Tag: NBA History

Who hit the first three-pointer in NBA history?

The NBA’s first ever three-pointer came on October 12, 1979, from a former Boston Celtics champion.

It’s October 12, 1979, the first day of the NBA season. The league has introduced something called a three-point line – a move that, with time, will radically change the geography of offense. For now, though, it’s something of an enigma.

Boston is hosting Houston, one of the early games on the schedule for the league’s opening night. In a game that features Larry Bird and Cedric Maxwell, it’s a young guard from Villanova who steals the show.

Late in the first quarter, Chris Ford hits the first three-pointer in NBA history.

Six different players hit threes that night. Because Ford’s three came in the first quarter of the early slate of games, it’s believed his shot was the first in history. ML Carr explained as such:

“The team was pretty excited that Chris opened a new era…I guarantee if you interviewed Chris now he would say, ‘I didn’t realize what I was starting.’”

Ford shot a blistering 42.7 percent from three that first season on 2.2 attempts per game. The Mad Bomber as he was often known certainly proved the three could be an effective and reliable shot from the jump.

The American Basketball Association actually employed the three for years before merging with the National Basketball Association in 1976. Folks on the NBA side of the equation were worried that the three ball would upend the action at the rim. The ABA – known for its theatrics – hadn’t been so worried about upgrading the product.

The 79-80 season was supposed to be a one year trial for the three-point shot in the NBA. And even though it survived past its original experimental period, it wasn’t until 1986-97 that the NBA as a league surpassed 100 made threes for a season. For context, Steph Curry alone made 402 threes during the 2015-16.

Curry’s unbelievable dominance and the associated offensive revolution wouldn’t be possible without pioneers like Chris Ford. He’ll forever be in the record books as the first player to ever hit a three-pointer in NBA history.

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Which NBA players had the most blocks in their career?

Who has swatted the most shots in NBA history? Here are the league’s all-time blocks leaders.

The modern NBA is predicated on offense, with players pulling up from way beyond the 3-point line on a nightly basis. The emphasis on taking the ball to the rim has changed radically, as has the need to protect the rim. As such, the players in NBA history with the most career blocks feel like titans from another era.

The modern game has a few defensive stalwarts such as Giannis Antetokounmpo and Rudy Gobert. They know how to protect the rim at all costs. Still, the modern top dogs on defense don’t hold a candle to the Association’s greatest.

From fingering wagging and intense tempers to safety goggles and mild manners, the men with the most career blocks in NBA history have one thing in common: They know how to lock it down on defense.

Shaq stats: Where does Shaquille O’Neal rank all time in each statistical category?

Shaquille O’Neal is one of the NBA’s most dominant player. Where do Shaq’s regular season stats rank all time?

It’s hard to over-estimate the impact Shaquille O’Neal made during his time as a pro. Not only was he one of the most dominant NBA players of all time, but he was a darling of pop culture. From MVPs and rings to movies, hip hop, and video games, Shaq put his big fingerprints just about everywhere.

Despite being one half of one of the messiest NBA breakups, O’Neal was one of the Association’s most prominent players for nearly two decades. Shaq has career averages of 23.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game – no wonder he goes by Superman.

O’Neal is one of the undisputed best players in NBA history. How do his career regular season stats stack up?

Ranking the most dramatic breakups in NBA history

NBA breakups can be particularly messy. What are the biggest on-court divorces in NBA history?

When superstar NBA players break up, it’s a big deal. Basketball is a game driven by personality and relationships. Chemistry, cohesion, and trust are essential for winning. Putting multiple stars together is often the key to success in the NBA. But when those relationships fall apart, the results can be explosive.

Not every superstar duo or trio is built on friendship. Players don’t need to be best buddies, they just need to work well together. That said, with so much time spent together, such high stakes work, and such big personalities, even the most cordial professional NBA relationship can fall apart.

Whether through free agency or trade, the NBA has seen some intense breakups over the years. Here are the most important ones:

NBA Twitter reacts to Josh Giddey becoming youngest player in NBA history to record triple-double

NBA Twitter reacts to Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Josh Giddey making history by becoming youngest player to ever record a triple-double.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Josh Giddey made history in the team’s loss to the Dallas Mavericks as he became the youngest player to record a triple-double in NBA history. Giddey, who is 19 years and 84 days old, surpasses Charlotte Hornet’s guard LaMelo Ball’s record of 19 years and 140 days.

Giddey finished with 17 points, 14 assists and 13 rebounds in 36 minutes. The rookie guard was close a couple of times this season to getting the record but was always a few stats away from getting it. He finally gets it on the second day of 2022 as he makes his return from the health and safety protocols.

Let’s take a look at how NBA Twitter reacted to the news:

LeBron James and the Lakers improved to 56-0 when leading after 3 quarters

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have been historically great when leading after the third quarter this season.

If you’re going up against a LeBron James team when he is healthy over the last two years and you find yourself down after the third quarter, your chances of winning are historically slim. After last night’s victory by the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the 2020 NBA Finals, putting L.A. up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, the Lakers are an incredible 56-0 when leading after three quarters. Fox Sports 1’s Nick Wright also provided some context that LeBron shutting teams down when leading after the third quarter was also a theme the last time he went to the NBA Finals, in 2018 with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

That means his record after the third quarter with his last two playoff teams is an astonishing 106-1.

