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Do not fill this in! ===Surging popularity (1979β1998)=== {{Multiple image | align = right | direction = horizontal | width = 150 | total_width = 300 | image1 = 1987 NBA Finals Lipofsky.jpg | image2 = Larry Bird Lipofsky.jpg | caption_align = center | footer = Both [[Magic Johnson]] and [[Larry Bird]] became key stars for the NBA during the 1980s | footer_align = centre }} The league added the ABA's [[three-point field goal]] beginning in 1979.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1979/10/11/new-twist-in-nba-the-3-point-goal/e5547a77-ec79-491c-af8e-b09966d893a6/|title=New Twist in NBA: the 3-Point Goal|last=DuPree|first=David|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=October 11, 1979}}</ref> That same year, rookies [[Larry Bird]] and [[Magic Johnson]] joined the [[Boston Celtics]] and [[Los Angeles Lakers]] respectively, initiating a period of significant growth of fan interest in the NBA.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/endofcentury/s/century/katz.html|title=ESPN.com β ENDOFCENTURY β Katz: Magic and Bird did it all|publisher=ESPN|access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref> The two had faced each other in the [[1979 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Game]], and they later played against each other in three NBA Finals (1984, 1985, and 1987).<ref name=":0" /> In the 10 seasons of the 1980s, Johnson led the Lakers to five titles<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nba/gallery/la-lakers-lonzo-ball-nba-draft-greatest-moments-magic-johnson-kobe-bryant-shaq-oneal-phil-jackson-jerry-buss-062217|title=The 12 defining moments in Lakers history|last=ET|first=2017 at 9:17p|work=Fox Sports|access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref> while Bird led the Celtics to three titles.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-13-sp-856-story.html|title=Bird's Salary Projected at $6 Million in '91β'92|date=August 13, 1989|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 5, 2019|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> Also in the early 1980s, the NBA added one more expansion franchise, the [[Dallas Mavericks]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-08-ss-374-story.html|title=NBA: A Season Begins : Price of a Starting NBA Franchise Is Up to $32.5 Million|date=November 8, 1988|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=April 5, 2019|issn=0458-3035}}</ref> bringing the total to 23 teams. Later on, Larry Bird won the first three three-point shooting contests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1531590-5-top-performances-in-history-of-nba-three-point-shooting-contest|title=Top 5 Performances in NBA 3-Point Contest History|last=Burns|first=Scott|website=Bleacher Report|access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref> On February 1, 1984 [[David Stern]] became commissioner of the NBA.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/ffje45ekde/david-stern-becomes-fourth-nba-commissioner-1984/|title=David Stern becomes fourth NBA Commissioner, 1984|website=Forbes|access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref> Stern has been recognized as playing a major role in the growth of the league during his career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2014/01/26/david-stern-commissioner-30-years-retirement-legacy/4913299/|title=David Stern leaves as 'No. 1 reason' for NBA success|website=USA Today|access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/10/26/163729671/nba-commissioner-stern-helped-league-grow|title=NBA Commissioner Stern Helped League Grow|website=NPR.org|access-date=April 5, 2019}}</ref> [[File:Jordan by Lipofsky 16577.jpg|thumb|left|[[Michael Jordan]] became the league's most popular player during the 1990s, while leading the [[Chicago Bulls]] to six championships.]] [[Michael Jordan]] entered the league in 1984 with the [[Chicago Bulls]], spurring more interest in the league.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-bulls-draft-michael-jordan-1984-lincicome-column.html|title=June 20, 1984: Apologetic Bulls 'stuck' with Michael Jordan|last=Lincicome|first=Bernie|website=Chicago Tribune|date=June 23, 2017 |access-date=April 9, 2019}}</ref> In 1988 and 1989, four cities got their wishes as the [[Charlotte Hornets]], [[Miami Heat]], [[Orlando Magic]], and [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] made their NBA debuts, bringing the total to 27 teams.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/29/sports/nba-89-90-turnovers-2-more-teams-and-questions.html|title=NBA '89β90; Turnovers, 2 More Teams And Questions|last=Goldaper|first=Sam|date=October 29, 1989|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 9, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[Detroit Pistons]] won the back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990, led by coach [[Chuck Daly]] and guard [[Isiah Thomas]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4153982|title=Daly dies at 78; led Pistons to titles, U.S. to gold|date=May 9, 2009|publisher=ESPN|access-date=April 9, 2019}}</ref> Jordan and [[Scottie Pippen]] led the Bulls to two three-peats in eight years during the 1991β1998 seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/packages/html/sports/year_in_sports/06.12.html?scp=2&sq=whirlaway&st=cse|title=The New York Times: This Day In Sports|website=The New York Times|access-date=April 9, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/repeat-3-peat-bulls-win-again/|title=Repeat 3-Peat, Bulls Win Again!|date=June 14, 1998 |publisher=CBS News|access-date=April 9, 2019}}</ref> [[Hakeem Olajuwon]] won back-to-back titles with the [[Houston Rockets]] in 1994 and 1995.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Flashback-Rockets-sweep-Magic-for-2nd-straight-12994612.php|title=Flashback: Rockets sweep Magic for 2nd straight NBA crown |date=June 14, 2018|website=Houston Chronicle|access-date=April 9, 2019 |last1=Sports |first1=Houston Chronicle }}</ref> The [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Olympic]] basketball [[1992 United States men's Olympic basketball team|Dream Team]], the first to use current NBA stars, featured Michael Jordan as the anchor, along with Bird, Johnson, [[David Robinson (basketball)|David Robinson]], [[Patrick Ewing]], Scottie Pippen, [[Clyde Drexler]], [[Karl Malone]], [[John Stockton]], [[Chris Mullin (basketball)|Chris Mullin]], [[Charles Barkley]], and star NCAA amateur [[Christian Laettner]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/where-are-they-now-1992-dream-team-2016-8|title=WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The 1992 Dream Team that dominated Olympic basketball|last=Davis|first=Scott|website=Business Insider|access-date=April 9, 2019}}</ref> The team was elected to the [[Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame]], while 11 of the 12 players (along with three out of four coaches) have been inducted as individuals in their own right.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/25-facts-to-celebrate-the-dream-team-25-years-later/|title=25 facts to celebrate the Dream Team 25 years later|website=Chicago Sun-Times|date=July 27, 2017|access-date=April 9, 2019}}</ref> In 1995, the NBA expanded to Canada with the addition of the [[Vancouver Grizzlies]] and the [[Toronto Raptors]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/raptors-a-model-franchise-nba-boss-silver-says-but-he-can-t-fix-the-leafs-1.3444450|title=NBA commissioner Adam Silver praises Toronto, but says no more Canadian teams}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/03/sports/pro-basketball-now-playing-in-the-nba-the-raptors-and-the-grizzlies.html|title=PRO BASKETBALL;Now Playing in the N.B.A., the Raptors and the Grizzlies|last=Brown|first=Clifton|date=November 3, 1995|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 9, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 1996, the NBA created a women's league, the [[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/sports/basketball/wnba-opens-its-20th-season-recall-los-angeles-sparks.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513095527/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/sports/basketball/wnba-opens-its-20th-season-recall-los-angeles-sparks.html |archive-date=2016-05-13 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=As W.N.B.A. Opens Its 20th Season, Key Figures Recall the First Game|last=Araton|first=Harvey|date=May 13, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 9, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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