| The first official basketball history would be at | | | | Detroit Pistons with Isiah Thomas and Dennis |
| YMCA in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1896. It was | | | | Rodman. |
| the fallout of a dispute between members of the | | | | And most recently, Michael Jordan and the |
| YMCA team and a YMCA official, resulting in a | | | | Chicago Bulls are the highlights of the 90s, with |
| professional team, playing for money. 2 years | | | | the Bulls winning 6 NBA titles. Star players in this |
| later, the National Basketball League was founded. | | | | period were Hakeem Olajuwon, Scottie Pippen, |
| In the 2oth century, the top professional teams | | | | Charles Barkley, David Robinson, Karl Malone, John |
| were the Buffalo Germans and the Original Celtics. | | | | Stockton, and Shaquille O'Neal. And the women |
| The first major national professional league was | | | | star players were Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl |
| the American Basketball League. | | | | Swoopes, Teresa Edwards, Lisa Leslie, and |
| In the 30s, the most successful teams were the | | | | Jennifer Azzi. |
| New York Renaissance and Harlem Globetrotters. | | | | Women basketball has also undergone some |
| Both of these teams consisted of all-black players. | | | | changes throughout the years. In 1966, dribbling |
| In the 40s, the game was monopolized by the | | | | was legalized in play. 3 years later, a 5-player full |
| Minneapolis Lakers, led by George Mikan and | | | | court format was introduced. In 1984, women |
| coached by John Kundla. This team won 5 NBA | | | | officials (coaches, players) were admitted in the |
| championships in the decade. | | | | basketball hall-of-fame. Some of these famous |
| Come the 50s, guard Bob Cousy and forward | | | | women who obtained recognition for their skills |
| Bob Pettit were celebrated players. From 1957 to | | | | and expertise were Ann Meyers, Carol |
| 1969, The Celtics won 11 NBA titles, 6 of them | | | | Blazejowski, Cheryl Miller; Anne Donovan and |
| led by Bill Russell. | | | | Nancy Lieberman-Cline. |
| From 1963 to 1975, the UCLA team won ten | | | | The NBA's rival was the American Basketball |
| national championships. Star players during this | | | | Association (ABA) and its trademark red, white, |
| period were center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, center | | | | and blue basketballs. The best player for ABA |
| Bill Walton, guard Gail Goodrich, forward Jamaal | | | | was Julius Erving. ABA was dissolved in 1976. |
| Wilkes, and forward Marques Johnson. | | | | The passing of years have seen the rise and fall |
| Abdul-Jabbar made history by becoming the | | | | of many teams and players. Without a doubt, all |
| leading scorer with 38,387 points in his career. | | | | the players strive to do their best to be |
| In the 80s, basketball was dominated by the | | | | immortalized as the champions of the decade. |