1970

January

Willis Reed earns All-Star MVP honors for leading the Eastern Conference to a victory in Philadelphia. At season’s end, Reed would become the first player in NBA history to win All-Star MVP, league MVP, and Finals MVP in the same season. The game was also notable for rookie Kareem Abdul-Jabbar making his first appearance.

LSU’s Pete Maravich surpasses Oscar Robertson as the men’s NCAA all-time scoring leader.

Al Attles is promoted to head coach (as player-coach) of the Warriors, replacing the fired George Lee. Attles becomes just the second Black coach in NBA history (after Bill Russell) and would eventually helm the team for 13 seasons and lead them to an NBA title in 1975.

February

The NBA announces that expansion franchises have been awarded to Buffalo (Braves, now the Los Angeles Clippers), Cleveland (Cavaliers), and Portland (Trail Blazers).

Pete Maravich sets the NCAA Division I single game scoring record with 69 points in an LSU loss to Alabama.

March

Reeling from the retirements of Bill Russell and Sam Jones, the Celtics become the first NBA champion in history to miss the playoffs in the subsequent season, finishing 34-48.

In one of the closest votes in league history, Willis Reed is named MVP, with Jerry West finishing in second and Rookie of the Year winner Kareem Abdul-Jabbar coming in third.

UCLA dominates the NCAA Tournament field, winning each of their games by double digits, including an 80-69 victory over Jacksonville in the National Final in College Park, Maryland. Sidney Wicks is named Most Outstanding Player.

Bob Knight is hired as head coach at Indiana University, following Lou Watson resigning.

NBA Draft

• Bob Lanier (St. Bonaventure) is selected first overall by the Pistons
• Seven other future Hall of Fame players are selected, creating one of the deepest rookie classes in league history
  • Rudy Tomjanovich (Michigan) is selected second overall by the San Diego Rockets
  • Pete Maravich (LSU) is selected third overall by the Hawks
  • Dave Cowens (Florida State) is selected fourth overall by the Celtics and is co-winner of Rookie of the Year
  • Calvin Murphy (Niagara) is selected in the second round by the Rockets
  • Tiny Archibald (UTEP) is selected in the second round by the Cincinnati Royals
  • Charlie Scott (North Carolina) is selected in the seventh round by the Celtics (he opted for the ABA instead)
  • Dan Issel (Kentucky) is selected in the seventh round by the Pistons (he opted for the ABA instead)
• Geoff Petrie (Princeton) is selected eighth overall by the expansion Trail Blazers and wins Rookie of the Year, sharing the award with Cowens

April

Maurice Stokes passes away at the age of 33 due to complications stemming from a brain injury suffered during a 1958 game.

Playing in the postseason for the first time in franchise history, the Suns take a shocking 3-1 series lead over the Lakers in the Conference Semifinals, but Wilt Chamberlain and Jerry West spark three consecutive wins for Los Angeles to advance.

Oscar Robertson files an anti-trust lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the NBA on behalf of the NBPA, attempting to stop an impending merger with the ABA on the grounds that it would limit player movement and career autonomy. The case was eventually settled in 1976, forcing the NBA to allow free agency going forward. Just a few days after filing the lawsuit, Robertson was traded from the Royals to the Bucks and by the time it was settled, he had been retired for two years.

The Lakers sweep the Hawks in the Western Conference Finals. It was the Hawks’ 12th Conference Finals appearance in a 15 year stretch, but it would take them 45 years to return after this, finally making it back in 2015.

May

The Indiana Pacers win their first ABA title in six games over the Los Angeles Stars. Roger Brown is named Playoffs MVP and sets an ABA postseason single game record with 53 points in game four of the series. The Stars re-locate to Salt Lake City in the ensuing offseason and came back to win the 1971 ABA title as the Utah Stars.

NBA Finals

• The Knicks win their first championship in franchise history, defeating the Lakers in seven games
• Willis Reed is named Finals MVP
• For the first time ever, the entire NBA Finals are broadcast live on national television (on ABC)
• Jerry West hits a half-court buzzer beater to force overtime in game three but the Knicks prevail in the extra period to take a 2-1 series lead
• In one of the signature moments in NBA history, Willis Reed emerges from the Madison Square Garden tunnel and takes the floor on a torn thigh for game seven, inspiring the Knicks to a 113-99 victory
• Elgin Baylor plays in the NBA Finals for the eighth and final time in his career, setting the still-standing record amongst players without a championship

The FIBA World Championships take place outside of South America for the first time, with the host Yugoslavia winning the gold medal. Brazil wins the silver medal, the Soviet Union takes bronze, and the United States finishes in fifth place.

July

Oscar Robertson has his jersey #14 retired by the Cincinnati Royals. A 10-time All-Star and MVP, Robertson had been traded from the Royals to the Bucks earlier in the offseason

September

Rick Barry is traded from the Virginia Squires to the New York Nets in exchange for a first round pick and cash considerations. Barry never actually played for the Squires, who had just moved from Oakland to Norfolk, Virginia, a locale that Barry mocked in an infamous Sports Illustrated interview.

October

The Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Portland Trail Blazers begin play as the 15th, 16th, and 17th NBA franchises. The league summarily realigns teams into conferences, each spit into two divisions. As such, the Division Finals are reclassified as the Conference Finals going forward.

December

Despite still being ineligible due to NBA age rules, Spencer Haywood signs a contract with the Seattle SuperSonics, with Sonics owner Sam Schulman promising to cover all fees from resulting legal action.

1971

January

Spencer Haywood and the NBA file competing lawsuits against each other over the player’s signing with the Seattle SuperSonics without meeting the league’s draft eligibility rules.

Lenny Wilkens, at age 33, becomes the oldest MVP in NBA All-Star Game history, finishing with 21 points to lead the Western Conference to a victory in San Diego.

March

Hal Greer takes the floor for the 76ers in a game against the Hawks, becoming the first NBA player with 1,000 career games played.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is named NBA league MVP in just his second season in the league, in a runaway voting result over second place Jerry West.

NBA Draft

• Austin Carr (Notre Dame) is selected first overall by the Cavaliers
• Spencer Haywood is selected in the second round by the Buffalo Braves but the pick is invalidated, as a court eventually rules that his existing contract with the SuperSonics is valid
• Artis Gilmore (Jacksonville) is selected in the seventh round by the Bulls but opts to play in the ABA instead
• Eventual Rookie of the Year Sidney Wicks (UCLA) is selected second overall by the Trail Blazers

UCLA wins its fifth consecutive NCAA Tournament title, defeating Villanova in the National Final in front of a record breaking crowd at the Astrodome in Houston. Villanova’s Howard Porter is named Most Outstanding Player.

April

With Jerry West sidelined by a torn knee ligament and Elgin Baylor by an Achilles’ tear, the Lakers are no match in the Western Conference Finals for the Bucks, who win the series in five games and clinch the first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.

The Baltimore Bullets stun the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games, setting them up for their NBA Finals debut.

NBA Finals

• The Bucks win their first championship in franchise history, defeating the Baltimore Bullets in a sweep
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is named Finals MVP and a day later publicly announces his conversion to Islam and resultant name change
• The Bucks roster also features Oscar Robertson, who makes his NBA Finals debut and wins the only championship of his career

May

Jerry Lucas is traded from the Warriors to the Knicks in exchange for Cazzie Russell.

The Utah Stars are victorious over the Kentucky Colonels in the ABA Finals. Zelmo Beaty, in his first ABA season after making two NBA All-Star teams, is named Playoffs MVP.

July

Bill Sharman is hired as head coach of the Lakers, replacing the fired John Mullaney.

August

For the first time ever, the United States loses at the Pan American Games (breaking a 24-game winning streak), finishing in seventh place in the men’s tournament in Cali, Colombia. Brazil wins its first gold medal, with Puerto Rico earning silver and Cuba bronze.

September

The NBA holds its first ever supplemental draft for college underclassmen who were eligible under the “hardship clause” established in response to a lawsuit from Spencer Haywood. Six players are deemed eligible and five are drafted, including Phil Chenier (California).

October

Designed by Alan Siegel based (unofficially) on a photo of Jerry West, the iconic NBA logo debuts.

November

Elgin Baylor retires nine games into the season due to his various knee injuries, going down as one of the greatest players of all time without a championship. Jim McMillian replaces him in the starting lineup.

Earl Monroe is traded from the Baltimore Bullets to the Knicks in exchange for Mike Riordan, Dave Stallworth, and cash considerations. He teams up with Walt Frazier to form the “Rolls Royce Back Court.”

The NBA Silver Anniversary Team is unveiled in honor of the league’s 25th season. It features 10 retired players (Bill Russell, Sam Jones, George Mikan, Dolph Schayes, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Paul Arizin, Bob Davies, Joe Fulks, and Bob Pettit) and one coach (Red Auerbach).

December

The Lakers set the NBA record with 21 consecutive wins. They would eventually stretch the record to 33 games before finally being defeated by the Bucks.

The NBA Silver Anniversary Team is unveiled in honor of the league’s 25th season. It features 10 retired players (Bill Russell, Sam Jones, George Mikan, Dolph Schayes, Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Paul Arizin, Bob Davies, Joe Fulks, and Bob Pettit) and one coach (Red Auerbach).

1972

January

The NCAA votes to begin allowing freshmen to play varsity basketball. Previously, first year college players were forced to participate in junior varsity.

In front of his home crowd at The Forum in Los Angeles, Jerry West caps off one of the most exciting NBA All-Star Games ever played with a game-winning jumper in the final second to give the Western Conference the victory.

February

Wilt Chamberlain becomes the first NBA player to reach 30,000 career points.

The Naismith Hall of Fame is officially opened to the public in Springfield, Massachusetts. Though inductions had started in 1959, this was the Hall of Fame’s first physical facility.

March

Wayne Embry becomes the first Black general manager in NBA history, when he’s hired by the Bucks for the role.

The NBA approves the Royals re-locating from Cincinnati to Kansas City, where they change their name to the Kings.

Following a failed attempt at a merger, the ABA files a lawsuit against the NBA under the anti-trust law.

The first AIAW women’s basketball tournament, a precursor to the NCAA, takes place, with Immaculata defeating West Chester State in the National Final in Normal, Illinois.

Due to a Kentucky state law that all university employees must retire at age 70, Adolph Rupp is forced to step down as coach of Kentucky after 42 years and four national titles. He is soon after replaced by Joe B. Hall. In Rupp’s final game, the Wildcats lose to Florida State in the Mideast Regional Finals of the NCAA Tournament.

