The history of the NBA has been defined by dynasties. The formula for creating a dynasty in the NBA is simple: draft a couple of MVP candidates, and then find solid role players that complement them. The Minneapolis Lakers first did this in the early 1950's, around George Mikan and Slater Martin, leading to a 3-peat and 5 championships in 6 years. In the 1950's & 1960's, the Boston Celtics did it, winning 11 championships in 13 years around legends like Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, and John Havlicek. The "Showtime Lakers" of the 80's, led by Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and James Worthy, won 5 championships and gave basketball a sense of entertainment. In the 1990's, the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and eventually Dennis Rodman, won 6 titles as Jordan established himself as the greatest player of all time. And in the new millennium, the Toronto Raptors, an expansion team that was part of the NBA's effort to be a 'global sport,' have dominated the NBA.
- YouTube documentary: The 2000's Toronto Raptors: The Expansion Dynasty by torontobasketballfan95
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What if I told you that an expansion team would become one of the most impressive dynasties in NBA history? What if I told you that a former player from Detroit would become the best manager in Toronto's history? What if I told you that you could erase the pain of a frustrated hockey town, and the curse of a cheap general manager? What if I told you that a country obsessed with post-secondary education for all pinned its hopes and dreams on high school kids, and it worked? What if I told you a purple dinosaur could be a symbol of both cool and lame at the same time? What if I told you trophies really did follow a compass?
- Commercial for the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary "We the North"