Why the 2020-2021 NBA Season is Already Historic

Hindsight is 2021

This season has been one of exclamatory ups and excruciating downs. Read why 2020-21 will be a campaign for the history books.

An Unprecedented Finals

(Courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports)

This playoffs was set to be historic at the Conference Finals stage. The four teams on the board—the Clippers, Suns, Hawks and Bucks—collectively haven’t won a championship since 1971. 1971! For reference, that was the year Manson was guilty, Starbucks was founded, Ali beat Frazier, Disney World opened and Apollo 14 landed on the Moon.

In short, any outcome would’ve been a novel one.

The Year of the Injury Bug

(Courtesy of Stacy Revere, Getty Images)

It’s a well-known folk fact that cicadas only come out every 17 years. Basketball, though, had a different critter to deal with this year: the injury bug. This season, it seemed every star weathered a high-profile injury at some point or another. From Klay Thompson’s second year of absence, to the Nets’ big three playing only a fraction of the season together, to Giannis Antetokounmpo’s scary hyperextension against the Hawks, to the mess that became of Suns-Lakers round 1, it’s been a perfect storm of sprains and sores.

The Lasting Impression of the Bubble

(Courtesy of Nathaniel S. Butler, Getty Images)

Perhaps it seems ignorant to say this season is an historic one, given that it immediately follows the one that was almost cancelled. But the quirks of bubble-ball, masketball, Disneyball or whatever other creative name—have mostly continued this year: long-distance interviews; masks on the bench; extensive testing and tracing. The reintroduction of fans is another interesting wrinkle for the books.

The next several seasons may feel the residual effects of the pandemic and its effects on culture. The NBA may be getting ready for a paradigm shift, in fact, as the next generation of social media stars—one coeval removed from LeBron and his cohort—are preparing to enter the league.

Lonzo Ball, Zion Williamson, Trae Young and company are the pioneers of this era of basketball players, but there will undoubtedly be more to come. Cade Cunningham is a good example. So is Jalen Green. Mikey Williams will be in college soon and Victor Wembanyama has been all over the internet.

Whether it’s just good timing that all these events are happening simultaneously, or a wicked witch’s prophecy fulfilling at last, who knows. What’s sure is that these past two seasons—and the ones still to come—are historic.