1.
Philadelphia
–
In 1682, William Penn, an English Quaker, founded the city to serve as capital of the Pennsylvania Colony. Philadelphia was one of the capitals in the Revolutionary War. In the 19th century, Philadelphia became an industrial center. It became a destination for African-Americans in the Great Migration. The areas many universities and colleges make Philadelphia a top international study destination, as the city has evolved into an educational, with a gross domestic product of $388 billion, Philadelphia ranks ninth among world cities and fourth in the nation. Philadelphia is the center of activity in Pennsylvania and is home to seven Fortune 1000 companies. The Philadelphia skyline is growing, with a market of almost 81,900 commercial properties in 2016 including several prominent skyscrapers. The city is known for its arts, culture, and rich history, Philadelphia has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city. Fairmount Park, when combined with the adjacent Wissahickon Valley Park in the watershed, is one of the largest contiguous urban park areas in the United States. The 67 National Historic Landmarks in the city helped account for the $10 billion generated by tourism, Philadelphia is the only World Heritage City in the United States. Before Europeans arrived, the Philadelphia area was home to the Lenape Indians in the village of Shackamaxon, the Lenape are a Native American tribe and First Nations band government. They are also called Delaware Indians and their territory was along the Delaware River watershed, western Long Island. Most Lenape were pushed out of their Delaware homeland during the 18th century by expanding European colonies, Lenape communities were weakened by newly introduced diseases, mainly smallpox, and violent conflict with Europeans. Iroquois people occasionally fought the Lenape, surviving Lenape moved west into the upper Ohio River basin. The American Revolutionary War and United States independence pushed them further west, in the 1860s, the United States government sent most Lenape remaining in the eastern United States to the Indian Territory under the Indian removal policy. In the 21st century, most Lenape now reside in the US state of Oklahoma, with communities living also in Wisconsin, Ontario. The Dutch considered the entire Delaware River valley to be part of their New Netherland colony, in 1638, Swedish settlers led by renegade Dutch established the colony of New Sweden at Fort Christina and quickly spread out in the valley. In 1644, New Sweden supported the Susquehannocks in their defeat of the English colony of Maryland
Philadelphia
–
From top left, the Philadelphia skyline, a
statue of Benjamin Franklin, the
Liberty Bell, the
Philadelphia Museum of Art,
Philadelphia City Hall, and
Independence Hall
Philadelphia
–
An 18th century map of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia
–
Penn's Treaty with the Indians by
Benjamin West
Philadelphia
–
Benjamin Franklin, 1777
2.
Simon Gratz High School
–
Simon Gratz High School is a secondary school in Philadelphia. An inner-city school, it is perhaps best known for its famous alumni, originally a public school directly operated by the School District of Philadelphia, Gratz has been operated as a charter school by Mastery Charter since September 2011. Students from the public schools enrollment area are eligible to attend. It is the fifth Philadelphia high school operated by Mastery, situated at the southeast corner of the intersection of 18th St. & Hunting Park Ave. its address is 1798 Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia, PA19140. In 2012, the school was removed from Persistently Dangerous Schools List while under the new management of Mastery Charter Schools, the Temple University graduate and family housing unit, Triangle Apartment Complex, is zoned to Simon Gratz. Gratz students are required to wear uniforms, consisting of gray polo shirts, navy blue bottoms. Congressman and CEO, United Negro College Fund Grayson Hall, television, film and stage actress Edwin L
Simon Gratz High School
–
Simon Gratz High School
3.
1995 NBA draft
–
The 1995 NBA draft took place on June 28,1995, at SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It marked the first NBA draft to be held outside the United States and was the first draft for the two Canadian expansion teams, Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies. Kevin Garnett, who was fifth in this draft, is notable for being the first player in two decades to be selected straight out of high school. Garnett would go on to gather fifteen All Star selections, eight All-NBA selections, one NBA MVP award, rasheed Wallace and Jerry Stackhouse also had successful careers, being four-time and two-time All-Stars respectively. Wallace won an NBA championship in 2004 with the Detroit Pistons, while Stackhouse scored the most total points in the league in 2000, the other remaining top selections had relatively productive careers, but were considered to have never reached their full potential. Joe Smith put up solid, but unspectacular numbers throughout his career and is considered a disappointment for a first overall selection. He was also involved in a salary cap scandal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Antonio McDyess was a one-time All-Star, but serious and continuing knee injuries decreased much of his effectiveness in the prime of his career. Damon Stoudamire was the 1995–96 NBA Rookie of the Year and had a solid career although he was arrested, suspended and fined several times for marijuana possession and this draft was also notable for two of the biggest busts in NBA history, Ed OBannon and Shawn Respert. OBannon had received accolades for leading the UCLA Bruins to the NCAA Championship. Respert played only four seasons in the NBA, while secretly hiding that he was suffering from stomach cancer, the following players went undrafted in the 1995 NBA Draft but later played in the NBA. The following trades involving drafted players were made on the day of the draft, a The Los Angeles Clippers traded Randy Woods and the draft rights of Antonio McDyess to the Denver Nuggets for Rodney Rogers and the draft rights to Brent Barry
1995 NBA draft
–
Joe Smith, the 1st pick of the Golden State Warriors
1995 NBA draft
–
Antonio McDyess, the 2nd pick of the Los Angeles Clippers (traded to Denver)
1995 NBA draft
–
Jerry Stackhouse, the 3rd pick of the Philadelphia 76ers
1995 NBA draft
–
Rasheed Wallace, the 4th pick of the Washington Bullets
4.
Washington Bullets
–
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 Bullets
–
A ticket for a
1988-89 game between the Bullets and the
Hornets.
Washington Bullets
–
Washington Wizards
Washington Bullets
–
The Wizards moved to the MCI Center (now named
Verizon Center) in 1997.
Washington Bullets
–
Michael Jordan served as president of basketball operations and was a minority owner.
5.
Power forward (basketball)
–
The power forward, also known as the four, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. It has also referred to as the post position. Power forwards play a similar to that of center in what is called the post or low blocks. They typically play offensively with their backs towards the basket and position themselves defensively under the basket in a defense or against the opposing power forward in man-to-man defense. The power forward position entails a variety of responsibilities, one of which is rebounding, many power forwards are noted for their mid-range jump-shot, and several players have become very accurate from 12 to 18 feet. Earlier, these skills were more typically exhibited in the European style of play, some power forwards, known as stretch fours, have since extended their shooting range to three-point field goals. In the NBA, power forwards usually range from 68 to 611, despite the averages, a variety of players fit tweener roles which finds them in the small forward and/or center position depending upon matchups and coaching decisions. Some natural power forwards often play the position and have the skills
Power forward (basketball)
–
Tim Duncan, a power forward, warming up before a game in February 12, 2011
6.
Center (basketball)
–
The center, also known as the five or the big man, is one of the five positions in a regular basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a deal of strength. The tallest player to ever be drafted in the NBA was the 78 Yasutaka Okayama from Japan, the tallest players to ever play in the NBA, at 77, are centers Gheorghe Mureșan and Manute Bol. Standing at 72, Margo Dydek is the tallest player to have played in the WNBA. The center is considered a component for a successful team. But recently, the NBA has turned into a point guard league, great centers have been the foundation for most of the dynasties in both the NBA and NCAA. In the 1960s, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain further transformed basketball by combining height with a level of athleticism than previous centers. Following the retirement of George Mikan, the rivalry of the two big men came to dominate the NBA, many of the records set by these two players have endured today. Most notably, Chamberlain and Russell hold the top eighteen season averages for rebounds, Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to two consecutive NCAA Championships. He joined the Boston Celtics and helped make them one of the greatest dynasties in NBA history, Russell revolutionized defensive strategy with his shot-blocking, rebounding and physical man-to-man defense. His principal rival, Wilt Chamberlain, listed at 71,275 pounds, Chamberlain played college ball for the Kansas Jayhawks, leading them to the 1957 title game against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Although the Jayhawks lost by one point in overtime, Chamberlain was named the tournaments Most Outstanding Player. He also won seven scoring titles, eleven rebounding titles, and four regular season Most Valuable Player awards, including the distinction, in 1960, stronger than any player of his era, he was usually capable of scoring and rebounding at will. Most notably, Chamberlain is the player in NBA history to average more than 50 points in a season. He also holds the NBAs all-time records for rebounding average, rebounds in a single game, in contrast to the Celtics dynasty of the 1960s, the 1970s were a decade of parity in the NBA, with eight different champions and no back-to-back winners. At the college level, the UCLA Bruins, under Coach John Wooden, built the greatest dynasty in NCAA basketball history, UCLA had already won two consecutive titles in 1964 and 1965 with teams that pressed and emphasized guard play. After not winning in 1966, Woodens teams changed their style when Lew Alcindor became eligible and he led UCLA to three championships-in 1967,68 and 69-while winning the first Naismith College Player of the Year Award. During his college career, the NCAA enacted a ban on dunking primarily because of Alcindors dominant use of the shot
Center (basketball)
–
George Mikan
Center (basketball)
–
Bill Russell (left) and Wilt Chamberlain (right)
Center (basketball)
–
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Center (basketball)
–
Hakeem Olajuwon
7.
Portland Trail Blazers
–
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association as a club of the leagues Western Conference Northwest Division. The team played its games in the Memorial Coliseum before moving to Moda Center in 1995. The team has advanced to the NBA Finals three times, winning the NBA championship once in 1977 and their other NBA Finals appearances were in 1990 and 1992. The team has qualified for the playoffs in 31 seasons of their 45-season existence, including a streak of 21 straight appearances from 1983 through 2003, the second longest streak in NBA history. The Trail Blazers 31 playoff appearances rank third in the NBA only behind the Los Angeles Lakers, six Hall of Fame players have played for the Trail Blazers. Bill Walton is the franchises most decorated player, he was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1977, four Blazer rookies have won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Sports promoter Harry Glickman sought a National Basketball Association franchise for Portland as far back as 1955 when he proposed two new teams, the other to be located in Los Angeles. To raise the money for the $3.7 million admission tax, Glickman associated himself to real estate magnates Robert Schmertz of New Jersey, Larry Weinberg of Los Angeles and Herman Sarkowsky of Seattle. Two weeks later, on February 24, team management held a contest to select the teams name, the most popular choice was Pioneers, but that name was excluded from consideration as it was already used by sports teams at Portlands Lewis & Clark College. The name Trail Blazers received 172 entries, and was selected by the judging panel. Despite initial mixed response, the Trail Blazers name, often shortened to just Blazers, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Buffalo Braves, the Trail Blazers entered the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team, under coach Rolland Todd. Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks led the team in its years. During that span, the team had three coaches, team executive Stu Inman also served as coach. The team won the first pick in the NBA draft twice during that span, in 1972, the team drafted LaRue Martin with the number one pick, and in 1974 the team selected Bill Walton from UCLA. In 1976, the ABA–NBA merger saw those two rival leagues join forces, four ABA teams joined the NBA, the remaining teams were dissolved and their players distributed among the remaining NBA squads in a dispersal draft. The Trail Blazers selected Maurice Lucas in the dispersal draft and that summer, they also hired Jack Ramsay as head coach. The two moves, coupled with the stellar play, led Portland to several firsts, winning record, playoff appearance
Portland Trail Blazers
–
In his first season as the Trail Blazers head coach,
Jack Ramsay led the team to their first playoff berth and eventually
the championship.
Bill Walton was the
NBA Finals MVP.
Portland Trail Blazers
–
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
–
Clyde Drexler played in Portland from 1983 to 1995.
Portland Trail Blazers
–
After being drafted by the Trail Blazers several years prior,
Arvydas Sabonis made his NBA debut during the 1995–96 season.
8.
Atlanta Hawks
–
The Atlanta Hawks are a professional basketball team based in Atlanta. The Hawks compete in the National Basketball Association as a team of the leagues Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays its games at Philips Arena. The teams origins can be traced to the establishment of the Buffalo Bisons in 1946 in Buffalo, New York, after 38 days in Buffalo, the team moved to Moline, Illinois, where they were renamed the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. In 1949, they joined the NBA as part of the merger between the NBL and the Basketball Association of America, and had Red Auerbach as coach briefly, in 1951, Kerner moved the team to Milwaukee, where they changed their name to the Hawks. Kerner and the team moved again in 1955 to St. Louis, the Hawks played the Boston Celtics in all four of their trips to the NBA Finals. The St. Louis Hawks moved to Atlanta in 1968, when Kerner sold the franchise to Thomas Cousins, the Hawks currently own the second-longest drought of not winning an NBA championship at 57 seasons. The franchises lone NBA championship, as well as all four NBA Finals appearances, meanwhile, they went 48 years without advancing past the second round of the playoffs in any format, until finally breaking through in 2015. Much of the failure theyve experienced in the postseason can be traced back to their history in the NBA draft. Since 1980, the Hawks have drafted four players who have been chosen to play in an NBA All-Star Game. Dominique Wilkins was actually selected by the Utah Jazz and traded to the Hawks a few months after the draft, the origins of the Atlanta Hawks can be traced to the Buffalo Bisons franchise, which was founded in 1946. The Bisons were a member of the National Basketball League, the club was organized by the Erie County American Legion and was coached by Nat Hickey. Their first game – a 50–39 victory over the Syracuse Nationals – was played on November 8,1946, on the team was William Pop Gates, who, along with William Dolly King, was one of the first two African-American players in the NBL. The team, which needed to draw 3,600 fans per game to break even struggled to draw 1,000 fans per game to the Auditorium. Upon relocation to Moline, the team was renamed the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, and played their games at Wharton Field House. The team featured guard/forward and coach Deanglo King, and was owned by Leo Ferris, Pop Gates remained on the Blackhawks roster, and finished second on the team in scoring behind future 1948 NBL MVP Don Otten. A Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame member, Gates helped to integrate the league and later become the first African-American coach in a sports league. In 1949 the Blackhawks became one of the National Basketball Associations 17 original teams after a merger of the 12-year-old NBL and they reached the playoffs in the NBAs inaugural year under the leadership of coach Red Auerbach
Atlanta Hawks
–
Steve Smith was one of the Hawks' cornerstone players during the mid-to-late 1990s, helping lead Atlanta to three
Conference Semi-Finals appearances
Atlanta Hawks
–
Atlanta Hawks
9.
