National Basketball Association
Current season or competition: 2008 NBA Finals
Sport	Basketball
Founded	1946
Commissioner	David Stern
No. The 2008 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2007–08 NBA season, and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Athletics Marathon August 22 &mdash European Championships Marathon, Oslo Norway Men's David Joel Stern (born on September 22, 1942 in New York City, New York) is the current commissioner of the National Basketball Association of teams	30
Country(ies)	United States  Canada
Most recent champion(s)	San Antonio Spurs
TV partner(s)	ABC, ESPN, TNT, NBA TV
Official website	NBA.com

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is North America's premier professional men's basketball league, composed of thirty teams which are from Canada and U.S.A. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. ABC's Coverage of the NBA, known as NBA Sunday on ABC since 2007, is a weekly presentation of National Basketball Association The NBA on ESPN refers to the presentation of National Basketball Association (NBA games on the ESPN family of networks The NBA on TNT, known since October 2002 as TNT NBA Thursday, is a weekly broadcast of National Basketball Association NBA TV is a Television network that is dedicated to showcasing the sport of Basketball in the United States. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United States of America —commonly referred to as the It is an active member^[1] of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognized by the International Basketball Federation as the National Governing Body (NGB) for basketball in the United States. USA Basketball is a Non-profit organization and the governing body for Basketball in the United States. The International Basketball Federation ( French: Fédération Internationale de Basketball) more commonly known by the French acronym FIBA The NBA is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, which also includes the NHL, the NFL and MLB. The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league.

The league was founded in New York City, on June 6, 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The City of New York Events 1508 - Maximilian I Holy Roman Emperor, is defeated in Friulia by Venetian forces; he is forced to sign a three-year Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[2] The league adopted the name National Basketball Association in the autumn of 1949 after merging with the rival National Basketball League. The National Basketball League was a professional basketball league in the United States from 1937 to 1949. The league's several international as well as individual team offices are directed out of its head offices located in the Olympic Tower at 645 Fifth Avenue in New York City. Olympic Tower is a 51-story building in Midtown Manhattan, in New York City on Fifth Avenue, between East 51st Street and East 52nd Street NBA Entertainment and NBA TV studios are directed out of offices located in Secaucus, New Jersey. NBA Entertainment is the production arm of the National Basketball Association and produces numerous NBA-related films including team championship videos and blooper NBA TV is a Television network that is dedicated to showcasing the sport of Basketball in the United States. Secaucus is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, USA. As of the United States 2000 Census, the town population was 15931 New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States.

History

1940s and 1950s: The early years

Further information: List of NBA seasons

The Basketball Association of America was found in 1946 by the owners of the major ice hockey arenas in the Northeast and Midwest United States. A list of National Basketball Association seasons since inception of the league See also NBA All-Star Game NBA Finals An arena is an enclosed area often circular or oval-shaped designed to showcase Theater, musical performances or sporting events The Northeast is a region of the United States. As defined by the U The United States of America —commonly referred to as the On November 1, 1946, in Toronto, Ontario, the Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers which the NBA now regards as the first game played in the league's history. Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec Franchise history See also 1946–47 Toronto Huskies season The Huskies were founded in the BAA's inaugural season of 1946–47 ^[3] Although there had been earlier attempts at professional basketball leagues, including the American Basketball League and the National Basketball League, the BAA was the first league to attempt to play primarily in large arenas in major cities. The National Basketball League was a professional basketball league in the United States from 1937 to 1949. During its early years, the quality of play in the BAA was not significantly better than in competing leagues or among leading independent clubs such as the Harlem Globetrotters. The Harlem Globetrotters are an exhibition basketball team that combines athleticism and Comedy. For instance the 1948 ABL finalist Baltimore Bullets moved to the BAA and won its 1948 title, followed by the 1948 NBL champion Minneapolis Lakers who won the 1949 BAA title. Franchise History Baltimore Bullets (NBA 1950-1954 - 1 Playoff Appearance Baltimore Bullets (BAA 1948-1949 - 1 Championship and 2 Playoff Appearances The National Basketball League was a professional basketball league in the United States from 1937 to 1949. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California.

On August 3, 1949, the BAA agreed to merge with the NBL, expanding the National Basketball Association to seventeen franchises located in a mix of large and small cities, as well as large arenas and smaller gymnasiums and armories. Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The National Basketball League was a professional basketball league in the United States from 1937 to 1949. In 1950, the NBA consolidated to eleven franchises, a process that continued until 1954, when the league reached its smallest size of eight franchises, all of which are still in the league (the Knicks, Celtics, Warriors, Lakers, Royals/Kings, Pistons, Hawks, and Nationals/76ers). The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The Golden State Warriors are an American professional Basketball team based in Oakland, California. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Sacramento Kings are a professional Basketball team based in Sacramento California. The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional Basketball team based in Atlanta Georgia. The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

