NBA’s Unforgettable Plays, Shocks and Shifts: A Season-by-Season Snapshot From 1954-55 to 2025-26
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ESPN national writer Zach Kram has mapped out the single event most likely to stick in fans’ minds for every NBA season beginning with the 1954-55 introduction of the 24-second shot clock and extending to today’s still-unfolding 2025-26 campaign.
Five traits that make memories last
Kram groups the enduring moments into five recurring themes:
- Incredible achievement – signature shots or record-setting performances such as Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point night in 1961-62 or Kawhi Leonard’s four-bounce buzzer-beater in 2018-19.
- Pivotal steps for iconic players or teams – milestones that chart dynasties and superstars, from Michael Jordan’s “Shot” over Craig Ehlo in 1988-89 to LeBron James’ televised free-agency choice in 2009-10.
- Beginnings and endings – watershed changes like the 1976-77 ABA-NBA merger and the first draft lottery in 1984-85.
- Unexpected disruptions – interruptions ranging from the 1998-99 lockout to the 2019-20 COVID-19 bubble.
- Pathos and controversy – tragic or contentious episodes such as Len Bias’ 1986 death, the 2004 Malice at the Palace and referee Tim Donaghy’s 2007 betting scandal.
Highlights across the decades
Among the 70-plus selections, several remain cultural touchstones:
- 1950s: Bob Pettit claims the first MVP award (1955-56) and rookie Elgin Baylor boycotts a game in segregated West Virginia (1958-59).
- 1960s: The Lakers relocate to Los Angeles (1960-61); Jerry West collects the inaugural Finals MVP despite defeat (1968-69).
- 1970s: The Lakers’ 33-game winning streak (1971-72); Kermit Washington’s punch that broke Rudy Tomjanovich’s jaw (1977-78).
- 1980s: Magic Johnson’s “junior junior” skyhook (1986-87) and Nike’s rollout of the Jumpman logo (1987-88).
- 1990s: The Dream Team revolutionizes global basketball (1991-92); the O.J. Simpson car chase splits the 1994 Finals broadcast (1993-94).
- 2000s: Vince Carter’s “it’s over” dunk-contest finale (1999-2000); Kobe Bryant’s 81-point eruption (2005-06).
- 2010s: Linsanity’s worldwide surge (2011-12); Ray Allen’s game-tying corner three in the 2013 Finals (2012-13).
- 2020s: The Orlando bubble finish (2019-20); Stephen Curry’s first Finals MVP run (2021-22) and LeBron James passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar atop the career scoring list (2022-23).
Recent seasons still taking shape
For 2023-24, Kram nominates the Paris Olympic gold won by James, Curry and Kevin Durant as the aging trio’s “last hurrah,” though Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban and the Curry-Sabrina Ionescu All-Star shootout are flagged as possible challengers.
The defining image of 2024-25, in Kram’s view, is the stunning trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that triggered front-office upheaval in Dallas and could echo for decades if the guard delivers championships in purple and gold.
Looking ahead, the 28-5 Oklahoma City Thunder are early favorites to stamp 2025-26, especially if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s club turns a record point differential into the foundation of a long-term dynasty.
From Jordan’s flu-ridden 38 points in 1997 to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 50-point title clincher in 2021, Kram’s list underlines how one play, quote or transaction can come to symbolize an entire NBA year—often in ways impossible to predict in the moment.
Source: ESPN
