NBA players and fans share a passion for the game. Their shared experience is built on a legacy of world-class competition, storied rivalries, and personal sagas. It also includes a deep commitment to social responsibility through NBA Cares. This organization leads the league’s involvement in addressing important social issues and works with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations to support education, community development, and health-related causes.
The NBA is the premier men’s professional basketball league in North America and features thirty teams competing throughout the United States and Canada. The league’s 82-game regular season schedule is divided into three divisions. Each team plays four games in its own division and seven against the other teams in its conference. The top two teams in each division advance to the playoffs. The teams that win the most games in the playoffs then advance to the finals, where they compete for the championship.
There are many factors that go into constructing an NBA championship-caliber team. One such factor is the balance of offensive and defensive talent that a franchise can field. The NBA is a skill-based league, and teams can often build successful rosters by employing the right mix of playmakers and shooters.
While a team’s overall success is largely determined by its performance on the court, it is also influenced by the organization’s management and business practices. For example, a successful franchise must be able to attract and retain the best talent to compete for championships. This requires a good salary structure and a robust team-building process.
Since its inception, the NBA has evolved to meet the changing needs of its global audience. Over the years, the league has changed its playoff format and introduced new rules to enhance the playing experience for both the players and the fans.
The most significant changes came after the introduction of the three-point shot in 1979, which increased the scoring potential of the NBA and led to the evolution of a distinct style of play. The NBA also adopted a 24-second shot clock to speed up the pace of the game and encourage higher shooting efficiency.
In 2004, the NBA realigned its divisions, with each conference featuring three divisions of five teams each. In the past, a division champion would be guaranteed a top-three seed; this system was scrapped in 2007.
Starting in 2020, teams that finish seventh through tenth in each conference are eligible to participate in a play-in tournament to determine the final two playoff berths. In addition, the top six teams in each conference, ranked by winning percentage, directly qualify for the playoffs. The remaining qualified teams will be placed into the first round of the playoffs as seeds seven through 10.