The National Basketball Association is a professional basketball league. It was founded in 1946 and has since grown to thirty teams with 29 teams located in the United States and one in Canada. The most successful teams in the league are the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics. These two teams have won as many championships as any other team and have a combined history of over 450 games. Other notable teams include the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors.
When the NBA merged with the National Basketball League in 1949, the new league had 17 teams. However, the league quickly lost some of them and was reduced to eight teams after six years. The new NBA also struggled financially, as many of its smaller markets still had teams in the NBL. However, the NBA was saved by the owner of the former NBL team, the Fort Wayne Pistons. Zollner stepped in to save the league and kept the teams financially viable.
After the regular season ends, the playoffs begin. The top eight teams play for the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. The seeds are awarded according to regular season record, and tiebreakers are used when necessary. The playoffs last four rounds and decide the champion. The season is shortened by two months in 2014 because the NBA’s regular season schedule is shortened. However, it returns to regular play in November. Once the playoffs begin, the NBA will be in full swing.
The NHL also holds several contests and awards. Most notable are the Rookie Challenge and the Rising Stars Challenge. These games pit U.S. players against international players. The Skills Challenge involves players completing an obstacle course in the shortest amount of time. The Three Point Contest is held to determine the player who makes the most field goals within the specified time period. Finally, the NBA Slam Dunk contest is held to determine which player dunks the ball the most entertainingly.
The NBA has three divisions. Each division consists of five teams. The current divisional alignment was introduced in the 2004-05 season. Some teams have moved from one league to another. Asterisks indicate a move from another league. The Fort Wayne Pistons and Minneapolis Lakers joined the NBA in 1948. The first NBA teams were in NHL cities. The expansion of the NBA is part of a strategic plan to increase revenue.
In addition to the NBA and EuroLeague, European countries have been involved in NBA exhibition games since 2006 and 2009. The game has attracted a significant number of international players over the years, including Dutchmen Rik Smits (second overall pick in the 1988 NBA Draft), German Detlef Schrempf, and many more. For example, in 2013, the NBA faced two EuroLeague teams. The NBA also began playing exhibition games with teams from the EuroLeague in 2009. In addition, the 2013-14 season saw 92 international players on rosters representing 39 countries. This was followed by a record breaking 108 international players in the 2017-18 season.
The 1980s were a good time for the NBA. The decade created the foundation for the league that we know and love today. Cold war politics and tension loomed overhead and some teams were struggling financially. The Utah Jazz came closest to financial ruin. Despite all the turmoil, the league still had some exciting moments. There were some exciting moments throughout the decade. A new era was born. This decade marked a new chapter in NBA history.