The NBA is a professional basketball league that is headquartered in New York City, with offices across the United States and internationally. Its current national television rights deal is with ESPN and TNT, which runs through the 2024-25 season. The NBA is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, and is considered to be a part of the Big Four American sports leagues along with the NFL, MLB and NHL.
The league consists of 30 teams, which are divided into two conferences (East and West). Each team plays its division opponents twice a year (24 total games), and each conference’s other five teams four times (28 total games). Teams are seeded by regular-season record. Tiebreakers are applied based on head-to-head record, then intra-conference record (if needed). The top eight seeds in each conference receive home-court advantage for the playoffs, which are best-of-seven series.
Each team is allowed a maximum of 15 players on its active roster, with 12 of those players being eligible to play in any given game. However, only five of those players can be on the court at a time, and the NBA requires that the five most active players be of the same position on the floor. This rule is designed to ensure that teams have enough depth on their benches and that a back-up for each position can be ready to play in the event of an injury or foul.
In addition to the rules on which players can be added to a team’s active roster, the NBA has several other rules that are meant to keep its competition fair and competitive. These include rules on player eligibility, substitutions, ejections and officiating. These rules are governed by the NBA’s Constitution and By-Laws, which can be found here.
The NBA also has a number of different awards that its members can win throughout the course of a season. These include the All-Star game, which is played during a pause in the regular season. There are also awards for rookie of the year, best defender, most improved player and more. These awards are voted on by the players and coaches, and the winners are usually announced in early April.
The NBA has a number of unique rules regarding the role of its players, including its minimum age requirement. These rules are in place to protect the health and safety of its players, and have led to some criticism from former players, such as Charles Barkley. However, the NBA is unlikely to change these rules, as they have helped attract and retain high-profile talent for its franchises. In addition, the NBA has a strong public image and many fans are supportive of its current policies. This is especially true for young fans who are interested in becoming professional athletes themselves.