NBA History
From Mikan
to the Modern Game
Nearly 80 years of hardwood history — the rivalries, dynasties, and global icons that made basketball a worldwide phenomenon.
The Four Eras of Professional Basketball
1
The Early Years (1946–1969)
The Basketball Association of America merged with the NBL to form the NBA. George Mikan dominated as the league's first superstar big man.
- ▸1946 — BAA founded; first game on Nov 1, 1946 in Toronto
- ▸1949 — BAA and NBL merge to form the NBA (17 teams)
- ▸1950 — First Black NBA players: Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, Nat 'Sweetwater' Clifton
- ▸1954 — Shot clock introduced (24 seconds) to speed up the game
- ▸1957 — Bill Russell drafted by Boston Celtics; dynasty begins
- ▸1960s — Celtics win 11 championships in 13 years under Red Auerbach
- ▸1969 — Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) drafted #1 overall
2
The ABA-NBA Merger & Growth (1970–1989)
The ABA's flashy style merged into the NBA. Magic vs Bird saved the league, then Jordan changed it forever.
- ▸1976 — ABA-NBA merger; Nuggets, Spurs, Nets, Pacers join the NBA
- ▸1979 — Three-point line adopted from the ABA
- ▸1979 — Magic Johnson and Larry Bird enter the league (rivalry begins)
- ▸1980s — Lakers 'Showtime' vs Celtics rivalry; 8 titles between them
- ▸1984 — Michael Jordan drafted by Chicago Bulls (#3 overall)
- ▸1985 — NBA Finals on live prime-time TV for first time
- ▸1989 — Dream Team concept born as FIBA opens Olympic basketball to pros
3
The Jordan Era & Global Expansion (1990–2010)
Michael Jordan's Bulls won 6 titles in 8 years. The 1992 Dream Team globalized the game, planting seeds for international stars.
- ▸1991 — Bulls win first championship; Jordan's first of 6 rings
- ▸1992 — Dream Team dominates Barcelona Olympics; globalizes basketball
- ▸1996 — NBA at 50: named 50 Greatest Players in NBA History
- ▸1996-98 — Bulls second three-peat (Jordan's final Bulls years)
- ▸1997 — WNBA launches
- ▸2000s — Lakers three-peat with Shaq & Kobe (2000-02)
- ▸2004 — Malice at the Palace; leads to stricter player conduct rules
- ▸2008 — Celtics 'Big 3' (Garnett, Pierce, Allen) win 17th title
- ▸2010 — Lakers-Celtics Finals renewal; Kobe's 5th ring
4
The Modern Game (2011–2025)
The three-point revolution, superteams, and an unprecedented international talent influx defined the modern era.
- ▸2011-12 — Lockout-shortened season; LeBron wins first title with Miami
- ▸2014 — Spurs' 'beautiful game' ball movement defeats Heat in Finals
- ▸2015 — Warriors' small-ball dynasty begins; Steph Curry's 3PT revolution
- ▸2016 — Cavaliers complete historic 3-1 Finals comeback vs Warriors (73-9)
- ▸2016-19 — Warriors win 3 titles in 4 years with Durant
- ▸2019 — Raptors win first championship outside the US
- ▸2020 — Bubble season; Lakers win 17th title in Orlando
- ▸2020s — Giannis, Jokic, Embiid international MVP streak
- ▸2018-26 — International players win 8 straight MVP awards (Giannis, Jokic, Embiid, SGA)
- ▸2025 — NBA expands to Las Vegas and Seattle; 32-team league
Greatest NBA Dynasties
Boston Celtics
11×
1957–1969
Bill Russell wins 11 rings in 13 years — the greatest dynasty in NBA history
Los Angeles Lakers
5×
1980s
Magic's 'Showtime' — fast-break basketball with Kareem's skyhook
Chicago Bulls
6×
1990s
Jordan & Pippen — two three-peats, never lost in the Finals (6-0)
Los Angeles Lakers
3×
2000s
Shaq & Kobe three-peat under Phil Jackson (2000-2002)
San Antonio Spurs
5×
1999–2014
Tim Duncan, Popovich, and the model franchise — sustained excellence
Golden State Warriors
4×
2015–2022
Curry's 3PT revolution changed how basketball is played worldwide
NBA Finals Champions & MVPs (1969–2026)
| Year | Champion | Finals MVP |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | New York Knicks | Jalen Brunson |
| 2025 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| 2024 | Boston Celtics | Jaylen Brown |
| 2023 | Denver Nuggets | Nikola Jokić |
| 2022 | Golden State Warriors | Stephen Curry |
| 2021 | Milwaukee Bucks | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2020 | Los Angeles Lakers | LeBron James |
| 2019 | Toronto Raptors | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2018 | Golden State Warriors | Kevin Durant |
| 2017 | Golden State Warriors | Kevin Durant |
| 2016 | Cleveland Cavaliers | LeBron James |
| 2015 | Golden State Warriors | Andre Iguodala |
| 2014 | San Antonio Spurs | Kawhi Leonard |
