The NBA is an American professional basketball league that currently consists of 30 teams—29 in the United States and one in Canada. The league is a member of the International Basketball Federation, and its games are played in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. The NBA is best known for its elite players, exciting style of play, and high-profile championship series. The league has also introduced innovations such as a 24-second shot clock, a three-point arc, and All-Star Game fan voting.
The league began with 11 teams in 1946 and expanded through a series of team reductions, relocations, and expansions. By the early 1980s, the NBA was plagued by money-losing franchises and low attendance. But under the leadership of commissioner David Stern, the NBA rebounded. Stern emphasized star players such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, as well as aggressive marketing, and the NBA became an internationally recognized brand.
Today, the NBA has 30 teams divided into two 15-team conferences of three divisions with five teams each. The league is headquartered in New York City. The teams are ranked by regular-season record, and the top seed in each conference is awarded home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, which culminate in the NBA Finals, a seven-game best-of-seven series between the winners of each conference.
During the season, each team plays 56 games against other teams in their own division (15 home games and 15 away games), and 30 games against the other 15 teams in their conference (10 home games and 10 road games). In addition, the NBA All-Star Game takes place during February.
In the All-Star Game, fans vote to choose the starting lineup for each team, and coaches vote to select the remaining 14 players. The players with the most votes become the All-Star captains. The All-Star game features a number of events, including a skills challenge and a 3-point contest.
NBA teams have a variety of charity programs that allow players to volunteer their time and money. Many of these programs support the youth, while others focus on health and wellness. The NBA is especially active in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The league’s anti-AIDS awareness campaigns have received international attention, and its efforts to educate children about the disease have helped raise public awareness.
The nba also supports a variety of education programs, and has donated more than $5 million to its education fund since 2009. The NBA Foundation is committed to improving the lives of young people by supporting and promoting quality education. It has also established a scholarship fund for families of NBA players. The NBA also supports community development through grants and its NBA Cares program. Its NBA Youth Academies provide after-school programs and other educational opportunities for young people in disadvantaged communities. The NBA also works with local organizations to build sports facilities for underprivileged youth. It has opened more than 50 NBA Academy locations in the United States and abroad.