All the while, LeBron has been the leader and best player through both of those runs. While Anthony Davis had his own historic start to the 2020 Finals, he has tailed off offensively over the last two games while LeBron has still been the freight train powering the Lakers to being only one win away from an NBA Championship in the longest, trickiest, and most unprecedented season in NBA history.

 

 

LeBron James is now all-time leader in All-NBA selections with 16

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James became the first player in NBA history to be selected to an All-NBA team 16 times.

LeBron James once again became the first player in NBA History to do something and like many of those records, he looks far from done adding to it. LeBron James was named to an All-NBA team for a record 16th time, earning a 1st team selection for the 13th time in his career. James made the 3rd team last year despite having his season derailed by injury. LeBron and Giannis Antetokounmpo were unanimous selections to the first team.

With the 16th selection, James passed a legendary trio in All-Time selections: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan, and Kobe Bryant. LeBron was amazing this season, leading the NBA in assists for the first time in his career while still averaging 25 points and nearly eight rebounds per game. James led the Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference, alongside his co-star Anthony Davis, who also made the All-NBA first team as the center.

Earlier in the postseason, James became the NBA’s All-Time leader in playoff wins.

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LeBron James scores 1,500 points for 17th straight season, tying Kareem

The Los Angeles Lakers star scored 1,700 points for the 17th straight season, joining fellow Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only one.

With the conclusion of his 17th regular season, LeBron James continued to make NBA history even though the Los Angeles Lakers haven’t been that impressive during their seeding games in the bubble. After the Lakers completed their eight seeding games on Thursday afternoon, LeBron James officially became the second player in NBA history to score at least 1,500 points in 17 consecutive seasons, joining Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, according to Justin Kubatko of StatMuse.

LeBron still managed to keep that streak alive last season, even though he had the longest injury absence of his career. LeBron also ended the season as the NBA’s leader in assists per game, something he had previously never done in his legendary career.

While Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo is a heavy favorite to win the NBA MVP award for the second straight season, LeBron James at least made it interesting as he put together the greatest season the game has ever seen from someone playing at age 35.

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Warriors History: Steph Curry blasts Grizzlies for 46 points in record breaking 73rd win in 2016

April 13, 2016, will live in Golden State Warriors’ history.

During the NBA hiatus, Warriors Wire has been digging through the past of the Golden State Warriors — highlighting thrilling performances, game-winners and rewatchable matchups.

April 13, 2016, the Golden State Warriors welcomed the Memphis Grizzlies to the Bay Area. Golden State’s 125-104 win to cap off the 2016 regular season is now etched into NBA history books for the future.

The Warriors’ victory clinched their 73rd victory — the most regular-season wins in NBA history. Golden State erased the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls longstanding 72-10 record.

Golden State jumped out to a 14 point lead in the first quarter to set an already rowdy Oracle Arean into a full frenzy. The Warriors cruised to a record-breaking win behind another stellar showing from their Most Valuable Player candidate.

Stephen Curry tallied 46 points on 15-of-24 shooting with 10 makes from beyond the arc in 29 minutes. Golden State’s point guard added six assists, four rebounds and two steals against Memphis in 29 minutes.

Draymond Green, Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Marreese Speights all scored in double figures with Shaun Livingston dishing out 10 dimes off the bench.

Watch highlights from Golden State’s 125-104 victory via YouTube:

Golden State’s 73rd win sealed a campaign filled with record-breaking moments. In 2016, the Warriors set records for most road wins (34) and consecutive wins to start a season (24). However, Golden State couldn’t put a bow on the season, losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals.

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Today in Warriors history: Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis put on a show at Oracle Arena in 2018

Before facing off in the playoffs, Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis put on a show at the end of the 2017-18 regular season.

It’s been almost one month since the Golden State Warriors suited up for a regular-season game. With 17 games left on the schedule, the 2019-20 season was put on hold until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With no hoops on the radar, Warriors Wire is rewinding the clock back through Golden State’s history to find compelling matchups from the past.

Before each All-Star moved on to their new homes, Kevin Durant and the Warriors faced off against the Anthony Davis led New Orleans Pelicans.

April 7, 2018

In the final regular-season home game at Oracle Arena, five members of the Warriors squad were ruled out, including Stephen Curry, as the team prepared for a playoff run. However, one of the league’s most dynamic players was still in the lineup for Golden State.

Durant capped off Oracle’s regular season with 41 points on 16-on-26 shooting with 10 rebounds and five assists. Yet, the reigning Finals Most Valuable Player’s efficient double-double wasn’t enough against the gritty Pelicans.

Davis struck back with a double-double performance of his own. The Kentucky product tallied 34 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals against the defending champions. Another Kentucky alum, Rajon Rondo added 12 points and 17 assists in the Pelicans 126-120 win in Oakland.

Watch highlights from Durant’s 41 point effort against New Orleans via House of Highlights via YouTube:

Although the Pelicans closed out Oracle Arena with an upset win, the Warriors got revenge in the playoffs. Golden State eliminated the Pelicans in the second round of the Western Conference postseason, 4-1.

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