The NBA is one of the world’s leading professional sports leagues and has produced some of the greatest players in history. The regular season runs from October to April, and the playoffs culminate in the NBA Finals. With its star players, high-scoring games and rich tradition, the NBA has become a global phenomenon.
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The first teams were organized in the 1920s, and by the 1980s, the NBA had grown to 27 franchises. With the introduction of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, the NBA gained even more popularity. In addition, the league expanded its presence abroad, and now it has 30 franchises worldwide.
The best teams in the NBA compete to win the most championships. This is not an easy feat, and every year the competition gets more fierce. In the playoffs, each team plays a best-of-seven series to determine which two teams advance. The NBA also has an extensive international presence, with games and shows broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories in 40 languages.
There are several ways to qualify for the playoffs. The top six teams in each conference based on winning percentage directly advance, and the next best eight qualify for the play-in tournament. Traditionally, teams with a higher winning percentage had home-court advantage in the playoffs. Tiebreaker criteria include head-to-head record, divisional record and, if necessary, conference record.
In the first round, all teams have a three-game set against each other. If a team wins two of the three games, it moves on to the second round. In the second round, the top seeds (the two highest-seeded teams) play each other, while the bottom seeds face each other.
In the third and fourth rounds, the winners of each of the top two conferences play each other. The top seeds then have a home-court advantage in the conference finals. The conference finals are a best-of-seven series.
The NBA’s regular season lasts 82 games, with each team playing four of those at home and the other four on the road. Depending on the schedule, some teams will have a much easier or harder schedule than others. For example, some teams play each of their division rivals twice a year while other teams may only play them once or even once a season.
In addition to the regular season, the NBA hosts a number of exhibition games and other events throughout the year. It is also active in the community and supports a wide range of social causes through its NBA Cares program. Its programs address youth and family development, education, health and community outreach. In addition, the NBA has a long-standing relationship with its broadcast partners, which includes ABC, ESPN and NBC Sports, as well as streaming platform fubo TV (try for free). The NBA has won numerous awards over the years, including a Peabody and an Emmy. Its annual All-Star Game is also a major event.