The NBA is one of the most watched sports in the world, and the league’s popularity has increased in recent years. NBA TV deals are worth more than $24 billion, and the league is growing internationally at a rapid pace. A recent deal with Nike, valued at $1 billion, is a significant increase in revenue for the league. Despite its rapid growth, the league still has some work to do to increase its international viewership.
The current league structure is broken down into two conferences, each with its own all-star team. The teams are divided geographically by conference, with the Eastern Conference having thirteen teams, the Central Division nine, and the Western Conference five. The playoffs are held in the middle of February, which is when major trades take place. This makes the trading deadline a hectic time for general managers. There are also numerous other deadlines during the season, including the trade deadline.
The Los Angeles Lakers have fallen out of the playoff picture this season. They were already outsiders at the start of the season, but a recent streak of six losses has left them just two games back of the No. 9 San Antonio Spurs. The Eastern Conference playoffs, with their top six teams, are virtually a certainty. The playoff seed you pick to win is also a factor. If you’re lucky enough to have a high seed, you’ll have better odds of winning.
The NBA was once a relatively unknown league, but the popularity of its teams was largely due to its presence in big cities. The first NBA teams were based in cities that had NHL teams. The popularity of these teams was boosted by the rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Chicago Bulls. By the end of the decade, the NBA had fourteen teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers. The 1990s brought the emergence of the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns.
The NBA started in 1949 with the merger of the National Basketball League. When the two leagues merged, there were 17 teams. However, the new league quickly lost several teams. In just six years, the number had shrunk to eight. Financial problems plagued the new league, especially those in smaller markets. Frank Zollner, the owner of the Fort Wayne Pistons, kept the league financially stable. He made sure that the NBA could keep its franchises in smaller markets.
During the 1980s, the NBA was plagued by money-losing franchises and low television ratings. But the league bounced back under David Stern’s leadership. Stern turned the NBA into an international entertainment business, and he used aggressive marketing to promote star players. Some of his greatest players included Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan. By 1984, the league also implemented limits on how many teams could play at once, and expanded the All-Star festivities.
To prevent any infection, the NBA implemented COVID-19 testing. Players, coaches, and team personnel who may come in contact with a positive will be tested. A person who has been in contact with a positive player must be in close proximity for 15 minutes or more. If the positive player has received a positive test, he will be placed in isolation housing. This will be a different location from his previous hotel room. The players will receive a second COVID-19 test to ensure they are not infected.