Detroit Pistons
–
The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association as a club of the leagues Eastern Conference Central Division. The team plays its games at The Palace of Auburn Hills and was founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1941. The Pistons joined the Basketball Association of America in 1948, in 1949, the NBL and BAA merged to become the NBA, and the Pistons became part of the merged league. Since moving to Detroit in 1957, the Pistons have won three NBA championships in 1989,1990 and 2004. The Detroit Pistons franchise was founded as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, owners Fred Zollner and his sister Janets Zollner Corporation was a foundry, manufacturing pistons, primarily for car, truck and locomotive engines. The Zollner Pistons were NBL champions in 1944 and 1945 and they also won the World Professional Basketball Tournament in 1944,1945 and 1946. In 1948, the became the Fort Wayne Pistons, competing in the Basketball Association of America. In 1949, Fred Zollner brokered the formation of the National Basketball Association from the BAA, there are suggestions that Pistons players conspired with gamblers to shave points and throw various games during the 1953–54 and 1954–55 seasons. In particular, there are accusations that the team may have intentionally lost the 1955 NBA Finals to the Syracuse Nationals, in the decisive Game 7, the Pistons led Syracuse 41–24 early in the second quarter, then the Nationals rallied to win the game. Syracuse won on a throw by George King with twelve seconds left in the game. After the 1956–57 season, Zollner decided that Fort Wayne was too small to support an NBA team, although it was the fifth largest city in the United States at the time, Detroit had not seen professional basketball in a decade. In 1947, they had lost the Detroit Gems of the NBL, Zollner decided to keep the Pistons name, believing it made sense given Detroits status as the center of the automobile industry. The new Detroit Pistons played in Olympia Stadium for their first four seasons, the franchise was a consistent disappointment, struggling both on the court and at the box office. During the 1960s and 1970s, the Pistons were characterized by strong individuals. In fact, in their first 27 years in Detroit, they only had three winning seasons, some of the superstars who played for the team included Dave DeBusschere, Dave Bing, Jimmy Walker, and Bob Lanier. At one point DeBusschere was the youngest player-coach in the history of the NBA, DeBusschere became a key player in leading the Knicks to two NBA titles. Detroit qualified for the postseason in four seasons, but never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs
Detroit Pistons
–
Dave Bing joined the team in 1966, where in his rookie year he scored 1,601 points.
Detroit Pistons
–
The starting five of the Pistons' 2004 championship team. (left-to right:
Richard Hamilton,
Ben Wallace,
Rasheed Wallace,
Chauncey Billups,
Tayshaun Prince).
Detroit Pistons
–
A ticket for Game 1 of the 1988 NBA Finals at The Forum.
Detroit Pistons
–
Chuck Daly, coach of the 1989 and 1990 NBA Champions
10.
Boston Celtics
–
The Boston Celtics are an American professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association as a club of the leagues Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 and one of eight NBA teams to survive the leagues first decade, the Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which they share with the National Hockey League s Boston Bruins. The franchises 17 championships are the most of any NBA franchise, as a percentage of championships won, the Celtics are the most successful franchise to date in the major four traditional North American professional sports leagues. The Celtics have played the Lakers a record 12 times in the Finals, including their most recent appearances in 2008 and 2010, four Celtics players have won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for an NBA record total of 10 MVP awards. Their mascot Lucky the Leprechaun is a nod to the teams Irish heritage, in 1950, the Celtics signed Chuck Cooper, becoming the first NBA franchise to draft a black player. The Celtics struggled during their years, until the hiring of coach Red Auerbach. In the franchises early days, Auerbach had no assistants, ran all the practices, did all the scouting—both of opposing teams and college draft prospects—and scheduled all the road trips. One of the first great players to join the Celtics was Bob Cousy, Cousy eventually became the property of the Chicago Stags, but when that franchise went bankrupt, Cousy went to the Celtics in a dispersal draft. After the 1955–56 season, Auerbach made a stunning trade and he sent perennial All-Star Ed Macauley to the St. Louis Hawks along with the draft rights to Cliff Hagan in exchange for the second overall pick in the draft. Auerbach also acquired Holy Cross standout, and 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year, Russell and Heinsohn worked extraordinarily well with Cousy, and they were the players around whom Auerbach would build the champion Celtics for more than a decade. With Bill Russell, the Celtics advanced to the NBA Finals and defeated the St. Louis Hawks in seven games, Russell went on to win 11 championships, making him the most decorated player in NBA history. In 1958, the Celtics again advanced to the NBA Finals, however, with the acquisition of K. C. Jones that year, the Celtics began a dynasty that would last for more than a decade. In 1959, the Celtics won the NBA Championship after sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers, during that time, the Celtics met the Lakers in the Finals five times, starting an intense and often bitter rivalry that has spanned generations. In 1964, the Celtics became the first NBA team to have an all African-American starting lineup. On December 26,1964, Willie Naulls replaced an injured Tommy Heinsohn, joining Tom Satch Sanders, K. C. Jones, Sam Jones, the Celtics defeated St. Louis 97–84. Boston won its next 11 games with Naulls starting in place of Heinsohn, the Celtics of the late-1950s–60s are widely considered as one of the most dominant teams of all time. Auerbach retired as coach after the 1965–66 season and Russell took over as player-coach, with his appointment, Russell also became the first African-American coach in any U. S. pro sport
Boston Celtics
–
Bob Cousy played 13 years for the team, winning 6 NBA titles.
Boston Celtics
–
Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
–
Tom Heinsohn coached the Boston Celtics to the 1974 and 1976 NBA Championship.
Boston Celtics
–
Dave Cowens had helped the Celtics win 2 titles during the mid-1970s.
11.
New York Knicks
–
The New York Knickerbockers, commonly referred to as the Knicks, are an American professional basketball team based in New York City. The Knicks compete in the National Basketball Association as a club of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its games at Madison Square Garden, located in the borough of Manhattan. They are one of two NBA teams located in New York City, the other is the Brooklyn Nets, along with the Boston Celtics, the Knicks are one of only two original NBA teams still located in its original city. The Knicks were successful during their years and were constant playoff contenders under the franchises first head coach Joe Lapchick. Beginning in 1950, the Knicks made three appearances in the NBA Finals, all of which were losing efforts. Lapchick resigned in 1956 and the team began to falter. It was not until the late 1960s when Red Holzman became head coach that the Knicks began to regain their former dominance, Holzman successfully guided the Knicks to two NBA championships, in 1970 and 1973. The Knicks of the 1980s had mixed success that included six playoff appearances, however, the playoff-level Knicks of the 1990s were led by future Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing, this era was marked by passionate rivalries with the Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, and Miami Heat. During this time, they were known for playing tough defense under head coaches Pat Riley, during this era, the Knicks made two appearances in the NBA Finals, in 1994 and 1999, though they were unable to win an NBA championship. Since 2000, the Knicks have struggled to regain their former glory, in 2012–13, the franchise won its first division title in 19 years, but was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers. According to a 2016 Forbes report, the Knicks were the most-valuable NBA franchise, in 1946, basketball, particularly college basketball, was a growing and increasingly profitable sport in New York City. Hockey was another sport at the time and generated considerable profits, however. Max Kase, a New York sportswriter, became the editor at the Boston American in the 1930s. Kase developed the idea of a professional league to showcase college players upon their graduation. Brown, intrigued by the opportunity to attain additional income when the teams were not playing or on the road. Ned Irish, a college basketball promoter, retired sportswriter and then president of Madison Square Garden, was in attendance, Kase originally planned to own and operate the New York franchise himself and approached Irish with a proposal to lease the Garden. Irish explained that the rules of the Arena Managers Association of America stated that Madison Square Garden was required to own any professional teams played in the arena
New York Knicks
–
Lapchick was responsible for leading the Knicks during their early success. However, these ventures never culminated with a win in the
NBA Finals.
New York Knicks
–
New York Knicks
New York Knicks
–
William 'Red' Holzman guided the Knicks to two championships during his tenure.
New York Knicks
–
Walt 'Clyde' Frazier
12.
NBA champion
–
The National Basketball Association Finals is the championship series for the NBA and the conclusion of the NBAs postseason. Prior to 1949, the playoffs were instituted a three-stage tournament where the two winners played each other in the finals. The winning team of the series receives the Larry OBrien Championship Trophy, the home-and-away format in the NBA Finals is in a 2–2–1–1–1 format. It was previously in a 2–3–2 format during 1949, 1953–1955, the Eastern Conference/Division leads the Western Conference/Division in series won. The defunct Central Division won one championship, the Boston Celtics and the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers alone own almost half of the titles, having won a combined 33 of 70 championships. The original trophy was awarded to the BAA/NBA champions from 1947 to 1976, a new trophy design was created for the 1977 NBA Finals, although it retained the Walter A. Brown title. Unlike the original trophy, the new trophy was given permanently to the winning team. The inaugural winners of the trophy were the Philadelphia Warriors, who defeated the Chicago Stags, the Boston Celtics won the trophy 14 times, the most in league history. From 1957 to 1969, they won the NBA Finals 11 out of 13 times, the final winners of the trophy were the Philadelphia 76ers, who defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1983 NBA Finals. In 1984, the trophy was renamed the Larry OBrien Championship Trophy, in 1984, the trophy was renamed to the Larry OBrien Championship Trophy, in honor of Larry OBrien, who served as NBA commissioner from 1975 to 1983. The current trophy is made out of 14.5 pounds of sterling silver and vermeil with a 24 karat gold overlay and it is designed to look like a basketball about to enter a net. The year and team names are engraved on the trophies, which are prominently displayed in the winning teams arena. The Boston Celtics were the winners of the renamed trophy. The Los Angeles Lakers have won the eight times, the Chicago Bulls have won it six times
NBA champion
–
The Championship Trophy showcased at the 2008 NBA Playoffs Symposium in Taiwan
NBA champion
–
The original Walter A. Brown Trophy displayed at the
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
13.
2004 NBA Finals
–
The 2004 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2003–04 National Basketball Association season. The Finals were between the Los Angeles Lakers of the Western Conference and the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference, the series was played under a best-of-seven format, so the first team to collect four game victories would win the series. Although the Lakers were the favorite, the Pistons won the series four games to one to win their first title since 1990. Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups was named as the NBA Finals MVP, the series was noted for the perceived underdog, the Pistons, dominating a Lakers team that had four future Hall of Famers. Pistons owner William Davidson became the first owner in sports history to win two championships in one year, eight days earlier, the other team that Davidson owned, the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League had won the Stanley Cup in seven games over the Calgary Flames. The Lakers had won championships from 2000 to 2002. In the 2003 offseason, the Lakers made major changes, with varying results. The Lakers were afterwards considered the favorites to win the NBA title, then, they faced the Minnesota Timberwolves and their superstar forward Kevin Garnett. The Lakers won the series 4–2 to advance to the Finals, the Pistons won two back-to-back championships in 1989 and 1990, but with retirements and departures of several stars, they faded from playoff prominence. The team hired former star Joe Dumars as general manager of the team in 2000 and he was named the NBA Executive of the Year in 2003 for returning the Pistons to prominence. In his place, Dumars hired legendary coach Larry Brown, who had most recently led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals in 2001, the Pistons, who were already a good defensive team, became a defensive force to be reckoned with. They became the first team in NBA history to hold five consecutive opponents under 70 points, and finished the season with a 54–28 record, the Pistons easily overcame the Milwaukee Bucks 4–1, but struggled against the New Jersey Nets and narrowly escaped 4–3. In a defensive series with Indiana, the Pistons offense proved more productive and this is only used in the Finals, all other playoff games are held in a 2–2–1–1–1 format. The Pistons became the team to sweep the middle three games since the NBA started using the 2-3-2 format in 1985. But they became the first to do so at home, the three times this had occurred it was done by road teams. With this, Detroit became the team to have both swept the middle three games at home and on the road. This was the first Finals series to be played on the current Sunday–Tuesday–Thursday rotation since 1990, NBA on NBC switched to a Wednesday-Friday-Sunday rotation in 1991, which was used through 2003, save for Monday games in 1999 and 2000. It is also the last series to have Game 1 be played on a Sunday, from 2005 to 2010, the championship series started on either the first or second Thursday in June
2004 NBA Finals
–
2004 NBA Finals
14.
