NBA fans are getting excited about the new season that begins this week. The Celtics will host the 76ers in their home opener and there’s a lot of anticipation over how these two teams will fare this year. It will be interesting to see if the Celtics can take that next step and win their first championship since 1984.
The NBA has grown into one of the world’s largest sports leagues. It has 2.1 billion likes and followers across all its official team, player, and league platforms. It also has a strong social responsibility program known as NBA Cares. This initiative addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations.
Throughout the years, the NBA has had some of the best players in the game. These players have helped to build the foundation of the game as we know it today. However, there have been some players whose careers were cut short due to off-court issues. These issues include drug use and poor conduct. One of these players is Marvin Barnes who was nicknamed “Bad News Marvin.” His off-court issues included partying with hookers and having loaded guns in his locker.
Each NBA game is divided into four periods of twelve minutes each and a five-minute overtime period. The teams are allowed a maximum of fifteen players, of which 12 can play during each game. Each team can call a timeout during the course of a game, but they must request it before the ball is dead or in the hands of a player on their own team. During a timeout, the team may make substitutions as they please.
After the summer break, NBA teams begin training camp in late September and play a series of preseason games. These games give the coaching staff a chance to evaluate their players (especially rookies), scout other teams, and prepare for the rigorous regular season. During the training camp, the coaches also determine their 12-man active roster and three-man inactive list.
Once the regular season is over, the top eight teams in each conference advance to the playoffs. The winner of the playoffs will win the conference title and advance to the Finals. The Finals are played in a best-of-seven format.
In addition to the NBA’s regular and playoff seasons, it runs a variety of international tournaments. Some of these tournaments are held in conjunction with major sporting events, while others are more focused on promoting basketball in other countries. The NBA also has a number of community outreach programs that focus on improving the lives of young people and promoting good health. In particular, the NBA works with youth-serving organizations in urban areas to provide educational and recreational opportunities. The league also sponsors community centers, provides after-school programs for at-risk youth, and offers scholarships to help them complete their high school education. The NBA also has a mentoring program that pairs veteran players with young children. These relationships can last a lifetime and can have a positive impact on the community.