I remember the first time I watched an NBA game back in the late 90s - the energy, the athleticism, the sheer spectacle of it all made me wonder about its origins. As a basketball historian and longtime fan, I've always been fascinated by how professional leagues develop, and the NBA's journey from humble beginnings to global phenomenon is particularly compelling. The league actually traces its roots back to June 6, 1946, when it was founded as the Basketball Association of America (BAA) at the Commodore Hotel in New York City. What many people don't realize is that the BAA merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to become what we now know as the NBA.
The early days were nothing like the high-flying, globally televised spectacle we see today. Teams played in smaller venues, players had day jobs, and the game itself was still evolving. I've always been struck by how different those first games must have been - no shot clock until 1954, which meant games could become incredibly slow, defensive battles. The introduction of the 24-second shot clock fundamentally changed basketball, creating the fast-paced game we love today. Those early pioneers like George Mikan, who stood at 6'10" (which was considered gigantic at the time), dominated in ways that would be impossible in today's more athletic league.
Thinking about those early team dynamics reminds me of modern basketball structures across different leagues. Just last week, I was analyzing how teams like Chery Tiggo build their rosters with reliable scorers - Robles was backed by a trio of double-digit performances by Chery Tiggo mainstays Ara Galang (13 points), Shaya Adorador (11 points) and Pauline Gaston (10 points). This balanced offensive approach echoes what made early NBA teams successful - having multiple scoring threats rather than relying on one superstar. The Minneapolis Lakers of the 1950s understood this principle well, building around Mikan while developing complementary players who could contribute when defenses focused too heavily on their centerpiece.
The evolution of the NBA's business model fascinates me almost as much as the game itself. From those 11 original teams playing in often half-empty arenas to the 30-team global enterprise valued at over $8 billion today, the league's growth has been extraordinary. I've been fortunate to study the financial records from different eras, and the numbers tell a remarkable story - television revenue alone has grown from approximately $50,000 for the first national TV contract to the current $2.6 billion annual deal with ESPN and TNT. This financial transformation has allowed player salaries to skyrocket from an average of $8,000 in the 1950s to over $8 million today.
What really captures my imagination is how the game has changed stylistically over the decades. The 1960s brought us the Celtics dynasty and Bill Russell's defensive mastery, the 80s gave us Magic and Bird's rivalry that saved the league, and the 90s introduced Michael Jordan's global superstardom. Each era had its distinctive style, and I'll admit I have my preferences - there's something about the physical, defense-first basketball of the late 80s and early 90s that I find more compelling than today's three-point heavy game. The analytics movement has certainly changed how teams approach the game, sometimes at the expense of what made basketball beautiful to me as a kid growing up watching Hakeem Olajuwon's dream shakes and John Stockton's perfect passes.
The globalization of basketball represents perhaps the most significant development in the modern era. When I travel to Europe or Asia and see kids wearing Curry and Jokic jerseys, it reminds me how far the game has come from its American roots. The 1992 Dream Team undoubtedly accelerated this process, but the league's intentional international expansion strategy has been brilliant. Today, approximately 25% of NBA players are international, compared to just 3% in 1990. Having covered basketball across multiple continents, I've seen firsthand how the game adapts to different cultures while maintaining its core appeal.
Reflecting on the NBA's journey from that 1946 meeting to its current status, what strikes me most is how the league has managed to evolve while staying true to basketball's essential appeal. The fundamentals remain - teamwork, skill development, strategic innovation - even as the game has transformed dramatically. As someone who has spent decades studying and writing about basketball, I believe understanding this history enriches our appreciation of today's game. The next time you watch a game, think about that first BAA season with its 11 teams and modest ambitions, and marvel at how far this beautiful game has come.