The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a basketball league in North America. This sports league is extremely popular with adults and children alike in many parts of the world, including Australia. The NBA is like a festival in North America, with people dressing up in their favorite team’s colors in support throughout the season. Fans in North America and the ones outside also celebrate the NBA by taking part in NBA betting online on SportsBet. NBA betting is a way through which the fans can also win a little something of their own along with their team. This sports league has a great history that deserves to be told and retold. So without further ado, here is THE HISTORY OF THE NBA.
A walk down memory lane
In 1946, the Basketball Association of America (now known as the NBA) came into being. This association merged with the National Basketball League in 1949, which became the NBA. There were only 11 teams in the BAA in 1946. Even that number was reduced by 4 at the beginning of the following season. This, however, didn’t stop the BAA from being successful against its competition, NBL. As a result, four premier franchises from the NBL joined the BAA in 1948.
When the two basketball leagues finally merged in 1949, there were 17 teams; but this number didn’t last very long. Six years since 1949, the number of teams in the NBA had dropped to a measly 8. The basketball league faced many financial problems, heavily caused by the NBL teams that came in from the merger as they were in smaller markets. Frank Zollner, the man who owned Fort Wayne Pistons (an old NBA team), played a significant role in keeping the league from sinking.
After the Chicago Packers (known as the Washington Wizards now) and Chicago Bulls, which were both expansion teams, joined the league in 1961 and 1966, the league started becoming successful. By 2004, there were 21 teams in the NBA.
Victory Trends
Some “teams of the era” have always dominated the NBA. The Minneapolis Lakers won five NBA championships from the years 1948 to 1954. From 1957 to 1969, in 13 incredible seasons, the NBA saw the Boston Celtics won 11 championships. The Lakers and the Celtics won a combined total of 8 out of 10 titles in the 1980s. Led by the famous Michael Jordan, the 1990s saw the Chicago Bulls dominate and win 5 titles in the decade.
The Age of Michael Jordan
There is no NBA for this generation’s people if not for Michael Jordan, who is nothing short of a legend. The man-made the childhoods of most sports-loving children by merely playing the game he loved. People who take part in NBA betting would never bet against Jordan.
The 1990s was the age of Michael Jordan. He managed to do something no player has ever done, and he became the league itself. Even people who aren’t fans of basketball know his name. If Jordan didn’t take that 2-year retirement, he might have led the Bulls to win even more titles.
The NBA has seen wins and losses alike, but its most remarkable feature is that it promotes a culture of true unity and sportsmanship, which is highly commendable. The league has had a great run so far and will continue to do so in the years to come.