While contracting, the league also saw its smaller city franchises move to larger cities. The Hawks shifted from "Tri-Cities" (the area now known as the Quad Cities) to Milwaukee (in 1951) and then to St. Louis (in 1955); the Royals from Rochester to Cincinnati (in 1957); and the Pistons from Fort Wayne to Detroit (in 1957). The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional Basketball team based in Atlanta Georgia. The Quad Cities is geographic region of the Mid-Mississippi Valley of the United States that includes multiple communities in the states of Iowa and Illinois The Sacramento Kings are a professional Basketball team based in Sacramento California. Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York State, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area Fort Wayne is a City in northeastern Indiana, United States and the County seat of Allen In 1960, the Lakers relocated to Los Angeles, California, and the Warriors moved to San Francisco, California, in 1963. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city The following year, the Nationals left upstate New York to bring basketball back to Philadelphia, changing their nickname from "Nationals" to "76ers. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə " This means out of the original eight franchises, only the Knicks and Celtics have not relocated at any point.

Although Japanese-American Wataru Misaka technically broke the NBA color barrier in the 1947-48 season when he played for the New York Knicks, 1950 is recognized as the year the NBA integrated with the addition of African American players by several teams including Chuck Cooper with the Boston Celtics, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton with the New York Knicks, and Earl Lloyd with the Washington Capitols. are Americans of Japanese heritage Japanese Americans have historically been among the three largest Asian American communities but in recent decades have become the sixth largest group Wataru "Wat" Misaka ( Japanese: 三阪 亙 Misaka Wataru) (born December 21, 1923 in Ogden, Utah, U African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Charles Harrison Cooper ( September 29, 1926 - February 5, 1984) better known as Chuck Cooper, was one of three players with legitimate The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton ( October 13, 1922 &ndash August 31, 1990) was an American multi-sport athlete best known Earl Francis Lloyd (born April 3, 1928 in Alexandria, Virginia, US) is a retired American Basketball player The Washington Capitols were a charter Basketball Association of America (forerunner of the National Basketball Association) team based in Washington D Today, more than fifty years later, the NBA is made up of players of many different races, with diverse backgrounds and cultures. Over 80% of NBA players today are African American.

During this period, the Minneapolis Lakers, led by center George Mikan, won five NBA Championships and established themselves as the league's first dynasty. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. George Lawrence Mikan Jr (June 18 1924 &ndash June 1 2005 nicknamed Mr The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each June For other uses see Dynasty (disambiguation. A Sports dynasty is a team that dominates their sport or league for multiple seasons or years To encourage shooting and discourage stalling, the league introduced the 24-second shot clock in 1954. A shot clock is used in some sports to quicken the pace of the game If a team does not attempt to score a field goal (or the ball doesn't make contact with the rim) within 24 seconds of obtaining the ball, play is stopped and the ball given to its opponent.

In 1957, rookie center Bill Russell joined the Boston Celtics, who already featured guard Bob Cousy and coach Red Auerbach, and went on to lead the club to eleven NBA titles in thirteen seasons. William Felton "Bill" Russell (born February 12 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana) is a retired American professional Basketball The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Robert Joseph "Bob" Cousy (born August 9 1928 in New York City) is a former French - American professional Basketball player Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach (September 20 1917 &ndash October 28 2006 was a Basketball coach of the Washington Capitols, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks Center Wilt Chamberlain entered the league in 1959 and became the dominant individual star of the 1960s, setting new records in scoring (100) and rebounding (55). Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain (August 21 1936&ndashOctober 12 1999 nicknamed Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, and Chairman of the Boards Russell's rivalry with Chamberlain became one of the great individual rivalries in the history of American team sports.

1960s: Celtics dynasty

Through this period, the NBA continued to strengthen with the shift of the Minneapolis Lakers to Los Angeles, the Philadelphia Warriors to San Francisco, and the Syracuse Nationals to Philadelphia, as well as the addition of its first expansion franchises. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West The Golden State Warriors are an American professional Basketball team based in Oakland, California. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Chicago Packers (now Washington Wizards) became the 9th NBA team in 1961. From 1966 to 1968, the league expanded from nine teams to fourteen, introducing the Chicago Bulls, Seattle Supersonics, San Diego Rockets (who relocated to Houston four years later), Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns. The Chicago Bulls are an American professional Basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern The Seattle SuperSonics (also called the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional Basketball team based in Seattle Washington that played The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional Basketball team based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Phoenix Suns are a professional Basketball team based in Phoenix Arizona. Then in the 1970s, it was extended to seventeen teams as the Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers) all made their debuts. The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional Basketball team based in Cleveland Ohio.

In 1967, the league faced a new external threat with the formation of the American Basketball Association. The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National The leagues engaged in a bidding war. The NBA landed the most important college star of the era, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor), who together with Oscar Robertson led the Milwaukee Bucks to a title in his second season, and who later played on five Laker championship teams. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr; April 16 1947 is an American athlete and retired professional Basketball player widely considered Oscar Palmer Robertson (born November 24 1938 in Charlotte Tennessee) nicknamed " The Big O " is a former American NBA player with The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional Basketball team based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California.

