,4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game
Kevin Durant
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Durant with the Thunder in February 2014
Kevin Durant
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Durant scores on a
slam dunk in March 2011 as a member of the
Oklahoma City Thunder.
Kevin Durant
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Durant playing in a game between the Drew League and the Goodman League in August 2011.
Kevin Durant
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Durant signs an autograph at the
Sonics ' practice facility in January 2008.
15.
Oklahoma City Thunder
–
The Oklahoma City Thunder are an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Thunder competes in the National Basketball Association as a club of the leagues Western Conference Northwest Division. The team plays its games at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunders NBA Development League affiliate is the Oklahoma City Blue, the Thunder is the only team in the major professional North American sports leagues based in the state of Oklahoma. The team was established as the Seattle SuperSonics, an expansion team that joined the NBA for the 1967–68 season. The SuperSonics moved in 2008 after a settlement was reached between the group led by Clay Bennett and lawmakers in Seattle, Washington following a lawsuit. In Seattle, the SuperSonics qualified for the NBA playoffs 22 times, won their division six times, in Oklahoma City, the Thunder qualified for their first playoff berth during the 2009–10 season. The Thunders previous incarnation, the Seattle SuperSonics, were formed in 1967, in their 41 seasons in Seattle, the SuperSonics compiled a 1745–1585 win–loss record in the regular season and went 107–110 in the playoffs. The franchises titles include three Western Conference championships and one NBA title in 1979, the sale of the SuperSonics and Storm was approved by NBA owners the following October. In 2007, Bennett announced that the franchise would move to Oklahoma City as soon as the lease with KeyArena expired. In June 2008, a lawsuit brought by the city of Seattle against Bennett due to his attempts to break the two years of the Sonics lease at KeyArena went to federal court. Nearly a month later, the two reached a settlement agreement. The terms awarded the city $45 million to get out of the lease at KeyArena. On September 3,2008, the name, logo. The name Thunder was chosen in reference to Oklahomas location in Tornado Alley and Oklahoma City as the home of the U. S. Armys 45th Infantry Division, the Thunder participated in the Orlando Pro Summer League featuring their second-year players, potential free agents and rookies. The players wore black and white jerseys reading OKC-NBA against an outline of a basketball. The Thunder played several games before the 2008–2009 regular season. The Thunder made their first appearance in Billings, Montana on October 8,2008 in an 88–82 preseason loss against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Thunder played their first Ford Center game on October 14 against the Los Angeles Clippers
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Chesapeake Energy Arena (Ford Center at the time) began hosting the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.
Oklahoma City Thunder
–
Oklahoma City Thunder
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Oklahoma City defeated Minnesota on November 2, 2008 for their first win.
Oklahoma City Thunder
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Kevin Durant
16.
Miami Heat
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The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the leagues Eastern Conference Southeast Division and they play their home games at the American Airlines Arena in downtown Miami. The team owner is Carnival Corporation owner Micky Arison, the president and general manager is Pat Riley. The mascot is Burnie, an anthropomorphic fireball, formed in 1988 as an expansion team, the Heat have won three league championships, five conference titles and eleven division titles. In 2013, the Heat won twenty-seven regular season games in a row, in 2016, Forbes valued the Heat at $1.3 billion as the tenth most valuable among NBA franchises. In 1987 the NBA granted one of its four new teams to Miami. The Miami Heat began their early years with much mediocrity, only making the two times in their first eight years and falling in the first round both times. Upon the purchasing of the franchise by Micky Arison in 1995, Pat Riley was brought in as the team president, Riley acquired center Alonzo Mourning and point guard Tim Hardaway to serve as the centerpieces for the team, transforming Miami into a championship contender throughout the late 1990s. With them they brought in a new team trainer, Cody Posselt. The Heat underwent a dramatic turnaround in the 1996–97 season, improving to a 61–21 record – a franchise record at the time and that same year, Miami earned the moniker of Road Warriors for its remarkable 32–9 record on the road. Their biggest rivals of the time were the New York Knicks, Rileys former team, a period of mediocrity followed after, highlighted by missing the playoffs in 2002 and 2003. In the 2003 NBA draft, with the fifth overall pick, free-agent swing-man Lamar Odom was signed from the Los Angeles Clippers. Just prior to the start of the 03–04 season, Riley stepped down as coach to focus on rebuilding the Heat. In the offseason, Riley engineered a summer blockbuster trade for Shaquille ONeal from the Los Angeles Lakers, Alonzo Mourning returned to the Heat in the same season, serving as a backup to ONeal. Returning as championship contenders, Miami finished with a 59–23 record, sweeping through the first round and the semifinals, Miami went back to the Conference Finals for the first time in eight years, where it met the defending champion Detroit Pistons. Despite taking a 3–2 lead, Miami lost Wade to injury for Game 6, the Heat would go on to lose Game 7 at home despite Wades return. In the summer of 2005, Riley brought in free agent Gary Payton from the Boston Celtics. After a disappointing 11–10 start to the 05–06 season, Riley relieved Van Gundy of his duties, the Heat made it to the Conference Finals in 2006 and in a re-match, defeated the Pistons, winning the series 4–2
Miami Heat
–
Alonzo Mourning
Miami Heat
–
Miami Heat
Miami Heat
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Dwyane Wade
Miami Heat
–
Shaquille O'Neal
17.