NBA All-Star
–
The National Basketball Association All-Star Game is an annual exhibition basketball game played between the Eastern-Conference and the Western-Conference All-Stars. It is the event of the NBA All-Star Weekend. The starters are chosen by a combination of fans, media, fans may vote using a variety of online platforms, and account for 50% of the vote, with the media and current players each accounting for 25%. The reserves are chosen by voting among the coaches of each teams particular conference. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own players, if a player is unable to participate due to injury, the NBA commissioner will select a replacement. The 1999 All-Star Game was canceled due to the leagues lockout, the following is a list of NBA All-Stars, players who have been selected for the NBA All-Star Game at least once in their career. Note that the number indicates the number of selections—not the number of games played. For instance, Michael Jordan was named to the All-Star Game roster 14 times, as of the 2017 All-Star Game,411 players have been selected to an All-Star Game roster at least once. However, only 283 of them have earned multiple selections to the game, hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar holds the record for most All-Star Game selections and most All-Star Games played. He was selected 19 times and played in 18 All-Star games, dirk Nowitzki and LeBron James both hold the record for most All-Star Game selections among active players, with 13 selections. Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, and LeBron James are tied for the most consecutive games actually played, tim Duncan also played in 13 straight All-Star Games if the lockout-cancelled 1999 game is excluded. Several players were named to All-Star Game rosters, but never played in the game due to injury. Note, Statistics are correct as of the conclusion of the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, notes a Before the 1971–72 season, Lew Alcindor changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He missed the 1973 All-Star Game due to personal reasons, B When Hakeem Olajuwon arrived in the United States, the University of Houston incorrectly spelled his first name Akeem. Olajuwon used that spelling until March 9,1991, when he announced that he would add an H, C This column does not include American Basketball Association All-Star Game selections. D Before the 2011–12 season, Ron Artest changed his name to Metta World Peace, general All-Star Game Selections by Player. Specific NBA. com, All-Star Game history Basketball-Reference, All-Star Game Index
NBA All-Star
–
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was selected to play in the NBA All-Star Game for a record of 19 times.
15.
2000 NBA All-Star Game
–
The 2000 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game which was played on February 13,2000 at the Oakland Arena in Oakland, California, home of the Golden State Warriors. This game was the 49th edition of the North American National Basketball Association All-Star Game and was played during the 1999-2000 NBA season, the Western Conference won the game with the score of 137-126 while Shaquille ONeal and Tim Duncan were both named MVP of the game. ONeal took the All Star MVP trophy saying to Duncan, you already have one of those rings, Allen Iverson was the leading scorer of the game with 26 points. The coach for the Western Conference team was Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson, the Lakers had a 37–11 record on February 13. The coach for the Eastern Conference team was New York Knicks head coach Jeff Van Gundy, the Knicks had a 29-18 record on February 13. The rosters for the All-Star Game were chosen in two ways, the starters were chosen via a fan ballot. Two guards, two forwards and one center who received 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 consist 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. Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors topped the ballots with 1,911,973 votes, Allen Iverson, Eddie Jones, Grant Hill, and Alonzo Mourning completed the Eastern Conference starting position. This was the first All-Star appearance by Carter and Iverson, the Eastern Conference reserves included five first-time selections, Allan Houston, Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, Jerry Stackhouse, and Dale Davis. Reggie Miller, and Dikembe Mutombo rounded out the team with their fifth and sixth respective appearances, three teams, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks, had two representations at the All-Star Game with Miller/Davis, Hill/Stackhouse, and Allen/Robinson. The Western Conferences leading vote-getter was Shaquille ONeal, who earned his seventh consecutive All-Star Game selection with 1,807,609 votes, jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and Tim Duncan completed the Western Conference starting positions. Bryant, Garnett, and ONeal were starters for the previous years Western Conference team, Duncan became an All-Star Game starter for the first time after he was selected as a reserve in last years game. The Western Conference reserves include two first-time selections, Rasheed Wallace and Michael Finley, the team is rounded out by Gary Payton, Chris Webber, John Stockton, Karl Malone, and David Robinson. Three teams, Los Angeles Lakers, Utah Jazz, and San Antonio Spurs, had two representations at the All-Star Game with Bryant/ONeal, Malone/Stockton, and Duncan/Robinson. The Eastern Conference led in the first three minutes of the game but then the Western Conference took advantage and finished the first quarter leading 33-26. The East tried to back in the second quarter but the score at halftime the West was still ahead of five points
2000 NBA All-Star Game
–
Phil Jackson (left) and
Jeff Van Gundy (right) were selected as the West and East head coach, respectively.
2000 NBA All-Star Game
–
2000 NBA All-Star Game
2000 NBA All-Star Game
2000 NBA All-Star Game
–
Vince Carter received the most votes from fans.
16.
2001 NBA All-Star Game
–
The 2001 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game which was played on February 11,2001 at the MCI Center in Washington, D. C. home of the Washington Wizards. This game was the 50th edition of the North American National Basketball Association All-Star Game and was played during the 2000–01 NBA season, Allen Iverson was named the games Most Valuable Player after he rallied the East to garner an improbable 111–110 comeback victory over the West. The East trailed 95–74 with nine minutes left after the West dominated the first 39 minutes behind its superior size, Iverson sparked the comeback scoring 15 of his 25 points in the final nine minutes of the game. Stephon Marbury also helped the East by hitting two three-pointers in the final 53 seconds, including one with 28 seconds left, which proved to be the game-winner. Kobe Bryant scored the most points for the West squad, which led by as much as twenty-one points before the team squandered the lead. Bryant, the NBAs leading scorer at the time, could have taken the last shot, instead, the coach for the Western Conference team was Sacramento Kings head coach Rick Adelman. The Kings had a 31-15 record on February 11, the coach for the Eastern Conference team was Philadelphia 76ers head coach Larry Brown. The 76ers had a 36-14 record on February 11, the rosters for the All-Star Game were chosen in two ways. The starters were chosen via a fan ballot, two guards, two forwards and one center who received 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 consist of two guards, two forwards, one center and two players regardless of position, if a player is unable to participate due to injury, the commissioner will select a replacement. For the second year, Vince Carter of the Toronto Raptors was the lead vote-getter with 1,717,687. He was closely followed by Allen Iverson, who earned his second consecutive All-Star appearances, tracy McGrady, Grant Hill, and Alonzo Mourning completed the Eastern Conference starting position. This was the first All-Star appearance by McGrady, Iverson, Hill, and Mourning were all starters the previous year. The Eastern Conference reserves included two first-time selections, Theo Ratliff and Stephon Marbury, the other reserves were Dikembe Mutombo, Ray Allen, Allan Houston, Glenn Robinson, Latrell Sprewell, and Jerry Stackhouse. Because of injuries to Mourning and Hill, Antonio Davis and Anthony Mason were selected as replacements, the Western Conferences leading vote-getter was Shaquille ONeal, who earned his eight consecutive All-Star Game selection with 1,541,298 votes. Jason Kidd, Kobe Bryant, Chris Webber, and Tim Duncan completed the Western Conference starting positions, Kidd, Bryant, Duncan, and ONeal were starters for the previous years Western Conference team, while Webber was a reserve. The Western Conference reserves include two first-time selections, Vlade Divac and Antonio McDyess, the team was rounded out by Gary Payton, Michael Finley, Rasheed Wallace, Karl Malone, and David Robinson
2001 NBA All-Star Game
–
Larry Brown, of the 76ers, was selected as the Eastern Conference head coach.
2001 NBA All-Star Game
–
Shaquille O'Neal received the most votes for the West, for the second consecutive year.
17.
2006 NBA All-Star Game
–
The 2006 NBA All-Star Game was played on Sunday, February 19,2006 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, home of the Houston Rockets. The game was the 55th annual All-Star game, the theme song was by Houston native Chamillionaire who made a new version of his hit Turn It Up. Trailing by 21 points, the East rode the hot shooting of LeBron James, the 21-year-old James, who scored 29 points and grabbed six rebounds, became the youngest player to win MVP. With the score tied, Dwyane Wade, who finished with 20 points, tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets led all players with a game-high 36 points. ^INJ Jermaine ONeal was unable to due to injury. ^REP Gilbert Arenas was named as ONeals replacement. ^1 Vince Carter was named as starter, replacing ONeal, the Eastern Conference team was coached by Flip Saunders of the Detroit Pistons, along with Sidney Lowe, Ron Harper and Don Zierden as assistant coaches. Ted Arzonico of the Orlando Magic was the athletic trainer, the Western Conference team was coached by Avery Johnson of the Dallas Mavericks. Del Harris, Rolando Blackman and Joe Prunty served as assistant coaches, the T-Mobile Rookie challenge was played on Friday, February 17,2006 with the Sophomores beating the Rookies 106–96. Andre Iguodala was named MVP with a game-high 30 points, * Did not participate due to injury. The Rooks were coached by Sidney Lowe of the Detroit Pistons, the Sophomores were coached by Del Harris of the Dallas Mavericks, along with Moses Malone as the assistant coach. Dirk Nowitzki won with a score of 18, beating Gilbert Arenas, * Did not participate due to a family illness. Nate Robinson won, beating Andre Iguodala in a dunk-off after the first ever tie in a Slam Dunk Contest, robinsons win was highly questioned as he had missed several dunks and many speculate that Robinson was only awarded the title because of his small stature. Dwyane Wade won, beating LeBron James in the final round, Dwyane Wade won with a time of 26.1 seconds. The San Antonio team won the competition with a time of 25.1 seconds
2006 NBA All-Star Game
–
Spectators make their way into
Toyota Center through the LaBranch street entrance prior to the tip-off of the 55th NBA All-Star game on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2006.
18.
2008 NBA All-Star Game
–
The 2008 NBA All-Star Game was an exhibition basketball game played on February 17,2008 at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, home of the New Orleans Hornets. The game was the 57th edition of the National Basketball Association All-Star Game and was played during the 2007–08 NBA season. This was the first time that New Orleans had hosted the All-Star Game and was the citys first major sporting event since the area was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The city was awarded in an announcement by commissioner David Stern on May 22,2006, the other reported contenders for the 2008 contest was Air Canada Centre at Toronto, who withdrew the bid early in 2005. The Eastern Conference defeated the Western Conference 134–128, the East led early but blew a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter, however, in the end, pulled out the win due to the strength of Ray Allen and LeBron James. Allen scored 28 points in the game,14 of those coming in the deciding quarter and James finished with a near triple-double 27 points, nine assists. Through fan voting James took home the NBA All-Star Game MVP award, all of this years All-Star participants joined over 2,500 members of the NBA Family for the NBA Cares All-Star Day of Service. The volunteers participated in a variety of projects at ten different sites throughout New Orleans. The inaugural NBA Development League Dream Factory Friday Night is modeled after the popular NBA All-Star Saturday Night. It included perennial NBA fan favorite events such as a Three-Point Shootout and Slam Dunk competition, while introducing H. O. R. S. E. and an interactive game of Hot-Shot with fans. Twelve D-League players, including an NBA-assigned player and five others with NBA experience, the Boston Celtics, the team with the leagues best record, came into New Orleans with three players. Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace replaced Chris Bosh as the power forward. The Pistons, who at the time had the second-best record in the league, also had guards Chauncey Billups, cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James and Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade started for the fourth straight year and fourth overall for the East with two million votes each. Center Dwight Howard was voted to be a starting All-Star for the first time in his career after averaging 22 points and 15 rebounds for the first half of the season, shaquille ONeal was not voted in as a center for the first time in 15 years. Jason Kidd was voted in as the point guard for the East amid speculation that he would be traded to the Western conference. Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant,2007 All-Star MVP, was the top vote-getter in the West with nearly 2,000,500, however days before the game, he was examined by Lakers doctors and revealed a torn ligament in his right pinky finger. Denver Nuggets guard Allen Iverson was voted an All-Shooting Star for the time since moving to Denver. Along with him, teammate Carmelo Anthony earned a nod at forward
2008 NBA All-Star Game
–
Doc Rivers (left) and
Byron Scott (right) were selected as the East and West head coaches, respectively.
2008 NBA All-Star Game
–
2008 NBA All-Star Game
2008 NBA All-Star Game
19.
NBA All-Rookie Second Team
–
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team, the All-Rookie Team is generally composed of two five-man lineups, a first team and a second team. The players each receive two points for each first team vote and one point for second team vote. The top five players with the highest point total make the first team, in the case of a tie at the fifth position of either team, the roster is expanded. If the first team consists of six due to a tie. Ties have occurred several times, most recently in 2012, when Kawhi Leonard, Iman Shumpert, no respect is given to positions. For example, the first team had four forwards, and one guard in 2008, while the first team had four centers, nine All-Rookie Team members have won both the Rookie of the Year Award and the Most Valuable Player Award during their careers. Wilt Chamberlain and Wes Unseld are the players to accomplish this feat in the same season. National Basketball Association portal General Specific
NBA All-Rookie Second Team
–
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (as Lew Alcindor) was named to the All-Rookie Team in the
1969–70 NBA season.
