The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the most popular sporting events in the world. The competition comprises 30 teams that are divided into two conferences, Eastern and Western. Both conferences have three divisions with five teams in each one. The teams play against each other throughout the season in a total of 82 games. The winners of the Eastern and Western conference face each other in a series of seven games to determine the champion after the season ends. The immense amount of talent displayed in the competition is what makes the NBA exceptionally popular. There’s no denying that watching the NBA is one of the most entertaining experiences ever.
What’s more, the NBA is a potential gold mine for gambling enthusiasts due to its competitive nature. If you feel like NBA betting is for you, check out this NBA odds guide to ensure you get the most out of your money. The NBA is one of the four major professional sports leagues in North America and has been in existence for more than seven decades. There are countless facts, events, milestones, and awards surrounding the NBA, given its long history. Fans are always looking for fascinating facts and achievements about their favorite teams. Such statistics provide them with newfound admiration and love for their favorite teams and players.
Nevertheless, most of us rarely witness most of these milestones as we’re usually very invested in watching the games. Even so, these fascinating facts can be just as exciting as a breakaway slam dunk. If you spend most of your time concentrating on the action happening on the court, you probably won’t be able to keep track of these achievements. Fortunately, you don’t have to go through hoops trying to keep up with them. Here are five facts you might not know about the NBA to help you keep up with its rapid pace.
There Has Never Been A Quintuple-Double in NBA History
Several player statistics get recorded on a game-to-game basis for every individual player in the NBA. Some of the statistical categories include points scored, rebounds, steals, and assists. When a player manages to achieve a score of more than ten in three of these categories, he records a triple-double. If he manages to get ten or more points in four categories, he records a quadruple-double. Although this may sound quite simple, achieving these milestones is very difficult. Only four players have managed to record a quadruple-double in their professional NBA careers. The first one is David Robertson with 34 points, ten rebounds, ten assists, and ten blocks. Nate Thurmond had 22 points, 14 rebounds, 13 assists, and 12 blocks. Another exceptional athlete is Alvin Robertson, who managed to get 20 points, 11 rebounds, ten assists, and ten blocks. Lastly, there’s Hakeem Olajuwon, whose quadruple-double statistics are 18 points, 16 rebounds, ten assists, and 11 blocks. However, no NBA player has been able to achieve a quintuple-double. Even so, with players getting better and better every year, it’s only a matter of time before someone attains this milestone.
Shaq Has Only One Three-Point Field Goal
All avid fans of the NBA know and love Shaquille O’Neal. He is one of the most decorated NBA players of all time, with four championships under his belt. Even so, Shaq only has one three-point field goal in his 19-year career in the NBA. The main reason for this is the fact that Shaquille played as a center. His effectiveness in that position meant that he never needed to shoot while beyond the three-point line. This lack of three-pointers, however, didn’t affect his career in any way. The four-time champion went on to retire as one of the best players the NBA has ever seen.
The NBA Banned the First Air Jordans
1985 marks the birth of arguably the single most incredible basketball sneakers of all time, the Air Jordans. Nevertheless, although the shoes have now gained worldwide fame, things weren’t as pleasant in the beginning. Back then, NBA rules and regulations forced all players to wear white sneakers for their home games and black ones when playing on the road. Therefore, when Michael Jordan wore a pair of Air Jordans to a preseason game against the New York Knicks, the association was not happy. The then commissioner for the NBA fined Michael Jordan 5,000 dollars for this violation. Nike used this controversy to build up anticipation towards the release of the first Air Jordans. They even went ahead and nicknamed the first Air Jordans the banned edition.
Nike, which had endorsed Michael Jordan, willingly paid the fine for the then-rookie player. However, after an incredible season in which Michael Jordan became a national star, the shows became a huge success.
The Shortest and Tallest Players in The NBA Once Played for The Same Team
Although a person doesn’t need to be tall for them to play in the NBA, there’s no denying that superior height is very beneficial. Still, that hasn’t stopped many players who have been considered short from playing in the league. The shortest athlete to ever play in the NBA is Muggsy Bogues. The five-foot-three-inch point guard had a successful 14-year career in the NBA, playing for four teams in total. In his rookie year, Muggsy Bogues played for the Washington Bullets alongside Manute Bol, the tallest person to have played in the NBA. Bol had a towering height of close to eight feet. Despite his short stature, Muggsy had a remarkable career in the NBA, blocking a total of 39 shots.
More Than Half of All NBA Players Go Broke After Five Years of Retirement
NBA players are some of the most paid athletes in the world. Players in the league can receive more than seven figures in a single year. Even so, a study done by Sports Illustrated in 2009 showed that 60 percent of all NBA players go broke within five years of retirement. The main reason for this is poor financial management. Many NBA players fail to spend their millions wisely while still actively participating in the league. In turn, this lack of wisdom costs them quite dearly after they retire.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of things that we might miss while watching the NBA. Even so, these little-known facts about the league are what makes us love it even more.