What is the NBA?
The NBA stands for the National Basketball Association. It is the top professional basketball league in the world, based in the United States and Canada.
🏀 Quick Facts about the NBA:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 6, 1946 (as BAA), became NBA in 1949 |
| Number of Teams | 30 (29 in the U.S., 1 in Canada – Toronto Raptors) |
| Season Format | Regular season (Oct–Apr), Playoffs (Apr–June), Finals in June |
| Current Commissioner | Adam Silver |
| Championship Trophy | Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophy |
| Most Championships | Boston Celtics & Los Angeles Lakers (17 each as of 2024) |
| Popular Players (current) | LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Dončić |
| Legends (retired) | Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal |
🌍 Global Impact
- The NBA is one of the most globally recognized sports leagues.
- Players from over 40 countries participate.
- Games are broadcast in over 200 countries and more than 50 languages.
- The NBA also runs global programs like Basketball Without Borders and NBA Africa.
🏆 How the NBA Works
- Each team plays 82 regular-season games.
- The top 8 teams from each conference (East & West) qualify for the NBA Playoffs.
- The final two teams face off in the NBA Finals for the championship.
