Timeline of NBA in 1980s as league celebrates 75th season

FILE - Boston Celtics Larry Bird, right, passes off to teammate as Milwaukee Bucks Marques Johnson steps in to block his path during NBA action in Boston, Nov. 7, 1980. (AP Photo/John Martell, File)

FILE - The Space Shuttle orbiter Challenger is destroyed by an explosion shortly after it lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on Jan. 28, 1986. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

FILE - Television talk show host Oprah Winfrey puts her feet up as she relaxes in her studio office following a morning broadcast in Chicago, on Dec. 18, 1985. The Oprah Winfrey Show debuted in 1986. During its 25-year run, it become the highest-rated daytime talk show in television history. (AP Photo/Charlie Knoblock, File)

FILE - Michael Jordan holds the trophy for Most Valuable Player after the NBA All-Star game in Chicago on Feb. 7, 1988. (AP Photo/Fred Jewell, File)

FILE - Secret Service agents and police officers swarm a gunman, obscured from view, after he attempted an assassination on President Ronald Reagan outside the Washington Hilton hotel on March 30, 1981. gan was shot and wounded by John Hinckley Jr. in an assassination attempt outside a Washington D.C. hotel. Reagan survived and eventually served two terms. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds, File)

FILE - Boston Celtics forward Larry Bird (33) attempts a shot through defending Los Angeles Lakers forward Kurt Rambis (31), right and center Kareem Abdul Jabbar during NBA Championship series match on June 8, 1985, at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon)

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers' Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33) hooks a shot over Portland Trail Blazers' Jim Brewer (52) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Los Angeles on March 12, 1980. Abdul-Jabbar wins his sixth MVP award after claiming five in the 1970s. He averaged 24.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 3.4 blocks. (AP Photo/Lennox McLendon, File)

FILE - Los Angeles Lakers Earvin "Magic" Johnson hugs team owner Jerry Buss in the locker room after they won the 1980 NBA championship against the Philadelphia 76ers in Philadelphia, on May 16, 1980. Johnson stepped in and plays center for the injured Abdul-Jabbar in Game 6 of the NBA Finals with his Los Angeles Lakers holding a 3-2 series lead over the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar, File)

Detroit Pistons team owner Bill Davidson holds the Larry O'Brien Trophy surrounded by his players following their NBA championship victory over the Los Angeles Lakers in game 4 in Inglewood, Ca., June 13, 1989. From left are, Rick Mahorn, Davidson, John Salley, and Isiah Thomas (11). Detroit completed the fifth sweep in NBA Finals history with their 105-97 victory. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)

FILE - A California Highway Patrol officer checks the damage to cars that fell when the upper deck of the Bay Bridge collapsed onto the lower deck after the Loma Prieta earthquake in San Francisco on Oct. 17, 1989. The Loma Prieta earthquake hits as the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics prepared for Game 3 of the World Series at San Francisco's Candlestick Park on Oct. 17, 1989. (AP Photo/George Nikitin, File)

FILE - Philadelphia 76ers' Moses Malone slams home two of his 24 points in a playoff game against the Lakers, in Los Angeles, Calif., on May 31, 1983. The Sixers went on to sweep the Lakers four games straight to win the NBA championship. (AP Photo, File)