Larry Miller sets the ABA single game scoring record with 67 points in a Carolina Cougars win over the Memphis Pros.

UCLA wins its sixth consecutive NCAA Tournament title under John Wooden, defeating Florida State in the National Final in Los Angeles. Sophomore Bill Walton is named Most Outstanding Player, in addition to sweeping the four major regular season Player of the Year awards.

The Royals play their final home games in Cincinnati. In the ensuing offseason, the franchise re-locates from Cincinnati to Kansas City.

With a victory over the SuperSonics in their final regular season game, the ’71-’72 Lakers become the first team in NBA history to reach 69 wins in a season.

April

NBA Draft

• For the first time, eight players are declared eligible under the “hardship clause” before their four-year college time has elapsed
• Bob McAdoo (North Carolina) declares early after his junior season and is selected second overall by the Buffalo Braves, going on to win Rookie of the Year
• LaRue Martin (Loyola-Chicago) is selected first overall by the Trail Blazers
• Ralph Simpson (Michigan State) and Julius Erving (Massachusetts) are selected in the first round under the “hardship clause” by the Bulls and Bucks, respectively, but both opt to play in the ABA instead
• Paul Westphal (USC) is selected 10th overall by the Celtics

Despite Willis Reed missing the series with tendinitis in his knee, the Knicks upset the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals in five games.

The Lakers win the Western Conference Finals in six games over the Bucks, who go down as arguably the greatest team in NBA history to not reach the Finals.

May

The Indiana Pacers win their second ABA title, defeating the New York Nets in six games in the ABA Finals. Freddie Lewis is named Playoffs MVP. Rick Barry plays his final ABA games with the Nets before returning to the NBA in the ensuing offseason.

NBA Finals

• The Lakers close out one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history with a five game series victory over the Knicks
• Wilt Chamberlain is named Finals MVP

June

Elvin Hayes is traded from the Rockets to the Bullets in exchange for Jack Marin, one of the most lopsided exchanges in NBA history.

July

Rick Barry returns to the NBA from the ABA, signing as a free agent with his former team, the Warriors.

September

In one of the most controversial games in the history of the sport, the Soviet Union defeats the U.S. in the Olympic men’s gold medal match in Munich, 51-50, breaking a streak of 63 straight Olympic wins for American squads. The final few seconds of the game are marred by illegal substitutions, clock malfunctions, and suspicious intervention from FIBA officials. Cuba earns the bronze, its first and only medal in Olympic men’s basketball competition.

1973

January

Dave Cowens is named MVP as the Eastern Conference defeats the West in the NBA All-Star Game in Chicago. Wilt Chamberlain makes his 13th and final appearance, while Kareem Abdul-Jabbar misses the game due to security concerns.

March

Tiny Archibald becomes the only player in NBA history to lead the league in points per game (34.0) and assists per game (11.4) in the same season.

The Philadelphia 76ers end the ’72-’73 season with a 9-73 record, the worst in NBA history. They also become the first team to ever lose 70 or more games in a season.

Dave Cowens is named league MVP, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar finishing second in voting and Tiny Archibald in third.

In one of the greatest individual performances in NCAA Tournament history, Bill Walton scores 44 points on 21-of-22 shooting in a UCLA win over Memphis in the National Final in St. Louis. It’s the seventh consecutive title for UCLA while Walton is named Most Outstanding Player for the second straight year. Walton also swept the four major Player of the Year awards for the second year in a row.

Following the conclusion of the ’72-’73 ABA season, the Dallas Chaparrals re-locate from Dallas to San Antonio and change their name to the Spurs.

April

The Warriors upset the top seeded Bucks in the Western Conference Semifinals in six games. It marks the first time in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career (then in his fourth season) that Milwaukee fails to advance to at least the Conference Finals.

For the second straight season, the Knicks upset the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals. They additionally become the first road team ever to win a game seven in Boston Garden, doing so in a 94-78 blowout. Boston previously had an 11-0 record in winner-take-all playoff games.

NBA Draft

• Doug Collins (Illinois State) is selected first overall by the 76ers, headlining one of the weakest draft classes in NBA history
• Jim Brewer (Minnesota) is selected second overall by the Cavaliers
• Eventual Rookie of the Year Ernie DiGregorio (Providence) is selected third overall by the Buffalo Braves
• This was the final NBA Draft to last indefinitely, with the rounds capped at 10 starting in 1974

May

The Pacers are back-to-back ABA champions, defeating the Kentucky Colonels in seven games in the ABA Finals. George McGinnis is named Playoffs MVP.

NBA Finals

• The Knicks win their second championship, defeating the Lakers in five games
• Willis Reed is named Finals MVP, becoming the first player to earn the award twice

Bill Russell is hired as head coach of the SuperSonics, replacing Bucky Buckwalter.

July

The financially strapped Virginia Squires of the ABA trade Julius Erving and Willie Sojourner to the New York Nets in exchange for George Carter, Kermit Washington, and cash considerations.

September

Wilt Chamberlain signs a contract with the San Diego Conquistadors of the ABA as a player-coach but is forced to only coach after the Lakers successfully sue for breach of contract.

October

Yugoslavia are champions of the EuroBasket, defeating the host nation Spain in the final. The Soviet Union finishes in third place, ending a streak of eight consecutive EuroBasket titles.

The Bullets officially move from Baltimore to the D.C. suburb of Landover, Maryland and rename themselves the Capital Bullets.

With the opening of the ’73-’74 season, the NBA begins officially tracking blocked shots and steals. Just nine games into the season, the Lakers’ Elmore Smith sets the still-standing NBA single game record with 17 blocked shots in a victory over the Trail Blazers.

November

After four-plus unsuccessful seasons, Bob Cousy steps down as head coach of the Kansas City Kings.

December

In the lowest scoring game in men’s NCAA basketball history, Tennessee defeats Temple 11-6. The game is often cited as a main imperative of the NCAA adding a shot clock, though it wasn’t officially adopted until 1985.

1974

January

Notre Dame upsets UCLA 71-70, ending the Bruins’ record winning streak at 88 games. UCLA gets revenge a week later, winning a re-match 94-75.

Bob Lanier is named MVP as the Western Conference wins the NBA All-Star Game in Seattle. Jerry West is named an All-Star for the 14th and final time but does not participate due to a groin injury.

As part of a cost-cutting measure, the Virginia Squires trade George Gervin to the San Antonio Spurs for cash considerations.

March

In what’s considered one of the greatest games in college basketball history, NC State defeats Maryland 103-100 in the ACC Tournament Final in Greensboro, North Carolina. Maryland was unable to participate in the ensuing NCAA Tournament as the tournament field was limited to just conference champions. This game was a major factor in the NCAA expanding the tournament in 1975 and adding at-large bids.

The New Orleans Jazz are officially announced as an NBA expansion franchise for the ’74-’75 season.

Led by David Thompson, who is named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament, NC State stuns UCLA in the National Semifinals in Greensboro, North Carolina in a double overtime thriller, then defeats Marquette in the National Final.

Buffalo’s Ernie DiGregorio becomes the first and only rookie of the modern era to lead the NBA in assists per game. He’s soon after named Rookie of the Year. He also sets the single game rookie record for assists, with 25 in a victory over the Trail Blazers.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earns his third NBA league MVP award in just his fifth season in the league. Scoring champion Bob McAdoo finishes a close second in voting, followed by Bob Lanier in third.

April

The Bulls win their first playoff series in franchise history, defeating the Pistons in seven games in the Conference Semifinals. The series ends in thrilling fashion in a winner-take-all game seven, with a Norm Van Lier steal on the final play clinching it.

The Celtics defeat the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals in five games to advance to the NBA Finals. Willis Reed plays only limited minutes in the series due to torn cartilage in his knee, which ultimately forces him to retire in the ensuing offseason.

May

The New York Nets win their first and only ABA title with a five game victory over the Utah Stars in the ABA Finals. Julius Erving is named Playoffs MVP, becoming one of just two players (along with Connie Hawkins) to earn ABA MVP and ABA Playoffs MVP in the same season.

NBA Finals

• The Celtics defeat the Bucks in seven games
• John Havlicek is named Finals MVP
• Trailing in the series 3-2, the Bucks stun the Celtics in Boston 102-101 in game six, in a game featuring 11 lead changes in the second overtime alone and a buzzer beating sky hook from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Pete Maravich is traded from the Hawks to the expansion New Orleans Jazz in exchange for Bob Kaufmann, Dean Meminger, two first round picks, two second round picks, and a third round pick.

NBA Draft

• Bill Walton (UCLA) is selected first overall by the Trail Blazers
• Three notable first round picks opt to start their career in the ABA instead: Marvin Barnes (Providence), Bobby Jones (North Carolina), and Maurice Lucas (Marquette)
• Other notable selections include the Warriors drafting eventual Rookie of the Year Jamaal Wilkes (UCLA) 11th overall and the Bullets drafting Truck Robinson (Tennessee State) in the second round

June

In an attempt to render themselves more attractive for the impending merger, the Denver Rockets of the ABA hold a fan contest to choose a new name and the winner is Nuggets, an ode to the original NBA franchise from the city.

July

At the FIBA World Championships in Puerto Rico, the Soviet Union wins its second title. The top three teams all finish with just one loss, but Yugoslavia settles for silver and the United States for bronze due to a complicated tiebreaker system. The controversial finish forced FIBA to adopt a knockout round in the next World Championships.

September

The free agency era officially begins in the NBA, due to a successful lawsuit from Oscar Robertson. Cazzie Russell becomes the first free agent in league history, signing a contract with the Lakers. His former team, the Warriors, receive a first round pick as compensation.

October

The New Orleans Jazz begin play as the 18th NBA franchise.

Nate Thurmond becomes the first player in NBA history to record a quadruple-double, finishing with 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks in his first game with the Bulls.

1975

January

Walt Frazier leads all scorers with 30 points and earns MVP honors in an Eastern Conference win at the NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix.

March

The NCAA Tournament expands to 32 teams and includes at-large bids for non-conference winners for the first time. Seven teams make their tournament debut, including UNLV and Alabama. Defending champions NC State are not selected.

UCLA defeats Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament National Final in San Diego for the 10th and final championship in the coaching career of John Wooden, who announced his retirement before the game. Richard Washington is named Most Outstanding Player.

April

Bob McAdoo is named league MVP for the ’74-’75 NBA season, in a controversial voting result over Rick Barry in second place.

May

The Bullets pull out an Eastern Conference Finals upset of the defending champion Celtics in six games.

