The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the top professional sports leagues in North America. It consists of 30 teams and is the premier men’s basketball league in the world. The league is known for its hard-hitting games and innovative coaching. The league is the premier league for basketball in the United States and Canada.
When the league first began in 1946, it was a mere footnote in comparison to other leagues. Its success was largely due to its consistency and the success of its teams in large cities. The NBA was originally started as a way for NHL teams to make money during the offseason. As a result, the first NBA teams were located in NHL cities.
The NBA has 30 teams, which are divided into two conferences, each with four divisions. The teams play 82 games in the regular season. Teams who finish the best in their division will automatically advance to the playoffs. This is the case for 16 of the 30 teams. The teams are based on their conference’s strength and geographic distribution.
In an effort to address inequity between teams, the NBA introduced a revenue sharing system. Every team pools its annual revenue, and the highest-grossing teams get a share of the money. In exchange, the low-grossing teams receive a share of the salary cap revenue.
In the United States, NBA games are broadcast on television by several networks. In the early 1950s, the league signed a contract with the DuMont Television Network (DTN) to broadcast the games. During the 1954-55 season, NBC took over the broadcast rights of the NBA. In addition, it also signed a deal with ABC in 1962. Currently, the NBA has contracts with ESPN, ABC, and TNT through the 2024-25 season.
The NBA season runs from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. It then moves into the postseason, where teams compete for the playoffs. Four rounds of playoff play determine the champion. The division winners earn a spot in the playoffs, while the other teams earn a wildcard spot.
In terms of winning percentage, the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs are the top three teams all-time. The Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles Clippers have the worst records. There are six divisions in the NBA, each with five teams.
The NBA has an annual All-Star Game. The winning team wins the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy and a championship ring. The other 14 All-Stars are chosen by coaches. In addition to the All-Star Game, teams also select honorary teams and awards. In addition to the MVP, the Sixth Man of the Year Award is given to the best player on the bench.
Each year, the top-ranked teams compete in a playoff to determine the NBA champion. The winning team goes on to claim the title of world champion. In the 1960s, the Boston Celtics, led by centre Bill Russell, won 11 of 13 titles. During the 1980s, the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers also won NBA titles.