However, the NBA's leading scorer, Rick Barry jumped to the ABA, as did four veteran referees—Norm Drucker, Earl Strom, John Vanak, and Joe Gushue. Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player Norm Drucker (born July 4, 1920 in New York City) was a major influence in professional Basketball officiating for over thirty-five years Earl "Yogi" Strom ( December 15, 1927 &ndash July 10, 1994) was a Professional basketball Referee for 29 years

1970s: The NBA vs. the ABA

The American Basketball Association also succeeded in signing a number of major stars, including Julius Erving, in part because it allowed teams to sign college undergraduates. The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22 1950 and raised in Roosevelt New York) commonly known by the nickname Dr The NBA expanded rapidly during this period, one purpose being to tie up the most viable cities. From 1966 to 1974, the NBA grew from nine franchises to 18; the New Orleans Jazz (now in Utah) came aboard in 1974. The Utah Jazz is a professional Basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Then, following the 1976 season, the leagues reached a settlement that provided for the addition of four ABA franchises to the NBA, raising the number of franchises in the league at that time to 22. The franchises were the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers and New York Nets. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. The New Jersey Nets are a professional Basketball team in the National Basketball Association that plays in the Eastern Conference 's Atlantic Some of the biggest stars of this era were Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rick Barry, Dave Cowens, Julius Erving, Walt Frazier, Artis Gilmore, George Gervin, Dan Issel and Pete Maravich. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor Jr; April 16 1947 is an American athlete and retired professional Basketball player widely considered Richard (Rick Francis Dennis Barry III (born March 28 1944 in Elizabeth New Jersey) is a retired American professional Basketball player David William Cowens (born October 25 1948 in Newport Kentucky) is a retired American professional Basketball player and NBA head coach Julius Winfield Erving II (born February 22 1950 and raised in Roosevelt New York) commonly known by the nickname Dr Walter "Clyde" Frazier (born March 29 1945 in Atlanta Georgia) is a retired American Basketball player in the National Basketball Association Artis Gilmore (born September 21 1949 is a former professional Basketball player in the American Basketball Association (ABA and National Basketball Association George "The Iceman" Gervin (born April 27 1952 in Detroit Michigan) is a retired American professional Basketball player a Shooting guard Daniel (Dan Paul Issel (born October 25 1948 in Batavia Illinois) is a retired American professional Basketball player and coach Peter Press Maravich (June 22 1947 &ndash January 5 1988 was an American Basketball player known for his dazzling ballhandling, incredible shooting

1980s: Magic vs. Bird

The league added the ABA's innovative three-point field goal beginning in 1979 to open up the game. A three-point field goal (also known as three-pointer, three-point shot, trey, or simply three) is a field goal in a Basketball That same year, rookies Larry Bird and Earvin "Magic" Johnson joined the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers respectively, initiating a period of significant growth in fan interest in the NBA throughout the country and the world. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7 1956 is a retired American NBA Basketball player widely considered as one of the best players of all time and one of the top The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. Bird went on to lead the Celtics to three titles, and Johnson went on to lead the Lakers to five. Also in the early '80s, the NBA added one more expansion franchise, the Dallas Mavericks, bringing the total to 23 teams. The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are the professional Basketball team of the National Basketball Association based in Dallas Texas

1990s: The Jordan Era and globalization

Michael Jordan entered the league in 1984 with the Chicago Bulls, providing an even more popular star to support growing interest in the league. Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player and active businessman The Chicago Bulls are an American professional Basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern This resulted in more cities demanding teams of their own. In 1988 and 1989, four cities got their wishes as the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Minnesota Timberwolves made their NBA debuts. The New Orleans Hornets are a professional Basketball team based in New Orleans Louisiana, United States. The Miami Heat (often referred to simply as the Heat, including in some official team publications with HEAT in all capital letters are a professional Basketball The Orlando Magic is a professional Basketball team based in Orlando Florida. The Minnesota Timberwolves are a professional Basketball team based in Minneapolis Minnesota, United States. Globalization also occurred in the 1980s. A growing number of NBA star players also began coming from other countries. Initially, many of these players, such as 1994 NBA MVP Hakeem Olajuwon of Nigeria, first played NCAA basketball to enhance their skills. Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born on January 21 1963 is a retired Nigerian American professional Basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA Nigeria, officially named the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal Constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and one Federal The National Collegiate Athletic Association ( NCAA, often pronounced "N-C-Double-A" is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions conferences organizations

In 1991, Susan O'Malley became the first female president of an NBA franchise, when she became the president of the Washington Bullets. Susan O'Malley is the former president of the Washington Wizards National Basketball Association team

Jordan along with Scottie Pippen would lead the Bulls to six championships in eight years during the 1990s. Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25 1965 is an American retired Professional Basketball player who played in the National Basketball Olajuwon won back-to-back titles with the Houston Rockets in '94 and '95. The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas.