Dallas Mavericks
–
The Dallas Mavericks are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association as a club of the leagues Western Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its games at the American Airlines Center. According to a 2016 Forbes magazine report, they are the ninth most valuable franchise in the NBA. As of the 2013 season, the Mavericks have sold out 477 consecutive games since December 15,2001, since their inaugural 1980–81 season, the Mavericks have won three division titles, two conference championships, and one NBA Championship. In 1978, Californian businessman Garn Eckardt met Dallas lawyer Doug Adkins, asking for a possible partner, Adkins recommended him one of his clients, Home Interiors and Gifts owner Don Carter. Negotiations with Eckardt fell through, but Carter remained interested in the enterprise as a gift to his wife Linda, who played basketball while at Duncanville High School. At the same time, Buffalo Braves president and general manager Norm Sonju grew an interest in bringing the NBA to Dallas as he studied possible new locations for the ailing franchise. Sonju and Carter tried purchasing both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Kansas City Kings, but disagreement on relocation stalled the negotiations, leading them to instead aim for an expansion team. The league was initially reluctant to expand to Dallas, given Texas had both the Spurs and Houston Rockets, and the 1978–79 NBA season was proving unprofitable and unpopular. Still, during the 1979 NBA All-Star Game weekend, NBA commissioner Larry OBrien announced the league would add two new teams in the 1980–81 season, with teams in Dallas and Minneapolis. Once the Minnesota team backed out, only Dallas remained, and through negotiations with general counselor and future commissioner David Stern, Carter would provide half the amount. James Garner, who played the character, was a member of the ownership group. The University of Texas at Arlington, who uses the Mavericks nickname, had objections about a shared name. They joined the Midwest Division of the Western Conference, where they would stay until the league went to six divisions for the 2004–05 season, Dick Motta, who had guided the Washington Bullets to the NBA Championship in 1977–78, was hired as the teams first head coach. He had a reputation of being a stern disciplinarian, but was also a great teacher of the game. In the Mavericks debut game, taking place in the brand-new Reunion Arena, but the Mavs started the season with a 6–40 record on their way to finishing 15–67. However, the Mavericks did make an acquisition that, while it seemed minor at the time
Dallas Mavericks
–
Mavs' founder
Don Carter
Dallas Mavericks
–
Dallas Mavericks
Dallas Mavericks
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Mark Aguirre was traded to the Detroit Pistons in 1989.
Dallas Mavericks
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Dirk Nowitzki was acquired by the Mavericks from the Milwaukee Bucks in 1998 and would become the face of the franchise in later years.
18.
