est: 1946NBA

Where Amazing Happens

Founded in 1946.On November 1, 1946 the Toronto Huskies and the

New York Knickerbockers played at Maple Leaf Gardens in the fi rst believed professional game of basketball.

In 1948, the Baltimore Bullets won the fi rst league championship, then known as the BAA (Basketball Association of America).

In 1950 the NBA was the fi rst major league sports team to break the color barrier.

1946-1960: HISTORY

In the 1960’s the Boston Celtics won 9 out of the 10 championships

They were powered by the greatest champion ever: Bill Russell, and the greatest coach ever: Red Auerbach.

Red Auerbach passed away in 2006.The 60’s were also dominated by prolific center Wilt

Chamberlain, who once scored 100 points in a game.

60’S: CELTICS REIGN SUPREME

The 70’s were a downfall in the NBA.Even though they had superstars like Oscar Robertson

and Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul- Jabbar). The league lost attendance and players salaries were

cut.The NBA/ABA forced a merger that gave the NBA 28

teams.This is regarded as the move that kept the NBA alive.The ABA lost four teams and the league soon folded.The NBA/ABA merger gave the NBA prolific scores and

superstars like Julius Erving and George Gervin.But in 1979, the NBA was forever changed.

70’S: THE DOWNFALL

In the 1979 NBA Draft the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers drafted: Larry Bird and Earvin “Magic” Johnson, respectively.

Bird and Johnson were the two best college players in the country, and they were fi erce rivals.

Celtics/Larry Bird are highlighted in green. Lakers/Magic are highlighted in purple. Combined they won 8 championships:

1980,1981,1982,1984,1985,1986,1987,1988. 6 Most Valuable Players: 1984,1985,1986,1987,1989,1990. 5 Finals MVP:1980,1982,1984,1986,1987 Together, they changed the way the NBA is perceived today. In 1984, Michael Jordan was drafted 3 rd overall out of North

Carolina. The Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers also had successful

years, winning 5 championships.

80’S: BIRD VS. MAGIC

In 1991, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won the fi rst of a three-peat (3 championships).

But, in 1991, the sports world was shocked to learn that Earvin “Magic” Johnson would have to abruptly retire, because he contracted the HIV/AIDS Virus.

This caused researchers/scientists to fi nd a medicine to help those living with this disease.

In 1993, after the murder of his father, and his third championship, Michael Jordan retired from the NBA to play minor league baseball.

The Houston Rockets won the next two championships during Jordan’s retirement.

MJ returned in 1995, and won the championships in 1996,1997 and 1998.

Jordan is considered to be the greatest player of all time.

90’S: JORDAN AND THE JORDANAIRES

From 1999-2001 the Los Angeles Lakers, and their power duo of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, won a three-peat.

They were arguably the greatest guard-center combo of All-Time. But in 2004, following a feud, Kobe and Shaq were split up when

Shaq was shipped to the Miami Heat. Shaq won a championship with the Heat in 2006, and Kobe’s

team remained at the bottom of the league. Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors, on

January 20, 2006. In 2008, the Boston Celtics won their fi rst championship in 22

years, beating their long-time nemesis the LA Lakers. The next two years the Lakers won back-to-back championships,

and are now one championship behind the Celtics for most of all-time.

The Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs also had successful years, winning a combined fi ve championships.

2000’S: LAKERS SOAP STORY

July of 2010, the league saw three superstars join up, and create a “Sueprfriends” Miami Heat team, that consisted of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

The amount of hype surrounding this team was off the charts.

The Miami Heat lost to the Dallas Mavericks in 2011 Finals, thus increasing the media scrutiny.

In 2012, against the up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder, the Miami Heat FINALLY won their fi rst championship as “The Heatles”.

In the summer of 2012, the LA Lakers created a “Super-Super Team” that consisted of proven All-Stars and future HoF’s: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash and Dwight Howard.

10’S: THE SUPERFRIENDS

SUPERSTARS OF THE PAST AND PRESENT

REIGNING AWARD WINNERS

Tyson Chandler- Defensive Player of the Year

Gregg Popovich- Coach of the Year

LeBron James- MVP

Kyrie Irving- Rookie of the Year

James Harden- Sixth Man of the Year

Season begins October 30, 2012.

2013: WHAT WILL THIS YEAR BRING !?