NBA All-Rookie Second Team
–
Larry Bird was named to the All-Rookie Team in the
1979–80 NBA season.
NBA All-Rookie Second Team
–
Magic Johnson was named to the first team in the
1979–80 NBA season.
NBA All-Rookie Second Team
–
Michael Jordan was named to the first team in the
1984–85 NBA season.
20.
Mr. Basketball USA
–
From 1996–2002 the selections were made by Student Sports and from 2003–2009 by EA Sports. From 2010–2012 the award was determined by ESPN HS until the award was taken over by HighSchoolHardwood. com in 2013 StudentSports. com in 2014, Grassrootshoops in 2015, and BallisLife. com in 2016. ESPN RISE does not knowingly select fifth-year players, and those due to age or academics. Furthermore, selection uses on-the-floor performance without regard to academics, volunteer work or most other off-the-court criteria, current selections are made through a season-long polling process of a 10-member expert panel with a final year-end ballot to determine the winner. The panel includes five McDonalds All-American selection committee members, the panel is polled weekly for a list of the top seven national player of the year candidates regardless of graduating class. The votes are then translated into a 10-point scoring system, with 10 points for a vote, nine points for second-place vote. — in College column indicates that player either returned to school or went directly to professional basketball in the subsequent year. Source, List of U. S. high school national player of the year awards Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award Gatorade Player of the Year awards Winner list at ESPN
Mr. Basketball USA
–
Wilt Chamberlain is recognized as the first Mr. Basketball USA
Mr. Basketball USA
–
(left to right):
Jerry Lucas,
Lew Alcindor and
LeBron James are recognized as the only two-time winners of Mr. Basketball USA.
Mr. Basketball USA
Mr. Basketball USA
21.
Rebound (basketball)
–
In basketball, a rebound, colloquially referred to as a board, is a statistic awarded to a player who retrieves the ball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds are also given to a player who tips in a shot on his teams offensive end. Rebounds in basketball are a part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made. A rebound can be grabbed by either a player or a defensive player. The majority of rebounds are defensive because the team on defense tends to be in position to recover missed shots. Offensive rebounds give the team another opportunity to score whether right away or by resetting the offense. A block is not considered a rebound, a ball does not need to actually rebound off the rim or backboard for a rebound to be credited. Rebounds are credited after any missed shot, including air balls, if a player takes a shot and misses and the ball bounces on the ground before someone picks it up, then the person who picks up the ball is credited for a rebound. Rebounds are credited to the first player that gains possession of the ball or to the player that successfully deflects the ball into the basket for a score. A rebound is credited to a team when it gains possession of the ball after any missed shot that is not cleared by a single player, great rebounders tend to be tall and strong. Because height is so important, most rebounds are made by centers and power forwards, the lack of height can sometimes be compensated by the strength to box out taller players away from the ball to capture the rebound. For example, Charles Barkley once led the league in rebounding despite usually being much shorter than his counterparts, also, some shorter guards can be excellent rebounders as well such as point guard Jason Kidd who led the New Jersey Nets in rebounding for several years. Great rebounders must also have a sense of timing and positioning. Great leaping ability is an important asset, but not absolutely necessary, players such as Larry Bird and Moses Malone were excellent rebounders, but were never known for their leaping ability. Bird has stated, Most rebounds are taken below the rim, the action can also be called blocking out. A team can be boxed out by players using this technique to stop the other team from rebounding. Because fighting for a rebound can be physical, rebounding is often regarded as grunt work or a hustle play. Overly aggressive boxing out or preventing being boxed out can lead to personal fouls, statistics of a players rebounds per game or rebounding average measure a players rebounding effectiveness by dividing the number of rebounds by the number of games played
Rebound (basketball)
–
Iñaki de Miguel, Spanish basketball player, capturing a rebound in an international game.
Rebound (basketball)
–
After
Trey Burke attempts a
layup,
Glenn Robinson III makes an offensive rebound.
Rebound (basketball)
Rebound (basketball)
–
Paul White (#13) and L. J. Peak (#10) box out D. J. Williams (#4) While
Jahlil Okafor boxes out
Jabari Parker on a
Kendrick Nunn free throw during a
Chicago Public High School League game between
Simeon Career Academy and
Whitney M. Young Magnet High School at the
Jones Convocation Center
22.
Block (basketball)
–
In basketball, a block or blocked shot occurs when a defensive player legally deflects a field goal attempt from an offensive player. The defender is not allowed to contact with the offensive players hand or a foul is called. In order to be legal, the block must occur while the shot is traveling upward or at its apex. A deflected field goal that is made does not count as a blocked shot, every successful blocked shot is counted as a missed field goal attempt for the shooter. Also, on a foul, a blocked shot cannot be awarded or counted. If the ball is heading downward when the defender hits it, it is ruled as goaltending, goaltending is also called if the block is made after the ball bounces on the backboard. Nicknames for blocked shots include rejections, stuffs, bushed, fudged, or notably double-fudged, facials, swats, denials, blocked shots were first officially recorded in the NBA during the 1973–74 season. To be a good shot-blocker, a player needs great court sense and timing, one tactic is that a shot-blocker can intimidate opponents to alter their shots, resulting in a miss. A chase-down block occurs when a player pursues an opposing player who had run ahead of the defense, often, the block involves hitting the ball into the backboard as the opponent tries to complete a lay-up. Pistons announcer Fred McLeod, who first witnessed this style of blocks from Prince, during the 2008–09 NBA season, the Cavaliers began tracking chase-down blocks, crediting LeBron James with 23 that season and 20 the following season. Career block leaders on Basketball-Reference. com Bill Russell Block Art on YouTube
Block (basketball)
–
Cliff Alexander blocks a shot during the 2013
IHSA playoffs
Block (basketball)
–
Mirza Begić blocks
Duško Savanović at the
EuroBasket 2011
Block (basketball)
–
Shawn James
23.
Basketball
–
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
–
The first basketball court:
Springfield College
Basketball
–
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
24.
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
–
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
–
Los Angeles Lakers'
Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics'
Larry Bird in Game Two of the
1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden.
25.
College basketball
–
The history of basketball is traced back to a YMCA International Training School, known today as Springfield College, located in Springfield, Massachusetts. The date of the first formal basketball game played at the Springfield YMCA Training School under Naismiths rules is generally given as December 21,1891, Basketball began to spread to college campuses by 1893. Governing bodies in Canada include U Sports and the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association, each of these various organizations are subdivided into from one to three divisions based on the number and level of scholarships that may be provided to the athletes. The first basketball games in the United States were played at YMCAs in 1891 and 1892, by 1893, the game was being played on college campuses. The original rules for basketball were very different from todays modern rules of the sport, in the beginning James Naismith established 13 original rules, The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist, a player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, the ball must be held by the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding it, no shouldering, holding, pushing, striking, or tripping in any way of an opponent is allowed. A foul will be called when a player is seen striking at the ball with the fist, or when violations of rules 3 and 4, if either side makes three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents. A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, if the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal. When the ball out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field. In case of dispute the umpire shall throw it straight into the field, the thrower-in is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent, if any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them. The umpire shall be the judge of the men and shall note the fouls and he shall have power to disqualify men according to rule 5. The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to side it belongs. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the goals, the time shall be two fifteen-minute halves, with five minutes rest between. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner, the following is a list of some of the major NCAA Basketball rule changes with the year they went into effect. The first known college to field a team against an outside opponent was Vanderbilt University
College basketball
–
A map of all NCAA Division I basketball teams.
26.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
–
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, also known as UNC, or simply Carolina, is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States. It is one of the 17 campuses of the University of North Carolina system, the first public institution of higher education in North Carolina, the school opened its doors to students on February 12,1795. The university offers degrees in over 70 courses of study through fourteen colleges, in 1952, North Carolina opened its own hospital, UNC Health Care, for research and treatment, and has since specialized in cancer care. The schools students, alumni, and sports teams are known as Tar Heels, the campus covers 729 acres of Chapel Hills downtown area, encompassing the Morehead Planetarium and the many stores and shops located on Franklin Street. Students can participate in over 550 officially recognized student organizations, the student-run newspaper The Daily Tar Heel has won national awards for collegiate media, while the student radio station WXYC provided the worlds first internet radio broadcast. North Carolina is one of the members of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Competing athletically as the Tar Heels, North Carolina has achieved success in sports, most notably in mens basketball, womens soccer. As a result, Womans College was renamed the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, in 1955, UNC Chapel Hill officially desegregated its undergraduate divisions. During World War II, UNC Chapel Hill was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V-12 Navy College Training Program which offered students a path to a Navy commission, during the 1960s, the campus was the location of significant political protest. Prior to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, protests about local racial segregation which began quietly in Franklin Street restaurants led to mass demonstrations, the climate of civil unrest prompted the 1963 Speaker Ban Law prohibiting speeches by communists on state campuses in North Carolina. The law was criticized by university Chancellor William Brantley Aycock and university President William Friday. A group of UNC Chapel Hill students, led by Student Body President Paul Dickson, filed a lawsuit in U. S. federal court, and on February 20,1968, the Speaker Ban Law was struck down. From the late 1990s and onward, UNC Chapel Hill expanded rapidly with a 15% increase in student population to more than 28,000 by 2007. Professor Oliver Smithies was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2007 for his work in genetics, additionally, Aziz Sancar was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015 for his work in understanding the molecular repair mechanisms of DNA. The current chancellor is Carol Folt, the first woman to hold the post, UNC Chapel Hills 729-acre campus is dominated by two central quads, Polk Place and McCorkle Place. Adjacent to Polk Place is a sunken brick courtyard known as the Pit where students will gather, the Morehead–Patterson Bell Tower, located in the heart of campus, tolls the quarter-hour. In 1999, UNC Chapel Hill was one of sixteen recipients of the American Society of Landscape Architects Medallion Awards and was identified as one of 50 college or university works of art by T. A, gaines in his book The Campus as a Work of Art. The universitys campus is divided into three regions, usually referred to as north campus, middle campus, and south campus
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
–
University of North Carolina course catalog from June 1819
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
–
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
–
Confederate soldier
Silent Sam, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by sculptor
John Wilson.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
–
The
Morehead Planetarium, designed by
Eggers & Higgins, first opened in 1949.
27.
1999 NBA Playoffs
–
The 1999 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Associations 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 1, tim Duncan was named NBA Finals MVP. The 1999 Playoffs are memorable in that a #8 seed made it to the Finals for the time in history. This was also the first time two teams played each other on consecutive nights in playoff history. Iverson later led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals, the Bulls, despite being defending champions, missed the playoffs for the first time since 1984. They also became the first defending champion since the 1969–70 Boston Celtics to miss the playoffs and they won 12 straight games, and finished 15–2. After losing their Eastern Conference Semifinal series to the Knicks, the Hawks did not return to the playoffs until 2008, Game 4 of the Spurs–Lakers series was the last NBA game ever played in the Great Western Forum. Game 5 of the Knicks–Pacers series was the last NBA game ever played at Market Square Arena, for the first time since 1991, no series went seven games. Game 4 of the Lakers–Rockets series turned out to be the final appearance in Charles Barkleys Hall of Fame career. Champion, San Antonio Spurs 1st Round San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz vs, Conference Semifinals San Antonio Spurs vs. Portland Trail Blazers vs. Conference Finals San Antonio Spurs vs. Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic vs. Atlanta Hawks vs, Conference Semifinals Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks, Knicks win series 4-2 Game 1 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, New York 93, Indiana 90 Game 2 @ Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana 88 and this was the first playoff meeting between the Knicks and the Spurs
1999 NBA Playoffs
–
Contents
28.
2000 NBA Playoffs
–
The 2000 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Associations 1999-2000 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers defeating the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers 4 games to 2, Shaquille ONeal was named NBA Finals MVP. They were also the first defending champion to be eliminated in the first round since the Philadelphia 76ers in 1984, the Lakers win was the first title for Shaq and Kobe Bryant, both considered future first-ballot Hall of Famers, and first in the post-Magic Johnson–Kareem Abdul-Jabbar–James Worthy era. Green, the player left from the Lakers Showtime era, was in the starting lineup for this team as well. Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals was the last game Patrick Ewing ever played as a Knick, the 2000 playoffs was the last involving the Ewing-led Knicks, and New York would not win another playoff series until 2013. The Trail Blazers defeated the Timberwolves and the Jazz in the first two rounds before falling to the Lakers in the conference final, the Trail Blazers would not win another playoff series until 2014. This seasons playoffs also marked the debut of the 5-year-old expansion Toronto Raptors, for the 3rd straight year, New York eliminated Miami, it was their fourth consecutive postseason meeting. Teams in italics have home court advantage, teams in bold advance to the next round. Numbers to the left of each indicate the teams original playoffs seeding in their respective conferences. Numbers to the right of each indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions possess an asterisk Shaquille ONeal scores playoff career-high 46 points in Game One, Kobe Bryant scores playoff career-high 32 points in Game Two. Bryant scores a new career-high 35 points in Game Three and this was the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning six of the first seven meetings. This was the first playoff meeting between the Timberwolves and the Trail Blazers and this was the fourth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the SuperSonics winning two of the first three meetings. This was the playoff meeting between these two teams, with each team winning two series apiece. Kobe Bryant hits the game-winner with 2.6 seconds left in Game 2 and this was the ninth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning six of the first eight meetings. In Game 5, Scottie Pippen hits the series-winning 3 with 7.3 seconds left and this was the sixth playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Trail Blazers winning three of the first five meetings. In Game 3, Arvydas Sabonis potential game-tying shot was blocked by Kobe Bryant, in Game 7, the Lakers overcame a 16-point deficit and sealed the victory with Kobe Bryant delivering an alley-oop to Shaquille ONeal. This was the playoff meeting between these two teams, with the Lakers winning six of the first eight meetings
2000 NBA Playoffs
–
Contents
29.