The Kentucky Colonels earn their first and only ABA title in five games over the Indiana Pacers. Artis Gilmore is named Playoffs MVP. Following the series, Indiana’s Roger Brown retires from basketball, securing his position as the greatest player in ABA history to never play in the NBA.

NBA Finals

• The Golden State Warriors sweep the Washington Bullets, in a major upset
• Rick Barry is named Finals MVP
• Rookie Jamaal Wilkes is amongst the heroes for Golden State

NBA Draft

• Darryl Dawkins (selected fifth overall by the 76ers) and Bill Willoughby (selected in the second round by the Hawks) become the first high school players declared eligible under the hardship rule
• David Thompson (NC State) is selected first overall by the Hawks but opts for the ABA instead
• Dave Meyers (UCLA) is selected second overall by the Lakers
• Eventual Rookie of the Year Alvan Adams (Oklahoma) is drafted fourth overall by the Suns

June

Larry O’Brien becomes the third commissioner of the NBA, taking over from J. Walter Kennedy.

In one of the most impactful trades in NBA history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is dealt from the Bucks to the Lakers in exchange for Junior Bridgeman, Dave Meyers, Elmore Smith, and Brian Winters.

July

Reigning ABA league MVP George McGinnis leaves for the NBA one year before the merger, signing a free agency contract with the 76ers.

August

Dave Bing is traded from the Pistons to the Bullets, along with a first round pick, in exchange for Kevin Porter.

October

The financially-strapped Baltimore Claws of the ABA ostensibly trade Dan Issel to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Dave Robisch and cash. The Claws would soon after fold before ever playing a regular season game.

November

China competes in the FIBA Asia Cup for the first time and dominates the competition in Bangkok, winning all nine of their games by 20 points or more. It was the start of a dynasty for the Chinese squad, which would go on to win 14 of the next 16 Asia Cups.

December

With a pending merger looming, the NBA holds a supplementary draft for the negotiation rights with five ABA players who were not yet eligible for the NBA Draft. The most notable selection is Moses Malone going with the first pick to the Jazz but they later yielded his rights in order to re-establish their 1976 first round pick in the NBA Draft.

1976

January

Julius Erving of the New York Nets wins the first and only ABA Slam Dunk Contest in Denver, staged during halftime of the final ABA All-Star Game.

February

In his seventh and final NBA All-Star Game appearance, Dave Bing is named MVP as the Eastern Conference wins in Philadelphia.

March

Indiana finishes off the most recent unbeaten season in men’s college basketball history (with a 32-0 record) by defeating Michigan in the National Final of the NCAA Tournament in Philadelphia. Kent Benson is named Most Outstanding Player.

April

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is named NBA league MVP for the fourth time, in a narrow voting result over second place Bob McAdoo and third place Dave Cowens.

Jim Boeheim is hired as head coach at Syracuse, a position he would hold for 47 years.

The Cavaliers stun the Bullets in a Conference Semifinals series that was dubbed the “Miracle at Richfield.” It’s the first playoff series win and first Conference Finals appearance in Cleveland’s history.

May

The New York Nets are crowned champions of the ninth and final ABA season after defeating the Denver Nuggets in six games in the ABA Finals. Julius Erving is named ABA Playoffs MVP for the second time.

The Suns shock the Warriors in seven games in the Western Conference Finals to clinch their first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history.

Dick Motta is hired as head coach of the Washington Bullets, replacing the fired K.C. Jones.

June

Jack Ramsay is named head coach of the Trail Blazers, replacing the resigning Lenny Wilkens.

NBA Finals

• The Celtics defeat the Suns in six games
• Jo Jo White is named Finals MVP
• Game five is the renowned “Greatest Game Ever Played,” a triple overtime thriller that features made buzzer beaters, missed buzzer beaters, consequential clock malfunctions, fans prematurely storming the Boston Garden court (with one of them getting into a wrestling match with referee Richie Powers), and, ultimately, a Celtics win to take a 3-2 series lead
• Alvan Adams puts on one of the greatest Finals performances ever for a rookie, including dominating a game three Suns win with 33 points and 14 rebounds

NBA Draft

• John Lucas (Maryland) is selected first overall by the Rockets
• Scott May (Indiana) is selected second overall by the Bulls
• Four future Hall of Fame inductees are drafted:
  • Adrian Dantley (Notre Dame) is selected sixth overall by the Buffalo Braves and goes on to earn Rookie of the Year
  • Robert Parish (Centenary) is selected eighth overall by the Warriors
  • Alex English (South Carolina) is selected in the second round by the Bucks
  • Dennis Johnson (Pepperdine) is selected in the second round by the SuperSonics
• As part of the merger conditions, the four former ABA franchises (Pacers, Nets, Spurs, and Nuggets) do not participate

July

Gail Goodrich signs as a restricted free agent with the Jazz. In exchange his former team, the Lakers, receive three first round picks, one of which becomes the #1 overall pick in 1979, which they use on Magic Johnson.

Women’s basketball makes its Olympics debut in Montreal. Uljana Semjonova dominates the tournament, leading the Soviets to a gold medal and an undefeated record, including a 112-77 shellacking of the United States. Lusia Harris and the Americans settle for silver, while Bulgaria wins bronze.

The United States men’s team, led by coach Dean Smith and leading scorer Adrian Dantley, bounces back to win gold at the Olympics in Montreal, defeating Yugoslavia in the gold medal game. The U.S.S.R. defeat the host Canadians to earn bronze.

August

The NBA and ABA merger is officially brokered, with the Pacers, Spurs, Nuggets, and Nets joining the NBA while the Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis officially fold. A subsequent dispersal draft takes place, with notable draftees including Artis Gilmore, Moses Malone, and Maurice Lucas.

September

Tiny Archibald is traded from the Kansas City Kings to the New York Nets in exchange for Jim Eakins, Brian Taylor, and two first round picks.

October

Struggling financially due to fees associated with their merger from the ABA, the Nets sell the contract of Julius Erving to the 76ers for $3 million.

Tom and Dick Van Arsdale become the first twin brothers to play together in an NBA game, suiting up for the Suns in the ’76-’77 season.

Moroccan Mike Flynn takes the court for the Pacers, becoming the first African-born player in NBA history.

Just two games into his NBA career, Moses Malone is traded for the second time in one week, going from the Trail Blazers to the Buffalo Braves to the Rockets.

November

Butch and Jan van Breda Kolff become the first father-and-son duo to face each other in an NBA game as coach and player, when Butch’s (the dad / coach) Jazz take on Jan’s (the son / player) Nets.

John Havlicek plays in his 1,123rd career NBA game, breaking the all-time record previously held by Hal Greer.

December

As part of a cost-cutting measure for the struggling Buffalo Braves franchise, Bob McAdoo is traded to the Knicks, along with Tom McMillen, in exchange for John Gianelli and cash.

1977

February

In the first post-merger NBA All-Star Game, Julius Erving is named MVP despite his Eastern Conference team losing in Milwaukee. George Gervin and David Thompson are also amongst the 10 former ABA players who make their NBA All-Star debuts.

March

Marquette defeats Charlotte in the NCAA Tournament National Semifinals in Atlanta when Jerome Whitehead hits one of the most improbable and controversial buzzer beaters in tourney history. They go on to beat North Carolina in the National Final. Butch Lee is named Most Outstanding Player. Marquette coach Al McGuire had announced his impending retirement during the season.

Willis Reed is named head coach of the Knicks but lasts just one full season before getting fired.

April

After closing out the season playing with his twin brother Dick on the Suns, Tom Van Arsdale retires from the NBA, going down as the greatest player of all time without a postseason appearance.

May

The 76ers eliminate the defending champion Celtics in seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series serves as John Havlicek’s final games before retiring.

Bill Walton leads the Trail Blazers to an upset over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals, in a four game sweep.

June

NBA Finals

• The Portland Trail Blazers defeat the 76ers in six games, pulling off the upset after falling behind 2-0 in the series
• Bill Walton is named Finals MVP
• A game two 76ers victory is marred by a fourth quarter fight between Darryl Dawkins and Maurice Lucas, who were both subsequently ejected (but not suspended)
• The game six clincher is an entertaining matinee in Portland, with the fans storming the court in celebration after a late 76ers comeback falls just short

NBA Draft

• Thanks to a previous trade with the Buffalo Braves, the Bucks have the first overall pick and third overall pick, which they use on Kent Benson (Indiana) and Marques Johnson (UCLA), respectively
• Otis Birdsong (Houston) is selected second overall by the Kansas City Kings, who acquired the pick in a trade with the Nets (for Tiny Archibald)
• Lusia Harris becomes the first and only woman ever officially drafted by an NBA team, when the New Orleans Jazz select her in the seventh round
• Other notable selections include the Suns drafting eventual Rookie of the Year Walter Davis (North Carolina) with the fifth overall pick, the Nets drafting Bernard King (Tennessee) with the seventh overall pick, the SuperSonics drafting Jack Sikma (Illinois Wesleyan) with the eighth overall pick, and the Lakers drafting Norm Nixon (Duquesne) with the 22nd overall pick

July

Jamaal Wilkes signs as a free agent with the Lakers. His former team, the Warriors, are compensated with a first round pick and cash considerations.

October

Walt Frazier is traded from the Knicks to the Cavaliers in exchange for Jim Cleamons.

Just two minutes into his NBA debut, #1 overall pick Kent Benson of the Bucks elbows the Lakers’ Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who retaliates by punching Benson so hard it causes a concussion for Benson and a broken hand for Abdul-Jabbar.

November

Billy Cunningham is hired as head coach of the 76ers, replacing the fired Gene Shue.

After a 5-17 start, the SuperSonics fire Bob Hopkins and bring back Lenny Wilkens as head coach.

December

After a shoving match breaks out between Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Kevin Kunnert, the Lakers’ Kermit Washington delivers a near deadly blow to the face of Houston’s Rudy Tomjanovich, fracturing his skull. It would come to be known as “The Punch” and forever alter both player’s careers.

Reigning Rookie of the Year Adrian Dantley is traded twice in one year, going from the Buffalo Braves to the Pacers to the Lakers.

Air Indiana Flight 216, carrying the Evansville men’s basketball team to a game in Tennessee, crashes shortly after lift-off, killing everyone on board. The school opted to cancel the remainder of the season but revived the program for ’78-’79.

1978

February

At the NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta, Doug Collins relinquishes his starting spot for the Eastern Conference to John Havlicek, who makes his 13th and final appearance in a loss to the West. It is also notably the eighth and final appearance for Rick Barry, and the debut for Moses Malone and Bill Walton.