| 2013 | Miami Heat | LeBron James |
| 2012 | Miami Heat | LeBron James |
| 2011 | Dallas Mavericks | Dirk Nowitzki |
| 2010 | Los Angeles Lakers | Kobe Bryant |
| 2009 | Los Angeles Lakers | Kobe Bryant |
| 2008 | Boston Celtics | Paul Pierce |
| 2007 | San Antonio Spurs | Tony Parker |
| 2006 | Miami Heat | Dwyane Wade |
| 2005 | San Antonio Spurs | Tim Duncan |
| 2004 | Detroit Pistons | Chauncey Billups |
| 2003 | San Antonio Spurs | Tim Duncan |
| 2002 | Los Angeles Lakers | Shaquille O'Neal |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Lakers | Shaquille O'Neal |
| 2000 | Los Angeles Lakers | Shaquille O'Neal |
| 1999 | San Antonio Spurs | Tim Duncan |
| 1998 | Chicago Bulls | Michael Jordan |
| 1997 | Chicago Bulls | Michael Jordan |
| 1996 | Chicago Bulls | Michael Jordan |
| 1995 | Houston Rockets | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1994 | Houston Rockets | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1993 | Chicago Bulls | Michael Jordan |
| 1992 | Chicago Bulls | Michael Jordan |
| 1991 | Chicago Bulls | Michael Jordan |
| 1990 | Detroit Pistons | Isiah Thomas |
| 1989 | Detroit Pistons | Joe Dumars |
| 1988 | Los Angeles Lakers | James Worthy |
| 1987 | Los Angeles Lakers | Magic Johnson |
| 1986 | Boston Celtics | Larry Bird |
| 1985 | Los Angeles Lakers | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1984 | Boston Celtics | Larry Bird |
| 1983 | Philadelphia 76ers | Moses Malone |
| 1982 | Los Angeles Lakers | Magic Johnson |
| 1981 | Boston Celtics | Cedric Maxwell |
| 1980 | Los Angeles Lakers | Magic Johnson |
| 1979 | Seattle SuperSonics | Dennis Johnson |
| 1978 | Washington Bullets | Wes Unseld |
| 1977 | Portland Trail Blazers | Bill Walton |
| 1976 | Boston Celtics | Jo Jo White |
| 1975 | Golden State Warriors | Rick Barry |
| 1974 | Boston Celtics | John Havlicek |
| 1973 | New York Knicks | Willis Reed |
| 1972 | Los Angeles Lakers | Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1971 | Milwaukee Bucks | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1970 | New York Knicks | Willis Reed |
| 1969 | Boston Celtics | Jerry West* |
* Jerry West is the only player to win NBA Finals MVP while on the losing team (Los Angeles Lakers, 1969).
NBA & ABA Regular Season MVP Winners
NBA MVP (1955–56 to 2025–26)
| Season | MVP |
|---|---|
| 2025–26 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| 2024–25 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander |
| 2023–24 | Nikola Jokić |
| 2022–23 | Joel Embiid |
| 2021–22 | Nikola Jokić |
| 2020–21 | Nikola Jokić |
| 2019–20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2018–19 | Giannis Antetokounmpo |
| 2017–18 | James Harden |
| 2016–17 | Russell Westbrook |
| 2015–16 | Stephen Curry |
| 2014–15 | Stephen Curry |
| 2013–14 | Kevin Durant |
| 2012–13 | LeBron James |
| 2011–12 | LeBron James |
| 2010–11 | Derrick Rose |
| 2009–10 | LeBron James |
| 2008–09 | LeBron James |
| 2007–08 | Kobe Bryant |
| 2006–07 | Dirk Nowitzki |
| 2005–06 | Steve Nash |
| 2004–05 | Steve Nash |
| 2003–04 | Kevin Garnett |
| 2002–03 | Tim Duncan |
| 2001–02 | Tim Duncan |
| 2000–01 | Allen Iverson |
| 1999–00 | Shaquille O'Neal |
| 1998–99 | Karl Malone |
| 1997–98 | Michael Jordan |
| 1996–97 | Karl Malone |
| 1995–96 | Michael Jordan |
| 1994–95 | David Robinson |
| 1993–94 | Hakeem Olajuwon |
| 1992–93 | Charles Barkley |
| 1991–92 | Michael Jordan |
| 1990–91 | Michael Jordan |
| 1989–90 | Magic Johnson |
| 1988–89 | Magic Johnson |
| 1987–88 | Michael Jordan |
| 1986–87 | Magic Johnson |
| 1985–86 | Larry Bird |
| 1984–85 | Larry Bird |
| 1983–84 | Larry Bird |
| 1982–83 | Moses Malone |
| 1981–82 | Moses Malone |
| 1980–81 | Julius Erving |
| 1979–80 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1978–79 | Moses Malone |
| 1977–78 | Bill Walton |
| 1976–77 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1975–76 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1974–75 | Bob McAdoo |
| 1973–74 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1972–73 | Dave Cowens |
| 1971–72 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1970–71 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar |
| 1969–70 | Willis Reed |
| 1968–69 | Wes Unseld |
| 1967–68 | Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1966–67 | Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1965–66 | Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1964–65 | Bill Russell |
