The National Basketball Association (NBA) was founded just after WWII in June of 1946 and quickly transformed into the benchmark of professional basketball around the world. If you're quick at maths, you'll have realised that this means the NBA is turning 75 years old this year.

This is a huge milestone and many want to be a part of it - sponsors, advertisers, TV channels, and the players themselves. While Spalding is handing back the official game ball title to Wilson, Nike is continuing with the uniforms deal. Each team will receive Classic Edition and City Edition Nike uniforms with the new NBA diamond logo stitched on them. Furthermore, the Swoosh will create Dunk Low colourways (sneakers) inspired by the teams.

The NBA gets the majority of its revenue from television, and it would be interesting to note which British companies will jump onto the opportunity to advertise during matches. We know Lidl is big on sports partnerships and sponsorships; they've sponsored England's soccer team before, and they clearly do not shy away from TV advertisements. So maybe we'll see them advertising 'Lidl special offers for next week', or launching some big campaign to encourage more participation in UK Basketball as they did with soccer in 2018.

This NBA 2021-2022 season is a celebration that will be recognised mainly through the NBA 75.
What's the NBA 75 you ask? Read on!

What is NBA 75?

This season will be commemorated through the new title of "NBA 75" as a nod of appreciation to years of great players and their records and team successes. In October 2021, the NBA will publish the greatest 75 players to have played in the league. The players chosen will represent all decades and eras of the NBA. The final decisions will be made by a panel made up of former players, coaches, club executives and members of the NBA media.

And of course, it's got people guessing who will and won't make the cut. We've made some predictions ourselves...

Three ex-players to make the cut

1. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is arguably the best NBA player to have ever graced the court. Even the official NBA website biography of MJ declares him the greatest of all time. He played a total of 15 seasons and won six championships.

2. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant won five championships with the LA Lakers and is their all-time leading point scorer with two Olympic gold medals for the USA team. He was posthumously honoured into the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame and it's likely he will be honoured in the NBA 75 as well.

3. Wilt Chamberlain
Chamberlain was a Maverick during the early years of the NBA and still holds many NBA records today. In 1962, he managed to score 100 points in a single game, which is an NBA record that will almost undoubtedly never be broken.

Three current players to make the cut

It might be a little harder for current players to make the NBA 75 draft because they are still playing and have yet to accomplish everything they will in their careers right now. However, we think there are some current players likely to get in the 75, namely:

1. LeBron James
LeBron "King" James is perhaps the best NBA player of his time, if not the best. He is still applying his trade with the LA Lakers. There is a hot debate whether it is LeBron or Michael Jordan to be the greatest NBA player of all time. With such debates, there's almost no doubt he will make the 75.

2. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is said to have revolutionised NBA teams' use of the three-pointer and is often regarded as the most accurate shooter to have ever played in the NBA. In 2016, he set a new record for the most three-pointers made in one season, a phenomenal 402 three-pointers.

3. Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is another sensible prediction to make the NBA 75. The Golden State Warriors' forward currently has two championships under his belt and three Olympic gold medals around his neck. His story is also reminiscent of Michael Jordan's, as he wasn't regarded as the best player in his high school.