Who created the NBA?
The NBA is a 70-year-old organization born from innovation. It was June 1946 in New York City when Boston Garden owner Walter Brown realized that major ice hockey arenas, which were vacant most nights, could be used to host basketball games.
Franchise | Principal owner(s) | Purchase price (US$ millions) |
---|---|---|
Chicago Bulls | Jerry Reinsdorf | 16.2 |
Cleveland Cavaliers | Dan Gilbert | 375 |
Dallas Mavericks | Mark Cuban | 280 |
Denver Nuggets | Ann Walton Kroenke | 202 |
The team has been selected in every season of the league's existence, dating back to its inaugural season in 1946. The All-NBA Team originally had two teams, but since 1988 it is typically composed of three five-man lineups—a first, second, and third team.
Adam Silver was appointed NBA Commissioner on Feb. 1, 2014. Silver presides over a global sports and media organization built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League.
Earl Francis Lloyd (April 3, 1928 – February 26, 2015) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He was the first African American player to play a game in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. Crossville, Tennessee, U.S.
Of America' richest sports owners, 16 attribute more than 50% of their fortunes to sources beyond their teams. Leading the charge as the wealthiest owner, for the ninth consecutive year, is the Los Angeles Clippers' Steve Ballmer, No. 9 on The Forbes 400 with an estimated net worth of $101 billion.
Pera, who bought the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies in 2012, is the youngest controlling owner in the league.
James was selected by his hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, as the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. In his first regular season game, he scored 25 points in a 106–92 loss to the Sacramento Kings, setting an NBA record for the most points scored by a prep-to-pro player in his debut performance.
The NBA is a 70-year-old organization born from innovation. It was June 1946 in New York City when Boston Garden owner Walter Brown realized that major ice hockey arenas, which were vacant most nights, could be used to host basketball games.
The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). It changed its name to the National Basketball Association on August 3, 1949, after merging with the competing National Basketball League (NBL).
What team does Michael Jordan own?
He became part-owner and head of basketball operations for the Charlotte Hornets (then named the Bobcats) in 2006 and bought a controlling interest in 2010, before selling his majority stake in 2023. He is also the owner of 23XI Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Top five by league:
NBA: Ballmer, Clippers ($78 billion); Robert Pera, Grizzlies ($17.9 billion); Dan Gilbert, Cavaliers ($16.1 billion); Ann Walton Kroenke, Nuggets ($8.4 billion); Tilman Feritta, Rockets ($7.7 billion)

With 3:48 remaining in the first quarter of Boston's season opener against the Houston Rockets, Celtics shooting guard Chris Ford drilled a straightaway 3-pointer -- the first made 3-pointer in NBA history.
It's believed that the first-ever dunk in organized basketball occurred in 1936 (before that it was all one-legged push shots and layups). Joe Fortenberry, a 6ft 8in Texan, performed one in the Berlin Olympics for the US basketball team on the way to winning the sport's first-ever gold medal.
Owners. Robert Johnson became the first black majority NBA team owner in 2004. Robert Johnson of the Charlotte Bobcats (now known as the Charlotte Hornets) was the first black majority team owner in the NBA in 2004–05. He was succeeded as Bobcats owner in 2010–11 by another African American, Michael Jordan.
Magic Johnson joins fellow NBA superstars Michael Jordan and LeBron James, as well as, Tiger Woods to join the exclusive billionaire club.
Former basketball star Magic Johnson has been declared a billionaire by Forbes, making him only the fourth athlete to join the exclusive club. The business magazine estimates Johnson's wealth at about $1.2bn (£990m).
Here's How LeBron James Became the NBA's First Billionaire.
The youngest player ever to play in the NBA was Andrew Bynum, who played his first game only six days after his 18th birthday. The oldest active player is LeBron James, who is currently 38 years old.
Who is oldest NBA player?
The league's eldest statesman will be knocking on the door of several historic milestones in 2023-24. At 38 years old, LeBron James is entering his 21st NBA season. LeBron James was the youngest player on the floor when he made his NBA debut 20 years ago.
One way to do so was through the 1996 NBA Draft, where the front office had their eyes on a 17-year old high school phenom by the name of Kobe Bryant. No guard had ever made the leap from high school straight to the NBA, but Kobe had seriously impressed during his pre-draft workouts.
Kobe Bryant (born August 23, 1978, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died January 26, 2020, Calabasas, California) American professional basketball player, who helped lead the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) to five championships (2000–02 and 2009–10).
Ahead of the 2009-10 NBA season, Shaquille O'Neal was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he teamed up with 25-year-old LeBron James. Though Shaq was at the tail end of his career, many were excited at the prospect that the Big Fella could finally help LeBron win his first title.