Kevin Porter sets the then NBA record for assists in a game with 29 in a Nets victory over the Rockets.

March

John Drew commits 14 turnovers for the Hawks in a 97-95 loss to the Nets, setting the single game NBA record which still stands. 

Kentucky wins its fifth NCAA Tournament title, defeating Duke in the National Final in St. Louis. Jack Givens scores 41 points in the championship game and is named Most Outstanding Player.

April

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson team up for the first time as part of Team U.S.A. in the World Invitational Tournament, a four-nation exhibition event.

The Buffalo Braves play their final home games in Buffalo. In the ensuing offseason, the franchise re-locates to San Diego and changes their name to the Clippers.

David Thompson and George Gervin battle it out down to the wire for the NBA scoring title. Even though Thompson drops 73 points for the Nuggets in his final regular season game, Gervin scores 63 later that night to just hold him off.

When the Spurs easily win game one of their Conference Semifinals series against the Bullets, television announcer Dan Cook supposedly coins the phrase “the opera ain’t over until the fat lady sings” to describe their chances. Sure enough, Baltimore comes back to win the series in six games.

May

David Thompson leads the Nuggets to their first ever NBA playoff series win, eliminating the Bucks in seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Bill Walton of the Trail Blazers is named NBA league MVP in a controversial voting result over second place George Gervin. Walton missed 24 regular season games due to a broken foot.

Both Conference Finals feature a shocker in six games by a team subsequently making its NBA Finals debut: the SuperSonics with a Western Conference Finals upset over the Nuggets and the Bullets with an Eastern Conference Finals stunner against the 76ers.

June

NBA Finals

• The Bullets outlast the SuperSonics in seven games in a minor upset
• Wes Unseld is named Finals MVP although Elvin Hayes is Washington’s leading scorer for the series
• Game four is played at the Kingdome in front of a record crowd of over 39,000 and comes down to overtime, where Charles Johnson hits clutch shots down the stretch to lead the Bullets to victory

Rick Barry signs as a free agent with the Rockets. The Warriors receive John Lucas and cash as compensation.

Alex English signs as a restricted free agent with the Pacers. His former team, the Bucks, receive a first round pick as compensation.

NBA Draft

• Even though it was made clear that he was returning for his senior season at Indiana State, Larry Bird is selected sixth overall by the Celtics
• Mychal Thompson (Minnesota) is selected first overall by the Bucks
• Phil Ford (Indiana) is selected second overall by the Kansas City Kings, who acquired the pick in a trade with the Nets (for Tiny Archibald); he goes on to win Rookie of the Year
• Other notable selections include the 76ers drafting Maurice Cheeks (West Texas State) in the second round, the Lakers drafting Michael Cooper (New Mexico) in the third round, and the Knicks drafting Micheal Ray Richardson (Montana) fourth overall

July

The NBA Board of Governors approves a franchise swap, with John Y. Brown receiving the Boston Celtics and Irv Levin receiving the Buffalo Braves, whom he soon after re-locates to San Diego and renames the Clippers.

August

Tiny Archibald is traded, along with two second round picks, from the Nets to the Celtics in exchange for Kevin Kennert, Kermit Washington, Sidney Wicks, and Freeman Williams.

George McGinnis is traded from the 76ers to the Nuggets in exchange for Ralph Simpson and Bobby Jones.

September

An official overseas game with an NBA team takes place for the first time, as the defending champion Washington Bullets are stunned 98-97 by Maccabi Tel Aviv in Tel Aviv, Israel.

October

Yugoslavia becomes the first nation to win three FIBA World Championship titles, defeating the Soviet Union in an overtime thriller in the gold medal game in Manila. Drazen Dalipagic is named tournament MVP. Led by a 20-year-old Oscar Schmidt making his major international debut, Brazil wins the bronze. The United States finishes fifth with a roster lacking NCAA talent due to the tournament taking place in October.

November

Just 14 games into the ’78-’79 season, Willis Reed is fired as head coach of the Knicks and replaced by his former coach, Red Holzman.

December

The first major U.S. women’s professional basketball league, the WBL, begins play in its inaugural season. Eight teams participate, with the Houston Angels ultimately winning the title.

1979

February

The Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit is the site of the NBA All-Star Game, where David Thompson scores 25 points in a Western Conference victory and is named MVP.

April

With new management looking to clean house ahead of a move, the Jazz fire embattled coach and former playing legend Elgin Baylor after three unsuccessful seasons.

In the most watched National Final in NCAA Tournament history, Most Outstanding Player winner Magic Johnson leads Michigan State to a 75-64 victory over Larry Bird and Indiana State. The tournament is also notable for expanding from 32 teams to 40, introducing seeding for the first time, and featuring Pennsylvania’s Cinderella run to the Final Four as a #9 seed.

Moses Malone becomes the first reigning league MVP ever eliminated in the first round of the subsequent postseason, as his Rockets are swept in two games by the Hawks.

May

Bill Walton signs as a free agent with the San Diego Clippers, ending a successful but tumultuous tenure with the Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers received Kevin Kunnert, Kermit Washington, and a first round pick as compensation.

After falling behind 3-1 in the series, the Washington Bullets come back to win three straight to defeat the Spurs in the Eastern Conference Finals and advance to their second consecutive NBA Finals.

Dr. Jerry Buss purchases the Lakers and their home arena, The Forum from Jack Kent Cooke in a complex deal for $67.5 million.

June

NBA Finals

• In a rematch from the prior year, the SuperSonics defeat the Bullets in five games
• Dennis Johnson is named Finals MVP
• Backup point guard Larry Wright is an unlikely hero for the Bullets in game one, finishing with 26 points off the bench and hitting the game winning free throws with no time left on the clock

The Jazz pack up and move from New Orleans to Salt Lake City but shockingly keep the “Jazz” moniker.

NBA Draft

• Magic Johnson (Michigan State) is selected first overall by the Lakers, becoming the first underclassman ever to be drafted at #1
• Bill Cartwright (San Francisco) is selected third overall by the Knicks, who acquired the pick in a trade with the Celtics (for Bob McAdoo)
• Sidney Moncrief (Arkansas) is selected fifth overall by the Bucks
• Nikos Galis (Seton Hall) is selected in the fourth round by the Celtics but is cut during training camp and instead embarks on a legendary career in his native Greece

July

The NBA comes to terms with the USA network to begin broadcasting games in the ’79-’80 season. It would lead to NBA games being viewable nationwide on cable television for the first time.

Coached by Bobby Knight and headlined by high schooler seniors Isiah Thomas and Ralph Sampson, the United States wins gold at the Pan American Games in San Juan. Host Puerto Rico earns silver and Brazil wins the bronze medal.

September

Ann Meyers becomes the first woman ever to sign with an NBA team, agreeing to terms on a $50,000 contract with the Pacers. She participated in the team’s training camp for the ’79-’80 season and lasted the first few rounds of cuts but ultimately didn’t make the roster.

Adrian Dantley is traded from the Lakers to the Jazz in exchange for Spencer Haywood. It was already the third trade in the first three years of Dantley’s career.

October

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird make their NBA debut on the same night, with Johnson leading the Lakers to a thrilling victory over the Clippers (ending with a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar buzzer beater) while Bird helps the Celtics defeat the Rockets.

The first NBA games are played with the three-point line, which was newly instituted (initially on a one year trial basis) by the league’s board of governors in the prior offseason.

November

Dick Vitale is fired as head coach of the Pistons, just 12 games into his second season in charge, finishing his NBA coaching career. He is replaced by Richie Adubato and just a few days later, Vitale takes a job as a college basketball analyst at the fledgling ESPN.

Lakers coach Jack McKinney suffers a major head injury as the result of a bike accident. His top assistant, Paul Westhead, becomes his interim replacement and later his permanent one, when the Lakers opted to buy out McKinney’s contract.

December

The Lakers defeat the Celtics 123-105 in the first NBA match-up between Larry Bird (who finishes with 16 points) and Magic Johnson (who finishes with 23 points, eight rebounds, and six assists).

Formed by a group of independent Catholic schools in response to new NCAA scheduling regulations, the Big East conference begins play.

In the first ever ESPN broadcast of a college basketball game, Dick Vitale and Joe Boyle are on hand in Chicago to call the action between DePaul and Wisconsin.

1980

January

Bernard King is arrested in Salt Lake City on charges of sexual assault. He was soon after suspended for the remainder of the ’79-’80 season by the Jazz and eventually pled guilty to the charges in June of 1980, receiving an undisclosed fine and a suspended sentence.

President Jimmy Carter announces that the U.S. will boycott the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, meaning that the U.S. men’s and women’s basketball teams are unable to participate.

Pete Maravich signs as a free agent with the Celtics just a few days after being waived by the Jazz.

February

Adrian Dantley is traded from the Pacers to the Nuggets, along with a first round pick, in exchange for George McGinnis.

Bob Lanier is traded from the Pistons to the Bucks in exchange for Kent Benson and a first round pick.

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird make their All-Star Game debuts in Landover, Maryland. Bird notably makes the first three-pointer in All-Star history, while Johnson becomes the all-time youngest All-Star at the time, at 20 years and 172 days.

March

In the championship game of the first ever Big East Tournament, Georgetown defeats Syracuse 87-81 in Providence.

Mike Krzyzewski is named head coach at Duke, replacing Bill E. Foster.

The NCAA Tournament expands from 40 teams to 48 and ends with Louisville defeating UCLA in the National Final in Indianapolis. Darrell Griffith is named Most Outstanding Player.

Jim Valvano is hired as the head coach of the N.C. State men’s team, replacing Norm Sloan.

April

The 76ers and Celtics meet for the first of three straight Eastern Conference Finals match-ups, with the 76ers pulling off the upset in five games.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leads the Lakers over the defending champion SuperSonics in five games in the Western Conference Finals. Rookie Magic Johnson drops a triple-double in the clinching game five.

Host Puerto Rico wins the first ever FIBA AmeriCup, defeating Canada in the final in San Juan. The United States opted not to participate, as they already had decided to boycott the upcoming Olympics in Moscow.

May

NBA Finals

• The Lakers defeat the 76ers in six games
• Rookie sensation Magic Johnson earns Finals MVP
• Game four provides one of the all-time greatest highlight reel shots, a Julius Erving scoop shot from behind the basket
• The Lakers win game five despite Magic Johnson committing an NBA Finals record 10 turnovers
• With Kareem Abdul-Jabbar sidelined for game six, Magic Johnson steps in as the starting center and dominates, finishing with 42 points and 15 rebounds in a Lakers victory to finish the series
• Spencer Haywood is suspended indefinitely by the Lakers after showing up to practice hung over in between games two and three of the series

Larry Bird is named NBA Rookie of the Year for the ’79-’80 season. Magic Johnson finishes a distant second place in voting.

