+1000
Loaded! Today people go on and on about how Jordan change basketball. But the biggest changes to the game were actually due to two people, Wilt and Dr.J. Wilt was a big, powerful, athletic man. Because of him the NBA changed the size of the lane, the NCAA outlawed offensive basketball interference, and lobbing the ball from the baseline over the backboard. All of these rules are still implemented today. From Jordan we got the hand check, 3 steps to the hoop, to a lesser extent, palming, and a less physical game.
Doc changed basketball because the ABA and the NBA were two separate leagues with two different styles of play. The NBA teams mostly played a half court game. The ABA ran the lanes, encouraged spectacular dunks (and had dunk contests), ran to the 3pt line, had cheerleaders, free giveaway nights, half time shows etc. You know, the way the NBA looks now. The leagues merged, not because the Association wanted to imitate that style of play, but because they wanted Doc in the fold. But along with Doc came the game the way it is today. The Association wants you to believe Showtime came about because of Magic's Lakers, but in the ABA every night was showtime.