Key Figures in the League’s Formation
The National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA), two competing leagues, merged to establish the NBA. Maurice Podoloff, who kept his position as president after the merger, is one of its notable founders.
Early League Structure and Expansion
The league’s first 17 teams were spread throughout various big and small cities, with enormous venues and more modest gymnasiums and armories. The New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia Warriors, Minneapolis Lakers, Rochester Royals, Fort Wayne Pistons, Milwaukee Hawks, and Syracuse Nationals were the league’s eight remaining clubs by the middle of the 1950s. However, these clubs eventually moved, following the pattern of franchises relocating to bigger cities.
The Integration of African American Players
Like many other sports leagues of the period, the NBA was racially segregated in its early years. In the 1947–48 NBA season, Japanese–American player Wataru Misaka broke the color barrier (Wen, 2018). Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton, and Earl Lloyd were among the first African-American players to join the league when it was founded in 1950, demonstrating the league’s progressive inclusion process (Wen, 2018).
Like previous leagues, the NBA had times of financial hardship. However, in the 1980s, under David Stern’s direction, the NBA evolved into a global entertainment conglomerate (Wen, 2018). The league’s success was greatly influenced by his aggressive marketing tactics, which focused on the league’s best players and included several ground-breaking innovations, such as player salary caps and costly television rights.
Proposed Improvements to League Operations as Commissioner
If I were the NBA commissioner, I would prioritize increasing revenue diversification and fostering diversity and inclusion. The league may become more robust to economic shocks by having more varied revenue streams. Additionally, a more diversified staff in front-office positions could encourage originality and innovation.
Lessons Learned from the League’s History
The NBA has undoubtedly done well in terms of taking lessons from the past. It has overcome obstacles and adopted an innovative strategy, achieving significant advancements in racial inclusion and worldwide marketing. But the path to inclusivity and modernization is still being traveled. Beyond the scope of this response, a thorough comparison with other leagues would need more study.
Reference
Wen, R. (2018). Does racial discrimination exist within the NBA? An analysis based on salary‐per‐contribution. Social Science Quarterly, 99(3), 933-944. Web.