2005 NBA Finals
–
The 2005 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 2004–05 National Basketball Association season. The San Antonio Spurs of the Western Conference faced the Detroit Pistons of the Eastern Conference for the title, with the Spurs holding home court advantage, the series was played under a best-of-seven format. It also marked the Pistons first NBA Finals loss to an other than the Lakers since 1988. The Spurs won the four games to three in the first NBA Finals to go to a Game 7 since 1994. The games were broadcast on ABC, with Al Michaels and Hubie Brown commentating, National radio coverage was provided by ESPN Radio through announcers Jim Durham and Dr. Jack Ramsay. The Spurs were considered capable of playing at a faster pace. However, both teams performed well when scoring over 100 points. Going into the 2005 Finals, the Spurs had won two championships, while Detroit had three, the 2004 Championship was considered a major upset by some sportswriters because of the Lakers big name talent. Others saw the result as legitimate, pointing out that Detroits defense outplayed the Lakers offense. Further, the balanced Detroit offense proved difficult to deal with when Karl Malones injured knee left the Lakers without a reliable presence to slow down the Pistons Rasheed Wallace. Many thought that a factor to the Lakers loss was the well-publicized tension between superstars Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant. Both the Spurs and the Pistons were ranked number two in their conferences, with the Phoenix Suns ranked number one in the West. Sportswriters all across the country generally considered one of the few too-close-to-call series to occur. Most picked the series to go to six or seven games, the Spurs breezed through the playoffs with relative ease, compared to the Pistons. They defeated the Nuggets 4-1 to open the playoffs, winning four straight after losing the home opener, the SuperSonics were then dispatched in six games. Phoenix was expected by many to put up a challenge, but the Spurs won the series easily, the Pistons had a slightly tougher road back to the Finals. The opening round was a fairly easy victory over Philadelphia. Next, the Pistons faced the Indiana Pacers, one of the NBAs most resilient teams, the Pacers mounted a formidable challenge but after a Game Six loss, Reggie Millers storied 19-year career was over
2005 NBA Finals
–
2005 NBA Finals
30.
Technical foul
–
The most common technical foul is for unsportsmanlike conduct. Technical fouls can be assessed against players, bench personnel, the entire team and these fouls, and their penalties, are more serious than a personal foul, but not necessarily as serious as a flagrant foul. Technical fouls are handled slightly differently under international rules than under the rules used by the competitions in the United States. Second, in FIBA play, players foul out after five total fouls, the latter rule is similar to that in college, high school, and middle school basketball in the United States. In most American competitions, ejection of the offender, that of the player, coach, in addition, any single flagrant technical foul, or a disqualifying foul in FIBA, incurs ejection. FIBA rules do not provide for ejection for any number of non-flagrant technicals against a player, except in 3x3, FIBA rules call for ejection when a coach draws two technicals, or a third is called on the bench. Many infractions can result in the calling of a technical foul, one of the most common is the use of profane language toward an official or another player. This can be called on players who are currently active in the play of the game. It can also be assessed to a coach or another associated with the team in an official capacity such as a trainer or an equipment manager. Additionally, coaches or players can be assessed a technical foul for disputing an officials call too vehemently and this verbal unsporting technical foul may be assessed regardless of whether the ball is dead or alive. Beginning in 2015–16, dunking is permitted during warmup periods in NCAA play and this includes throwing the ball to an official when such act is not required—such would likely incur a warning. In addition, throwing the ball at a head may also be considered a technical foul. There are times when a coach may go to the table to correct a game error. Each such extra personal foul, though, also includes a technical foul penalty, the penalty is the same as it was for an illegal defense, except that no warning is issued. The WNBA implemented this rule in 2013, usually a fight or lesser altercation between players results in a double technical, in which a technical foul is issued to both players involved. If any player leaves the bench during a fight, he can be charged with a technical foul and ejected. Rules against fighting vary from school to college to the NBA. NFHS and NCAA require the automatic ejection of bench personnel leaving the area during a fight
Technical foul
–
When shooting a free throw for a technical foul, only the free throw shooter, in this case Andrei Ivanov, is allowed within the area below the free throw line extended.
31.
USA Today
–
USA Today is an internationally distributed American daily middle-market newspaper that serves as the flagship publication of its owner, the Gannett Company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15,1982, it operates from Gannetts corporate headquarters on Jones Branch Drive in McLean, Virginia and it is printed at 37 sites across the United States and at five additional sites internationally. USA Today is distributed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with an international edition distributed in Canada, Asia and the Pacific Islands, Gannett formally announced the launch of the paper on April 20,1982. USA Today began publishing on September 15,1982, initially launching in the Baltimore and Washington, on July 2,1984, the newspaper switched from a largely black-and-white to a color publication, featuring full color photography and graphics in all four sections. On April 8,1985, the paper published its first special bonus section, a 12-page section called Baseball 85, on May 6,1986, USA Today began printing production of its international edition in Switzerland. On April 15, USA Today launched an international printing site. On August 28,1995, an international publishing site was launched in Frankfurt, Germany, to print. On October 4,1999, USA Today began running advertisements on its front page for the first time. The paper launched a sixth printing site for its international edition on May 15,2000, in Milan, Italy, followed on July 10 by the launch of a printing facility in Charleroi. That November, USA Today migrated its operations from Gannetts previous corporate headquarters in Arlington, in 2010, USA Today launched the USA Today API for sharing data with partners of all types. On August 27,2010, USA Today announced that it would undergo a reorganization of its newsroom and it also announced that the paper would shift its focus away from print and place more emphasis on its digital platforms and launch of a new publication called USA Today Sports. On September 14,2012, USA Today underwent the first major redesign in its history, to accomplish this goal, Gannett migrated its newspaper and television station websites to the Presto platform and the USA Today site design throughout 2013 and 2014. On January 4,2014, USA Today acquired the book and film review website, on September 3,2014, USA Today announced that it would lay off roughly 70 employees in a restructuring of its newsroom and business operations. In October 2014, USA Today and OpenWager Inc. entered into a partnership to release a Bingo app called USA TODAY Bingo Cruise, USA Today is known for synthesizing news down to easy-to-read-and-comprehend stories. In the main edition circulated in the United States and some Canadian cities, each consists of four sections, News, Money, Sports. The international edition of the paper features two sections, News and Money in one, with Sports and Life in the other, atypical of most daily newspapers, the paper does not print on Saturdays and Sundays, the Friday edition serves as the weekend edition. USA Today prints each complete story on the front page of the section with the exception of the cover story. The cover story is a story that requires a jump
USA Today
–
The April 14, 2015 front page of USA Today. The blue circle of the logo has been turned into a dotted ring with a hat being tossed into it to signify
Marco Rubio's announcement that he is running for
President of the United States.
USA Today
–
USA Today
USA Today
–
This February 5, 2009 issue of USA Today shows the old layout and logo of the paper prior to it being redesigned in 2012.
USA Today
–
USA Today is headquartered in
Tysons Corner, Virginia.
32.
High jump
–
The high jump is a track and field event in which competitors must jump unaided over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without dislodging it. In its modern most practised format, a bar is placed between two standards with a mat for landing. In the modern era, athletes run towards the bar and use the Fosbury Flop method of jumping, leaping head first with their back to the bar, performed since ancient times, competitors have introduced increasingly more effective techniques to arrive at the current form. The discipline is, alongside the pole vault, one of two vertical clearance events to feature on the Olympic athletics programme and it is contested at the World Championships in Athletics and IAAF World Indoor Championships, and is a common occurrence at track and field meetings. The high jump was among the first events deemed acceptable for women, Javier Sotomayor is the current mens record holder with a jump of 2.45 m set in 1993 – the longest standing record in the history of the mens high jump. Stefka Kostadinova has held the world record at 2.09 m since 1987. The rules for the jump are set internationally by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Jumpers must take off on one foot, a jump is considered a failure if the bar is dislodged by the action of the jumper whilst jumping or the jumper touches the ground or breaks the plane of the near edge of the bar before clearance. The technique one uses for the jump must be almost flawless in order to have a chance of clearing a high bar, competitors may begin jumping at any height announced by the chief judge, or may pass, at their own discretion. Three consecutive missed jumps, at any height or combination of heights, the victory goes to the jumper who clears the greatest height during the final. If two or more tie for first place, the tie-breakers are, 1) The fewest misses at the height at which the tie occurred. If the event remains tied for first place, the jumpers have a jump-off, the bar is then alternately lowered and raised until only one jumper succeeds at a given height. The first recorded high jump event took place in Scotland in the 19th century, early jumpers used either an elaborate straight-on approach or a scissors technique. In the later years, the bar was approached diagonally, around the turn of the 20th century, techniques began to modernise, starting with the Irish-American Michael Sweeneys Eastern cut-off. By taking off like the scissors, but extending his back and flattening out over the bar, Sweeney achieved a more economic clearance, another American, George Horine, developed an even more efficient technique, the Western roll. In this style, the bar again is approached on a diagonal, Horine increased the world standard to 2.01 m in 1912. His technique was predominant through the Berlin Olympics of 1936, in which the event was won by Cornelius Johnson at 2.03 m, American and Soviet jumpers held the playing field for the next four decades, and they pioneered the evolution of the straddle technique. Straddle jumpers took off as in the Western roll, but rotated their torso around the bar, straddle-jumper Charles Dumas was the first to clear 7 feet, in 1956, and American John Thomas pushed the world mark to 2.23 m in 1960
High jump
–
Yelena Slesarenko using the
Fosbury Flop technique at
2004 Summer Olympics.
High jump
–
Canadian high jumper
Nicole Forrester demonstrating the Fosbury flop
High jump
–
Konstantinos Tsiklitiras during the standing high jump competition at the 1912 Summer Olympics
High jump
–
Gold medal winner
Ethel Catherwood of Canada scissors over the bar at the
1928 Summer Olympics. Her winning result was 1.59 m (5 ft 2 1 ⁄ 2 in).
33.
University of North Carolina
–
UNC campuses conferred 43,686 degrees for 2008–2009, the bulk of which were Bachelors level with 31,055 degrees awarded. Founded in 1789, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is the oldest public university in the United States, in 1877, the State of North Carolina began sponsoring additional higher education institutions. Over time the added a womens college, a land-grant university, five historically black institutions. Others were created to prepare teachers for public education and to instruct performing artists, during the Depression, the North Carolina General Assembly searched for cost savings within state government. The three campuses came under the leadership of just one board and one president, in 1971, North Carolina passed legislation bringing into the University of North Carolina all 16 public institutions that confer bachelors degrees. This round of consolidation granted each constituent institution a Chancellor and a Board of Trustees, in 1985, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a residential high school for gifted students, was declared an affiliated school of the university. In 2007, the school became a full member of the university. And all useful learning shall be encouraged, and promoted, in one or more universities. Article IX of the current version of the North Carolina Constitution deals with all forms of education in the state. Sections 8 and 9 of that address higher education. The General Assembly may enact laws necessary and expedient for the maintenance and management of The University of North Carolina, benefits of public institutions of higher education. Statutory provisions stipulate the current function and cost to students of the University of North Carolina, the oldest university, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, first admitted students in 1795. The smallest and newest member is the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, a residential high school, founded in 1980. The largest university is North Carolina State University, with 34,340 students as of fall 2012, while the official names of each campus are determined by the North Carolina General Assembly, abbreviations are determined by the individual school. The enrollment numbers are the official headcounts from University of North Carolina website, http and this does not include the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, the figure for NCSSM is taken from its own website, http, //www. ncssm. edu/about-ncssm/facts. php. As of 1972, all public institutions in North Carolina are members of the University. List of colleges and universities in North Carolina North Carolina Community College System McGrath, Eileen, “The Great Depression and Its Impact on an Emerging Research Library, The University of North Carolina Library, 1929–1941, ” Libraries and the Cultural Record, 46#3 pp 295–320. Official website North Carolina, University of
University of North Carolina
–
UNC Charlotte. The university expanded significantly in the 1960s and 1970s.
University of North Carolina
–
University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
–
Erskine Boyce Bowles, President of the University of North Carolina from 2006 to 2011.
34.