| 1963–64 | Oscar Robertson |
| 1962–63 | Bill Russell |
| 1961–62 | Bill Russell |
| 1960–61 | Bill Russell |
| 1959–60 | Wilt Chamberlain |
| 1958–59 | Bob Pettit |
| 1957–58 | Bill Russell |
| 1956–57 | Bob Cousy |
| 1955–56 | Bob Pettit |
Most NBA MVP Awards
- 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar6
- 2. Michael Jordan5
- 3. Bill Russell5
- 4. Wilt Chamberlain4
- 5. LeBron James4
- 6. Larry Bird3
- 7. Magic Johnson3
- 8. Nikola Jokić3
- 9. Moses Malone3
- 10. Stephen Curry2
Most ABA MVP Awards
- 1. Julius Erving3
- 2. Mel Daniels2
ABA MVP (1967–68 to 1975–76)
| Season | MVP |
|---|---|
| 1975–76 | Julius Erving |
| 1974–75 | Julius Erving (Tie) |
| 1974–75 | George McGinnis (Tie) |
| 1973–74 | Julius Erving |
| 1972–73 | Billy Cunningham |
| 1971–72 | Artis Gilmore |
| 1970–71 | Mel Daniels |
| 1969–70 | Spencer Haywood |
| 1968–69 | Mel Daniels |
| 1967–68 | Connie Hawkins |
NBA Defensive Player of the Year Winners
Year-by-Year (1982–83 to 2025–26)
| Season | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2025–26 | Victor Wembanyama | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2024–25 | Evan Mobley | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 2023–24 | Rudy Gobert | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 2022–23 | Jaren Jackson Jr. | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2021–22 | Marcus Smart | Boston Celtics |
| 2020–21 | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz |
| 2019–20 | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 2018–19 | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz |
| 2017–18 | Rudy Gobert | Utah Jazz |
| 2016–17 | Draymond Green | Golden State Warriors |
| 2015–16 | Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2014–15 | Kawhi Leonard | San Antonio Spurs |
| 2013–14 | Joakim Noah | Chicago Bulls |
| 2012–13 | Marc Gasol | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2011–12 | Tyson Chandler | New York Knicks |
| 2010–11 | Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic |
| 2009–10 | Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic |
| 2008–09 | Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic |
| 2007–08 | Kevin Garnett | Boston Celtics |
| 2006–07 | Marcus Camby | Denver Nuggets |
| 2005–06 | Ben Wallace | Detroit Pistons |
| 2004–05 | Ben Wallace | Detroit Pistons |
| 2003–04 | Metta World Peace | Indiana Pacers |
| 2002–03 | Ben Wallace | Detroit Pistons |
| 2001–02 | Ben Wallace | Detroit Pistons |
| 2000–01 | Dikembe Mutombo | Philadelphia 76ers* |
| 1999–00 | Alonzo Mourning | Miami Heat |
| 1998–99 | Alonzo Mourning | Miami Heat |
| 1997–98 | Dikembe Mutombo | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1996–97 | Dikembe Mutombo | Atlanta Hawks |
| 1995–96 | Gary Payton | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 1994–95 | Dikembe Mutombo | Denver Nuggets |
| 1993–94 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
| 1992–93 | Hakeem Olajuwon | Houston Rockets |
| 1991–92 | David Robinson | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1990–91 | Dennis Rodman | Detroit Pistons |
| 1989–90 | Dennis Rodman | Detroit Pistons |
| 1988–89 | Mark Eaton | Utah Jazz |
| 1987–88 | Michael Jordan | Chicago Bulls |
| 1986–87 | Michael Cooper | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1985–86 | Alvin Robertson | San Antonio Spurs |
| 1984–85 | Mark Eaton | Utah Jazz |
| 1983–84 | Sidney Moncrief | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1982–83 | Sidney Moncrief | Milwaukee Bucks |
*Mutombo played for both Denver and Philadelphia during the 2000–01 season.
Most DPOY Awards
- 1. Rudy Gobert4
- 2. Dikembe Mutombo4
- 3. Ben Wallace4
- 4. Dwight Howard3
- 5. Alonzo Mourning2
- 6. Dennis Rodman2
- 7. Hakeem Olajuwon2
- 8. Kawhi Leonard2
- 9. Mark Eaton2
- 10. Sidney Moncrief2
Historical Features & Vault
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Jun 6, 2026•6 min
NBA
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May 27, 2026•6 min
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May 27, 2026•8 min
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May 20, 2026•3 min
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May 17, 2026•8 min
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May 17, 2026•6 min
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May 16, 2026•3 min