In a sport as large and complex as basketball, there are many systems in place that help to facilitate games and seasons, championships, and more. Some of these are obvious, such as scoring, but others may be less so. The NBA has a lot of rules, which makes sense – it has 30 teams with extraordinary players who all need to collaborate to play the game effectively and fairly.
The NBA began in 1948 when the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) merged to form the National Basketball Association. The new organisation sought to expand the reach of basketball in the United States by connecting big city venues with talented players and entertaining fans.
Over the years, the league has introduced several rules changes that have increased scoring and excitement in the sport. The NBA has also attempted to improve the safety of players and fans by reducing the frequency of physical altercations and brawls in games.
Despite these advances, the sport remains a dangerous and physical activity that can lead to serious injury. There have been a number of high-profile player and fan deaths in the league’s history. Despite these risks, the NBA continues to be one of the most popular sports in the world, with its games broadcast on television in over 180 countries and territories around the globe.
To start a game, the referee tosses the ball into the air and a team member from each team jumps up to try to tap it to a teammate. Possession alternates with each possession, and each team has 24 seconds to shoot a basket – known as the shot clock – which resets after certain stoppages in play. The first team to score a basket wins the game and gains control of the ball.
After the regular season, the top six teams in each conference automatically qualify for the playoffs. The seventh through tenth-place teams compete in a play-in tournament for the final two spots in each conference. The winners of the Eastern and Western conferences play a best-of-seven series for the championship, which is known as the NBA Finals.
In the playoffs, home-court advantage goes to the higher seeded team in each round. If a tie occurs between the top six seeds, tiebreakers are applied to determine the final ranking. These include head-to-head record, better record in the division, and a team’s winning percentage against other teams within its own conference.
In addition to the regular season, the NBA also features a number of other tournaments throughout the year. These are usually played in the same arenas as regular-season games, and can take on different formats such as a best-of-seven or a single-elimination knockout. The winners of these events are crowned champions and awarded the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. Additionally, players, coaches, and general managers are recognised with a variety of individual awards. The most notable of these is the NBA Most Valuable Player award, which is voted on by players and coaches.