The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. It was founded in 1946, and is the premier men’s professional basketball league in the world. The NBA has grown to become one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, with millions of fans worldwide. Throughout its long history, the NBA has seen some of the greatest players in the world compete for the championship title. But who was the first NBA champion?
Early Years of the NBA
Before the NBA was officially founded, there were two organizations that preceded it: the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The NBL was established in 1937, and the BAA was established in 1946. The two leagues merged after the 1948-49 season to become the NBA.
The first NBA season was the 1949-50 season and consisted of 11 teams. The teams were the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Philadelphia Warriors, Minneapolis Lakers, Rochester Royals, Fort Wayne Pistons, Tri-Cities Blackhawks, Syracuse Nationals, Anderson Packers, Sheboygan Redskins, and Waterloo Hawks.
The First NBA Championship
The first NBA championship was awarded to the Minneapolis Lakers in 1950. The Lakers, which were led by legendary center George Mikan, defeated the Syracuse Nationals 4-2 in the best-of-seven series. The Lakers won the last three games of the series to claim the title.
1951-1965: Dominance of the Lakers and Celtics
After the first championship, the Minneapolis Lakers went on to win three more championships in a row, making them the first team to win four consecutive NBA titles. The team was led by Mikan, who was one of the most dominant players in the league at the time.
The Boston Celtics then began their own dynasty, winning 11 championships between 1957 and 1969. The Celtics were led by legendary players such as Bob Cousy and Bill Russell. The Lakers and Celtics dominated the NBA for the next 15 years, with the two teams winning a combined 15 championships.
1966-1979: The Rise of the New York Knicks
The New York Knicks won their first championship in 1970, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in seven games. The Knicks were led by legendary players such as Willis Reed and Walt Frazier. The team won two more championships in 1973 and 1974 and appeared in the NBA Finals four times in the 1970s.
1980-1999: The Rise of the Lakers and the Bulls
The 1980s saw the beginning of the Los Angeles Lakers’ second dynasty, as the team won five championships in the decade. Led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Lakers were one of the most dominant teams of the decade.
The Chicago Bulls then began their own dynasty in the 1990s, winning six championships in the decade. Led by Michael Jordan, the Bulls were one of the most popular teams in the world and had the most successful run in NBA history.
2000-Present: The Rise of the Spurs and Warriors
The San Antonio Spurs won their first championship in 1999 and won four more titles in the 2000s. Led by Tim Duncan, the Spurs were one of the most successful teams in the NBA during the decade.
The Golden State Warriors then began a dynasty of their own in the 2010s, winning three championships in the decade. Led by Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, the Warriors were one of the most popular teams in the world and had the most successful run in NBA history.
Conclusion
The National Basketball Association has come a long way since its inception in 1946. Throughout its long history, the NBA has seen some of the greatest players in the world compete for the championship title. The first NBA championship was won by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1950, and since then many teams have won the title. The Lakers and Celtics dominated the league in the 1950s and 1960s, while the Knicks, Lakers, Bulls, Spurs, and Warriors have all had their own dynasties in the decades since.
Famous NBA Champions
1950s
- Minneapolis Lakers – 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954
- Syracuse Nationals – 1955
- Philadelphia Warriors – 1956
- St. Louis Hawks – 1958
- Boston Celtics – 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962
1960s
- Boston Celtics – 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969
- Philadelphia 76ers – 1967
1970s
- New York Knicks – 1970, 1973, 1974
- Milwaukee Bucks – 1971
- Los Angeles Lakers – 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988
- Golden State Warriors – 1975
- Seattle SuperSonics – 1979
1980s
- Los Angeles Lakers – 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988
- Boston Celtics – 1981, 1984, 1986
- Philadelphia 76ers – 1983
1990s
- Chicago Bulls – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998
- Houston Rockets – 1994, 1995
- San Antonio Spurs – 1999
2000s
- Los Angeles Lakers – 2000, 2001, 2002
- San Antonio Spurs – 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014
- Detroit Pistons – 2004
- Miami Heat – 2006, 2012, 2013
- Dallas Mavericks – 2011
- Golden State Warriors – 2015, 2017, 2018
- Cleveland Cavaliers – 2016
Summary
The National Basketball Association was founded in 1946, and the first NBA championship was won by the Minneapolis Lakers in 1950. Since then, many teams have won the championship, including the Lakers, Celtics, Knicks, Bulls, Spurs, and Warriors. The most successful team in NBA history is the Chicago Bulls, who won six championships in the 1990s. The Golden State Warriors are the current champions, having won three championships in the last five years.
Final Thoughts
The NBA has grown to become one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, with millions of fans worldwide. Throughout its long history, the NBA has seen some of the greatest players in the world compete for the championship title. The first NBA champion was the Minneapolis Lakers in 1950, and since then many teams have won the title.