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First official game of the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The New York Knickerbockers played the Toronto Huskies. Ticket prices ranged from $.75 to $2.50. If you happened to be taller than Toronto’s 6’ 8” George Nostrand, you were granted free admission. More than 7,000 fans watched the game.
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Red was hired to be the coach of the Boston Celtics and went on to win 9 NBA tites. Considered the most succesful coach in NBA history.
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The first NBA All-Star game was held in Boston.
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The first African American players were allowed into the NBA. They were Chuck Cooper, Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton, and Earl Lloyd.
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The 24-second shot clock made its debut. As a result, NBA teams showed a 13.6-point increase in their team scoring averages that season.
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Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single game, most scored in one game in NBA history.
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The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame officially opened.
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Bill Russell from the Boston Celtics plays his last season as one of the greatest players in NBA history. Russel owns the record for most NBA titles with 11 rings.
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Moses Malone became the first professional player to sign with the NBA straight out of high school.
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Larry Bird and Magic Johnson came into the NBA. They would soon be pronounced the 2 best gaurds in the game. Both setting records for their individual franchises.
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3-point field goal introduced was introduced to the NBA. It was deemed to be 23 feet 9 inches.
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NBA expanded by adding new teams in to it’s league. ( Charlotte, NC and Miami, FL.)
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NBA players were granted permission to be able to play in international events like the Olympics.
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NBA became the first major U.S. sports league to play a regular season game outside North America. The Jazz and the Suns played the first ever NBA Japan games.
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Your very own Chicago Bulls Finished with a 72-10 record, best record in NBA history.
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Yao Ming was the first player drafted from an international league as the NBA’s number one draft pick.
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Lebron James wins his first NBA title. With 49 out of the 50 states voting in preference for him to loose.
(More people tuned it to watch Lebron Pick his next team over the Super Bowl that year.)
