The NBA is the world’s premier basketball league, home to some of the greatest players in sports history. The league has a long tradition of game-changing plays and storied rivalries, personal sagas and team dynasties. Off the court, the NBA is deeply committed to social responsibility and is led by its NBA Cares initiative.
In addition to promoting the game of basketball around the globe, the NBA supports educational opportunities for kids and families, and invests in communities through youth-serving programs that address critical social issues. The NBA is also a founding member of the International Basketball Federation, an association of national professional basketball leagues in Europe and Asia.
Founded in New York City in 1946, the league was originally called the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The BAA merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to form the NBA. Today, the NBA has 30 teams—29 in the United States and one in Canada—divided into two 15-team conferences: Eastern and Western. The conference structure was introduced in 2004.
Each season, each NBA team plays 82 games over the course of six months in an attempt to win the most number of points and become champion. The regular season is followed by the playoffs, culminating in a best-of-seven series between the winners of each conference to determine the league champion.
From a technical standpoint, the rules of the game are straightforward. Each team has five players on the court, and the ball must be held in a player’s hand or between his arms and body at all times. There can be no shouldering, holding, pushing or tripping an opponent, and any player caught committing these fouls may be penalized by the referee with a technical foul.
The first player to score a basket wins the point, and the ball must remain in play until the next team scores. In the event of a tie, the team that wins the most rebounds will take possession of the ball. If the game remains tied, a three-pointer will be attempted by either team. If successful, the three-pointer will break the tie and give the winning team a one-point lead.
In addition to the game rules, the NBA’s CBA includes a range of other policies. The league prohibits its teams and players from engaging in gambling, illegal drugs, tobacco or other substance abuse, and it requires them to comply with a drug-testing program. In addition, it requires players to complete a wellness check before each season and provide the results to the league.
The NBA’s official website features information about the league, its teams, and the game of basketball. It also has a comprehensive database of statistics and historical records. In addition, the site offers live streaming of games and allows fans to sign up for the NBA newsletter. It also provides access to the league’s television broadcast schedule and ticket purchasing options. NBA telecasts are available in multiple languages. The site is free to use, although some premium content is available for a fee.