2011 NBA Finals
–
The 2011 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2010–11 season of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the seasons playoffs. The Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks defeated the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, 4–2 and it was also the first time in four years that the Los Angeles Lakers did not make the Finals, having been swept in the Western Conference Semifinals by the eventual champion, Dallas Mavericks. The series was held from May 31 to June 12, 2011—the first to start before June 1 since the 1986 NBA Finals. Under the 2–3–2 rotation, the Miami Heat had home-court advantage, the Heat hosted Games 1,2, and 6, German player Dirk Nowitzki was named the Finals MVP. Nowitzki was the second European to win the award after Tony Parker, going into the series, the Heat were heavy favorites with their newly acquired stars LeBron James and Chris Bosh along with returning star Dwyane Wade. The series was a rematch of the 2006 NBA Finals, which was won by the Heat in six games after Dallas blew a 2–0 series lead. The Dallas Mavericks became the first team in NBA history since the institution of the 2–3–2 format to enter Game 3 tied at one, lose Game 3, the previous 11 times this occurred, the Game 3 winner went on to win the series. The Dallas Mavericks also became just the 7th team, and the first since 1988, to come back, the previous six times this happened, the Finals ended in seven games, Dallas became the first team in NBA history to do it in six games. ABC averaged a 10.1 rating,11.7 million households and nearly 17.3 million viewers with the 2011 Finals, both the Mavericks and Heat made their second appearance in the NBA Finals, the first for both teams being the 2006 NBA Finals. This Finals marked a rematch of the 2006 Finals, won by Miami in six games, the Heat had home-court advantage by virtue of a better regular-season record than the Mavericks. This was only the time that the Eastern Conference had home court advantage during the Finals since the end of the Michael Jordan era in 1998. It also marks the first time since 1995 that the Eastern Conference team lost in the Finals despite having home court advantage, the 2011 series marked the first time a Finals match was played in the month of May since 1986. Among the players from teams, only Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry of Dallas, and Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem of Miami. Heat center Erick Dampier played for the Mavericks in 2006, aside from Dampier, Caron Butler, Juwan Howard and Shawn Marion are the only other players who have played for both the Mavericks and Heat. Eddie House, Žydrūnas Ilgauskas, LeBron James and Jason Kidd have appeared in the Finals with different teams, with House, Wade and Haslem winning a championship ring. Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle won a championship as a reserve for Bostons 1986 championship team making him only the person in NBA history to win a Finals as both a player and a coach. The Dallas Mavericks won both games in the regular season, all times are in Eastern Daylight Time. The Heat made only 28.6 percent of their shots during the first quarter, the Heat changed course from this point on, outscoring the Mavs 22–10 and taking a 65–61 lead going into the 4th quarter
2011 NBA Finals
–
2011 NBA Finals
19.
Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
–
The Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1969 NBA Finals. The award is decided by a panel of nine media members, the person with the highest votes wins the award. In at least one NBA Finals, fans balloting on NBA. com accounted for the tenth vote, the award was originally a black trophy with a gold basketball-shaped sphere at the top, similar to the Larry OBrien Trophy, until a new trophy was introduced in 2005. Since its inception, the award has given to 30 different players. Michael Jordan is a record six-time award winner, magic Johnson, Shaquille ONeal, Tim Duncan and LeBron James won the award three times in their careers. Jordan and ONeal are the players to win the award in three consecutive seasons. Johnson is the only ever to win the award, as well as the youngest at 20 years old. Andre Iguodala is the winner to have not started every game in the series. Jerry West, the first ever awardee, is the person to win the award while being on the losing team in the NBA Finals. Willis Reed, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Hakeem Olajuwon, Olajuwon, Bryant, and James have won the award in two consecutive seasons. Abdul-Jabbar and James are the players to win the award for two different teams. Olajuwon of Nigeria, who became a naturalized U. S. citizen in 1993, Tony Parker of France, cedric Maxwell is the only Finals MVP winner eligible for the Hall of Fame who has not been voted in. NBA Most Valuable Player Award NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award General Specific
Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
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Jerry West, the inaugural recipient, is the only player to win the award while being on the losing team.
Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
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Magic Johnson is the only player to win the award as a rookie.
Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
–
Michael Jordan has won the award a record six times.
Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award
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Shaquille O'Neal is the only player other than Michael Jordan to have won the award three times consecutively.
20.