The 1992 Olympic basketball Dream Team, the first to use current NBA stars, featured Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Charles Barkley, and Christian Laettner. The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an International Multi-sport event held in Barcelona, The United States men's national basketball team is the representative for the United States of America in international men's Basketball. Larry Joe Bird (born December 7 1956 is a retired American NBA Basketball player widely considered as one of the best players of all time and one of the top David Maurice Robinson (born) is a retired American NBA Basketball player who is often considered one of the greatest centers to ever Patrick Aloysius Ewing (born August 5 1962 is an American retired Hall of Fame Basketball player and current assistant coach for the National Basketball Clyde Austin Drexler (born June 22 1962 in New Orleans Louisiana) is a former 6 foot 7 inch National Basketball Association Shooting guard. Karl Anthony Malone (born July 24 1963 is a retired American professional Basketball player John Houston Stockton (born March 26 1962 is a retired American professional Basketball player ( NBA) who spent his entire career ( 1984 &ndash Christopher Paul Mullin (born July 30 1963) is a retired American Basketball player and the current General manager of the Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20 1963 is an American retired professional Basketball player Christian Donald Laettner (born August 17, 1969 in Angola New York) is a retired American professional Basketball player In 1995, the NBA expanded to Canada and to 29 teams with the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies. The Toronto Raptors are a professional Basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional Basketball team based in Memphis Tennessee. In 2001, the Vancouver Grizzlies were relocated to Memphis, which left the Toronto Raptors as the only Canadian team in the NBA. Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page

In 1996, the NBA created a women's league, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). In 1998, the NBA owners began a lockout which lasted 191 days and was settled on January 18, 1999. Events 350 - Generallus Magnentius deposes Roman Emperor Constans and proclaims himself Emperor Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) As a result of this lockout the 1998-99 NBA season was reduced from 82 to 50 games, which were all played in 1999 only, thus calling it the 1999 NBA season. The 1998–99 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association. San Antonio won the championship on June 25th by beating the New York Knicks.

In 2004, two years after the Hornets relocation to New Orleans, the NBA returned to North Carolina as the Charlotte Bobcats were formed. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana The Charlotte Bobcats are a professional Basketball team based in Charlotte North Carolina.

2000s: Post-Jordan Western Conference domination

Since the break-up of the Chicago Bulls in the summer of 1998, the Western Conference has dominated the NBA, winning 7 of 9 championships. Tim Duncan and David Robinson won a championship in 1999 with the San Antonio Spurs, and Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant started the 2000s off with the three straight championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. WikipediaPersondata --> Timothy "Tim" Theodore Duncan (born April 25 1976 in Christiansted, St David Robinson or Dave Robinson is a name shared by the following individuals Sports personalities Dave Robinson (born 1941 American Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal (born March 6 1972 frequently referred to simply as " Shaq " is an African American Professional basketball Kobe Bean Bryant (born) is an American All-Star Shooting guard The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Spurs won it again 2003 against the Nets, with the Lakers returning to the Finals in the following year, only to fall to the Detroit Pistons (the only championship team since 1998 that didn't have either Tim Duncan or Shaquille O'Neal). The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area WikipediaPersondata --> Timothy "Tim" Theodore Duncan (born April 25 1976 in Christiansted, St In the off-season, O'Neal was traded to the Miami Heat, and the Lakers and Bryant did not win another playoff series until 2008. San Antonio won their third championship in 2005 with a nucleus of Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, and Duncan. William Anthony "Tony" Parker (born) is a French professional Basketball player for the NBA 's San Antonio Spurs and member of Emanuel David Ginóbili or Manu Ginóbili (born 28 July 1977 in Bahía Blanca, Argentina) is an Argentine basketball player In 2006, O'Neal won title number four with the Miami Heat, giving the franchise its first championship. The Miami Heat (often referred to simply as the Heat, including in some official team publications with HEAT in all capital letters are a professional Basketball San Antonio then swept LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007, giving them title four titles in nine years. LeBron Raymone James (born December 30 1984 in Akron Ohio) is an American professional Basketball player who plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers of Between them, O'Neal and Duncan have been to each of the last nine NBA Finals and have won eight out of nine titles. Together, they have won six Finals MVP awards and three league MVPs.

An increasing number of international players have moved directly from playing elsewhere in the world to starring in the NBA, such as:

• Andrea Bargnani, Italy — First pick in the 2006 NBA Draft by Toronto Raptors (entered the NBA in 2006)
• Pau Gasol, Spain — 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year and 2006 World Championships MVP (entered the NBA in 2001)
• Manu Ginobili, Argentina — 2004 Olympic Tournament MVP (drafted in 1999, entered the NBA in 2002)
• Andrei Kirilenko, Russia — EuroBasket 2007 MVP (drafted in 1999, entered the NBA in 2001)
• Dirk Nowitzki, Germany — MVP of the 2002 World Championships and Eurobasket 2005, and 2007 NBA MVP (entered the NBA in 1998)
• Tony Parker, France — 2007 NBA Finals MVP (entered the NBA in 2001)
• Peja Stojakovic, Serbia — Eurobasket 2001 MVP (drafted in 1996, entered the NBA in 1998)
• Yao Ming, China — First pick in the 2002 NBA Draft (entered the NBA in 2002)

