In this article, we will cover the history of the NBA and its founding members, James Naismith, Frank Zollner, and Connie Hawkins. You will also learn about the first championship game, which took place in Chicago in 1908.
NBPA
The NBPA, or National Basketball Players Association, is the league’s labor union. Players are the union’s primary beneficiaries, obtaining a 53 percent revenue share over the course of the league’s existence. The NBPA’s rise to prominence coincided with the decline of labor unions throughout the United States, from garment workers losing health care when globalization hit to steelworkers downgrading their retirement plans when corporate executives automated factories. The NBPA has shaped the league’s identity as a community that embraces and supports the civil rights of its members.
The NBPA’s founding members are mostly comprised of former players, as opposed to current players. The players’ opposition to Cousy’s proposal was met with some reluctance on the part of Fort Wayne’s owner, who wanted to avoid a union. Despite the initial resistance from Fort Wayne players, the owner agreed to sponsor the NBPA and pay a portion of the former Bullets players. A meeting was scheduled with Cousy and the players within two weeks. In December 1998, the NBPA became a union, as it is the first in the league.
The NBPA’s founding members sought to improve the lives of players by demanding higher salaries, per-diem payments, and increased playoff payments. But these efforts were futile. Despite the success of the union’s campaigns, many players still remained unpaid and unrepresented. The NBA subsequently halted these strikes and the union’s growth. However, the union did manage to secure a number of victories.
James Naismith
A great deal of the game’s history can be traced to the inventing of basketball by James Naismith. Before the game’s rules were written, players tried to hit a ball into a box that was affixed to a wall. But a large scrum soon ensued as players pushed and wrestled to get to the ball. Some players were knocked unconscious, while others ended up with bruises and black eyes.
In the United States, basketball became popular after the National Collegiate Athletic Association introduced its annual postseason tournament, which later evolved into the Final Four. The Final Four has become one of the most watched sports events in the nation. Naismith’s influence was so profound that the game was included in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Allen, a former student of Naismith and a successful basketball coach at the University of Kansas, insisted that Naismith attend the first ever Olympic basketball game. The National Association of Basketball Coaches listened, and he was invited to attend the games.
The first game of basketball was played on December 21, 1891, in a gym. The players threw a soccer ball into the peach baskets, and they used them to hit each other. The game was played in a small gymnasium, and Naismith watched over the games while the game was being played. Within a few weeks, the gym was packed with hundreds of spectators. Naismith’s initial rules didn’t allow the players to dribble or pass the ball. A jump ball was taken at center court.
Connie Hawkins
“Connie” Hawkins was a playground legend in New York. He was an American basketball player and legend in his own right. Hawkins played for both the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls. Hawkins made history as a player and became one of the first African-American players in the NBA. But before he became famous, Hawkins was a New York playground legend.
Despite Hawkins’ alleged involvement in a gambling scandal, he was never prosecuted. As a result, he spent eight years playing in half-empty arenas and neighborhood tournaments. This was in spite of the fact that he was the prototype for a scorer with panache. The book Foul and an affidavit from Hawkins’ former coach, Dr. J, helped him get a settlement of $1 million.
Bill Sharman, a veteran of three NBA teams, considers Hawkins one of the seven greatest players in history. Hawkins has been the subject of a Twitter account since 2010 called “BigSauce.” In addition to tweeting his dunks and shooting, Hawkins has also written a book about his career, Foul! The Connie Hawkins Story. It’s a must-read for anyone who has a passing interest in Hawkins’ life.
Frank Zollner
The NBA has a long history of being a place for small-town teams. In fact, the league had eight teams in 1955 and then cut them in half within six years. Then, a team called the Chicago Packers was added. This group now goes by the name of the Washington Wizards. And in 1966, the Chicago Bulls became the first expansion team in NBA history, participating in the expansion draft. As a result, the NBA experienced an explosion of expansion from 1966 until 2004.
Throughout the 1950s, Frank Zollner’s efforts helped the league survive difficult times. He was the owner of the Zollner Corporation, which created pistons for auto companies. He also helped oversee the merger of the BAA and NBL. The two organizations eventually merged, with Zollner contributing money, transportation, and personnel to the new organization. Zollner was also a champion of changes to the game, including the 24-second clock and six-foul rule. Ultimately, the NBA was born.
The NBA began with 17 teams when it merged with the NBL in 1949. After that, the league expanded to eight teams, and the Fort Wayne Pistons were among them. As the NBA continued to expand, the league faced financial troubles, and Frank Zollner’s contributions helped keep it financially viable. Zollner was the force behind the success of the NBA. But the league’s success has always depended on how Frank Zollner saw it.
George Mikan
Aside from his legendary scoring numbers, Mikan’s career was dotted with a few unfortunate incidents. In 1951, the Lakers bought him in bankruptcy for $15,000, and he was injured during the postseason. Mikan eventually returned to the court as a general manager for the Lakers, and he averaged 11 points per game during his final two seasons. The Lakers went on to win two NBA championships during his tenure.
One of the most influential factors in Mikan’s career was the introduction of the shot clock. The shot clock made basketball faster, but Mikan was so efficient that teams tried to contain him. The NBA widened the lane from six feet to twelve feet, but that didn’t do much to slow Mikan down. Eventually, the NBA banned goaltending and the shot clock was born. Mikan’s success led to changes to the NBA’s rules.
Despite his shyness, Mikan excelled in college, eventually becoming a top point guard and a staple of the DePaul Blue Demons. His high-octanean height made him an impossible match for most opposing guards. His skill and grit made him the grittiest player in the NBA. In 1945, Mikan became the first player to use goaltending to block shots and he led the team to its National Invitational Tournament championship.
Rudy Tomjanovich
A former professional basketball player and coach, Rudy Tomjanovich Jr. is now a consultant with the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association. He played for the San Diego / Houston Rockets from 1970 to 1981. His experience playing in the NBA makes him an excellent coach for the Timberwolves. You can read his autobiography below and find out how his experiences shaped his career.
Tomjanovich spent the early years of his coaching career as an assistant coach for the Rockets. He was named head coach in 1992 and won back-to-back NBA titles with the team. The Rockets’ success would help them win their second championship in 1993. However, their second championship season would be a rollercoaster. Tomjanovich started off his tenure with nine straight wins, only to finish the season as the sixth seed in the Western Conference.
After guiding the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships, he became the first coach in NBA history to lead a team from the lottery to the division title. He resigned from the Rockets as head coach in 2003 after he was diagnosed with bladder cancer. After winning back-to-back championships, he said: “Never underestimate the heart of a champion!”
Kermit Washington
Kermit Alan Washington is an American former professional basketball player. He is best known for punching Rudy Tomjanovich during an on-court fight in 1977. Washington’s legacy is still relevant today. Read on to learn more about his career highlights. Here are five facts about Washington that you may not know. Let’s start with his name: Washington was born in New York. He played for the Atlanta Hawks from 1974 to 1977.
On Dec. 9, 1977, Washington got into an on-court fight with Rudy Tomjanovich, who was playing for the Houston Rockets. Washington grabbed the defender’s shorts and slugged him. The result was a broken jaw, a fractured skull, a broken nose, and spinal fluid leakage. Washington was suspended for 60 days and fined $10,000 for his actions.
After his freshman season, Washington was drafted fifth overall by the Los Angeles Lakers. He led the nation in rebounding, made second-team All-America honors, and led the team to the National Invitation Tournament. The game had special meaning to Washington because he had to score 39 points to average 20 points and 20 rebounds for his college career. As a result, he became terribly nervous before the game.