June

Just one year removed from being named Finals MVP, Dennis Johnson is traded from the SuperSonics to the Suns in exchange for Paul Westphal.

NBA Draft

• For the first time ever, the NBA Draft is broadcast live on television on the USA Network
• Joe Barry Carroll (Purdue) is selected first overall by the Warriors, who acquired the pick by trading Robert Parish and the third overall pick to the Celtics, who use it on Kevin McHale (Minnesota)
• Darrell Griffith (Louisville) is selected second overall by the Jazz and goes on to win Rookie of the Year
• Kiki Vandeweghe (UCLA) is selected 11th overall by the Mavericks but refuses to play for the expansion franchise, eventually holding out of training camp and getting traded to the Nuggets

July

Featuring a memorable performance from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Airplane! is released in theaters. The normally demure Abdul-Jabbar is a breakout star in the film, portraying deadpan pilot Roger Murdock.

Sergei Belov is given the honor of lighting the Olympic torch at the opening ceremony of the games in Moscow. Belov subsequently led the Soviet team to a bronze medal in his final major appearance with the national team.

Yugoslavia defeats Italy in the men’s gold medal game of the Olympics in Moscow, earning their first and only Olympic gold medal. Italy had previously pulling off a stunning upset in the semifinal round over host Soviet Union, who settles for the bronze medal.

Uljana Semjonova and the Soviet Union women’s team earn their second consecutive Olympics gold medal with a victory over Bulgaria in the gold medal game.

September

Bernard King is traded from the Jazz to the Warriors in exchange for Wayne Cooper and a second round pick. King had played just 19 games for Utah before getting suspended indefinitely following an arrest for sexual assault.

October

The Dallas Mavericks begin play as the 24th NBA franchise.

The NBA announces its 35th Anniversary Team in a voting that also names Bill Russell as the all-time greatest player, Red Auerbach as the all-time greatest coach, and the ’66-’67 76ers as the all-time greatest team.

November

During a Lakers victory over the Kings, Magic Johnson tears cartilage in his knee, which sidelines the star point guard for three months. He struggles upon his return, leading to the Lakers getting upset in the first round of the playoffs by the Rockets.

December

The legendary rivalry between coaches Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski officially begins, when North Carolina defeats Duke in an ACC regular season thriller. Smith ended up winning 24 of 38 games between the two teams before retiring in 1997.

Doug Moe is named head coach of the Nuggets, replacing the fired Donnie Walsh, and immediately installs his patented, high octane “passing game” offense.

1981

March

On one of the wildest days in March Madness history, three incredible buzzer beaters happen in NCAA Tournament second round match-ups, resulting in the shocking elimination of two #1 seeds (Oregon State and DePaul) and the defending champions (Louisville).

Danny Ainge provides an all-time NCAA Tournament highlight, going coast-to-coast for a buzzer beating lay-up to give BYU a victory over Notre Dame in the East Regional Semifinals in Charlotte.

Indiana wins the NCAA Tournament, their second of three titles under coach Bobby Knight, defeating North Carolina in the National Final. Isiah Thomas is named Most Outstanding Player.

April

A series of unlikely upsets ends with the first and only time that two teams with losing records match up in a Western Conference Finals, where the #6 seed Rockets (40-42) defeat the #5 seed Kansas City Kings in five games. The Rockets upset the #3 seed and defending champion Lakers in the first round, then the #2 seed Spurs in the second round. The Kings upended the Trail Blazers in round one and then the top seeded Suns in the Western Conference Semifinals.

May

Donald Sterling purchases the San Diego Clippers from Irv Levin.

Julius Erving of the 76ers is named NBA league MVP, making him the only player to earn MVP honors in both the ABA and NBA. He wins in a close vote over Larry Bird.

EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS

• In arguably the greatest playoff series of all time, the Celtics erase a 3-1 series deficit to defeat the 76ers, winning the final three games by a combined five points
• Game five is decided in the final seconds and by a Celtics comeback, scoring the final eight points of the game to win 111-109
• Game seven also came down the wire, with the Celtics scoring nine straight points late in the fourth quarter for a comeback victory

NBA Finals

• The Celtics defeat the Rockets in six games
• Cedric Maxwell is named Finals MVP
• In his first ever NBA Finals game, Larry Bird makes “the greatest play” Red Auerbach has ever seen: Catching his own rebound, switching hands mid-air, then flipping in a circus trick style shot

June

Elvin Hayes is traded from the Bullets to the Rockets for two second round picks, returning to his original team.

NBA Draft

• Mark Aguirre (DePaul) is selected first overall by the Mavericks
• Isiah Thomas (Indiana) is selected second overall by the Pistons
• Other notable selections include the Nets drafting eventual Rookie of the Year Buck Williams (Maryland) third overall, the Clippers drafting Tom Chambers (Utah) eighth overall, and the Suns drafting Larry Nance (Clemson) 20th overall

November

David Halberstam’s “The Breaks of the Game” is first published. Chronicling the tumultuous ’79-’80 Trail Blazers season, the non-fiction work is now widely considered the greatest book ever written about basketball.

Paul Westhead is fired as head coach of the Lakers just 11 games into the ’81-’82 season and replaced by his top assistant, Pat Riley.

The Women’s Professional Basketball League (WPBL) officially folds after three seasons. Though the league was short-lived, it was hugely influential in the development of women’s professional basketball in the U.S. and abroad.

Former Boston College player Rick Kuhn is found guilty of conspiracy by a federal jury in regards to his involvement in a 1979 point shaving scandal, and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. The conviction was largely based on the testimony of co-conspirator Henry Hill, an infamous mafia associate turned states’ witness.

December

The longest game in college basketball history takes place, as Cincinnati defeats Bradley 75-73 in seven overtimes. The game was tied 61-61 at the end of regulation but due to the lack of a shot clock, both teams were able to essentially play keep-away during the overtime periods.

Bob McAdoo is traded from the Nets to the Lakers, with whom he revives his career as a bench specialist and wins two titles.

1982

March

Louisiana Tech defeats Cheyney in the National Final of the first ever NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. On the same day, the final edition of the AIAW National Basketball Tournament concludes with Rutgers defeating Texas in the championship game. The NCAA Tournament superseded the AIAW Tournament going forward

Freshman Michael Jordan is the hero in one of the most memorable National Final games in NCAA Tournament history, hitting the go-ahead shot to give North Carolina a 63-62 victory over Patrick Ewing and Georgetown. James Worthy is named Most Outstanding Player. Georgetown coach John Thompson also makes history as the first Black head coach to lead a team to the Final Four.

May

The Lakers become the first team in NBA history to sweep back-to-back best-of-seven playoff series, defeating the Suns in Western Conference Semifinals and the Spurs in the Conference Finals.

In their third consecutive Eastern Conference Finals match-up, the 76ers and Celtics square off with Philadelphia pulling off a seven-game upset victory, thanks largely to huge performances from Andrew “The Boston Strangler” Toney.

June

NBA Finals

• The Lakers defeat the 76ers in six games
• Magic Johnson is named Finals MVP for the second time in his career

NBA Draft

• James Worthy (North Carolina) is selected first overall by the Lakers, who received the pick in a lopsided trade with the Cavaliers
• Terry Cummings (DePaul) is selected second overall by the San Diego Clippers and goes on to win Rookie of the Year
• Dominique Wilkins (Georgia) is selected third overall by the Jazz but refuses to play for the team, forcing them to eventually trade him to the Hawks

Jerry West is hired as general manager of the Lakers, replacing Bill Sharman.

August

Led by Marquette’s Doc Rivers, the United States earns a silver medal at the FIBA World Championships in Colombia, losing to the Soviet Union in a gold medal game thriller. The Soviets become the first team to earn three FIBA Worlds titles, while defending champions Yugoslavia settle for bronze.

September

Dominique Wilkins is traded from the Jazz to the Hawks in exchange for John Drew and Freeman Williams. It’s a historically lopsided deal, necessitated by Wilkins refusing to play for the Jazz team that drafted him earlier in the summer.

Having announced a comeback for the ’82-’83 season, Dave Cowens is traded from the Celtics to the Bucks in exchange for Quinn Buckner.

In one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history, reigning MVP Moses Malone is dealt from the Rockets to the 76ers in exchange for Caldwell Jones and a first round pick.

October

Bernard King is traded from the Warriors to the Knicks in exchange for Micheal Ray Richardson and a fifth round pick.

November

Randy Smith plays in his 845th consecutive NBA game, breaking Red Kerr’s all-time record and staking his claim as the NBA’s “Iron Man.”

December

Chaminade, a tiny NAIA school from Honolulu, shocks Ralph Sampson and #1 ranked Virginia in maybe the biggest upset in major U.S. basketball history. The game was sparsely attended (the official attendance figure was 3,383), ended after 3 A.M. Eastern time, and had no local or national televised broadcast

1983

March

As part of the latest collective bargaining agreement between the players and owners, a salary cap is agreed upon to be instituted starting in the ’84-’85 season. The NBPA manages to negotiate some concessions thanks to a successful lawsuit, including a minimum number of jobs (meaning franchises couldn’t fold) and a set percentage of revenue for players.

The University of Georgia makes history as the first program to have both a men’s and women’s team reach the NCAA Tournament Final Four in the same season. Both teams lose in the National Semifinals, the men to NC State and the women to USC.

April

The NCAA women’s tournament National Final in Norfolk, Virginia is a thriller, with Most Outstanding Player Cheryl Miller and USC holding on for a 66-64 victory over Louisiana Tech, when a potential game-tying buzzer beater from Kim Mulkey is off the mark.

Jim Valvano’s NC State Wolfpack cap off a magical NCAA Tournament run as a #6 seed by stunning Houston 54-52 in the National Final in Albuquerque. Lorenzo Charles hits the improbable game winner, a buzzer beating put-back dunk off an air-balled shot from Dereck Whittenburg. Despite the losing effort, Houston’s Hakeem Olajuwon is named Most Outstanding Player.

The Cavaliers franchise is officially sold to Gordon Gund, ending a disastrous three years of ownership by Ted Stepien. During Stepien’s tenure, the Cavs made so many reckless transactions that the league office also awarded several first round picks to Gund as compensation, while simultaneously implementing the “Stepien Rule” wherein teams could no longer trade consecutive first round draft picks.

