The 80s were a time of great basketball, with the NBA establishing its foundation for today. Despite tensions and cold war politics, there were also some struggles, with some teams even close to bankruptcy. The Utah Jazz came the closest, as they nearly collapsed in the early eighties. That year, the league looked into new markets and different ways to attract new fans. These changes ushered in the era of sexy basketball.
The league’s current organization is based on conference affiliations. There are 30 teams in the league, which are divided into two conferences and three divisions. The majority of teams are located in the eastern half of the country; thirteen of them are in the Eastern Time Zone. Five teams are located in the Central Time Zone. There are also teams in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones. However, the NBA is currently the only major sports league to have a national television network.
The NBA’s expansion was marked by several changes. In the early 1950s, the league had seventeen franchises. The league eventually settled on eleven, and in the following years, four of them moved to new cities. Of these, three relocated, and one stayed in its current location. The Minnesota Timberwolves moved to Minneapolis in 1989. They became the second NBA team to play in the Twin Cities. It also led to the expansion of the NBA into the United States.
The NBA has a number of revenue streams and has experienced a spike in its popularity in recent years. The most recent multi-billion dollar TV deal between the league and Nike led to a $1 billion contract between the two sports. In addition, NBA free agency began in early July, but was temporarily halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, free agency will resume in 2022. If there are no players to sign, the NBA will still have an open market, which can help it find new players to fill their rosters.
In addition to the regular season, the NBA holds an All-Star Game. The top vote-getters in each conference are named captains of their respective teams, and the remaining 14 players are chosen by coaches. The winning team receives the title of world champion. A history of the NBA reveals that the Boston Celtics led by centre Bill Russell won 11 of their 13 titles from 1956-57 to 1968-69. This was an era of racial discrimination in sports, and the NBA owners avoided signing African players. The Minnesota Lakers, the Boston Celtics, and the Los Angeles Lakers were among the elite teams. The Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers also captured their fair share of titles, but the Boston Celtics dominated the early ’60s and ’70s.
Basketball was born in the east, but the west caught up in time. The east had the infrastructure and free-time to create a basketball league, while the west lacked both. Eventually, the NBA spanned the globe and became one of the most popular sports in the world. These cities are now thriving megacities. If you’re thinking of joining the NBA, you should start with the history of basketball and get involved!