Dirk Nowitzki
–
Dirk Werner Nowitzki is a German professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association. Listed at 7 ft 0 in, Nowitzki is considered to be among the greatest power forwards of all time, Nowitzki led the Mavericks to 15 NBA Playoffs, including the franchises first Finals appearance in 2006 and only championship in 2011. He is a 13-time All-Star, a 12-time All-NBA Team member, Nowitzki is the highest-scoring foreign-born player in NBA-history and the sixth player to achieve over 30,000 regular-season points. He is also one of seven players who achieved a 50–40–90 season and he is the first Maverick voted onto an All-NBA Team and holds several all-time Mavericks franchise records. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Nowitzki are the players to achieve four consecutive 30-point. Nowitzki led the German national basketball team to a medal in the 2002 FIBA World Championship and silver in EuroBasket 2005. He was named the Euroscar European Basketball Player of the Year by the Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport for five years running from 2002 to 2006 and again in 2011. He was also named the Mister Europa European Player of the Year by the Italian sports magazine Superbasket in 2005, on December 18,2011, Nowitzki was named the 2011 German Sports Personality of the Year, the first basketball player to receive the award. On December 10,2012, he became the first non-American player to receive the Naismith Legacy Award and his older sister Silke Nowitzki, a local champion in track and field, also became a basketball player and now works for the NBA in International TV. Nowitzki was a tall child, most of the time he stood above his peers by a foot or more. He initially played handball and tennis, but soon tired of being called a freak for his height. Furthermore, Geschwindner encouraged Nowitzki to play an instrument and read literature to make him a more complete personality. After a year, the coach was so impressed with Nowitzkis progress that he advised him, if you choose the latter, we will stop training immediately, because nobody can prevent that anymore. But if you want to play against the best, we have to train on a daily basis, after pondering this lifetime decision for two days, Nowitzki agreed to enter the full-time training schedule, choosing the path to his eventual international career. When Nowitzki joined the team, DJK played in the Second Bundesliga and his first trainer was Pit Stahl, who played the tall teenager as an outside-scoring forward rather than an inside-scoring center to utilise his shooting skills. DJK finished second in the South Division, but could not earn promotion after losing, 86–62, in the match versus BG Ludwigsburg, in that game. In the 1996–97 Second Bundesliga season, the top scorer Kuisma left the team. Filling the void, Nowitzki averaged 19.4 points per game and led DJK again to place after the regular season
Dirk Nowitzki
–
Nowitzki shooting a free-throw against the
Washington Wizards
Dirk Nowitzki
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Nowitzki (#41) has been the face of the Mavericks franchise since 2004
Dirk Nowitzki
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Nowitzki shoots his fade away jump shot in 2008
Dirk Nowitzki
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Nowitzki posting up
Rashard Lewis in 2011
21.
2011 NBA All-Star Game
–
This game was the 60th edition of the National Basketball Association All-Star Game and was played during the 2010–11 NBA season. The Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers served as the hosts, the Clippers and Lakers were both awarded the All-Star Game in an announcement by commissioner David Stern on June 9,2009. This was the time that the Staples Center had hosted the All-Star Game. This will be the time that Los Angeles had hosted the All-Star Game, before Staples Center opened in 1999, the city had previously hosted the event in 1963,1972. Rihanna, Kanye West and Drake were the performers, while Keri Hilson, Lenny Kravitz. The coaches for the All-Star Game are the coaches of the teams with the best winning percentage in each conference through the games of February 6. However, an NBA rule also prohibits a coach from being selected for consecutive All-Star Games, because George Karl and Stan Van Gundy coached in the 2010 All-Star Game, they were not eligible for selection. The coach for the Western Conference team was San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and this was the second time Popovich was selected to be an All-Star coach, after previous selection in 2005. The coach for the Eastern Conference team was Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers and this was the second time Rivers was selected to be an All-Star coach, after previously being selected in 2008. The rosters for the All-Star Game are chosen in two ways, the starters were chosen via a fan ballot. Two guards, two forwards and one center who receive the highest vote were named the All-Star starters, the reserves were chosen by votes among the NBA head coaches in their respective conferences. The coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players, the reserves consists of two guards, two forwards, one center and two players regardless of position. If a player is unable to due to injury, the commissioner will select a replacement. Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers topped the All-Star Ballots with 2,380,016 votes, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Chris Paul and Yao Ming completed the Western Conference starting position. Anthony, Duncan and Bryant are all starters for the previous years Western Conference team, the Western Conference reserves feature 3 first-time selections, rookie Blake Griffin, Kevin Love, and Russell Westbrook. Griffin is the first rookie since Yao Ming to play in the All-Star game, the Eastern Conference leading vote-getter is Dwight Howard with 2,099,204 votes. LeBron James, Derrick Rose, Amare Stoudemire and Dwyane Wade completed the Eastern Conference starting position, Howard, Miami Heat teammates James and Wade all started for the East in last years game. The Eastern Conference reserves includes 4 Celtics, Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, al Horford, Rondo and Rose were selected to the All-Star game for the second times
2011 NBA All-Star Game
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Gregg Popovich (left) coached the West and
Doc Rivers (right) led the East.
