The NBA began a major expansion in the 1980s with a flurry of new teams and a raging rivalry between the Magic and the Boston Celtics. During this time, the league’s popularity increased dramatically and the league saw its first major explosion into pop culture. The 1980s were also a golden era for the league, with the addition of five new teams to the Western Division and a revitalized Magic-Bird rivalry that brought fans to the arenas.
In the early 1970s, the first superstar to enter the NBA was Marvin Barnes, whose talent and personality led him to be nicknamed “Bad News Marvin”. His off-court behavior was also notorious, with a loaded gun found in his locker and cocaine taken at halftime, but he was still one of the best players of his era. His legacy is now immortalized by the NBA. The 1980s were also an era of change and the first superstars to leave the league included Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.
Fans can also follow the NBA on social media, with social media accounts featuring NBA highlights and news. These accounts are updated in real time, and can help pique fans’ interest in the season ahead. Fans can also share the highlights and bloopers of a game with their friends via Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks. They can comment on highlights and bloopers in real-time, swap captions, and make observations about the game. And while the NBA season may be over, the NBA community will never die – as social media will continue to do so.
The NBA playoffs begin in April, with the top eight teams competing for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. Seeding is based on regular season records and tiebreakers are used as needed. There are multiple rounds and each conference has three divisions, with five teams each. The Boston Celtics have won the most championships (six) and Chicago Bulls the most. These two teams were called the “show time” of the NBA.
The NBA has several unique competitions. The Rising Stars Challenge, which was originally the Rookie Challenge, pits U.S. players against international competitors. The Three Point Contest requires players to make the most three-point field goals in a given period of time. And the NBA Slam Dunk Contest requires players to dunk the ball in the most entertaining way possible. In addition to these contests, there are dozens of other exciting events in the NBA.
The NBA draft has a rich history of creating future Hall of Famers. The draft class of 1984 is arguably the best in NBA history, with four players selected in the first round. The draft class of 2000 may be the worst. While every draft class has its ups and downs, there are always memorable moments. The 1984 draft was the most exciting in NBA history, and the upcoming 2000 class is arguably the worst. There is no way to predict what the future holds, but we can certainly enjoy the past.