In some occasions, young players from the English-speaking world tend to attend U. Andrea Bargnani, nicknamed " Il Mago " (translated to "The Magician" (born October 26 1985 in Rome, Italy) is Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Toronto Raptors are a professional Basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. Pau Gasol Sáez (pronounced POW gah-SOHL IPA gəˈzɔɫ (born July 6 1980 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain) is a 2 Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the The 2006 FIBA World Championship was an international Basketball competition hosted by Japan from August 19 to September 3, 2006. Emanuel David Ginóbili or Manu Ginóbili (born 28 July 1977 in Bahía Blanca, Argentina) is an Argentine basketball player For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Argentina topics. Basketball at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the indoor arena in the Helliniko Olympic Complex in Athens, Greece for the preliminary Andrei Gennadevich Kirilenko ( Андрей Геннадьевич Кириленко; born February 18 1981 is a Russian professional Basketball Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The 2007 FIBA European Basketball Championship, commonly called EuroBasket 2007, was the 35th regional championship held by FIBA Europe Dirk Werner Nowitzki (ɖɪʁk weʁneʁ no'v?tski (born June 19 1978 is a German professional Basketball player who plays for the Dallas Mavericks of Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. The 2002 FIBA World Championship was an international Basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation in The EuroBasket 2005 (common short name for the 34th edition of FIBA 's European Basketball Championship) was held in Serbia and Montenegro (now Serbia The 2006–07 NBA season was the 61st season of the National Basketball Association. William Anthony "Tony" Parker (born) is a French professional Basketball player for the NBA 's San Antonio Spurs and member of This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The 2007 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2006-07 National Basketball Association season, and was the conclusion of the 2007 NBA Playoffs. Predrag "Peja" Stojaković ( Serbian Cyrillic: Предраг Стојаковић - Пеђа) (born June 9 1977 is a Serbian Basketball Serbia (Србија Srbija) officially the Republic of Serbia (Република Србија Republika Srbija) is a Landlocked Country The EuroBasket 2001 (common short name for the 32nd edition of FIBA 's European Basketball Championship) was held in Turkey between August 31 Yao Ming ( born September 12 1980 is a Professional basketball player who plays for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The 2002 NBA Draft was held on June 26, 2002 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York S. colleges before playing in the NBA (notable examples are Canadian Steve Nash, 2005 and 2006 MVP, and Australian Andrew Bogut, the top draft pick in 2005), while other international players generally come to the NBA from professional club teams. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page Stephen John Nash, OC, OBC (born 7 February 1974 is a Canadian professional Basketball player who plays Point guard for the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Andrew Michael Bogut (born 28 November 1984 is an Australian professional Basketball player The 2005 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 2005 in the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Currently, the Toronto Raptors have the most international players in the NBA. The Toronto Raptors are a professional Basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. The NBA is now televised in 212 nations in 42 languages.

In 2001, an affiliated minor league, the National Basketball Development League, now called the NBA Development League (or D-League) was created. Minor leagues are professional Sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports The NBA Development League, or D-League, is the National Basketball Association 's officially sponsored and operated developmental Basketball organization

Teams, divisions and conferences of the NBA

On June 29, 2006, a new official game ball was introduced for the 2006-07 season, marking the first change to the ball in over 35 years and only the second in 60 seasons. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Manufactured by Spalding, the new ball featured a new design and new synthetic material that Spalding claimed offered a better grip, feel, and consistency than the original ball. Spalding is a sporting goods company started in Chicago by Albert Spalding in 1876 However, many players were vocal in their disdain for the new ball, saying that it was too sticky when dry, and too slippery when wet.

On December 11, 2006, Commissioner Stern announced that beginning January 1, 2007, the NBA would return to the traditional leather basketball in use prior to the 2006-2007 season. Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The change was influenced by frequent player complaints and confirmed hand injuries (cuts) caused by the microfiber ball. ^[4] The Players' Association had filed a suit in behalf of the players against the NBA over the new ball. ^[5] As of 2006, the NBA team jerseys are manufactured by Adidas, which purchased the previous supplier, Reebok. WikipediaManual of Style (trademarks, which says "Lowercased trademarks with no internal Reebok International Limited is a British producer of athletic footwear, apparel and accessories and is currently a subsidiary of Adidas.

On July 19, 2007, the FBI investigated allegations that veteran NBA referee Tim Donaghy bet on basketball games he officiated over the past two seasons and that he made calls affecting the point spread in those games. Events 711 - Muslim forces under Tariq ibn Ziyad defeat the Visigoths led by their king Roderic. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Timothy "Tim" Donaghy (ˈdɒnəgi (born January 7, 1967 in Havertown Pennsylvania) is a former Professional basketball referee Spread betting is any of various types of Wagering on the outcome of an event where the pay-off is based on the Accuracy of the wager rather than a simple ^[6] On August 15, 2007, Donaghy pleaded guilty to two federal charges related to the investigation. Events 778 - The Battle of Roncevaux Pass, at which Roland is killed Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. However, he could face more charges if it is determined that he deliberately miscalled individual games.

