The NBA (National Basketball Association) is the main organisation that manages all the professional basketball teams in North America. It does a lot of work behind the scenes to allow all 30 teams to plan games, make trades and more. It also works to maintain a high standard of play across the league. This helps keep the game fresh and exciting for fans. The NBA is a huge part of American culture and has helped produce some truly iconic players over the years, including LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan.
The league is made up of 30 teams, split into two conferences: East and West. The regular season runs from late October to mid-April, and each team plays 82 games. During this time, the NBA monitors each team’s stats to determine its position in the playoffs. The top 8 teams in each conference qualify for the Playoffs, and they are seeded accordingly (i.e., the #1 team faces #8 in their conference, #2 faces #7, #3 faces #6, etc).
There is a break in the schedule for the All-Star Game in February, which allows fans to vote for which players they want to see in the game. Then, the season pauses again for the Draft in June. This is an event that any player who wants to join the NBA can apply for, so long as they meet certain criteria. The most notable is that they must be 19 or older and one year out of secondary/high school. The draft takes place in a physical location and is a highly secure process. It is held in secrecy until it’s announced to the public, which usually happens live on TV or online.
Once the playoffs begin, teams play best-of-7 series until the finals are decided. The winners of the Eastern and Western Conferences then face each other to decide the NBA champion for that year.
Throughout the history of the NBA, there have been many changes to the playoff structure. For example, in 1954, the number of playoff teams was reduced from eight to six, and the division semifinals were changed to a round-robin format. Then, in 1958, the division finals were changed to a best-of-seven series, and the division semifinals were changed to the current best-of-five format in 1961.
In addition to these changes, the NBA has added new rules for how players can be drafted. In the past, only players from college or high school could be drafted, but now, any player who meets the requirements can submit an application for the NBA draft. These applications are made through a private process, and the winner is notified only moments before the draft is announced publicly.
The draft is a big deal in the NBA, and it is an important component of the game. It’s not just a chance for aspiring basketball stars to get a chance to compete at the highest level, it’s also a way for the NBA to find and develop new talent and help young players develop their skills.