The Los Angeles Lakers, the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Chicago Bulls are all rich in NBA basketball history. And while it is normal to be captivated by the many highs these organizations have achieved over the years, very little time is spent on how a franchise began.

In this video essay, we explore the dynamic history of the NBA since the 1976 ABA/NBA merger. From Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway with the Orlando Magic to Karl Malone and John Stockton of the Utah Jazz, we take a deep dive into how they performed out of the gate. We also examine the foundational years of the Oklahoma City Thunder, highlighting the impact of Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, and James Harden, along with the strategic vision of General Manager Sam Presti and how that all leads to the Oklahoma City Thunder team of today with players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, and many others.

0:00 Basketball in 1976
0:22 ABA and NBA Merger
1:14 What was added along with the ABA
1:41 Since the NBA and ABA Merger
2:26 The Oklahoma City Thunder from scratch
2:54 The Orlando Magic
4:00 The Collapse of The Magic
4:48 Tim Duncan, Grant HIll, Tracy McGrady
5:49 The Utah Jazz
6:35 Rise of The Utah Jazz
8:27 Michael Jordan Things
8:36 Utah Jazz and Orlando Magic
8:59 The Best 15 Seasons EVER
9:16 Sam Presti Refelcts
9:38 The Numbers
10:10 OKC Thunder Journey Through The Playoffs
10:30 15 Years of The OKC Thunder
10:45 Ground up in OKC
11:07 Sam Presti on What's Next