On February 19, 2008, the NBA declared that the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets will play the first outdoor game on October 11, 2008, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Events 197 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus defeats usurper Clodius Albinus in the Battle of Lugdunum 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is a Tennis facility in Indian Wells California, in the Coachella Valley There are three entrances to the facility It will be the first outdoor game in the modern era of the NBA.

Teams

The NBA originated in 1946 with 11 teams, and through a sequence of team expansions, reductions, and relocations currently consists of 30 teams. The United States is home to 29 teams and one is located in Canada. The Boston Celtics have won the most championships, with 16 NBA Finals wins. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each June The next most successful franchise is the Los Angeles Lakers, who have 14 overall championships (9 in Los Angeles, 5 in Minneapolis). The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. Following the Lakers are the Chicago Bulls with six championships, all of them over an 8-year span during the 1990s. The Chicago Bulls are an American professional Basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern The San Antonio Spurs, who have won four championships since 1999, were the defending champions until defeated lately by Los Angeles Lakers(4-1) in the Western Conference Finals. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas.

The current league organization divides thirty teams into two conferences of three divisions with five teams each. The current divisional alignment was introduced in the 2004-05 season. The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA

Notes:

• An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move. The Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams and organized in three divisions of five teams each The Atlantic Division is a division in the Eastern Conference of the NBA. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. TD Banknorth Garden is a sports Arena in Boston Massachusetts. The New Jersey Nets are a professional Basketball team in the National Basketball Association that plays in the Eastern Conference 's Atlantic East Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. New Jersey ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. The Izod Center (formerly Brendan Byrne Arena, and later Continental Airlines Arena) is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the The City of New York New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, and known colloquially as The Garden, has been the name of four Arenas in New York City. The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern The Wachovia Center, formerly known as the CoreStates Center and the First Union Center, is an indoor arena located in Philadelphia Pennsylvania The Toronto Raptors are a professional Basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario Ontario (ɒnˈtɛrioʊ is a province located in the central part of Canada, the largest by population and second largest after Quebec The The Central Division is a division in the Eastern Conference of the NBA. The Chicago Bulls are an American professional Basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. The United Center is an indoor sports arena located in the Near West Side community area of Chicago Illinois. The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional Basketball team based in Cleveland Ohio. Cleveland is a City in the US state of Ohio and the County seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state Ohio ( is a Midwestern state of the United States. As part of the Great Lakes region, Ohio has long been a cultural and geographical crossroads Quicken Loans Arena (also referred to as "The Q") is a multipurpose Arena in downtown Cleveland Ohio, USA The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area Auburn Hills is a city in Oakland County in the US state of Michigan. Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. The Palace of Auburn Hills, often referred to simply as The Palace, is a Sports and entertainment venue in Auburn Hills, Michigan, a suburb The State of Indiana ( was the 19th US state admitted into the union Conseco Fieldhouse is a sports arena in Indianapolis Indiana, United States. The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional Basketball team based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States The Bradley Center is an indoor arena in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Southeast Division is a division in the Eastern Conference of the NBA. The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional Basketball team based in Atlanta Georgia. The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule Philips Arena is an indoor arena in Atlanta Georgia. Completed in 1999 at a cost of $213 The Charlotte Bobcats are a professional Basketball team based in Charlotte North Carolina. North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States The Time Warner Cable Arena (also known locally as "TWC Arena" "St The Miami Heat (often referred to simply as the Heat, including in some official team publications with HEAT in all capital letters are a professional Basketball Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the The AmericanAirlines Arena is an Arena located in Downtown Miami, Florida along Biscayne Bay and is used for Basketball The Orlando Magic is a professional Basketball team based in Orlando Florida. Orlando is a major City in central Florida, USA and is the County seat of Orange County Florida. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Amway Arena (formerly known as the Orlando Arena, TD Waterhouse Centre, and The Arena in Orlando, and colloquially known by the nickname of O-Rena Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The Verizon Center (formerly MCI Center until March 5, 2006) is a sports and entertainment arena in Washington D The Western Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams and organized in three divisions of five teams each The Northwest Division is a division in the Western Conference of the NBA. The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. The City and County of Denver (pronounced /ˈdɛnvɚ/ is the Capital and the most populous city of Colorado, in the United States The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. Pepsi Center (aka The Can) is an Arena located in Denver Colorado, USA. The Minnesota Timberwolves are a professional Basketball team based in Minneapolis Minnesota, United States. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers The Target Center is an arena in downtown Minneapolis Minnesota, sponsored by Target Corporation that is home to the National Basketball Association The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, is an American professional Basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. Portland is a city located in the Northwestern United States, near the Confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The Rose Garden, commonly known as the Rose Garden Arena, is the primary indoor Sports arena in Portland Oregon, United States The Seattle SuperSonics (also called the Seattle Sonics) were an American professional Basketball team based in Seattle Washington that played Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. KeyArena at Seattle Center, also known as KeyArena is located north of downtown Seattle, USA on the grounds of Seattle Center (the site of 1962 The Utah Jazz is a professional Basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. The EnergySolutions Arena is an indoor arena in Salt Lake City Utah, United States owned by Larry H The Pacific Division is a division in the Western Conference of the NBA. The Golden State Warriors are an American professional Basketball team based in Oakland, California. Oakland (ˈoʊklənd founded in 1852 is the eighth-largest city in the U California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The Oracle Arena, also known by its former names of the Oakland Coliseum Arena, the Oakland Arena, the Arena In Oakland, and The New Arena is Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports Arena in Downtown Los Angeles California adjacent to the L The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports Arena in Downtown Los Angeles California adjacent to the L The Phoenix Suns are a professional Basketball team based in Phoenix Arizona. Phoenix (ˈfiːˌnɪks O'odham Skikik, Yavapai Wasinka, Western Apache Fiinigis, Navajo Hoozdo, The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. US Airways Center (formerly America West Arena) is a sports and entertainment Arena located in Phoenix Arizona. The Sacramento Kings are a professional Basketball team based in Sacramento California. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. ARCO Arena is an indoor arena located in Sacramento California, United States. The Southwest Division is a division in the Western Conference of the NBA. The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are the professional Basketball team of the National Basketball Association based in Dallas Texas Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The American Airlines Center is an Arena located in the Victory Park neighborhood near downtown Dallas, Texas that is used for The Houston Rockets are an American professional Basketball team based in Houston Texas. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The Toyota Center is an indoor arena located at 1510 Polk Street in Downtown Houston, Texas. The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional Basketball team based in Memphis Tennessee. Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. FedExForum is one of the National Basketball Association 's most distinctive Arenas It officially opened in September 2004 after much debate and also an Alberta The New Orleans Hornets are a professional Basketball team based in New Orleans Louisiana, United States. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America The New Orleans Arena is an indoor arena in New Orleans Louisiana. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional Basketball team based in San Antonio Texas. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The AT&T Center is an indoor arena located in San Antonio Texas, USA See the respective team articles for more information.
• The Fort Wayne Pistons, Minneapolis Lakers and Rochester Royals all joined the NBA (BAA) in 1948 from the NBL. The Detroit Pistons are a team in the National Basketball Association based in the Detroit metropolitan area The Los Angeles Lakers are a National Basketball Association (NBA team based in Los Angeles, California. The Sacramento Kings are a professional Basketball team based in Sacramento California. The National Basketball League was a professional basketball league in the United States from 1937 to 1949.
• The Syracuse Nationals and Tri-Cities Blackhawks joined the NBA in 1949 as part of the BAA-NBL merger. The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short are a professional Basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional Basketball team based in Atlanta Georgia.
• The Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, San Antonio Spurs, and Denver Nuggets all joined the NBA in 1976 as part of the NBA-ABA merger. The New Jersey Nets are a professional Basketball team in the National Basketball Association that plays in the Eastern Conference 's Atlantic The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National

