An Overview of the National Basketball Association
Basketball has always been one of America’s most loved sports and came into being as one of the most loved pass times. Recognizing the growing love of football among Americans, the game attained a major sport position in 1946. On June 6, 1946, the league was founded as the Basketball Association of America and adopted the name National Basketball Association (NBA) in the autumn 1949 after merging with the rival National Basketball League.
The league’s several international as well as individual team offices are directed out of its head-offices located in the Olympic Tower in New York City. NBA Entertainment and NBA TV studios are directed out of offices located in Secaucus, New Jersey. Here is a peak into the wonderful and competitive NBA world.
NBA teams
The NBA teams are divided into the Eastern and the Western Conference.
Eastern Conference teams
- Atlantic Division - Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors
- Central Division - Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks
- Southeast Division - Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards
Western Conference teams
- Southwest Division - San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Hornets, Dallas Mavericks
- Northwest Division - Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, Utah Jazz
- Pacific Division - Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings
Schedule
Teams hold training camps in October which allow the coaching staff to evaluate players, scout the team’s strengths and weaknesses, prepare the players for the rigorous regular season and determine the 12-man active roster with which they will begin the regular season. In the regular season, each team plays 82 games, which are divided evenly between home and away games. In February, the regular season ceases to celebrate the annual NBA All-Star Game. Around the end of April, the regular season ends and the NBA Playoffs begin in late April, with eight teams in each conference qualifying for the playoffs.
The final playoff round, a best-of-seven series between the victors of both conferences, is known as the NBA Finals and is held annually in June. The victor in the NBA Finals wins the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. Each player and major contributor, including coaches and the general manager, on the winning team receive a championship ring. In addition, the league awards an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
Some basketball trivia
- Basketball was invented in December 1891, by James Naismith and first basketball was a soccer ball.
- The game was originally played with nine men on each team.
- The Chicago Bulls have won all six NBA Finals in which they have appeared.
- Michael Jordan has scored more points (5,987) in the playoffs than any other player.
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