The National Basketball Association (NBA) is one of the world’s most popular sports leagues, and it features some of the best players in the game. The NBA has a long history of game-changing plays and storied rivalries, and its stars have gone on to achieve international fame. The NBA is also known for its commitment to social justice, and its players frequently use their celebrity status to promote positive change.
The league was founded in June 1946, when Boston Garden owner Walter Brown realized that major ice hockey arenas were often empty most nights and could be used to host basketball games. Brown created the Basketball Association of America, which merged with the National Basketball League in 1949 to become the NBA.
Today, the NBA has thirty teams throughout the United States and Canada. The league has grown significantly over the years, thanks to the introduction of new rules and star players such as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. The NBA is a highly competitive league, with the top four teams in each conference going into the playoffs, where they are seeded 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, and 4 vs 5. The team that wins the final series is crowned champion.
Each season, NBA fans get to enjoy 82 regular-season games, culminating in the playoffs that begin in April. The postseason is where things really heat up, with each round consisting of a series of knockout matches. Having the higher seeding offers some advantages, but all four rounds are played in a best-of-seven format. The higher-seeded team will usually play the lower-seeded team first, and then proceed to face the third- or fourth-seeded teams.
The highest-seeded team in the finals will play a team from the other conference, and that matchup will usually pit two high-powered offenses against one another. The defending champion is guaranteed home court advantage in the championship series. The NBA is a league of stars, and it’s not uncommon to see the same player win both the MVP award and the Defensive Player of the Year award in a single season.
The NBA has a strong global presence, with its games and shows broadcast in more than 100 countries and territories around the world. In addition, it has several international offices and hosts a large number of exhibition and regular seasonal games outside the United States. Its worldwide popularity has helped the NBA to attract a wide range of corporate sponsors and become one of the world’s most valuable sports leagues. The NBA also has a long history of social responsibility, with its NBA Cares program spearheading the league’s outreach to youth-serving organizations across the globe.