May

NBA Finals

• The 76ers finish a dominant season strong with a four game sweep of the Lakers
• Moses Malone is named Finals MVP
• Philadelphia almost makes good on Malone’s “fo’, fo’, fo’” prediction, losing just one game in the entire postseason, during the Eastern Conference Finals against the Bucks

June

K.C. Jones is hired as head coach of the Celtics, replacing the resigning Bill Fitch.

Dennis Johnson, along with a first round pick, is traded from the Suns to the Celtics in exchange for Rick Robey and two second round picks. Johnson would go on to serve as a key component of two Celtics title teams.

At the NBA awards banquet, Moses Malone of the 76ers is named NBA league MVP for the ’82-’83 season, in a near unanimous vote. Sidney Moncrief of the Bucks is named the inaugural winner of the Defensive Player of the Year award and Bobby Jones of the Sixers is named the inaugural winner of the Sixth Man of the Year award.

NBA Draft

• Ralph Sampson (Virginia) is selected first overall by the Rockets, who also have the third overall pick as a result of their 1982 trade of Moses Malone and use it on Rodney McCray (Louisville)
• Clyde Drexler (Houston) is selected 14th overall by the Trail Blazers
• Steve Stipanovich (Missouri) is selected second overall by the Pacers
• Byron Scott (Arizona State) is selected fourth overall by the San Diego Rockets and subsequently traded with Swen Nater to the Lakers in exchange for Norm Nixon and two second round picks

August

In an epic battle in the gold medal game of the FIBA World Championship for Women in Rio de Janiero, Uljana Semjonova and the Soviet Union overcome Cheryl Miller and the United States. It’s the Soviet’s sixth consecutive FIBA title in tournaments in which they participated, a streak that the U.S. would finally break in the rematch in 1986.

A star-studded U.S. team led by Michael Jordan and Chris Mullin earns gold at the Pan American Games in Caracas with a perfect 8–0 record. The U.S. men’s team has failed to win a Pan Am tournament since.

September

The NBA officially institutes its new substance abuse policy, as brokered by then league vice president David Stern.

October

Norm Nixon is traded from the Lakers to the Clippers, along with Eddie Jordan and a second round pick, in exchange for Swen Nater and Byron Scott.

November

Before their home opener for the ’83-’84 season, the Lakers retire the jerseys of three legends: Elgin Baylor’s #22, Jerry West’s #44, and Wilt Chamberlain’s #13. The trio of teammates became the first Lakers players to be honored as such.

December

In the highest scoring game in NBA history, the Pistons defeat the Nuggets 186-184 in triple overtime. The game also holds the records for most combined field goals and most combined assists.

1984

January

Adrian Dantley makes 28 free throws in a Jazz win over the Rockets, tying Wilt Chamberlain for the all-time NBA single game record.

David Stern becomes the fourth commissioner in NBA history, replacing his longtime mentor, Larry O’Brien, who had served since 1975.

February

Elvin Hayes breaks John Havlicek’s all-time NBA games played record with his 1,271st appearance.

Larry Nance defeats Julius Erving in the final round to capture the trophy in the first ever NBA Slam Dunk Contest. It’s part of the inaugural NBA All-Star Saturday Night in Denver, which also includes the Legends Classic, an exhibition game featuring numerous retired Hall of Fame players.

Magic Johnson sets the NBA All-Star single game record with 22 assists but game MVP Isiah Thomas leads the Eastern Conference to victory in Denver.

March

During a night out in New York, David Thompson gets into a scuffle with a club bouncer and is pushed down the stairs, tearing a ligament in his knee and ending his NBA career.

The New Orleans Jazz are officially announced as an NBA expansion franchise for the ’74-’75 season.

April

Led by Most Outstanding Player honoree Cheryl Miller, USC defeats Tennessee in the NCAA Women’s Tournament National Final in Los Angeles, winning their second consecutive title.

Georgetown defeats Houston in the NCAA Tournament National Final in Seattle. Patrick Ewing is named Most Outstanding Player and John Thompson becomes the first Black head coach to earn a Division I title in any college sport.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar becomes the all-time NBA scoring leader, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain’s record of 31,419 points during a Lakers-Jazz game played in Las Vegas.

Larry Bird earns his first NBA league MVP award. Bernard King finishes second in voting.

The NBA expands from six playoff teams per conference to eight and eliminates first round byes.

In one of the biggest first round upsets in NBA history, the defending champion 76ers are stunned in five games by the Nets.

The deciding game five of a first round series between the Knicks and Pistons turns into a mano-a-mano duel between Bernard King and Isiah Thomas. King finishes with 44 points in a Knicks victory, despite Thomas scoring 16 points in the final 93 seconds of regulation to force overtime.

May

Despite a lack of approval from the league office, Clippers owner Donald Sterling moves the franchise from San Diego to his hometown of Los Angeles.

June

NBA Finals

• Larry Bird and Magic Johnson face off in the NBA Finals for the first time, as the Celtics defeat the Lakers in seven games, improving their record to 8-0 all-time against their hated rivals in Finals series
• Cedric Maxwell is named Finals MVP
• A thrilling game two Celtics win in overtime is highlighted by a Gerald Henderson steal and lay-up at the end of regulation to tie the game and force the extra period
• Magic Johnson sets the still standing record for assists in a Finals game, with 21 in the Lakers’ game three victory
• Game four turns ugly, with Kevin McHale clotheslining Kurt Rambis on a hard foul and Magic Johnson making a series of late blunders to allow the Celtics to win in overtime and tie the series at 2-2
• The Lakers almost pull off a 14-point comeback in game seven at the Boston Garden (where the floor temperature topped 90 degrees) but ultimately fall 111-102

Michael Jordan hires ProServ agent David Falk, who soon after makes history with his shrewd marketing and negotiations on behalf of the league’s all-time biggest star.

Larry Bird is named NBA league MVP, earning his first of what would ultimately be three straight awards.

NBA Draft

• Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston) is selected first overall by the Rockets
• Sam Bowie (Kentucky) is selected second overall by the Trail Blazers, setting him up as one of the most infamous draft busts in pro sports history
• Michael Jordan (North Carolina) is selected third overall by the Bulls
• Charles Barkley (Auburn) is selected fifth overall by the 76ers, in a pick they acquired six years prior via trade with the Clippers
• John Stockton (Gonzaga) is selected 16th overall by the Jazz
• Brazilian legend Oscar Schmidt is selected in the sixth round by the Nets and joins the team for training camp but ultimately declines a contract and remains with his Italian pro team

August

The United States women’s team, led by Cheryl Miller, earns its first ever Olympics gold medal, defeating South Korea in the gold medal game at The Forum in Los Angeles. South Korea earns its first ever Olympics medal in basketball, as does China, who wins the bronze. The Soviet Union does not participate due to the boycott.

Playing at The Forum in Los Angeles, the United States men’s team defeats Spain 96-65 to win the gold medal. Coached by Bobby Knight and featuring Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, and Chris Mullin, this was the last U.S. team featuring exclusively NCAA players to earn gold. With the Soviet bloc nations boycotting, Yugoslavia defeats Canada in the bronze medal game.

September

An NBA exhibition game is played overseas for the first time, with the Nets and Suns facing off in a preseason game in Milan, Italy.

November

The normally respectful rivalry between Larry Bird and Julius Erving finally comes to blows during an early season 76ers-Celtics game, leading to the indelible image of Erving wrapping his hands around Bird’s neck.

Gus Williams records his 1,404th career steal, surpassing Randy Smith as the NBA’s all-time leader in the category.

Chicago high school phenom Ben Wilson is shot and killed at age 17. Considered the #1 prep prospect in the country, Wilson was about to start his senior season at Simeon Academy.

December

In the first major Christmas Day game of the modern era, the Knicks are defeated by the Nets despite Bernard King dropping 60 points, setting the still-standing Christmas Day record.

1985

February

In the most star-studded edition of the event’s history, Dominique Wilkins wins the Slam Dunk Contest over Michael Jordan, Julius Erving, and Clyde Drexler.

Rookies Michael Jordan and Hakeem Olajuwon make their NBA All-Star debuts, while Olajuwon’s Rockets teammate Ralph Sampson is named MVP for leading the West to victory in Indianapolis.

During an Indiana loss to Purdue, coach Bobby Knight throws a chair onto the court in protest of the officiating.

March

Kevin McHale breaks Larry Bird’s Celtics single game franchise record with 56 points in a victory over the Pistons. Just nine days later, Bird takes the franchise record back by scoring 60 in a win against Atlanta.

The first modern edition of the NCAA Tournament kicks off, with an expansion to 64 teams and an elimination of first round byes. In the first major first round upset, David Robinson and #13 seed Navy stun #4 seed LSU.

With seven blocks during a Jazz win over the Warriors, Mark Eaton becomes the first player to surpass 400 blocks in a single season, eventually stretching the single season record to 458.

Old Dominion defeats Georgia in the NCAA women’s tournament National Final in Austin. Tracy Claxton is named Most Outstanding Player.

April

Nike releases the Air Jordan I, selling them at the original retail price of $65.

#8 seed Villanova caps off one of the most stunning Cinderella runs in NCAA Tournament history by shocking top overall seed Georgetown in a National Final nicknamed “The Perfect Game,” as the Wildcats shoot a record 78.6% from the field. Ed Pinckney is named Most Outstanding Player.

The NBA Board of Governors approves the Kings re-locating from Kansas City to Sacramento.

May

Instituted in an attempt to curb tanking, the first NBA Draft Lottery takes place in New York and is broadcast live on the USA Network. It immediately becomes one of the most controversial events in league history, as the Knicks land the top pick and rights to draft Patrick Ewing, a result that many suspect was rigged by commissioner David Stern.

June

NBA Finals

• In their ninth NBA Finals match-up against the rival Celtics, the Lakers emerge victorious for the first time, winning the series in six games
• At age 38, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar becomes the oldest player ever to be named Finals MVP
• A 148-114 blowout win at home for the Celtics in game one is nicknamed the “Memorial Day Massacre”
• For the first (and only until 2022) time ever, a road team clinches an NBA Finals in Boston, with the Lakers winning a thrilling game six

NBA Draft

• Patrick Ewing (Georgetown) is selected first overall by the Knicks
• Karl Malone (Louisiana Tech) is selected 13th overall by the Jazz
• Chris Mullin (St. John’s) is selected seventh overall by the Warriors
• Joe Dumars (McNeese State) is selected 18th overall by the Pistons
• Arvydas Sabonis is selected in the fourth round by the Hawks but the pick is voided as he’s later declared ineligible
• Other notable selections in a strong overall class include the SuperSonics drafting Xavier McDaniel (Wichita State) with the fourth overall pick, the Cavaliers drafting Charles Oakley (Virginia Union) with the ninth overall pick, and the Lakers drafting A.C. Green (Oregon State) with the 23rd pick

July

Senda Berenson Abbott, Bertha Teague, and Margaret Wade are inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame, becoming the first three women enshrined. Abbott was an early advocate for the sport, Teague was a long-time high school coach, and Wade was a legendary player and coach.

