What got you into the NBA?

[WilyWestbrook0]

I honestly became a fan after playing the Tecmo NBA Basketball game on the NES in 1992. I saw a little bit of the 1992-93 Finals between Chicago and Phoenix after wearing that game out, but the first full season I followed was the 1993-94 season. I was nine. Jordan had retired and I obviously don't remember much of his dominance for those first three championships - only the later ones.

My family got the DirecTV satellite with League Pass for the 1995-96 season. Ever since, I've been able to watch any team I want, not just what the major networks show. A large reason for getting DirecTV in the first place was actually to see more Rex Chapman games (he is my all-time favorite player, and in 1995-96, he played in Miami before they were a national TV fixture).

I also used to play basketball a lot in those carefree days and even briefly had dreams of playing in the WNBA (muahahahaha!). That was before I came to my senses and realized my court vision was atrocious, my motor coordination a little too stiff, my shot far too inconsistent, and my height less than ideal (5'2") for any hope in that. : ) In fact, the WNBA has never been able to interest me the way the NBA does. Er, my gender just isn't as good at that sort of thing, y'know? : D

I am sure all of your fanhood stories will be far different, and I am interested in reading them.

[tutall]

Mine is a bit different but Dennis Rodman got me into basketball.... when he got traded to the Bulls is when i got turned onto basketball... i loved his desire to play and the corny stuff he pulled in the finals against karl malone... i watched games before then but after rodman i followed it... i now love college ball and love getting the scoop on high school players and try to go to as many high school games that feature the tops players in the nation... we try to make a road trip every winter break to see a top 5 school in America

[RenegadeLonghorn]

Michael Jordan

[TheTGB]

Honestly, I hate the NBA. The NBA is so selfish in their playing.

I would rather watch college basketball any day of the week.

I enjoy European basketball also. My personal coach from junior high to high school played professional ball in Portugal.

[TurdFerguson]

I just started watching Bulls games when I was younger maybe 11 or 12. This was BEFORE Michael Jordan too ! Orlando Woolridge & Artis Gilmore were the big names on the team then. Once the Bulls got Michael, I was hooked. However, since the Jordan days have ended, I'll bet I can count the number of NBA games I've watched entirely on one hand. I just have no interest in watching today's players especially Iverson & Kobe.

[WilyWestbrook0]

spoodini and Rick - In today's game, I would recommend the Pistons and Spurs for you. Those are examples of two unselfish teams with good fundamentals and sound offense and defense, not a team with one big name superstar who gets all the limelight. Their Finals match-up last year was great and overlooked by the 'star-happy' media.

[TurdFerguson]

No way, I hate the Pistons ! Ever since the Bad Boys days against the Bulls. I actually like the Spurs because I was a David Robinson fan.

[RenegadeLonghorn]

I watch the NBA for its entertainment value. Sure, some players are selfish and overpaid. But thats true for every team sport. NBA can often be an individual sport (Kobe, Tmac, Iverson) and I believe thats why we hear of certain players more. I've been a basketball fan for around fifteen years now and nothing will change that. Basketball is more exciting to me then baseball and hockey. At least there's scoring!

Also helps that I've been a Spurs fan for a very long time. :)

[WilyWestbrook0]

It's also the most exciting sport for me to watch. I like football too but basketball eclipsed my interest in it back in 1993 and it's been that way since (I do catch a few NFL games each year and try to catch the Super Bowl each time, including this year's which I plan to see). Hockey I will watch once in a great while, but like you said - the lack of scoring is a drawback. There's more of that in basketball and football. Baseball's lack of scoring and speed has made me unable to ever get into it at all, unfortunately.

[Insane Irish]

Ever since I could stand I was watching Basketball (NBA mostly) because of my father. My whole family were die-hard Celtics fans. I would even listen to the C's on the radio, just because of Johnny Most. Sometimes we'd mute the T.V. and crank the radio up, because nobody called the game like J. Most!!!
I love the fact that I grew up in my ERA, getting to watch players like Bird, Magic, Dominique, Mchale, Jordan, Barkley, Ewing ect. And now some of the new Superstars are fun as Well, Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, Lebron ect. I love the NBA, I just don't watch as much as I used too. Just too many trades, Free agency, kinda just killed it for me. The minute you start really liking your teams players, BAM they are gone.
I do get the Direct TV deal every year still, just so I can still watch my C's, but it's just not the same as the older days!!!