National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association, better known as the NBA, is a major professional basketball league in North America. It includes 30 teams, with 29 located in the United States and one in Canada. Many consider the NBA to be the world's premier professional basketball league.

The NBA's roots go back to the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which Walter Brown, owner of Boston Garden, established on June 6, 1946. The BAA held its first game on November 1, 1946, featuring the Toronto Huskies and the New York Knickerbockers. The modern NBA officially formed on August 3, 1949, when the BAA merged with the rival National Basketball League (NBL), which started in 1937. This merger brought together the BAA's East Coast markets with the NBL's Midwestern presence, creating a unified league. The NBA later adopted the BAA's founding date of June 6, 1946, as its own.

Beyond the main league, the NBA oversees several affiliated organizations. These include the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), which began in 1996, the NBA G League (a developmental league), the NBA 2K League for esports, and the Basketball Africa League, representing international expansion. The league's regular season runs from October to April, with each team playing 82 games. This is followed by a playoff tournament that concludes with the NBA Finals championship series in June.

The NBA holds a significant position as the second-wealthiest professional sports league by revenue, just after the National Football League (NFL). It is also a member of USA Basketball (USAB), the organization recognized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the governing body for basketball in the United States. In 1976, the NBA expanded its reach further by merging with the American Basketball Association (ABA), adding four new franchises. As of 2020, NBA players earned the highest average annual salary among athletes worldwide.

Historically, the Minneapolis Lakers, led by George Mikan, claimed the first NBA championship in the 1949-1950 season. The Boston Celtics currently hold the record for the most NBA championships with 18 titles, their most recent win being in 2024. The Oklahoma City Thunder are recognized as the reigning league champions, having won the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. [edit]

The NBA's mission is to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. The league operates as a global sports and media organization, with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in more than 50 languages. Merchandise is sold in more than 200 countries and territories across all seven continents. [edit]

The NBA's origin story begins on June 6, 1946, when arena owners and hockey team operators gathered in New York to form the Basketball Association of America. Walter Brown, owner of the Boston Garden, was the driving force. The BAA's first game took place on November 1, 1946, between the Toronto Huskies and the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens. The league struggled initially, with several teams folding after the first season.

On August 3, 1949, at a meeting in the Empire State Building, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League, which had been operating since 1937. The merger created a 17-team league named the National Basketball Association. Maurice Podoloff, who had been BAA president, became the first commissioner. By the 1954-55 season, only eight teams remained due to financial troubles.

The introduction of the 24-second shot clock in 1954 revolutionized the game. Created by Syracuse Nationals owner Danny Biasone, the clock forced teams to shoot within 24 seconds, increasing scoring and pace. Fan interest surged, and the league stabilized. The Minneapolis Lakers, led by George Mikan, dominated the early years, winning five championships in six seasons.

The 1960s belonged to the Boston Celtics, who won 11 titles in 13 seasons, anchored by Bill Russell. The league expanded from 8 to 14 teams during this decade. In 1976, the NBA merged with the American Basketball Association, adding four franchises: the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs. The ABA also brought the three-point line and the slam dunk contest.

The 1980s saw a surge in popularity driven by the rivalry between Magic Johnson's Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Bird's Boston Celtics. David Stern became commissioner in 1984 and transformed the league into a global brand, negotiating lucrative television deals and implementing a salary cap in 1983. Michael Jordan's arrival with the Chicago Bulls in 1984 pushed the NBA to new heights, with the Dream Team at the 1992 Olympics showcasing American basketball worldwide.

The league continued expanding in the 1990s and 2000s, adding the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) in 2004 to reach 30 teams. The WNBA launched in 1996, and the NBA G League began in 2001. In 2014, Adam Silver succeeded Stern as commissioner. Under Silver, the league has focused on international growth, launching the Basketball Africa League in 2021, and embracing sports betting and digital innovation. [edit]