Divided and thwarted in the 1920's, the various components of progressivism came tentatively together in 1932.
More than any other sport, the NBA allows for both individual flash-and-dazzle theatrics and solid fundamentals-progressivism and conservatism, all in a single possession.
The other important reason was that the members of scientific party who were inclined to scientism were for the evolution viewpoint of progressivism.