September

Bill Walton is traded from the Clippers to the Celtics in exchange for Cedric Maxwell and a first round pick. Walton subsequently revived his career in Boston, winning Sixth Man of the Year and earning his second championship ring.

October

Michael Jordan takes the court in his signature Nike Air Jordan shoes for the first time. Due to an archaic colorway rule, the NBA levies Jordan with a fine in every game he dons them. In turn, Nike proliferates an untrue rumor that the Air Jordans are banned due to granting players an unfair advantage on the court.

1986

January

On the first observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal holiday in the United States, the NBA begins its yearly tradition of scheduling games for throughout the day.

Manute Bol sets the NBA rookie single game record with 15 blocks in a Bullets win over the Hawks. It’s also the Bullets (now Wizards) franchise record.

John Drew becomes the first player to be suspended by the NBA under its new substance abuse policy and it’s due to controversial circumstances, a voluntary rehab stint that qualified as a third strike under league rules.

February

The inaugural NBA Three-Point Contest takes place during All-Star Weekend in Dallas. Larry Bird is the champion, in his first of three consecutive titles.

Spud Webb becomes a household name by defeating his Hawks teammate Dominique Wilkins in the Slam Dunk Contest, despite a 14-inch height disadvantage.

Isiah Thomas puts on a clinic with 30 points and 10 assists and earns his second NBA All-Star MVP award in an Eastern Conference victory in Dallas. Clyde Drexler, Dominique Wilkins, and Patrick Ewing make their All-Star debuts.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar becomes the NBA’s all-time leader in minutes played, surpassing Elvin Hayes.

Under the terms of the new NBA substance abuse policy, Micheal Ray Richardson receives a lifetime ban from the league after testing positive a third time for cocaine. He was reinstated by David Stern two years later but opted not to return, ending his pro career instead in Europe.

March

Cleveland State pulls off the first major first round upset in an NCAA Tournament, stunning Indiana as a #14 seed. They then become the first team seeded #14 or below to reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament by upsetting #6 seed St. Joseph’s in the second round.

David Robinson and #7 seed Navy make it all the way to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, with a run that includes a major upset of #2 seed Syracuse in the second round. The Cadets ultimately lose to Duke in the East Regional Final in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Auburn also makes a surprise West Regional Final appearance as #8 seed, where they lose to eventual champions Louisville.

Texas becomes the first women’s team of the NCAA era to finish a season undefeated, as they defeat USC in the NCAA women’s tournament National Final in Lexington, Kentucky. USC superstar Cheryl Miller struggles in her final collegiate game, shooting 2-of-11 from the field.

April

Most Outstanding Player winner Pervis Ellison leads Louisville to a NCAA Tournament National Final win over Duke, who makes its first of 13 Final Four appearances under Coach K. #11 seed LSU also makes a surprise Final Four appearance, losing to Louisville in the National Semifinals in Dallas.

On the last day of the NBA regular season, the Celtics become the first (and still only) team to win 40 home games in a single season, with a victory at the Boston Garden over the Nets. Meanwhile, Alvin Robertson of the Spurs becomes the first and only player to surpass 300 steals in a season, setting the still standing single-season record of 301.

Larry Bird becomes just the third player, along with Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, to earn league MVP in three consecutive seasons. Dominique Wilkins finishes second in voting.

Elgin Baylor is hired as director of basketball operations by the Clippers, kicking off a mostly unsuccessful 22-year tenure in the franchise’s front office.

Coming back from a broken foot that cost him most of the regular season, Michael Jordan sets a playoff record with 63 points in a double overtime 135-131 loss to the legendary Celtics, who move on to sweep the series in three games. This is also notable as the final appearance in the career of George Gervin, who spent the season with Chicago before retiring as one of the all-time greatest players without an NBA Finals trip.

May

The Bucks defeat the 76ers in a tight seven games in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Game seven comes down to the wire, with a controversial Charles Barkley goaltending call in the final minute and a Julius Erving buzzer beater attempt going awry. Moses Malone missed the series due to an orbital fracture.

The Rockets close out one of the biggest upsets in Conference Finals history in a thrilling game five, defeating the Lakers 114-112 on a Ralph Sampson buzzer beater.

June

NBA Finals

• The Celtics secure their position as one of the greatest teams of all time, defeating the Rockets in six games
• Larry Bird is named Finals MVP, becoming the first player ever to earn league MVP and Finals MVP in the same season multiple times

Moses Malone is traded from the 76ers to the Bullets, along with Terry Catledge and two first round picks, in exchange for Cliff Robinson and Jeff Ruland.

NBA Draft

• Len Bias (Maryland) is selected second overall by the Celtics but passes away just two days later from a cocaine overdose
• Brad Daugherty (North Carolina) is selected first overall by the Cavaliers, who also draft Ron Harper (Miami OH) with the eighth overall pick and acquire Mark Price (Georgia Tech) via trade with the Mavericks, who draft him in the second round
• Dennis Rodman (SE Oklahoma State) is selected in the second round by the Pistons
• The Trail Blazers draft two European legends: Soviet Arvydas Sabonis with the 24th overall pick (he doesn’t join the team until 1995) and Croatian Drazen Petrovic in the third round (he doesn’t join the team until 1989)
• Eventual Rookie of the Year Chuck Person (Auburn) is drafted fourth overall by the Pacers

July

Lenny Wilkens is hired as head coach of the Cavaliers, replacing interim coach Gene Littles.

David Robinson leads the United States to a title in the FIBA World Championships in Spain, defeating Arvydas Sabonis and the Soviet Union in the gold medal game. Yugoslavia, led by tournament MVP Drazen Petrovic, defeats Oscar Schmidt and Brazil in the bronze medal game.

August

Cheryl Miller leads the way as the United States wins the FIBA World Championship for Women by defeating the Soviet Union on their home court in Moscow in the gold medal game.

Adrian Dantley is traded from the Jazz to the Pistons, along with two second round picks, in exchange for Kent Benson and Kelly Tripucka.

September

Fleer releases its ’86-’87 basketball card line, which is now considered the most iconic set in basketball history.

November

The highly influential video game Double Dribble is released in arcades in the United States.

Hoosiers is released in theaters. The seminal basketball film stars Gene Hackman and is loosely based on the real story of 1954 Indiana state title winners Milan High School.

1987

February

During a Rockets loss to the Nuggets, Ralph Sampson slips on the court and suffers a cartilage tear in his knee, necessitating arthroscopic surgery and hampering him for the remainder of his career.

In his first of two consecutive event titles, Michael Jordan wins the Slam Dunk Contest, defeating Jerome Kersey in the final round. All-Star Saturday Night in Seattle also features Larry Bird winning his second consecutive Three-Point Contest.

In arguably the most eventful All-Star Game in history, the West defeats the East in overtime in Seattle, with hometown hero Tom Chambers named MVP. Pistons stars Isiah Thomas and Bill Laimbeer reportedly led a “freeze-out” on the East offense of Michael Jordan.

Maurice Cheeks becomes the NBA’s all-time steals leader, with his 1,622nd steal to surpass Gus Williams’ career mark. Cheeks would hold the record for 10 years until it was broken by John Stockton.

The Lakers acquire Mychal Thompson from the Spurs at the trade deadline in exchange for Frank Brickowski, Petur Gudmondsson, a first round pick, and a second round pick.

March

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar becomes the all-time NBA leader in personal fouls, a record he still holds.

#6 seed Providence makes a surprise run through the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Final Four with an upset of top seed Georgetown in the Southeast Regional Finals in Louisville. Head coach Rick Pitino opted to remain in his position for the tournament despite his six-month-old son having passed away tragically in early March.

Tennessee wins its first NCAA women’s tournament championship, defeating Louisiana Tech in the National Final in Austin, Texas. Tonya Edwards is named Most Outstanding Player.

April

Indiana defeats Syracuse 74-73 in a thrilling NCAA Tournament National Final in New Orleans. Keith Smart hits the game winner and is named Most Outstanding Player. After the game, CBS airs its now iconic “One Shining Moment” highlights segment for the first time.

Michael Jordan finishes the ’86-’87 season with an NBA leading 37.1 points per game, the highest average ever for any player besides Wilt Chamberlain. It’s Jordan’s first of 10 career scoring titles.

Expansion franchises are officially granted by the NBA to the cities of Orlando, Miami, Charlotte, and Minneapolis. The Hornets and Heat begin play in ’88-’89, with the Magic and Timberwolves following in ’89-’90.

May

The Bucks defeat the 76ers in a first round series that goes the full five games and marks the final appearances of Julius Erving, who retires in the ensuing offseason.

In one of the greatest individual performances in NBA playoffs history, Sleepy Floyd sets the postseason records for points in a quarter (29) and points in a half (39) in leading the Warriors to a victory over the Lakers in game four of the Western Conference Semifinals.

Magic Johnson is named NBA league MVP for the ’86-’87 season, his first of three such awards in his career. Michael Jordan finishes second in voting and Larry Bird finishes in third. Johnson’s Lakers teammate Michael Cooper is named Defensive Player of the Year.

The #7 seed SuperSonics reach the Western Conference Finals with upsets of the Mavericks in the first round and the Rockets in the Conference Semifinals. The final game of the Conference Semifinals series is a double overtime thriller, in which Hakeem Olajuwon finishes with 49 points (a Rockets playoff game record) and 25 rebounds in a losing effort.

The Celtics narrowly defeat the Pistons in a seven game Eastern Conference Finals series. Game five is an especially razor thin margin, won 108-107 by the Celtics thanks to an improbable, last second inbounds pass steal by Larry Bird, who dishes it to Dennis Johnson for the winning layup at the buzzer.