Defunct teams

See: List of defunct National Basketball Association teams

Regular season

Following the summer break, teams hold training camps in October. These Training camps allow the coaching staff to evaluate players (especially rookies), scout the team's strengths and weaknesses, prepare the players for the rigorous regular season, and determine the 12-man active roster (and a 3-man inactive list) with which they will begin the regular season. Teams have the ability to assign players with less than two years of experience to the NBA development league. After training camp, a series of preseason exhibition games are held. The NBA regular season begins in the first week of November.

During the regular season, each team plays 82 games, 41 each home and away. A team faces opponents in its own division four times a year (16 games), teams from the other two divisions in its conference either three or four times (36 games), and teams in the other conference twice apiece (30 games). This asymmetrical structure means the strength of schedule will vary significantly between teams. In Sports strength of schedule (SOS refers to the difficulty or ease of a team's/person's opponent as compared to other teams/persons

The NBA is the only major league in North America (besides the Canadian Football League) in which teams play every other team during the regular season (although the National Hockey League will revert to a schedule that sees every team face one another beginning in the 2008-2009 season). The Canadian Football League (CFL ( Ligue canadienne de football (LCF in The National Hockey League ( NHL) is a professional Ice hockey league composed of 30 teams in North America Each team hosts and visits every other team at least once every season. However, this results in each team playing nearly double the number of games against teams from the opposite conference (30) as teams in their own division (16).