Dean Smith
–
Dean Edwards Smith was an American mens college basketball head coach. Called a coaching legend by the Basketball Hall of Fame, he coached for 36 years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Smith coached from 1961 to 1997 and retired with 879 victories, which was the NCAA Division I mens basketball record at that time. Smith had the 9th highest winning percentage of any college basketball coach. During his tenure as coach, North Carolina won two national championships and appeared in 11 Final Fours. Smith played college basketball at the University of Kansas, where he won a championship in 1952 playing for Hall of fame coach Phog Allen. Smith was known for running a program and having a high graduation rate. Smith coached and worked with people at North Carolina who achieved notable success in basketball, as players, coaches. Smith retired in 1997, saying that he was not able to give the team the same level of enthusiasm that he had given it for years, Dean Smith was born in Emporia, Kansas, on February 28,1931. Both of his parents were school teachers. Smiths father, Alfred, coached the Emporia High Spartans basketball team to the 1934 state title in Kansas and this 1934 team was notable for having the first African American basketball player in Kansas tournament history. While at Topeka High School, Smith lettered in all four years and was named all-state in basketball as a senior. Smiths interest in sports was not limited only to basketball, Smith also played quarterback for his high school football team and catcher for the high school baseball team. After graduating from school, Smith attended the University of Kansas on an academic scholarship where he majored in mathematics. While at Kansas, Smith continued his interest in sports by playing varsity basketball, varsity baseball, and freshman football, during his time on the varsity basketball team, Kansas won the national championship in 1952 and were NCAA tournament finalists in 1953. Smiths basketball coach during his time at Kansas was Phog Allen, after graduation, Smith served as assistant coach at Kansas in the 1953–54 season. Smith next served a stint in the United States Air Force in Germany, later working as a coach of United States Air Force Academys baseball. Yet, Smiths big break would come in the United States, in 1958, North Carolina coach Frank McGuire asked Smith to join his staff as an assistant coach. Aycock told WNCN that McGuire told him he was leaving on a Saturday, Smiths elevation occurred amid rumors of a point shaving scandal involving UNC players
Dean Smith
–
Smith at a North Carolina game on February 10, 2007
Dean Smith
–
Dean Smith (right) during the 1964 UNC v. North Carolina State game.
Dean Smith
–
Michael Jordan and Dean Smith at the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 2007 game honoring the 1957 and 1982 men's basketball teams.
Dean Smith
–
Bust of Dean Smith at the Dean Smith Center. Photo credit: Rob Goldberg
35.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
–
Chapel Hill is a city in Orange County, North Carolina, and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care. The population was 57,233 at the 2010 census, Chapel Hill is the 15th-largest city in North Carolina. Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh make up the three corners of the Research Triangle, so named in 1959 with the creation of Research Triangle Park, a research park between Durham and Raleigh. Chapel Hill is one of the cities of the Durham-Chapel Hill MSA. Chapel Hill sits atop a hill which was occupied by a small Anglican chapel of ease, built in 1752. The Carolina Inn now occupies the site of the original chapel, in 1819, the town was founded to serve the University of North Carolina and grew up around it. The town was chartered in 1851, and its main street, in 1968, only a year after its schools became fully integrated, Chapel Hill became the first predominantly white municipality in the South to elect an African American mayor, Howard Lee. Lee served from 1969 until 1975 and, among other things, helped establish Chapel Hill Transit, several hybrid and articulated buses have been added recently. All buses carry GPS transmitters to report their location in time to a tracking web site. Buses can transport bicycles and have wheelchair lifts, in 1993, the town celebrated its bicentennial, which resulted in the establishment of the Chapel Hill Museum. On February 10,2015, three students were killed in their home, Finley Forest Condominiums, next to the Friday Center for Continuing Education. Their next-door neighbor, Craig Stephen Hicks, was arrested by police, Chapel Hill is located in the southeast corner of Orange County. It is bounded on the west by the town of Carrboro, however, most of Chapel Hills borders are adjacent to unincorporated portions of Orange and Durham Counties rather than shared with another municipality. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of 21.3 square miles. Durham, North Carolina, is the core of the four-county Durham-Chapel Hill MSA, the US Office of Management and Budget also includes Chapel Hill as a part of the Raleigh-Durham-Cary Combined Statistical Area, which has a population of 1,749,525 as of Census 2010. According to the 2010 U. S. Census,57,233 people in 20,564 households resided in Chapel Hill, the population density was 2,687 people per square mile. The racial composition of the town was 72. 8% White,9. 7% African American,0. 3% Native American,11. 9% Asian,0. 02% Pacific Islander,2. 7% some other race, and 2. 7% of two or more races. About 6. 4% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race, about 30. 6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7. 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
–
Franklin Street, Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
–
Confederate soldier
Silent Sam,
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by
John Wilson
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
–
A mural at Amber Alley between
Franklin and Rosemary Street
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
–
Even the fire trucks in Chapel Hill show support for
UNC.
36.
Larry Brown (basketball)
–
Lawrence Harvey Larry Brown is an American basketball coach, who was most recently head mens basketball coach at Southern Methodist University. He is the coach in basketball history to win both an NCAA national championship and an NBA title. He also won an ABA championship as a player with the Oakland Oaks in the 1968–69 season, and he is also the only person ever to coach two NBA franchises in the same season. Before coaching, Brown played collegiately at the University of North Carolina and he has been a basketball coach since 1972. Brown was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach on September 27,2002, Brown is Jewish, and was born in Brooklyn, New York. A5 ft 9 in point guard, he attended Long Beach High School and then played at the University of North Carolina under legendary coaches Frank McGuire and Dean Smith. During that time Brown was selected for the 1964 Summer Olympics team, on which he played and with which he won a gold medal, Brown was named MVP of the ABAs first All-Star Game in 1968, and was named to the All-ABA Second Team the same year. Brown led the ABA in assists per game during the leagues first three seasons, and when he ended his career, Brown was the ABAs all-time assist leader. His total of 2,509 assists places him seventh on the ABAs career list, Browns first head coaching job was at Davidson College in North Carolina in 1969. Unfortunately for Wildcat fans, it would only last during the summer offseason, Brown moved on to the ABA and coached with the Carolina Cougars and then the Denver Nuggets, who later joined the NBA in 1976, for five and a half seasons from 1974 to 1979. He then moved on to coach for UCLA, leading his freshman-dominated 1979–80 team to the NCAA title game before falling to Louisville, 59–54. However, that appearance was vacated by the NCAA after two UCLA players were found to be ineligible—one of the few times a Final Four squad has had its record vacated. Brown was the coach for the NBAs New Jersey Nets for two years following that, from 1981 to 1983. Brown began his tenure at the University of Kansas, replacing the fired Ted Owens, who had overseen back-to-back losing seasons in 1981-82 and 1982-83. In the meantime Brown signed the most coveted high school player in the country, Danny Manning, to play for KU after signing his father, Ed Manning, perhaps Browns finest team at Kansas was the 1985-86 team. This squad put together a 35-4 record, the first 30-win season in KU history, in the 1987-88 season, Kansas got off to a mediocre 12–8 start, including 1–4 in the Big 8, and the end of the Jayhawks 55-game homecourt winning streak in Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas then proceeded to defeat 11th-seed Xavier, 14th-seed Murray State, and 7th-seed Vanderbilt before meeting rival Kansas State, KU upset the 4th-seeded Wildcats 71-58 in the Elite Eight to reach the Final Four in Kansas Citys Kemper Arena. Once there, Kansas upset the East Regions #2 seed Duke, 66-59, Manning, who scored 31 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in the final, was named Most Oustanding Player of the Tournament
Larry Brown (basketball)
–
Brown in 2005 as coach of the
New York Knicks
37.
Jerry Stackhouse
–
He has also worked as an NBA TV analyst. Stackhouse was a player from the time he was a sophomore in high school. He was the player of the year for North Carolina in 1991–1992. His senior year, he played for Oak Hill Academy with future college teammate Jeff McInnis and he was a two-time first team Parade All-America selection, and was the MVP of the McDonalds Game. At the 1992 Nike Camp, was considered along with Rasheed Wallace to be the top player at the camp, there were some who considered Stackhouse the top prep player to come out of North Carolina since Michael Jordan. Stackhouse attended the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, where he was a teammate of future NBA players Rasheed Wallace, Jeff McInnis and Shammond Williams. In his sophomore season at UNC, Stackhouse led the team in scoring with 19.2 points per game and he led UNC to a Final Four appearance and was named as the National Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated and earned first-team All-America and All-ACC honors. While playing for Tar Heels, he was coached by Dean Smith, following the season, Stackhouse declared his eligibility for the 1995 NBA draft. Even though he left UNC after two years, he continued working on his degree and received his bachelors degree in African American Studies in 1999, Stackhouse was selected in the first round of the 1995 NBA draft with the third pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. At one time he was hyped as the Next Jordan since both players played at North Carolina, went #3 in the draft, were listed at 66, looked similar physically, and had similarly acrobatic games. Coincidentally, both had a power forward from UNC drafted immediately after them in the #4 spot, Sam Perkins in 1984. In his first season with the 76ers, Stackhouse led his team with a 19.2 points per game average, in the 1996–97 season, the 76ers also drafted Allen Iverson. Combined, the two posted 44.2 points per game for the Sixers, midway through the 1997–98 season, Stackhouse was dealt to the Detroit Pistons with Eric Montross for Theo Ratliff, Aaron McKie and future considerations. By the 1999–2000 season, his full season with the Pistons. A year later, he had an average of 29.8 points per game. In a late season victory over the Chicago Bulls, he set the Pistons franchise record, Stackhouse saw his final action as a Piston with Detroits elimination in the second round of the 2001–02 NBA playoffs. During the 2002 offseason, Stackhouse was traded to the Washington Wizards in a six-player deal, in his first season with Washington, Stackhouse led the Wizards in points and assists per game with 21.5 and 4.5 respectively. He missed most of the 2003–04 season while recovering from surgery on his right knee
Jerry Stackhouse
–
Stackhouse with the Mavericks in 2008
38.
Tar Heels
–
Tar Heel is a nickname applied to the U. S. state of North Carolina and its inhabitants. It is also the nickname of the University of North Carolina athletic teams, students, alumni, for a time after the American Civil War, the name Tar Heel was derogatory, but it was later reappropriated by the people of North Carolina. Because the exact history of the term is unknown, a number of legends have developed to explain it, the term Tar Heel gained popularity during the Civil War. In its early years as a colony, North Carolina settlements became an important source of the naval stores tar, pitch, Tar and pitch were largely used to paint the bottom of wooden British ships both to seal the ship and to prevent shipworms from damaging the hull. At one time, an estimated 100,000 barrels of tar, after 1824, North Carolina became the leader in the United States for naval stores. Historians Hugh Lefler and Albert Newsome claim in North Carolina, the History of a Southern State that North Carolina led the world in production of naval stores from about 1720 to 1870. At the time, tar was created by piling up pine logs, the vast production of tar from North Carolina led many, including Walt Whitman, to give the derisive nickname of Tarboilers to the residents of North Carolina. North Carolina was nicknamed the Tar and Turpentine State because of this industry, somehow, these terms evolved until the nickname Tar Heel was used to refer to residents of North Carolina and gained prominence during the American Civil War. During this time, the nickname Tar Heel was a pejorative, but starting around 1865, in 1893, the students of the University of North Carolina founded a newspaper and christened it The Tar Heel, which was later renamed The Daily Tar Heel. By the early 1900s the term was embraced by many as a term for North Carolinians by those from inside and outside the state of North Carolina. The following legends and anecdotes have arisen trying to explain the history of the term Tar Heel, when they finally got across the river, they found their feet completely black with tar. Thus, the soldiers observed that anyone who waded through North Carolina rivers would acquire tar heels, after the battle, supporting troops asked the victorious North Carolinians, Any more tar down in the Old North State, boys. And they replied, No, not a bit, old Jeffs bought it all up, the supporting troops continued, Is that so. What is he going to do with it, the North Carolinian troops response, He is going to put it on youns heels to make you stick better in the next fight. The State of North Carolina was the next to last state to secede from the United States of America, the joke circulating around at the beginning of the war went something like, Got any tar. No, Jeff Davis has bought it all, to put on you fellows heels to make you stick. As the war continued, many North Carolinian troops developed smart replies to this term of ridicule, a letter found in 1991 by North Carolina State Archivist David Olson supports the theory that Lee might have stated something similar to this. A Colonel Joseph Engelhard, describing the Battle of Reams Station in Virginia, wrote, It was a Tar Heel fight and we got Genl Lee to thanking God, which you know means something brilliant
Tar Heels
–
Front page of the first issue of The Tar Heel, published on 23 Feb 1893. The paper was later renamed
The Daily Tar Heel.
Tar Heels
–
Academics
39.
