NBA Twitter has become a wonderfully fun and silly distraction from this underwhelming early Bull’s Season. Whether it’s Kawhi’s “Hey, Hey, Hey” video or Josh Hart’s fantastic reaction to James Harden, NBA social media has helped me cope with the Bull’s lackluster 4-10 start.
The NBA is one of the few things social media actually enhances. It makes watching games feel collaborative, inclusive, and fun. However, the NBA and social media haven’t existed together for that long. The NBA was founded in 1946, whereas Facebook started in 2004. Twitter was founded in 2006, two years after “the Malice at the Palace.” By the time Instagram was founded in 2010, Kobe had already won his fifth and final NBA Championship. There is so much of NBA’s history that happened before the advent of social media that I thought it would be fun to imagine what past NBA social media moments would’ve looked like. Also, I realize social media could not have existed in the past due to lack of technology, but the Bulls are 13th in the East so let’s just have fun?
Wilt’s 100 Point Game
Our phones blow up when Harden is climbing towards 50 points, so if people could’ve been notified about Wilt’s 100-point game our phones would’ve exploded. It would’ve gotten more people tuning in than when The Beatles went on Ed Sullivan.
The Kareem Trade
Woj bombs are now so common I can simply say “Woj Bomb” and you know what I’m talking about. Isn’t that nuts? The Kareem Trade would’ve been "The Fat Man" of Woj Bombs.
NBA
The ABA
The ABA was a league made for NBA Twitter and social media. Imagine seeing Marvin Barnes’ famous quote as a screenshot.
Off-court Wilt
We already know his exploits on the court would’ve made a Harden/Giannis/Westbrook hybrid monster, but he was the GOAT off the court as well. This could’ve been a legendary moment on Snapchat.
MJ Playoff Mode
I don’t know if Jordan would’ve been on social media, but his killer instinct would’ve made him more than capable of breaking the Internet.
Larry on Facebook
I don’t think Larry Bird would’ve had social media but if he did, I think he would’ve just had Facebook.
Fish out Water
We take for granted walking step-by-step with Luka getting to know his new teammates or seeing Joel Embiid turn into a Superstar before our eyes, but how cool would it have been to know a young Akeem Olajuwon’s first impressions of America in real-time.
Sir Charles
Dream Team Charles Barkley would’ve given me carpal tunnel from all the refreshing and scrolling.
And finally, this would’ve been the best tweet of all time.
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