NBA History

FEB. 26, 2016: KYLE LOWRY ERUPTS FOR 43. A career-high night for a franchise all-time great 🤩 Congrats on retiring as a Raptor, @Klow7!

June 13, 2019: Kyle Lowry (26p, 7r, 10a in G6) helps the @Raptors capture their first NBA title 🏆 Congrats on an incredible career, @Klow7!

Hops on display at 2015 NBA All-Star 📈 Six consecutive All-Star selections from 2015-2020 with the @Raptors... KLow will forever be a LEGEND in Toronto!

Join us in wishing a Happy 66th Birthday to 4x NBA All-Star and @Hoophall inductee, Ralph Sampson!

Join us in wishing a Happy 46th Birthday to 6x NBA All-Star, 2x NBA Champion and @Hoophall inductee, Pau Gasol!

Join us in wishing a Happy 61st Birthday to 6x NBA All-Star, 2001-02 NBA Champion and @Hoophall inductee, Mitch Richmond!

1980 ➡️ 2026 Take a trip down memory lane, as we look back at every 1st overall pick since 1980!

On this day in 1999... Avery Johnson hit the game-winning jumper with 47 seconds remaining in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, making the @spurs the first former ABA franchise to win an NBA championship!

"This young man is beyond special." Darius Acuff Jr. sits down with Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson as the two break down each other's highlights and talk hoops across generations. Watch the First Round of the 2026 NBA Draft tomorrow at 8:00pm/ET on ABC & ESPN.

The Class of 1996 🔥 30 years ago, the 1996 draft class saw a generation of talent enter the league that would go on to become eventual Hall of Famers, MVPs, and NBA champions! Watch the First Round of the 2026 NBA Draft tomorrow at 8:00pm/et on ABC & ESPN.

On this day in 1994... Hakeem Olajuwon dropped 25 PTS, 10 REB, and 7 AST in Game 7 of the 1994 NBA Finals to lead the Rockets to their first NBA championship 🏆

Join us in wishing a Happy 64th Birthday to 10x NBA All-Star, 1994-95 NBA Champion and @Hoophall inductee, Clyde Drexler!

Read the story and revisit the iconic NBA Draft class on the NBA App. ➡️ nba.smart.link/2vu3q68u0

"Recognizable names with solid college basketball resumes – and in some cases, celebrated high school careers but no college experience – filled the 1996 Draft. But no one foretold in that moment what the 1996 Draft class would become." @JeffZillgitt revisits a generation of Hall of Fame talent, MVPs, and champions that reshaped the league ahead of the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23–24 on ABC and ESPN! ⬇️

On this day in 2012... LeBron James recorded a triple-double with 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 13 assists in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to win his first NBA championship.

On this day in 1993... John Paxson knocked down the game-winning 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left in Game 6 of the NBA Finals to clinch the Chicago Bulls' 3rd consecutive title!

🚫 The Block. 🚫 10 years ago today, LeBron James came out of nowhere for the INCREDIBLE CHASEDOWN BLOCK in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA FINALS, sending the @cavs to their first-ever NBA championship!

"BLOCKED BY JAMES!" "IT'S GOOD! KYRIE IRVING FROM DOWNTOWN!" "IT'S OVER. CLEVELAND IS A CITY OF CHAMPIONS." 10 years ago today... Cavs/Warriors Game 7 💯

Join us in wishing a Happy 48th Birthday to 14x NBA All-Star, 2010-11 NBA Champion, 2006-07 NBA MVP and 75th Anniversary Team member, Dirk Nowitzki!

On this day in 2013... Ray Allen knocked down an incredible game-tying 3-pointer to force OT in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals!