Tag: NBA

• Score: Memphis Grizzlies 152 – Oklahoma City Thunder 79
• Date: December 2nd, 2021

After the December 2nd matchup between the Grizzlies and Thunder in 2021, a record for the biggest margin of victory in NBA history was set. The Grizzlies blew out the Thunder by 73 points in a game that saw nine of the Grizzlies twelve players score in double digits. What makes it even crazier is the fact that Memphis superstar Ja Morant was sidelined for this game and did not play.

• Score: Cleveland Cavaliers 148 – Miami Heat 80
• Date: December 17th, 1991

The game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat on December 17, 1991 started as a relatively close contest in the first quarter, with Cleveland leading 24-18 at the end of the period. However, things quickly got out of hand in the second quarter as the Cavaliers went on a dominant 75-29 run to take a commanding 99-47 lead at halftime. The second half was essentially a formality, as Cleveland cruised to a 148-80 victory.

• Score: Indiana Pacers 124 – Portland Trail Blazers 59
• Date: February 27, 1998

The 1998 Indiana Pacers were a lethal team, posing Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls its most daunting opponent in the East. Earlier in the season on February 27th, the Pacers defeated the Trail Blazers by 65 points. This was a huge shock to the NBA world, as the Pacers only had 6 more wins than the Trail Blazers, making it a somewhat even matchup on paper. The Pacers finished with eight players scoring in double figures.

• Score: Los Angeles Lakers 162 – Golden State Warriors 99
• Date: March 19th, 1972

On March 19, 1972, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Golden State Warriors 162-99. The Lakers were led by Hall of Fame center Wilt Chamberlain, who had a dominant performance against his former team. Chamberlain scored 22 points, pulled down 22 rebounds, and dished out 13 assists in just 29 minutes of play. He was joined in the scoring column by five other Lakers players who scored in double figures, including Gail Goodrich (26 points) and Jim McMillian (25 points). The victory was a statement win for the Lakers, who went on to win the NBA championship that season.

• Score: Golden Sate Warriors 153 – Sacramento Kings 91
• Date: November 2nd, 1991

On November 2nd, 1991, the Golden State Warriors beat down the Sacramento Kings by a 62 point margin. Warriors legend Chris Mullin paved the way putting in 32 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Five other Warriors players scored in double digits with Tyrone Hill, Victor Alexander, and Sarunas Marciulionis all scoring 20+ points.

• Years Active: 2014- present

Adam Silver stepped in as Commissioner for an aging David Stern in 2014, although it was formally announced that he would become commissioner in 2012. Silver spent his earlier NBA days as their Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer for eight years. He was tasked with such things as negotiating television deals, helping develop the WNBA, and managing it’s other relations.

Since 2014, Adam Silver has made a number of significant changes to the leagues format. First, he changed the draft lottery to incentivize teams not to tank, which hasn’t fully been seen as successful. Another major change that Silver made was introducing the play-in tournament at the end of the season, allowing teams on the bubble to earn a spot in the post-season tournament.

However, the most high profile move that Silver has made since becoming NBA Commissioner is how he handled the controversial situation with former Clippers owner Donald Sterling, who was caught on tape expressing defamatory comments about minorities at his game. Silver swiftly banned Stern from the league and forced him to sell the team, winning the approval of many NBA fans.

• Years Active: 1984-2014

To be remembered as a commissioner in professional sports, you have to be polarizing, and David Stern was just that. For as many incredible things that Stern did to help grow the league into the powerhouse today, there were his equally not so bright moments.

The main success that David Stern can be contributed to was changing how the NBA markets its league. Instead of focusing on the teams, Stern put an emphasis on the players. Marketing the games as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and so many more display their incredible talents.

There were several fumbles that Stern had to face, including two lockouts that delayed the season due to a disagreement in the player bargaining rights. There are also rumors that Stern rigged the 1985 NBA draft so the New York Knicks could secure Patrick Ewing, but we’ll leave that one as just a fun conspiracy in NBA lore.

