While it’s easy to dismiss them as trivial, sports hold a unique power over our everyday lives. What else can so completely affect the mood of an entire region, dominate casual conversation, and unite otherwise entirely different groups of people? Teams and players can be a source of tremendous pride, consternation, or shame, and often we treat them as if they’re members of our own family.
And, while sports sometimes leave us feeling upset or disappointed, they also have the unique power to lift our spirits more than almost anything else.
There is no sport where this idea holds truer than basketball. The NBA actively encourages its players to show their personality and to be honest at all times with their emotions on and off the court. The result? A deeper fan connection with the players than in any other professional sports league. And when those players and teams do something particularly poignant, we really feel it.
Because there’s no sport more human than hoops—its signature players and moments will always stand out as more poignant and memorable than others. You’ll undoubtedly agree with this notion after reliving the Most Inspirational Moments and Performances in NBA History.