The National Basketball Association is a professional basketball league composed of 30 teams from the United States and Canada. It is the premier men’s basketball league in the world. It is governed by a league commissioner, and is one of the four major professional sports leagues in the world. The league’s teams compete for a total of $1 billion in annual revenue.
The league’s history is littered with many notable moments. During the 1970s, the league saw the addition of the San Antonio Spurs, the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers, and the Brooklyn Nets. The era also saw the rise of superstars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, David Robinson, Bob Cousy, and Julius Erving. They introduced new moves and rules that have made basketball what it is today. In addition, players such as George Gervin, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan all pushed the boundaries of basketball.
The NBA has 30 teams that compete in two conferences. Each conference has four divisions, and each team plays 82 games in the regular season. During the playoffs, the top eight teams earn a spot in the postseason. Teams with a bad record may still earn a wild card spot, which increases the stakes even more.
Throughout the entire regular season, the NBA will conduct COVID-19 testing of players and coaches. This will ensure that players do not contract the disease. If a positive test comes back, a player will have to spend 14 days in isolation. They will also be required to undergo cardiac screening. This will prevent the players from contracting a virus that can spread quickly.
The NBA also tries to give back to the community. NBA Cares is a global social initiative that works with internationally recognized youth serving organizations to raise awareness about social issues. The organization supports education, youth and family development, and health-related causes. A great example of this is the NBA All-Star Game.
The NBA is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Each division has 5 teams. Teams compete to win their divisions and advance to the playoffs as wildcards. In addition, teams compete for the NBA championship. One team, the Los Angeles Lakers, has won the most championships, with 17 overall.
The NBA has grown immensely in popularity in the U.S. and has surpassed Major League Baseball in terms of television ratings. However, pro basketball still has plenty of room for growth domestically. This is one reason why television continues to be a key part of the business strategy. Many fans of pro basketball enjoy watching the game on television. Even in the age of streaming television and DVR, live sporting events still appeal to the majority of the population.
In 1950, the NBA had seventeen franchises. They played in large arenas and smaller gymnasiums. In 1954, there were only eight franchises. Six of these teams went to other cities.