Despite being a league for only 30 teams, the National Basketball Association has grown to become a global sensation. Today, players from all over the world represent the NBA, including NBA All-Stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry. The NBA has also become popular in Asia and Europe.
The NBA started in 1946 as a way for NHL owners to make money while their teams were not playing. The league had seventeen teams when the National Basketball League merged in 1949. In the beginning, teams competed within their division. The regular season was held from October through April. After the regular season, the teams competed in a playoff tournament to determine which team would take home the championship. The winner would then be crowned as the NBA champion. The playoff tournament was held for four rounds.
In the early years of the NBA, teams like the Minneapolis Lakers dominated. They won five NBA championships from 1948 to 1954. The Boston Celtics were also a powerhouse, winning 11 championships in 13 seasons.
After the league expanded in 1966, the Chicago Bulls became the first expansion team. During the early 1990s, the Bulls won six championships. They also posted the best record in NBA history. The team had the best winning percentage in NBA history and was coached by Michael Jordan.
The Bulls were able to return to the top of the league with Michael Jordan, who won all six championships during the 1990s. Other teams were allowed to enter the league, but they had to meet certain criteria. The Minnesota Timberwolves were one of the teams that moved to the Twin Cities during this time.
The NBA has expanded to include a team in Canada. In addition to the NBA, there are several other basketball leagues around the world. There are currently 29 teams in the United States and one in Canada. The teams compete in two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. In each conference, there are five teams. Each team plays 82 games. The team that finishes in first place in their conference earns a spot in the playoffs. Teams from other conferences are able to gain a spot by winning a wild card tournament.
The NBA has also introduced new criteria for accreditation. Players and trainers are now included in the bubble. The bubble is designed to keep non-essential people out of the league and to keep coaches and players safe. In addition to players, coaches, and trainers, there are also security personnel involved. The team with the worst all-time record is the Memphis Grizzlies.
The 2000 draft class may be the worst in NBA history. Only two players in the top 10 selections played more than 10 seasons in the NBA. The rest of the players were either picked after the first round or did not play in the NBA. Most of the players selected after the third round did not play in the NBA.