The NBA is the top level of competitive basketball in the world. Its teams compete to win the best players in the world and play a game that is loved by millions of people around the globe. The league is known for its rich tradition of game-changing plays, storied rivalries, and personal and team dynasties. The NBA is also well-known for its efforts to expand the game of basketball to different cultures around the world.
Each team has fifteen players. Twelve of these players are active in any given game. Each player is assigned a position on the court. Positions are not determined by rule, but rather through the playing styles of individual players.
In a typical season, the NBA plays 82 games each year. The schedule starts in September, with teams practicing and playing preseason games. These do not count toward the team’s final regular-season record. After the preseason, some of the weaker players get cut. The stronger players are then re-signed to the team, and a new season begins.
The NBA draft takes place each spring. Teams that did not qualify for the playoffs participate in a lottery, which is conducted with ping-pong balls drawn in an audited event. The first three Lotto balls determine the order of the first picks, and then the remaining 14 teams choose in reverse order of their regular-season finish. Teams can move up and down the draft order through trades.
Unlike other European professional sports leagues, the NBA has built its own in-season tournament into its regular-season calendar. The competition is similar to the Champions League and the FA Cup in England. The winner of each group advances to the playoffs.
Like other professional sports leagues, the NBA has a minimum height requirement for its players. Players must be at least 6 feet tall to join the league, although exceptions are sometimes made for younger players who have the potential to develop into 6 foot 6 inch players.
NBA fans are among the most dedicated and passionate in the world. The league has a global presence, and its games are broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories. It has a wide range of social media accounts to communicate with its followers, and it promotes events worldwide.
The NBA was founded in 1946 and was originally called the Basketball Association of America (BAA). It changed its name to the National Basketball Association in 1949. The NBA’s headquarters are in the Olympic Tower at 645 Fifth Avenue in New York City.