Joe Fulks leads the BAA in scoring and claims the league's first ever championship.
Amid folding teams and a struggling league, Baltimore takes the title in its first season.
George Mikan becomes the league's first true star; Lakers' first dynasty is born.
Remaining NBL teams join the BAA, complete the birth of the National Basketball Association.
Nate 'Sweetwater' Clifton becomes the first African-American player to sign an NBA contract.
With the lane increased from six to 12 feet, Mikan leads Lakers to third title.
Bob Cousy's breakout season isn't enough to get Celtics into Finals; Lakers win again.
Lakers win final title in Minneapolis, complete the first 'three-peat' in NBA history.
Danny Biasone, owner of the Syracuse Nats, invents the 24-second shot clock.
Bob Pettit becomes the first MVP in NBA History, but Warriors take the title.
Red Auerbach drafts Bill Russell; the reign of the Celtics begins.
Pettit explodes for 50 points in Game 6 of the Finals for St. Louis' only title.
Lakers rookie Elgin Baylor sets the bar for future generations of wing players.
Wilt Chamberlain gives fans something they've never seen before; rivalry with Bill Russell begins.
Oscar Robertson, Jerry West enter the league; Celtics win third straight title.
Wilt scores 100, Oscar Robertson averages a triple double, but the Celtics keep on rolling.
Bill Russell wins third straight MVP; Bob Cousy retires in fashion with another Celtics' crown.
The Celtics' sixth consecutive title breaks the major professional sports record.
John Havlicek's famous steal in Game 7 preserves the Celtics' championship run.
Red Auerbach announces his retirement after Game 1 of the NBA Finals, motivates Boston.
Wilt finally gets the best of Bill, wins his first title as Celtics reign is interrupted.
Bill Russell leads Celtics to his first title as a player-coach.
Jerry West wins Finals MVP even though Boston takes 10th title in 11 years.
Willis Reed leads New York to its first ever championship with heroic Game 7.
Oscar Robertson finally gets his ring as he leads the way for Milwaukee's only title.
Lakers win an NBA record 33 straight games en route to first title in 18 years.
Knicks defeat the Lakers in Wilt Chamberlain's seventh and final Finals appearance.
Jerry West, Willis Reed and Oscar Robertson play their final season as an era ends.
Rick Barry leads Golden State past Washington in stunning Finals upset.
Boston wins 13th title after an epic triple-overtime Game 5 win in the Finals.
Rip City is born with Bill Walton leading Portland to its only NBA championship.
Washington wins just 44 regular season games, but captures the team's only NBA title.
Finals MVP Dennis Johnson, Seattle get revenge on Washington in championship rematch.
The season the 3-point line, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird entered the NBA.
Boston adds Robert Parish and Kevin McHale, wins first title of new Celtics era.
Pat Riley brings 'Showtime' to L.A.; Lakers cruise to second title in three years.
Moses Malone's famous 'Fo, Fo, Fo' prediction turns to 'Fo, Fi, Fo' and a Sixers title.
Magic and Bird finally meet for a title bout; Celtics squeeze it out in seven.
The draft delivers Michael Jordan, but the story on the court was still Magic and Bird.
'God disguised as Michael Jordan' said Bird after Jordan's legendary 63-point playoff game.
Magic beats Bird in their last Finals matchup, with a sky-hook to seal it.
Pat Riley guarantees L.A. to repeat, Lakers back it up to cement their legacy.
Bad Boy Pistons romp injury-depleted Lakers to claim Detroit's first championship.
Pistons hold off Jordan's Bulls again, repeat as champs to validate claim to the crown.
Critics once thought Jordan could never win an NBA championship. That ended in this year.
Magic's HIV announcement shakes the nation; Bulls become third straight team to repeat.
Jordan leads Bulls to first 'three-peat' since the Celtics in 1967.
After Jordan's sudden retirement at 30, a wide open league allows Hakeem Olajuwon to shine.
Jordan returns with rust; Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler prove too much for a young Shaq.
Jordan, Bulls set all-time record of 72-10 en route to fourth championship in six years.
The first of the Jordan-Pippen, Stockton-Malone bouts goes Chicago's way.
Jordan goes out in style, hitting the game-winning shot of the Finals.
With Jordan gone again, Tim Duncan and David Robinson bring San Antonio its first title.
Phil Jackson joins Kobe and Shaq to put the Lakers back on top.
Allen Iverson carries the 76ers to the Finals, but can't compete with the Lakers.
Jordan returns one last time with the Washington Wizards; Lakers win third straight.
Duncan wins second straight MVP, teams up with Robinson for the duo's last title together.
Kobe and Shaq's crumbling relationship comes crashing down after Pistons take the crown.
Shaq to Miami, 'The Malice at the Palace' and another title for Duncan's Spurs.
Kobe scores 81; Dwyane Wade and Shaq deliver Miami its first ever championship.
After the failed synthetic ball experiment, San Antonio handles LeBron James' Cavs for fourth title.
The Celtics 'Big Three' team up and bring Boston its first championship in 22 years.
Kobe matches Shaq's four titles; Phil Jackson passes Auerbach for most coaching titles.
Kobe wins his fifth championship in Lakers-Celtics 12th Finals matchup.
Lebron joins Wade, Chris Bosh to form new 'Big Three' but Miami is stunned by Dallas.
LeBron outduels Kevin Durant, finally gets his ring in his third trip to the Finals.
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