NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the premier professional men’s basketball league in North America. Founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA), it merged with the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949 and adopted the NBA name.

The league consists of 30 teams split evenly between the Western Conference and Eastern Conference, each divided into three divisions. Teams play an 82-game regular season from October through April, with the top eight teams from each conference advancing to a best-of-seven playoff format culminating in the NBA Finals in June.

The NBA is widely considered the highest level of professional basketball in the world, featuring elite international talent alongside American players. Its global reach extends through broadcasting in more than 200 countries, a massive social media presence, and flagship events like the All-Star Weekend and the annual NBA Draft.