Landmark moments
Single games, records, and decisions that shifted the sport. Search by name or filter by era to find the story you’re after.
Curated editorial overview, written for context and clarity -- not an exhaustive or live record of NBA history or statistics.
16 of 16 moments
The First NBA Game
The Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers in the first game of the Basketball Association of America.
George Mikan Forces a Rule Change
Mikan's dominance under the basket was so complete the league literally redrew the court to slow him down.
Wilt Chamberlain Scores 100
In a game with no television broadcast, Wilt Chamberlain set a scoring record that has stood for over sixty years.
The Celtics Win 11 Titles in 13 Years
Bill Russell's Boston Celtics dominated professional basketball's first great dynasty run.
Dr. J Brings Above-the-Rim Basketball
Julius Erving's dunks and aerial creativity gave the ABA its signature style and its biggest star.
The ABA-NBA Merger
Four ABA franchises and the three-point shot's future in the NBA both trace back to this 1976 agreement.
Magic Johnson's Rookie Finals Heroics
As a 20-year-old rookie, Magic Johnson started at center in a title-clinching Finals game and won MVP.
Magic vs. Bird Revives the League
Three Finals meetings between the Lakers and Celtics turned a personal rivalry into a national television draw.
The Flu Game
Visibly ill and dehydrated, Michael Jordan scored 38 points in a pivotal 1997 Finals game.
The Last Shot
Jordan's title-clinching jump shot over Bryon Russell closed out his final championship as a Bull.
Shaq and Kobe's Three-Peat
The combustible pairing of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant produced three straight Lakers championships.
San Antonio's Quiet Dynasty
Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan built four championships on defense and ball movement, without the tabloid drama.
'The Decision'
LeBron James's live television announcement to join the Miami Heat reshaped how star free agency plays out.
Curry Redefines the Three-Point Shot
Stephen Curry's volume and range from three-point range forced the entire league to rethink shot selection.
The 75-Win Season
The Golden State Warriors broke the NBA's regular-season wins record behind historic three-point shooting.
'The Block'
LeBron James's chase-down block in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals sealed Cleveland's first championship.