2011 NBA All-Star Game
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2011 NBA All-Star Game
2011 NBA All-Star Game
2011 NBA All-Star Game
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Kobe Bryant received the most votes with more than 2.3 million.
22.
Staples Center
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Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street, opening on October 17,1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles Area. It is owned and operated by the L. A. Arena Company, Staples Center is also host to over 250 events and nearly 4 million guests each year. The Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park will host both the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams beginning in 2019, Staples Center measures 950,000 square feet of total space, with a 94-foot by 200-foot arena floor. The arena seats up to 19,067 for basketball,18,340 for ice hockey, two-thirds of the arenas seating, including 2,500 club seats, are in the lower bowl. There are also 160 luxury suites, including 15 event suites, the arenas attendance record is held by the fight between World WBA Welterweight Champion, Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley with a crowd of 20,820 set on January 25,2009. Star Plaza Outside the arena at the Star Plaza are statues of Wayne Gretzky and Magic Johnson, a third statue of boxer Oscar De La Hoya was unveiled outside Staples Center on December 1,2008. On April 20,2010 a fourth statue of the long time Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn. A fifth statue of the Laker legend Jerry West dribbling was unveiled on February 17,2011, a sixth statue of Lakers player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was unveiled on November 16,2012. A seventh statue of former Kings Hall of Fame left wing Luc Robitaille was unveiled on March 7,2015, the Los Angeles Lakers announced that they will honor Shaquille ONeal with a statue that was unveiled on March 24,2017. Construction broke ground in 1998 and Staples Center opened a year later and it was financed privately at a cost of US$375 million and is named for the office-supply company Staples, Inc. which was one of the centers corporate sponsors that paid for naming rights. The arena opened on October 17,1999, with a Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band concert as its inaugural event. Staples Center was named Best New Major Concert Venue for 1999, on October 21,2009, Staples Center celebrated its 10th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the official web site nominated 25 of the arenas greatest moments from its first ten years with fans voting on the top ten. The venue opened in 1999 as the home of the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA, the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA joined in 2001, while the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the NBA D-League joined in 2006. It became home to the Los Angeles Avengers of the Arena Football League in 2000 until the teams discontinuation in 2008. Since its opening day, the Staples Center has hosted seven NBA Finals series with the Lakers, of the teams five NBA championships since moving to the venue, the Lakers have celebrated their 2000 and 2010 victories at Staples Center with series-winning victories at home. Prior to the 2006–07 NBA season, the lighting inside Staples Center was modified for Lakers games, the lights were focused only on the court itself, reminiscent of the Lakers early years at The Forum
Staples Center
Staples Center
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Staples Center during a Lakers game prior to the installation of the new scoreboard, and after the implementation of a new lighting system.
Staples Center
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The Staples Center in June 2002.
Staples Center
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Staples Center before a Clippers game, featuring the new hanging scoreboard.
23.
Philadelphia 76ers
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The Philadelphia 76ers are an American professional basketball team based in Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association as a member of the leagues Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 and originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA and they have won three NBA championships, with their first coming as the Syracuse Nationals in 1955. The second title came in the 1966–67 season, a team which was led by Chamberlain, the third title came in the 1982–83 season, won by a team led by Erving and Malone. The 76ers have only been back to the NBA Finals once since then, in 2001, while in the NBL with teams largely consisting of small Midwestern towns, the Nationals put together a 21–23 record, finishing in 4th place. In the playoffs, the Nats would be beaten by the fellow upstate neighbor Rochester Royals in 4 games, in their second season, 1947–48, the Nationals would struggle, finishing in 5th place with a 24–36 record. Despite their struggles, the Nats would make the playoffs, getting swept by the Anderson Duffey Packers in 3 straight games, several teams began to leave the NBL for the BAA as the foundation for an absorption was laid. The Nationals recipe for success began by recruiting Leo Ferris, in the playoffs the Nationals would make quick work of the Hammond Calumet Buccaneers, winning the series in 2 straight games. However, in the semifinals the Nats would fall to the Anderson