Chris Webber
–
Mayce Edward Christopher Chris Webber III is an American retired professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a five-time All-NBA Team member, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former number one overall NBA draftee. However, Webber was indicted by a grand jury and stripped of his All-American honors by the NCAA as a result of his direct involvement in the Ed Martin scandal. He is also a former National High School Basketball Player of the Year who led his high school Detroit Country Day to three Michigan State High School Basketball Championships. He also played middle school basketball at Riverside Middle School at Dearborn Heights, Webber attended Detroit Country Day School and at the time was the most recruited Michigan high school basketball player since Magic Johnson. Webber led Country Day to three MHSAA State championships, as a senior in high school Webber averaged 29.4 points and 13 rebounds per game. He was named Michigans Mr. Basketball and the 1990–1991 National High School player of the year and he was named MVP in both the McDonalds and Dapper Dan All-Star games. After graduating from Detroit Country Day School, Webber attended the University of Michigan for two years, while a Michigan Wolverine, Webber led the group of players known as the Fab Five, which included himself, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson. This group, all of whom entered Michigan as freshmen in the fall of 1991, took the team to the NCAA finals twice. The Fab Five, sporting long, baggy shorts and black socks, Four of the Fab Five made it to the NBA. On April 5,1993, at Michigans second consecutive NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Championship game with 11 seconds remaining, Webber attempted to call for a timeout while his team had none remaining, resulting in a technical foul that effectively clinched the game for North Carolina. His father has a plate that says timeout. The game marked the end of Webbers acclaimed two-year collegiate basketball career, in his second season, he was a first team All-American selection and a finalist for the John R. Wooden Award and Naismith College Player of the Year. These awards and honors have been vacated due to University of Michigan, in that scandal, Webber received over $200,000 from a local booster while playing basketball for Michigan. Webber was convicted of perjury and banned from any affiliation with the Michigan program until 2013, despite the ban, Webber attended the NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Championship game between Michigan and Louisville. He apparently watched the game from a suite, rather than in the grandstands near courtside. Webber posted on Twitter before the game, Im here at the Georgia Dome to show my support for the Michigan mens basketball team in its quest for a National Championship. Ive known some of the players on the team since they were kids and I am excited for them and it has been a great season and I wish them all the best
Chris Webber
–
Chris Webber
Chris Webber
–
Michigan 's
Fab Five (left to right)
Jimmy King,
Jalen Rose, Webber,
Ray Jackson and
Juwan Howard
Chris Webber
–
Webber (right) playing for the Warriors in 2008
40.
Rod Strickland
–
Rodney Rod Strickland is an American retired National Basketball Association player. Strickland played college basketball at DePaul University, where he was awarded All-American honors and he then enjoyed a long career in the NBA, playing from 1988 to 2005. Strickland is currently an assistant coach for the South Florida Bulls and he is the godfather of current NBA player Kyrie Irving. A native of the Bronx, Strickland played for the New York Gauchos, while a junior he led Truman High School in Co-Op City to the state championship and was ranked as one of the top 10 high school recruits in the nation. As a senior he transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, Strickland became a college star at DePaul University where he appeared in 87 games. As a junior, he was a First Team All-American after averaging 20.0 points and 7.8 assists, a 1987 and 1988 All-America pick, Strickland helped lead the Blue Demons to four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances from 1985–88, including Sweet Sixteen showings in 1986 and 1987. The four-time Blue Demon letterwinner ranks among the career leaders in scoring average, assists. He also averaged 3.4 rebounds while shooting 53. 4% during his college career and he was selected in the first round of the 1988 NBA draft by his hometown New York Knicks where he backed up point guard Mark Jackson, the 1988 NBA Rookie of the Year. He was seen as sort of an odd choice by some observers since the Knicks had Jackson, nevertheless, Jackson and Strickland shared time that season. Strickland played in all 82 games and averaged 8.9 points and 3.9 assists in 16.8 minutes per game where he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, the Spurs went 18-6 with him in the starting lineup. He led the club in assists 26 times and averaged 12.3 points and 11.2 assists in 10 playoff games, in the 1990–91 season Strickland lived up to his expectations as an exciting performer when he was healthy. He missed 24 games that year because of a sore ankle, in the 58 games he played, Strickland averaged 13.8 points and 8.0 assists, shooting.482 from the field and.763 from the free throw line. He led the Spurs in assists 46 times and in steals 30 times, Strickland finished the year tied with Terry Porter for 12th in the NBA in assists. Starting the 1991–92 NBA season in a dispute with the Spurs management. He finally signed on December 23, then started 54 of 57 games and averaged 13.8 points,8.6 assists,4.6 rebounds and he scored in double figures 48 times and scored 20 or more points on eight occasions. He notched a then career-high 28 points against the Indiana Pacers on February 6, Strickland started two playoff games against the Phoenix Suns before missing the third with a broken bone in his left hand. The Suns swept the series in three games, before the start of the 1992–93 season, Strickland signed as a free agent with the Portland Trail Blazers. In four seasons with the Blazers, Strickland averaged 17 ppg and 8.6 apg, in a move that initially helped both franchises, Strickland and teammate Harvey Grant were traded to the Washington Bullets for Rasheed Wallace and Mitchell Butler in 1996
Rod Strickland
–
Strickland as an assistant coach for the
Kentucky Wildcats
41.
Los Angeles Lakers
–
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association, as a club of the leagues Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA, as of 2015, the Lakers are the second most valuable franchise in the NBA according to Forbes, having an estimated value of $2.7 billion. The franchise began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team, the new team began playing in Minneapolis, calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers in honor of the states nickname, Land of 10,000 Lakes. The team was propelled by center George Mikan, who is described by the NBAs official website as the leagues first superstar, after struggling financially in the late 1950s following Mikans retirement, they relocated to Los Angeles before the 1960–61 season. Led by Hall of Famers Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, Los Angeles made the NBA Finals six times in the 1960s, but lost each series to the Boston Celtics, beginning their long and storied rivalry. After the retirement of West and Chamberlain, the team acquired another center, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who had won multiple MVP awards and this team featured Hall of Famers in Johnson, Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy, and a Hall of Fame coach, Pat Riley. After Abdul-Jabbar and Johnsons retirement, the team struggled in the early 1990s before acquiring Shaquille ONeal, led by ONeal, Bryant, and another Hall of Fame coach, Phil Jackson, Los Angeles won three consecutive titles between 2000 to 2002, securing the franchise its second three-peat. After losing both the 2004 and 2008 NBA Finals, the Lakers won two championships by defeating the Orlando Magic in 2009 and Boston in 2010. The Lakers hold the record for NBAs longest winning streak,33 straight games,21 Hall of Famers have played for Los Angeles, while four have coached the team. Four Lakers—Abdul-Jabbar, Johnson, ONeal, and Bryant—have won the NBA MVP Award for a total of eight awards, Minneapolis sportswriter Sid Hartman played a key behind the scenes role in helping put together the deal and later the team. Inspired by Minnesotas nickname, Land of 10,000 Lakes, Hartman helped them hire John Kundla from College of St. Thomas, to be their first head coach, by meeting with him and selling him on the team. The Lakers had a roster which featured forward Jim Pollard, playmaker Herm Schaefer, and center George Mikan. In their first season, they led the league with a 43–17 record, in 1948, the Lakers moved from the NBL to the Basketball Association of America, and Mikans 28.3 point per game scoring average set a BAA record. In the 1949 BAA Finals they won the championship, beating the Washington Capitols four games to two, the following season, the team improved to 51–17, repeating as champions. In the 1950–51 season, Mikan won his third straight scoring title at 28.4 ppg, one of those games, a 19–18 loss against the Fort Wayne Pistons, became infamous as the lowest scoring game in NBA history. In the playoffs, they defeated the Indianapolis Olympians in three games but lost to the Rochester Royals in the next round, during the 1951–52 season, the Lakers won 40 games, finishing second in their division. They faced the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, which won in seven games
Los Angeles Lakers
–
Hall of Famer George Mikan (#99) led the Lakers franchise to their first five NBA championships. He is described by the NBA's official website as the "first superstar" in league history.
Los Angeles Lakers
–
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
–
Minneapolis team co-owner Benjamin Berger
Los Angeles Lakers
–
Jerry West led the team to nine NBA Finals appearances in the 1960s and 1970s. Nicknamed "Mr. Clutch", his silhouette is featured on the NBA's official logo.
42.
Tim Donaghy
–
Tim Donaghy is a former professional basketball referee who worked in the National Basketball Association for 13 seasons from 1994 to 2007. During his career in the NBA, Donaghy officiated in 772 regular season games and 20 playoff games, on August 15,2007, Donaghy pleaded guilty to two federal charges related to the investigation. However, he could face charges at the state level if it is determined that he deliberately miscalled individual games. Donaghy was sentenced to 15 months in prison on July 29,2008. He served 11 months in a prison camp in Pensacola, Florida to spend the remainder of his sentence in a halfway house. He was released on November 4,2009 after serving out his sentence, in 1989, Donaghy graduated from Villanova University with a degree in sales and marketing. While at Villanova, he played on the baseball team. Donaghy and his wife Kimberly had four daughters before terminating their 12-year marriage in 2007, the following year, he joined the NBA, where he worked for 13 years, officiating in 772 regular-season games and 20 playoff games. Donaghy was a participant in the NBAs Read to Achieve program, Donaghy was one of three referees who worked the Pacers–Pistons brawl at The Palace of Auburn Hills on November 19,2004, which ended in a fight between Pacers players and Pistons fans. Donaghy called a foul on Rasheed Wallace, then playing with the Portland Trail Blazers. Wallace confronted Donaghy, screaming obscenities and threatening him, Wallace was suspended for seven games, this was the longest suspension issued by the league for an incident not involving violence or drugs. On July 20,2007, columnist Murray Weiss of the New York Post reported an investigation by the FBI into allegations of an NBA referee betting on games to control the point spread. Mike Missanelli of The Stephen A. Smith Show suggested that Donaghy had gotten himself into debt, the report sent shock waves through the NBA. He called the scandal a wakeup call that says you cant be complacent, sports gambling expert R. J. Bell, president of sports betting information site Pregame. com, tracked every game Donaghy worked from 2003 to 2007. He discovered that during the two seasons investigated by the NBA, the teams involved scored more points than expected by the Las Vegas sports books 57% of the time, in the previous two seasons, this only happened 44% of the time. According to Bell, the odds of such a discrepancy are 1 in 1,000, and there was a 99. 9% chance that these results would not have happened without an outside factor. He also found 10 straight games in 2007 in which Donaghy worked the game that the point spread moved 1.5 points or more before the tip—an indication that big money had been wagered on the game, the big money won every time—another indication that something going on. Handicapper Brandon Lang told ESPN that it is easy for a crooked sports official to fix a game
Tim Donaghy
–
Tim Donaghy
43.
San Antonio Spurs
–
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The Spurs compete in the National Basketball Association as a club of the leagues Western Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its games at the AT&T Center in San Antonio. The Spurs are one of four former American Basketball Association teams to remain intact in the NBA after the 1976 ABA–NBA merger, the Spurs five NBA championships are the fourth most in history behind only the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Chicago Bulls. The Spurs currently rank first among active franchises for the highest winning percentage in NBA history, in their 40 NBA seasons since 1976–77, the Spurs have won 21 division titles. With their 50th win in the 2016–17 season, the Spurs extended their record for most consecutive 50-win seasons to 18. Thus, since the 1997–98 season, the Spurs have had 20 consecutive seasons with a percentage of.610 or greater during the regular season which is also an NBA record. Only the teams current head coach, Gregg Popovich, who had been the general manager before replacing Bob Hill in 1996, has had a longer tenure with the Spurs. The Spurs are the only team in any of the four major U. S. professional sports leagues. Since 2003, the team has been forced on a road trip for much of February since the AT&T Center hosts the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. This is informally known as the Rodeo Road Trip, the Spurs have consistently posted winning road records during this period, including an NBA-record longest single road trip winning streak. When the Spurs have won the NBA title, the victory parades have been boat trips on the San Antonio River Walk. The San Antonio Spurs started out as the Dallas Chaparrals of the version of the American Basketball Association. Coached by player/coach Cliff Hagan the Dallas Chaparrals were one of 11 teams to take the floor in the season of the upstart ABA. The Chaps second season was a bit of a disappointment, as the finished in 4th place with a mediocre 41–37 record. In the playoffs the Chaparrals quickly fell to the New Orleans Buccaneers, the team suffered from poor attendance and general disinterest in Dallas. While the Chaparrals had been successful on the court, they were sinking financially by their third season. After missing the playoffs for the first time in their existence in the 1972–73 season, a group of 36 San Antonio businessmen, led by Manager/Angelo Drossos, Chairman of the Board/John Schaefer and President/Red McCombs, worked out a lend-lease deal with the Dallas ownership group
San Antonio Spurs
–
The team's name derives from a
spur, a metal tool designed to be worn on the heels of cowboy boots for the purpose of controlling a horse's movement and direction
San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
–
The Alamodome, home to the Spurs from 1993 to 2002.
San Antonio Spurs
–
The drafting of
Tim Duncan in 1997 was a turning point in the history of the Spurs.
44.
