The National Basketball Association is a league like no other. In its 67-year history - including three seasons as the Basketball Association of America - it has conjured countless magical moments, each the culmination of a fascinating story. In combining the typically American sense of glitz and glamour and the fast pace usually associated with more universally popular sports, it has captured the hearts and imagination of a captivated audience for generations. Not every iconic moment involves the winning of a title (although many, of course, do). The beauty of the NBA lies in the fact that an enrapturing tale can be found almost anywhere, from contentious trades to all-out brawls, era-spanning dynasties of dominance to a single play. It has created its own folklore unlike any other league in sport, populated by global superstars such as Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and the immortal Michael Jordan. No other league has the ability to create amazing moments of such frequency and depth. Today's NBA features a pair of true basketball giants in the form of Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, as well as emerging future stars such as Anthony Davies, Russel Westbrook and Steph Curry. In their hands, there's no doubt that the league will go on to generate unforgettable memories for years to come. Here are 18 of the most magical moments in the history of the NBA, each contributing to the history of the game in its own special way.
