NBA is more than world-class competition on the court; it’s a way of life for millions of fans around the globe. The league’s rich tradition of game-changing plays, storied rivalries and personal and team dynasties unites people from disparate backgrounds and brings them together through the shared love of basketball.
The league has 30 teams, divided into two 15-team conferences—the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference—that span the United States from coast to coast. Each conference is further divided into three divisions of five teams each.
Each team plays 82 regular season games, which begin in late October and finish in mid-April. During the regular season, each team’s record determines their standing in the conference and their chances of making the playoffs. The best teams are awarded the top seeds, while the worst-performing teams are given the lowest seeds. The top eight teams in each conference make the playoffs, and once the playoffs begin, the #1 seed faces the #8 team from their conference and #2 faces the #7 team from their conference, and so on, until the last two remaining teams play a best-of-7 series in the Finals.
During the regular season, teams also participate in three exhibition scrimmages against other teams. Depending on the results of those scrimmages, a team may receive an extra home game, and thus, additional chances to earn a higher seed in the playoffs.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, the league pauses for the annual All-Star Game. The All-Star Game features a selection of the most outstanding players from each conference, as selected by fan votes. The first-place vote-getters for each conference are named All-Star starters, and the coaches select the rest of the 14 All-Star players.
After the All-Star game, the Playoffs begin. The top eight teams in each conference compete for the Championship—the Larry O’Brien Trophy—against each other. The winning team is crowned the champion of the entire NBA.
The league’s rules of play are designed to promote safe and fair competition, as well as the physical and emotional health of its participants. These include rules regulating contact not involving the ball-carrier, requiring player movement within the 3-second rule, prohibiting excessive dribbling or passing, and preventing players from taking unnecessary risks.
In addition, players must avoid verbally abusing officials, and are penalized for cursing or blaspheming. Repeated acts of unsportsmanlike conduct, such as continuous criticism or griping to an official, can result in a technical foul. In addition, a player is subject to suspension for throwing an object at an official or shattering the backboard or basket rim.