June

NBA Finals

• In the third and final match-up of the Magic Johnson/Larry Bird era, the Lakers prevail over the Celtics in six games
• Magic Johnson becomes the first player to earn three Finals MVP awards
• Game four is closed out by Magic Johnson hitting a “baby sky hook” to secure a 107-106 Lakers win and a 3-1 series lead

NBA Draft

• David Robinson (Navy) is selected first overall by the Spurs but doesn’t join the team for two years due to active duty Naval Service obligation
• Scottie Pippen (Central Arkansas) is selected fifth overall by the SuperSonics and immediately traded to the Bulls, who also select another dynasty cornerstone in Horace Grant (Clemson) with the 10th overall pick
• Reggie Miller (UCLA) is selected 11th overall by the Pacers

• Kevin Johnson (California) is selected seventh overall by the Cavaliers
• Other notable selections in a strong overall class include the Knicks drafting Mark Jackson (St. John’s) with the 18th overall pick and the Celtics drafting Reggie Lewis (Northeastern) with the 22nd overall pick

August

Oscar Schmidt scores 46 points and leads an improbable second half comeback as Brazil stuns the United States in the Pan American Games gold medal game in Indianapolis.

1988

January

Pete Maravich passes away at age 40 after suffering a heart attack (due to an undiagnosed congenital defect) while playing in a pick-up game.

In what’s considered the true start of the Pistons-Bulls rivalry of the late ’80s and early ’90s, Rick Mahorn and Charles Oakley come to blows after Mahorn tackles Michael Jordan to the ground.

February

Michael Jordan is victorious in the Slam Dunk Contest in front of his home fans in Chicago, defeating Dominique Wilkins in the final round in arguably the greatest competition in the event’s history. Larry Bird wins his unprecedented third consecutive Three-Point Contest title.

Michael Jordan is named MVP of the All-Star Game for the first time, and does so on his home floor, leading the Eastern Conference to victory over the West. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also makes history in the game, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain as the All-Star career leading scorer (a record that Jordan would eventually surpass).

Larry Nance is traded from the Suns to the Cavaliers, along with Mike Sanders and a first round pick, in exchange for Tyrone Corbin, Kevin Johnson, Mark West, a first round pick, and two second round picks.

March

Indiana is upset in the first round as a #4 seed by #13 seed Richmond, becoming the first defending champion of the modern era to lose in the first round of the subsequent NCAA Tournament. Another major upset comes from #14 Murray State, who upends #3 seed NC State when a potential game-tying buzzer beater from Vinny Del Negro rolls off the rim.

April

Louisiana Tech defeats Auburn in the NCAA women’s tournament National Final in Tacoma, Washington. It was a third consecutive upset for the Lady Techsters, who had previously upended #1 overall seed Texas in the Regional Final and defending champions Tennessee in the National Semifinal. Erica Westbrooks is named Most Outstanding Player

Kansas pulls off an upset over Oklahoma, 83-79 in the National Final of the NCAA Tournament in Kansas City. Led by Most Outstanding Player Danny Manning, the Jayhawks team was nicknamed “Danny and the Miracles” for winning the championship as a #6 seed.

Led by former NBA MVP Bob McAdoo, Olimpia Milano wins its third EuroLeague title by defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv in the championship game. McAdoo is named EuroLeague Final Four MVP.

Following an NBPA lawsuit and threats to de-certify in order for the league to be subject to anti-trust laws, the latest collective bargaining agreement is finalized, including a reduction of the draft to two rounds and the abolition of right of first refusal, leading to unrestricted free agency.

During a first round series win over the Cavaliers, Michael Jordan becomes the first player in NBA history to score 50+ points in consecutive playoff games by dropping 50 in a game one win and 55 in a game two win. Jordan ultimately averages 45.2 points per game in the series as the Bulls advance in five games, the first series victory of Jordan’s career.

May

Larry Bird scores 34 points, including 20 in the final 10 minutes, to overcome a 47-point performance from Dominique Wilkins and allow the Celtics to survive a close Conference Semifinals game seven against the Hawks. This was the final Conference Semifinals appearance in the career of Wilkins, who goes down as arguably the greatest player to never reach a Conference Finals.

It’s the end of an era for the Celtics, as they’re eliminated by the Pistons in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals. It marks the eighth and final Conference Finals appearance (in a nine year span) in the Larry Bird era and also the final games coached by K.C. Jones, who resigns in the offseason.

For the first time in franchise history, the Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals and they put up a fight against the heavily favored Lakers, forcing the series to seven games.

Michael Jordan becomes the first player ever to be named NBA league MVP and Defensive Player of the Year in the same season. It’s his first of an eventual five MVP trophies.

June

NBA Finals

• The Lakers overcome the Pistons in seven games to win the fifth and final championship of the “Showtime” era, becoming the first back-to-back champions since 1969
• James Worthy compiles the only triple-double of his career in game seven, with 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 10 assists, and is named Finals MVP
• Isiah Thomas severely sprains his ankle in game six but still guts it out and almost leads a Pistons comeback win, falling just short in a thrilling 103-102 Lakers victory
• A game five Pistons victory is the last game ever played at the Pontiac Silverdome, as the team relocates to the Palace at Auburn Hills for the ’88-’89 season
• It’s the third straight series that the Lakers win in seven games, having previously been taken to the limit by the Jazz in the Conference Semifinals and by the Mavericks in the Conference Finals

NBA Draft

• Danny Manning (Kansas) is selected first overall by the Clippers
• Rik Smits (Marist) is selected second overall by the Pacers
• Mitch Richmond (Kansas State) is selected fifth overall by the Warriors and goes on to win Rookie of the Year
• Two unselected players from this class are amongst the greatest un-drafted players of all time: John Starks (Oklahoma State) and Avery Johnson (Southern)

July

Unrestricted free agency is available for the first time, as per the latest collective bargaining agreement. Tom Chambers becomes the first ever unrestricted free agent signing in NBA history , when he agrees to a contract with the Suns. Other notable signings that summer included Kurt Rambis to the Hornets and Moses Malone to the Hawks.

Roy Williams is hired as head coach at Kansas University, replacing Larry Brown, who subsequently becomes coach of the San Antonio Spurs. Just a few months later, Kansas is hit with severe sanctions from the NCAA for a recruiting violation committed during Brown’s tenure.

For the first time ever, an NBA team plays in the U.S.S.R., as the Atlanta Hawks take on a Soviet All-Star team in Tbilisi, in what is now Georgia.

September

Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt sets the Olympic men’s single game scoring record with 55 points in a group stage loss to Spain. He follows it up with a 46-point performance in a quarterfinals round loss to the Soviet Union.

For just the second time in a non-boycotted Olympics, the United States men’s team fails to win gold, instead settling for a bronze medal after losing to the Soviet Union in the semifinals in Seoul. Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis then lead the U.S.S.R. to gold with a victory over Yugoslavia.

The U.S. women’s team defeats the Soviet Union for the first time in Olympics play, a 102-88 semifinals win in Seoul, followed by a victory over Yugoslavia in the gold medal game.

November

The Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat begin their inaugural seasons. The Heat get off to a difficult start, setting the NBA record with 17 consecutive losses to begin the season.

December

Jerry Sloan is named head coach of the Jazz, replacing the resigning Frank Layden.

1989

February

Mark Aguirre is traded from the Mavericks to the Pistons in exchange for Adrian Dantley. Aguirre would be a key component of the Pistons title teams in 1989 and 1990.

March

#1 seed Georgetown narrowly avoids what would arguably be the biggest upset in college basketball history, holding off #16 seed Princeton 50-49 in an NCAA Tournament first round game.

Bob Huggins is named as the head coach of the Cincinnati men’s team, replacing Tony Yates.

April

Pat Summit’s Tennessee wins its second NCAA women’s tournament title, defeating Auburn in the National Final in Tacoma, Washington. Bridgette Gordon is named Most Outstanding Player.

Michigan defeats Seton Hall 80-79 in overtime in the National Final of the NCAA Tournament in Seattle, with Rumeal Robinson hitting the clutch game winning free throws. Glen Rice is named Most Outstanding Player and sets the still standing record for total points in a single tournament.

FIBA votes to lift its ban on NBA players in international competition, beginning with the 1992 Olympics, paving the way for the Dream Team.

May

A first round playoff series between the SuperSonics and Rockets ends with a buzzer beating alley-oop lay-up from Derrick McKey to give Seattle a game four victory and clinch the series.

Michael Jordan hits “The Shot,” a buzzer beating jumper to clinch the winner-take-all game five of a first round Bulls victory over the Cavaliers.

In one of the closest voting results in the award’s history, Magic Johnson edges out Michael Jordan for his second NBA league MVP.

June

Michael Jordan reaches the Eastern Conference Finals with the Bulls for the first time, where they lose in six games to the rival Pistons. Scottie Pippen exits the deciding game six early due to a concussion suffered as a result of a Bill Laimbeer elbow to the head.

NBA Finals

• The Pistons sweep the Lakers in a rematch from the 1988 Finals, for the first title in franchise history
• Joe Dumars is named Finals MVP
• Detroit loses just two games in the entire postseason, both against the Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals
• The Pistons roster includes Fennis Dembo, who never plays in the NBA again and goes down as arguably the worst career of all time amongst title winners
• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar plays in his final games, having announced his retirement before the season

For the first time ever, the United States men’s team participates in a FIBA AmeriCup. A team of NCAA all-stars headlined by Gary Payton and Christian Laettner fails to win the title, losing to Puerto Rico in the Final. But the U.S. does clinch a qualifying spot in the upcoming FIBA World Cup.

NBA Draft

• As negotiated in the most recent collective bargaining agreement, this was the first draft to reduce to two rounds
• Pervis Ellison (Louisville) is selected first overall by the Kings
• Danny Ferry (Duke) is selected second overall by the Clippers but refuses to suit up for the franchise, instead absconding to Italy to play for a year and eventually getting traded to the Cavaliers
• Shawn Kemp is selected 16th overall by the SuperSonics and with no NCAA experience, becomes one of the youngest players in NBA history up to that point
• Other notable selections include the Spurs drafting Sean Elliott (Arizona) with the third overall pick, the Heat drafting Glen Rice (Michigan) with the fourth overall pick, the Nets drafting Mookie Blaylock (Oklahoma) with the 12th overall pick, the Warriors drafting Tim Hardaway (UTEP) with the 14th overall pick, and the Trail Blazers drafting Clifford Robinson (Connecticut) in the second round

July

Phil Jackson becomes head coach of the Bulls, replacing the fired Doug Collins.

November

The NBA reaches an agreement with the NBC network for $600 million to broadcast the league’s games for four seasons, starting in ’90-’91 (the partnership would eventually be renewed through 2003).

Two NBA expansion franchises make their debut in the ’89-’90 season: The Orlando Magic and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

December

Bill Russell is fired as vice president of the Kings, exactly 33 years to the day after he signed his rookie contract with the Celtics. He would never work in the NBA again in an official capacity