NBA Finals
–
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association played between the Western and Eastern champions of the Conference Finals. The first team to win four games in the game series is declared the league champion and is awarded the Larry OBrien Championship Trophy. Winners from 1946 to 1983 received the Walter A. Brown Trophy redesigned in 1977 to the current form, the NBA Finals has been played at the end of every NBA and Basketball Association of America season in history, the first being held in 1947. Most NBA Finals series were played under the 2–2–1–1–1 format prior to 1985, the series was named the BAA Finals from 1947 to 1949 and then changed to the NBA World Championship Series from 1950 to 1982. The following two years, the league used Showdown 83 and Showdown 84 and it returned to NBA World Championship Series in 1985, before settling on NBA Finals in 1986. During the first decade the Minneapolis Lakers had the first NBA dynasty, the team also featured George Mikan, one of the greatest players in NBA history. The Boston Celtics went 11–1 in the NBA Finals during 13 seasons and they won eight straight NBA championships from 1959 through 1966. With the establishment of the Celtics dynasty in 1957, Bill Russell became the star of the league, Game 7 of the NBA Finals was decided on a Celtics basket in the final seconds of the second overtime. For most of the late 1950s and 1960s, the Celtics always seemed to have the hand on Wilt Chamberlains teams. The following season, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers, the former Syracuse Nationals team that had moved to cover the vacancy created with the departure of the Warriors, a clash between the two stars in the playoffs was in 1966 and Boston won it 4–1. Chamberlains coach told him to play a game, not an individual game. His new-found team spirit brought them to a new record of 68 wins the season, and they defeated the Celtics and then advanced to, and won. In 1968, Boston overcame a 3–1 deficit against Philadelphia to once again arrive in the Finals and they went on to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers for the sixth straight time,4 games to 2. In 1969, the Celtics overcame even longer odds, Boston was an aging team and had injuries to a number of players. They barely qualified for the playoffs, finishing fourth in the East, the Lakers, who in the offseason added Chamberlain to join West and Elgin Baylor, won the West and were prohibitive favorites to finally win it all for the first time since relocating to L. A. They won the first two games at the Los Angeles Forum, however, when the series shifted to Boston Garden, the Celtics won Game 3 110–105. Game 4 was the point, as the Lakers led 87–86 and had the ball with 10 seconds to play. But after a turnover, Sam Jones put up a shot hit the front of the rim, the back heel, rolled around
NBA Finals
–
The Shot O'Brien Championship Trophy.
45.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
–
Shareef Abdur-Rahim is an American retired professional basketball player. He was also the director of personnel for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association and the general manager of the Reno Bighorns. He last played in the NBA for the Kings, on the basketball court, he played both forward or center positions. Abdur-Rahim was a player during his high school days. He left University of California, Berkeley after one year to enter the 1996 NBA draft, in his early NBA career, Abdur-Rahim was the star of the Vancouver Grizzlies franchise for five seasons. He was traded by the Grizzlies in 2001 and then played for the Atlanta Hawks and Portland Trail Blazers before joining his last team, nicknamed Reef, Abdur-Rahim was named an NBA All-Star in the 2001–02 season. He also played on the United States mens national team that won the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Following persistent injuries to his knee, Abdur-Rahim announced his retirement from basketball on September 22,2008. Shareef Abdur-Rahim is the second eldest sibling in a family of children born to Aminah. Abdur-Rahim, whose first name means noble and whose last name means Servant of the Most Merciful One, is a devout Muslim. He values his parents for their influence on him since his youth and credits them with his life philosophy, remember how you came on all your accomplishments. Abdur-Rahim himself started playing basketball at Joseph Wheeler High School in Marietta. At Wheeler, he was named Mr. Basketball in back-to-back seasons, Abdur-Rahim later attended college at the University of California, Berkeley, where he maintained a GPA of 3.5. At California, he averaged 21.1 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game in 28 games and he was the first freshman in Pac-10 history to win Conference Player of the Year honors, and was named Third Team All-America by the Associated Press. Also named the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year, Abdur-Rahim set single-season freshman records for points, scoring average, field goals, after a year at California however, he decided to leave college to enter the 1996 NBA draft. Abdur-Rahim was selected third overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1996 Draft, behind Allen Iverson and he made an immediate impact playing for the Grizzlies, becoming the teams leading scorer while setting a franchise record of 18.7 ppg. He also averaged 6.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 35 minutes per game and he finished third in balloting for the Schick NBA Rookie of the Year behind Philadelphias Allen Iverson and Minnesotas Stephon Marbury, and he was picked for the All-Rookie First Team. By the end of the 1996–97 season, Abdur-Rahim led the team in scoring on 33 occasions, for the next few seasons, Abdur-Rahim remained the centerpiece of the Grizzlies team
Shareef Abdur-Rahim
–
Abdur-Rahim in 2006.
46.
Theo Ratliff
–
Theophalus Curtis Theo Ratliff is an American retired professional basketball player who last played with the NBAs Los Angeles Lakers. Primarily a center, he was an excellent shot-blocker who had led the three times in blocks per game. As of 2011, he is ranked 18th all-time in career blocks, at Wyoming, Ratliff had a successful career, finishing as the career leader in blocked shots. He accumulated 425 blocked shots in his career as a Cowboy, Ratliff was inducted into the University of Wyoming Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005. Ratliff was selected with the 18th pick of the 1995 NBA draft by the Detroit Pistons, during the 1997–98 season he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. He played in Philadelphia for three seasons, and was voted Eastern Conference reserve center of the 2001 All-Star Game, but was unable to due to injury. He was a key fixture on the 2000–01 Sixers team that made it to the NBA finals and he missed most of the next season due to injury, but rebounded to post 262 blocks the next year with the Hawks. His best year as a pro was 2003–04, when he recorded a league-leading 307 blocked shots, during that season he was dealt to the Portland Trail Blazers, along with Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Dan Dickau, for Rasheed Wallace and Wesley Person. After the 2004 season, he signed a contract extension with the Blazers but was not as effective in 2004–05. In July 2007, he was traded along with Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson, Sebastian Telfair, in February 2008 Ratliff was waived by the Timberwolves, and he rejoined the Detroit Pistons in March. Ratliff returned to the Philadelphia 76ers for 2008–09 season, in the offseason he was signed by the San Antonio Spurs. In February 2010, he was traded to the Charlotte Bobcats for a projected 2nd round draft pick in 2016, Ratliff was signed by the Los Angeles Lakers on July 22,2010 to a 1-year deal. In December 2011, Ratliff retired from basketball, Ratliff won numerous awards during his career. He is also the owner of the Rome Gladiators. com profile Basketball-Reference profile
Theo Ratliff
–
Ratliff at a press conference in 2007 when he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Theo Ratliff
–
Ratliff, as a
Portland Trail Blazers player, attempts a
free throw in January 2006.
47.
Dan Dickau
–
Daniel David Dan Dickau is a retired American professional basketball player who currently works as an on-air broadcaster for the Pac-12 Network. He is a co-host of the Dickau and Slim Show on Spokanes 700 ESPN radio channel with Sean Slim Widmer, born in Portland, Oregon, Dickau graduated from Prairie High School in nearby Brush Prairie, Washington. He enrolled at the University of Washington in Seattle in 1997, Dickau fractured his heel 13 games into the 1998–99 season and announced his decision to transfer in April. He enrolled at Gonzaga University in Spokane and sat out the 1999–2000 season as a transfer and he was a standout point guard for the Bulldogs for two seasons under head coach Mark Few, named a first team All-American his senior year in 2002. Dickau was selected in the first round of the 2002 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings, for two years in a row, Dickau was traded in a draft-day trade package, first from the Celtics to the Trail Blazers, then from the Trail Blazers to the Knicks. On December 17,2005, as a member of the Celtics, at the time, he was averaging 3.3 points per game and 2.1 assists per game. On June 28,2006, the Celtics traded Dickau, center Raef LaFrentz, Dickau was then sent to the Knicks along with Randolph, only to be waived when the Knicks acquired Jared Jordan. Two days later, Dickau signed with the Clippers, on October 1,2008, Dickau signed with the Golden State Warriors. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed per team policy and he played in two preseason games. Against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 8, Dickau played 21 minutes and scored 8 points, on October 19,2008, Dickau was waived by the Warriors. On September 23,2009, Dickau accepted an invitation to the Phoenix Suns training camp and he was waived by the Suns on October 21. With the Suns, Dickau played in five preseason games, Dickau signed with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants on February 16,2010. Before the beginning of the 2011–12 season, Dickau was hired by the Trail Blazers as a development assistant. On August 12,2008, Dickau signed with Air Avellino of the Italian League, Dickau and the team agreed to terminate his contract on September 29,2008. He joined the Brose Baskets of the German Basketball Bundesliga in January 2009, Dickau and his wife Heather married in the fall of 2002 and have 5 children
Dan Dickau
–
Playing for
Brose Baskets in 2009
48.
New Jersey Nets
–
The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association as a club of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its games at Barclays Center. They are one of two NBA teams located in New York City, the other are the New York Knicks, the team was established in 1967 as a charter franchise of the NBAs rival league, the American Basketball Association. They played in New Jersey as the New Jersey Americans during their first season, before moving to Long Island in 1968, during this time, the Nets won two ABA championships. In 1976, the ABA merged with the NBA, and the Nets were absorbed into the NBA along with three other ABA teams, in 1977, the team returned to New Jersey and played as the New Jersey Nets from 1977 to 2012. During this time, the Nets won two consecutive Eastern Conference championships, but failed to win a league title, in the summer of 2012, the team moved to Barclays Center, and took its current geographic name. The Brooklyn Nets were founded in 1967 and initially played in Teaneck, New Jersey, in its early years, the team led a nomadic existence, moving to Long Island in 1968 and playing in various arenas there as the New York Nets. Led by Hall of Famer Julius Dr. J Erving, the Nets won two ABA championships in New York before becoming one of four ABA teams to be admitted into the NBA as part of the ABA–NBA merger in 1976. The team then moved back to New Jersey in 1977 and became the New Jersey Nets, the Boston Celtics were once rivals of the Nets during the early 2000s because of their respective locations and their burgeoning stars. The Nets were led by Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, while the Celtics were experiencing newfound success behind Paul Pierce, the rivalry began to heat up in the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals, which was preceded by trash-talking from the Celtics who claimed Martin was a fake tough guy. Things progressed as the series started, and on-court tensions seemed to spill into the stands, celtic fans berated Kidd and his family with chants of Wife Beater. in response to Kidds 2001 domestic abuse charge. When the series returned to New Jersey, Nets fans responded, referring to a night club incident in 2000 in which Pierce was stabbed 11 times. When asked about the fan barbs being traded, Kenyon Martin stated, Our fans hate them, rondo was suspended for two games in the aftermath, while Wallace and Kevin Garnett were fined. The story was revisited on December 25, when Wallace grabbed Garnetts shorts and this move was billed as a merger of the two Atlantic Division teams. Celtics announcer Sean Grande said Its almost as if you found a home for these guys. You couldnt have found a better place and these guys will be in the New York market, theyll be on a competitive team, theyll stay on national TV. Its funny, because the enemy of my enemy is my friend, so with Celtics fans feeling the way they do about the Heat, feeling the way they do about the Knicks, the Nets are going to become almost the second team now
New Jersey Nets
–
Cover to BrooklyKnight #1, distributed at the Brooklyn Nets home opener. Art by
Mike Deodato.
New Jersey Nets
–
Brooklyn Nets
New Jersey Nets
–
Mikhail Prokhorov, a Russian billionaire and current owner of the Nets
New Jersey Nets
–
Baseball
49.
Mike James (basketball, born 1975)
–
Michael Lamont James is an American retired professional basketball player who last played for the Texas Legends of the NBA Development League. He played college basketball for Duquesne, James was not drafted by an NBA team, but remained positive and opted for a start in the European professional leagues instead. Mike enjoyed several seasons as an integral player with both French and Austrian teams. James began his NBA career when he signed as an agent with the Miami Heat during the 2001–02 season.0 points per game for his career. James was a member of the Pistons 2004 NBA championship team as a reserve and he and fellow reserve guard Lindsey Hunter formed a formidable defensive guard combination nicknamed the Pit Bulls by Rasheed Wallace, because of their aggressive nature on defense. In spite of his play during the 2005–06 season for the Raptors. The Minneapolis Star-Tribune wrote of his big 2005–06 season, Previously, James had started only 68 games, others felt his impending free agency affected his play, prompting him to seek stats at the expense of play-making duties. While playing for Toronto in the 2005–06 season, he reached a high of 39 points in a win against the Detroit Pistons. On April 11,2006, Mike James became the first Raptor to score 30 or more points in 4 consecutive games, on July 11,2006, James signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Much of the 2006–07 season was marred by mediocre play, which limited his minutes to 25, on June 14,2007 it was officially announced that James and teammate Justin Reed would be traded to the Houston Rockets for Juwan Howard. On February 21,2008 it was announced that James and teammate Bonzi Wells would be traded to the New Orleans Hornets for Bobby Jackson and this ended his second short tenure as a Houston Rocket. James was traded on December 10,2008 in a three team trade between the New Orleans Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards, the trade sent James and Javaris Crittenton to the Wizards and Antonio Daniels to the Hornets. The Grizzlies received a conditional first round pick from the Wizards. On March 1,2010, it was announced that the Washington Wizards had reached an agreement with James. James averaged 9.3 points per game during his stint with the Wizards, in February 2011 he signed with Aliağa Petkim in Turkey. James later joined the Erie Bayhawks in the NBA Development League and he was called up by the Chicago Bulls on January 11,2012, but released on January 28. On February 14, James was re-signed by the Bulls on a 10-day contract to provide support while Derrick Rose was injured and he was re-signed on a second 10-day contract on March 14. On April 4,2012, James signed by the Bulls for the rest of the season, on January 1,2013, James was acquired by the Texas Legends of the D-League
Mike James (basketball, born 1975)
–
James with the Wizards in 2009
