The 1980s was a great decade for the NBA, beginning a golden era that helped to set the foundation for the league we know today. But while the NBA was enjoying its best seasons since its inception, there were still a number of teams who struggled, especially the Utah Jazz. Many NBA players made controversial comments, which some have interpreted as a departure from the game. However, some of these players went on to have long and successful careers in other fields.
The NBA began as a minor league, a footnote to the other professional basketball leagues. But its consistency and big-city locations contributed to its eventual success. The NBA was formed in 1946 as a way for NHL owners to make money when not playing. The original NBA teams were actually based in NHL cities. This was a smart move for the NBA, since it made the league more profitable. However, the first few years of the league were filled with turmoil.
While the game’s early roots are well documented, the western side has played a pivotal role in shaping the modern NBA. In 1891, the first game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts. Since that time, basketball has been a multi-billion-dollar industry, albeit a wild and untamable place. Now, the NBA has developed into a mega-sport, a popular way to stay competitive.
Teams have long dominated the NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers won five championships in a row between 1948 and 1954. The Boston Celtics, led by Bill Russell, won 11 titles in thirteen seasons from 1957 to 1969. In the 1960s, the league featured eight to fourteen teams. During those decades, NBA owners remained hesitant to sign African-American players. Despite this, teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers and the Chicago Bulls continued to dominate the league.
The NBA has also enjoyed an increased media presence, which has helped it grow into an international brand. ESPN and TNT now have the rights to broadcast NBA games from season eight through the 2024-25 season. However, this expansion has brought with it a number of problems for small-market teams that have to compete with the big-league players. The NBA should consider revenue sharing as a way to resolve these issues and improve the league’s profitability.
The NBA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949. The new league had seventeen teams at the time of the merger, but lost a number of them after just six years. In the interim, the NBA faced financial troubles, which had plagued the NBL in smaller markets. During this time, the Fort Wayne Pistons, a team that had previously played in the NBL, partnered with Frank Zollner to keep the league financially stable.
The NBA has an ongoing evolution in analytics, and data from recent studies show that the game is undergoing changes to accommodate this new technology. In the past, NBA teams rarely attempted 3-point shots and now make them a focal point of their offense. Using analytics to measure player performance, such as Hollinger’s player efficiency rating, is becoming a common practice in all sports. However, these new technologies have the potential to change the game, as they allow teams to make better decisions based on their player’s performance.