What is the NBA’s version of Yankee Stadium?
Unless you’re a Miami Dolphins fan, Sunday’s top sports story was the final game at Yankee Stadium. While some cynics will say the entire event was blown out of proportion — partially because of the New York media bias, partially because the team is only moving across the street into a building that’s gonna be called “Yankee Stadium” — most of us would agree this was a big deal.
Does the NBA have its own version of Yankee Stadium? The old Boston Garden would have been the best candidate, but that’s gone. Same for the old L.A. Forum. That leaves just a few building that have seen a significant portion of NBA history, enough to at least be a newsworthy story when its doors close:
1. Madison Square Garden — Since 1968. Home to the ’71 and ’73 championship Knicks; Hall of Fame careers of Patrick Ewing, Clyde Frazier, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere, Willis Reed and Earl Monroe; site of numerous historic performances by Michael Jordan.
2. The Palace at Auburn Hills — Since 1988. Home to the ’89, ’90 and 2004 championship Pistons; Hall of Fame-worthy careers of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, Ben Wallace (?) and Grant Hill (?); site of one of the NBA’s most infamous moments, the ’04 Pistons/Pacers brawl.
3. United Center — Since 1994. Home to the ’96, ’97 and ’98 championship Bulls; Hall of Fame-worthy careers of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman; site of the “Undertaker vs. Undertaker” match at WWF SummerSlam ’94.
4. AT&T Center — Since 2002 (formerly the SBC Center). Home to the ’03, ’05 and ’07 championship Spurs; Hall of Fame-worthy careers of Tim Duncan, David Robinson, Tony Parker (?), Manu Ginobili (?) and Robert Horry (?).
5. Staples Center — Since 1999. Home to the 2000, ’01 and ’02 championship Lakers; Hall of Fame-worthy careers of Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Robert Horry (?); site of Kobe’s 81-point and 62-point performances.
6. Energy Solutions Arena — Since 1991 (formerly the Delta Center). Home to Hall of Fame-worthy careers of Karl Malone and John Stockton; site of Michael Jordan’s famous Finals-winning shot in ’98; 14-time winner of the “Toughest Place to Find a Black Family in America” contest.
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September 22nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
j from la says:
wheres the staples center
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
T Dubbs says:
MSG is the closest…
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:32 pm
BxBaller says:
Easy, Madison Square Garden. Not only is it huge for the NBA. But it’s had numerous huge events, too many to name. I’m from the BX and I’m mad as hell that the got a new stadium. The building is perfectly fine, not to mention they tore up the basketball courts that used to be behind the Stadium. I had mad memories there, it was the first official basketball tournament that I ever played in.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
dagwaller says:
I hate baseball, but I think that it would be too hard for a basketball arena to get the kind of status that Yankee Stadium has. Primarlily because baseball is much more about tradition than basketball. Think about it. Baseball has been the same game for the past 100 odd years, while basketball is constantly evolving.
Which are big reasons why I hate baseball and love basketball…
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:39 pm
bsteezy3 says:
No question it’s MSG. Mainly because it has been around long enough to have a real historic quality to it. Yeah, the 90s were a decade ago, but a real sense of nostalgia comes to the stadiums that have beeen around before Jordan dominated the league…
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
J says:
you say that the boston garden or la forum dont count cause they are gone, but doesnt that make yankee stadium the new boston garden or la great western forum. basketball isnt like other sports its, better and other sports are like basketball
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Amar says:
lol @ the delta center/ESA . . . didn’t ronnie brewer’s dad go to one home game last season, does that count?
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
it aint easy being green says:
of course nothing comes CLOSE to either the garden or the forum, but since neither one exist anymore, i guess you gotta go with msg. i agree with bx baller. not only for the noteworthy nba action that took place there, but all the other major events. msg is one of the biggest gigs a musician of any genre can play, boxing, theatre. i hate all ny teams, but msg is the big time.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Big V says:
MSG all the way. Outside of basketball, just take a look at the historic boxing events that have taken place here. And by the way, Horry ain’t making the HOF.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
smity far away says:
madison square garden. but if the united center had been open in 1990 then it would be a close second to MSG. I’d also give The Delta Center consideration (based on number of years open) if the name hadn’t been changed. The Palace had too long a time of inactivity it seems like…
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Jim says:
No, there’s not one like it. Combine the Forum and the old Garden and then you have an argument.
No one denies MSG’s place in culture, but we can deny any similarity between the Knicks and the Yankees besides playing in NYC.
September 22nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Tyrone says:
The Boston Garden gots lotsa history y’all. Then arena has seen mad championships and it seems like dat’s gonna be continuin’ on.
True thugz never lie.
Tyrone
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
shake&bake says:
Undertaker vs. Undertaker = Awesome!
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
schoops says:
MSG… MJ called it the “mecca of basketball.” enough said.
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Gerald says:
The Garden hands down! Still my favorite place to watch basketball. Im a big fan of old arenas and stadiums. They got more character, then these super stadiums with water slides and Chillis inside. I can understand building a better venue in some cases, like when the Jazz moved from the Salt Palace to the Delta Center. But places with history like Madison Square, Wrigley Field, Cameron Indoor should never be touched. And they should never be allowed to get a corporate name too!
September 22nd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Rdub4Sho says:
MSG Hands Down!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Ian says:
i have to go with
undertaker vs undertaker
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
MBE18 says:
Madison Square Garden… No Brainer!!!
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
dukesman2000 says:
MSG by far…it is the Mecca of basketball.
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:39 pm
SparkyJay23 says:
How can you have a arena thats less than 10 years old on this list? Step away from the fucking crack pipe
The NBA had a Yankee stadium but since the Boston Garden is gone its MSG for sure
September 22nd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Meica says:
You know what? There just isn’t a Yankee Stadium in basketball. The Boston Garden would have held that title easy, but obviously it doesn’t exist anymore and it wasn’t a huge deal outside the basketball community when they did tear it down, so it really can’t count.
I suppose MSG would be the de facto candidate, but, I don’t know, it’s just not a Yankee Stadium or a Wrigley Field, if you know what I mean.
September 22nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Quest??? says:
Madison Square Garden
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:22 pm
J Tok says:
MSG for sure. It’s the mecca
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
chrisGO says:
lol @ undertaker vs undertaker
i was a shorty when that happened and back then that match was surreal….but nowadays that match is a pretty lame watch, lol.
September 22nd, 2008 at 5:59 pm
bballinca says:
MSG hands down. BTW the Forum was never torn down. It’ still in use today jsut not for NBA bball.
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
Jim says
“No one denies MSG’s place in culture, but we can deny any similarity between the Knicks and the Yankees besides playing in NYC”.
When a team wins 26 championships in the L, then we can talk. The Yankees are hands down the greatest franchise of any sport ever and the players they attract, year after year. No one in the “L” can say they do that except the Lakers and Boston.
September 22nd, 2008 at 7:40 pm
MWong says:
ARCO Arena, baby!! That ARCO Thunder gets ‘em every time…
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:24 am
karan says:
definately MSG
September 23rd, 2008 at 7:48 am
sunni says:
staples center…home to the clippers consistent non-exciting teams
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:43 pm
DellCurryFan says:
Undertaker v Undertaker totally cool. I am not 100% sure but didn’t Kobe drop his 81 in Toronto?
September 23rd, 2008 at 9:28 pm
James Taylor says:
MSG far and away
September 23rd, 2008 at 10:38 pm
kowtz says:
Most probably the reason why UTAH drafted Deron over CP3 was because of the last sentence on the article…