by Jeremy HayesBuzzFeedBuzzFeed Contributor A lot can happen in half a century, and basketball is no exception. The sport has come a long way in 50 years, from increased popularity to the game's own evolution. Jim Cummins / Getty Images Here are 50 images that show how far the game of basketball has come in 50 years: 1. Fifty years ago, the Boston Celtics were on top of the league, Jo Jo White was the NBA Finals MVP. Hank Delespinasse / Getty Images 2. Professional basketball saw the expansion of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which grew from 18 teams to 22 in 1976.