Stern unfortunately passed in 2020 but will always be remembered as a trailblazer for the NBA. The league would never have reached the heights it has, or been able to bring the game to all parts of the world without David Stern and basketball fans should be forever grateful for that.

• Cincinnati
• Florida
• Louisville
• Michigan State
• North Carolina State
• Oklahoma State
• San Francisco 

There are seven teams in the NCAA to win the national championship twice. The University of Florida Gators are the most recent addition to the list after winning back-to-back championships in 2006-2007. It wouldn’t be shocking to see any of these teams jump the list one spot in the near future, except for the San Francisco Dons (USF) who won in 1955 and 1956, but have only made the tournament once since 1998 (2022).

• Most Recent: 2018
• Winning Years: 1985, 2016, 2018

Villanova truly staked their claim in the NCAA mountain in the back half of the 2010’s. They won in 2016 at the buzzer with one of the greatest shots in college basketball history. In 2018 they dominated the field, leaving no doubt in anyones mind who was the best team in the country. This is remembered as the Jalen Brunson era at Villanova, as the current New York Knick was on both championship squads.

• Most Recent: 2022
• Winning Years: 1952, 1988, 2008, 2022

Kansas has won four national titles and they could not be spread out further apart. Their first title came in 1952, but they didn’t win another for 36 years (1988). It took another decade to get their third title (2008) with an incredible comeback upset against Memphis, and 14 years later they won in the same fashion agains UNC.

I’m sorry Jayhawks fans, but it might be a while before Kansas wins another title, if history repeats itself.

• Most Recent: 2014
• Winning Years: 1999, 2004, 2011, 2014

“Don’t count out them hungry huskies” Shabazz Napier happily exclaimed as the UConn Huskies won their second title in a four year span. The Huskies were led by legendary college coach Jim Calhoun during all but their 2014 championship run. Their most memorable run came in 2011 where future NBA all-star Kemba Walker led them to 11 straight postseason wins.

• Most Recent: 1987
• Winning Years: 1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987

Indiana University Bloomington have won five national championships, tying them with Duke. Their most recent string of championships came during the tenure of legendary coach Bobby Knight, who helped motivate and propel his squad to three national championships throughout the 70’s and 80’s.

• Most Recent: 2015
• Winning Years: 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010, 2015

The Duke Blue Devils may be one of the most hated teams in college basketball, but that hasn’t stopped them from winning five National Championships.

They were propelled by hall-of-fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, who was their head coach for every Duke title run. They still look to be a powerhouse today and it wouldn’t be shocking to see them adding some new National Champion banners to the rafters of Cameron Indoor in the near future.

• Most Recent: 2017
• Winning Years: 1957, 1982, 1993, 2005, 2009, 2017

There are few teams in college basketball as iconic as the University of North Carolina Tar Heels. The school has produced some of the best NBA talent we’ve ever seen–including Michael Jordan–all while winning six national championships.

UNC has reached the final four of the NCAA tournament over 20 times, including a second-place finish in 2022.

• Most Recent: 2012
• Winning Years: 1948, 1949, 1951, 1958, 1978, 1996, 1998, 2012

There is no college in the country that has had more former/current NBA players attend their school. Nearly 110 former Kentucky Wildcats players have been drafted and played in the NBA, and many of those players are former national champions. Their most recent title run featured Anthony Davis who had one of the most dominating freshmen seasons in college basketball history.

• Most Recent: 1995
• Winning Years: 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1995

College basketball quite literally would not be what it is today if it weren’t for John Wooden. The former UCLA coach won ten national championships in a twelve year span, including a seven year streak. Annually the NCAA hands out the John R. Wooden Award to the most outstanding mens and womens player. NBA hall of farmers who played for the Bruins including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Gail Goodrich, Reggie Miller, just to name a few.