Duffey Packers for the second season in 4 games. In 1949, the Nationals were one of seven NBL teams that were absorbed by the Basketball Association of America to form the NBA, the Nationals were an instant success in the NBA, winning the Eastern Division in the 1949–1950 season, with a league best record of 51–13. In the playoffs the Nationals continued to play basketball, beating the Philadelphia Warriors in 2 straight. Moving on to the Eastern Finals, the Nationals battled the New York Knickerbockers, in the NBA Finals, the Nationals faced fellow NBL alums the Minneapolis Lakers. In Game 1 of the Finals the Nats lost just their home game of the season 68–66. The Nats did not recover, as they fell behind 3 games to 1 before falling in 6 games, despite several teams leaving the NBA for the National Professional Basketball League before the 1950–1951 season, the Nationals decided to stay put. In their second NBA season the Nationals played mediocre basketball all season, however, in the playoffs the Nats played their best basketball of the season as they stunned the 1st place Philadelphia Warriors in 2 straight, taking Game 1 on the road in overtime 91–89. In the Eastern Finals the Nationals were beaten by the New York Knickerbockers in a hard-fought 5-game series, in the playoffs the Nats knocked off the Philadelphia Warriors again in a 3-game series. However, in the Eastern Finals the Nats fell to the New York Knickerbockers again, the Nationals would finish in 2nd place in a hard fought 3-way battle for first place in the Eastern Division for the 1952–1953 season, with a record of 47–24. In the playoffs the Nationals would face the Boston Celtics dropping Game 1 at home 87–81, the Nationals acquired Alex Groza, and Ralph Beard as the Indianapolis Olympians folded leaving the NBA with just 9 teams for the 1953–1954 season
Philadelphia 76ers
–
Dolph Schayes joined the Syracuse Nationals in 1949 and played with them until their relocation to Philadelphia following the 1962–63 season. He retired in 1964 after playing 29 games with the 76ers.
Philadelphia 76ers
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Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
–
Wilt Chamberlain joined the Sixers in 1965, and in his third season (1967), he led the team to the NBA title.
Philadelphia 76ers
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Philadelphia-born
Joe Bryant was a first round draft pick who played for the 76ers between 1975–1979.
24.
Eddie Jordan (basketball)
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Edward Montgomery Jordan is a retired American professional basketball player and the former head coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights mens basketball team. He formerly served as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards. Jordan attended Rutgers University from 1973–1977, from 1984–1985, and again starting in 2013 and he studied physical education, but never graduated. Jordan helped lead the school to the 1976 NCAA Final Four, at Rutgers, Jordan acquired the nickname Fast Eddie. In his senior season, Jordan was named honorable mention All-America, while setting Rutgers all-time career records in assists, Jordan was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 1977 NBA draft, and was acquired by the New Jersey Nets halfway through his rookie season. Jordan tied Norm Nixon for the lead in steals with 201 in 1978–1979. Jordan played for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1980–81 season and he played for the Lakers for four years and then played briefly with the Portland Trail Blazers. Jordan retired from the NBA after the 1983–84 season, over his seven-year NBA career, Jordan averaged 8.1 points,3.8 assists and 1.82 steals per game. After retiring from the NBA in 1984, Jordan was an assistant at Rutgers University under his former college head coach. Jordan followed Young to Old Dominion University as an assistant as before. He also became an assistant coach at Rutgers in 1988, in 1992, Jordan became an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, and remained an assistant for five seasons. Jordan was fired after the 1997–98 season, Jordan joined the New Jersey Nets coaching staff on March 17,1999 and served as the lead assistant for four seasons. While in New Jersey, Jordan helped guide the squad to consecutive Atlantic Division, later that year, Jordan signed a four-year contract worth a little more than $3 million per year with the Washington Wizards and was introduced as head coach of the team on June 19,2003. Washington finished with a 25–57 record during Jordans inaugural season as head coach, the following year, Jordan helped guide the Wizards to a 20-game improvement in 2004–05. Only the Chicago Bulls and Phoenix Suns experienced an improvement in total wins from the previous year. On April 11,2005 Jordan won his 100th career game as a head coach, during the 2004–05 regular season, Jordans second with the Wizards, he led the team to a 45–37 record, which was the franchises best season since 1978–79. The record established a new record for wins in a season at Verizon Center, earned the team a five seed in the Eastern Conference, the Wizards played the fourth seeded Chicago Bulls and won the series four games to two. The team rallied from a 0–2 deficit to win the series with four consecutive wins and it was the teams first postseason series win since 1982
Eddie Jordan (basketball)
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Jordan in January 2007
