This growing interest has pushed up total game attendance toover 21.93 million while TV viewership also continues growing.
The NBA has created some of the biggest sports stars in the country from LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, to Giannis Antetokounmpo among others. If you’re a basketball fan, you need to appreciate the NBA’s rich history to enjoy the games fully.
The league has also spawned a thriving NBA betting industry. If you love betting on basketball games, you can now find up-to-date information fromussportsbonus.com including sportsbooks reviews, tips, guides and more.
Read on for some eye-opening historical facts about the NBA that will interest you.
The Beginning
The story of the NBA goes back to 1949. The rival Basketball Association of America (BAA) and National Basketball League (NBL) had spent three years trying to outdo each other and win players and fans. Eventually, the two associations merged to form the National Basketball Association (NBA).
Muggsy Bogues the shortest NBA Player Ever
Imagine a 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m) player on the court against the likes of LeBron James or Shaq? Well, Tyrone Curtis “Muggsy” Bogues was a first-round pick in the 1987 draft. The point guard became the shortest player ever to play in the National Basketball Association during his 14-season career in the NBA. Muggsy became a folk hero due to his height and grit against all the odds.
Manute Bol Tallest NBA Player Ever
Bol, a Sudanese was the 31st overall pick by the Washington Bullets. The 7’ 7” players was an amazing shot-blocker and rebounder. He went on to play for the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat. At one time, Bol played alongside Muggsy Bogues, the shortest NBA player ever for the Washington Bullets.
Air Jordans Were Once Illegal
Air Jordan is, without doubt, one of the best all-time basketball sneakers. It’s interesting to note that Air Jordan sneakers were once illegal as Former Commissioner David Stern thought they matched Chicago Bulls uniform. Michael Jordan had to part with $5000 for every game he wore the popular sneakers.
Kobe Bryant’s Parent Co-Signed His First NBA Contract
Kobe was the 13th pick in the 1996 NBA draft. Charlotte Hornets picked the promising player, but he quickly went on to Los Angeles Lakers, and the rest as they say is history. But one interesting fact was his parents co-signed the contract because he was still under 18.
Shaq Only Ever Made 1 Three-Pointer
Yes, you read that right. The four-time NBA champion and 15-time NBA All-Star ranks high in the ranking of all-time best NBA players. However, there’s that one poor record of only one three-pointer back in 1996. This was after 22 attempts at three-pointers in his entire career.
Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics Ruled the 80s
In the ten NBA Finals that played during the 1980’s two teams dominated. Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics were participants in all the finals and they faced each other in 1984, 1985 and 1987. The Lakers won the latter two battles.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ 33-game winning streak
Los Angeles Lakers’ 33-game winning streak in the 1971–72 season remains a record in the NBA. The record straight victories also remains the best in any major US professional sport. The winning streak came to an end after a loss to Milwaukee Bucks when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar powered the Bucks to a120-104 win.
Final Thoughts
The NBA never suffers a dull moment both on-field and off-field. Most of the moments that happen around the players and teams go a long way in shaping the game. By learning about these interesting historical facts, you can appreciate the game better.