Milwaukee Bucks playing the Charlotte Bobcats in a regular season game

In February, the regular season pauses to celebrate the annual NBA All-Star Game. The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional Basketball team based in Milwaukee Wisconsin. The Charlotte Bobcats are a professional Basketball team based in Charlotte North Carolina. The National Basketball Association staged its first All-Star Game in the Boston Garden on March 2, 1951. Fans vote throughout the United States, Canada, and on the internet, and the top vote-getters at each position in each conference are given a starting spot on their conference's All-Star team. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks Coaches vote to choose the remaining 14 All-Stars. Then, Eastern conference players face the Western conference players in the All-Star game. The player with the best performance during the game is rewarded with a Game MVP award. Other attractions of the All-Star break include the Rookie game, which pits the best rookies and the best second-year players against each other; the Skills, a competition between players to see who could complete an obstacle course comprising shooting, passing and dribbling in the fastest time; the Three Point Contest, a competition between players to see who is the best three-point shooter; and the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, to see which player dunks the ball in the most entertaining way. The Three-point Shootout is a National Basketball Association All-Star Weekend contest held on the Saturday before the All-Star Game. The Slam Dunk Contest is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA competition held during the NBA All-Star Weekend. These other attractions have varying names which include the names of the various sponsors who have paid for naming rights.

Shortly after the All-Star break, the trading deadline falls on the second last Thursday in February at 3pm Eastern Time^[7]. A trade deadline (or trading deadline) in professional sports is a rule regulating the trading of professional players' contracts between clubs The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America After this date, teams are not allowed to exchange players with each other for the remainder of the season, although they may still sign and release players. Major trades are often completed right before the trading deadline, making that day a hectic time for general managers.

Around the end of April, the regular season ends. It is during this time that voting begins for individual awards, as well as the selection of the honorary, league-wide, post-season teams. The Sixth Man of the Year Award is given to the best player coming off the bench (must have more games coming off the bench than actual games started). The National Basketball Association's Sixth Man of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1982–83 NBA season to The Rookie of the Year Award is awarded to the most outstanding first-year player. The National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1952–53 NBA season, to the The Most Improved Player Award is awarded to the player who is deemed to have shown the most improvement from the previous season. The National Basketball Association's Most Improved Player Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1985–86 NBA season, to The Defensive Player of the Year Award is awarded to the league's best defender. The National Basketball Association's Defensive Player of the Year Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1982–83 NBA season The Coach of the Year Award is awarded to the coach that has made the most positive difference to a team. The National Basketball Association's Coach of the Year is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1962–63 NBA season. The Most Valuable Player Award is given to player deemed the most valuable for (his team) that season. Additionally, The Sporting News awards an unofficial (but widely recognized) Executive of the Year Award to the general manager who is adjudged to have performed the best job for the benefit of his franchise. Sporting News (previously The Sporting News, and known colloquially as TSN) is an American -based Sports The National Basketball Association's Executive of the Year Award is an annual award given since the 1972–73 NBA season, to the league's best General managers Unlike

The post-season teams are the All-NBA Teams, the All-Defensive Teams, and the All-Rookie Teams; each consists of five players. There are three All-NBA teams, consisting of the top players at each position, with first-team status being most desirable. There are two All-Defensive teams, consisting of the top defenders at each position. There are also two All-Rookie teams, consisting of the top first-year players regardless of position.

Playoffs

Main article: NBA Playoffs

The NBA Playoffs begin in late April, with eight teams in each conference qualifying for the playoffs. The NBA Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament between sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference (called Divisions The three division winners, along with the team with the next best record from the conference are given the top four seeds. The next four teams in terms of record are given the lower four seeds.

Having a higher seed offers several advantages. Since the first seed plays the eighth seed, the second seed plays the seventh seed, the third seed plays the sixth seed, and the fourth seed plays the fifth seed in the playoffs, having a higher seed generally means one will be facing a weaker team. The team in each series with the better record has home court advantage, including the First Round. This means that, for example, if the team who receives the 6 (six) seed has a better record than the team with the 3 (three) seed (by virtue of a divisional championship), the 6 seed would have home court advantage, even though the other team has a higher seed. Therefore, the team with the best regular season record in the league is guaranteed home court advantage in every series it plays. For example, in 2006, the Denver Nuggets won 44 games and captured the Northwest Division and the #3 seed. The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. Their opponent was the #6 seeded Los Angeles Clippers, who won 47 games and finished second in the Pacific Division. Although Denver won its much weaker division, the Clippers had home-court advantage and won the series in five games.

The playoffs follow a tournament format. Each team plays a rival in a best-of-seven series, with the first team to win four games advancing into the next round, while the other team is eliminated from the playoffs. In the next round, the successful team plays against another advancing team of the same conference. Thus, all but one team in each conference are eliminated from the playoffs. Since the NBA does not re-seed teams, the playoff bracket in each conference uses a traditional design, with the winner of the series matching the 1st and 8th seeded teams playing the winner of the series matching the 4th and 5th seeded teams, and the winner of the series matching the 2nd and 7th seeded teams playing the winner of the series matching the 3rd and 6th seeded teams. In every round except the NBA Finals, the best of seven series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 home-court pattern, meaning that one team will have home court in games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the other plays at home in games 3, 4, and 6. The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each June For the final round (NBA Finals), the series follows a 2-3-2 pattern, meaning that one team will have home court in games 1, 2, 6, and 7, while the other plays at home in games 3, 4, and 5. The 2-3-2 pattern in the NBA Finals has been in place since 1985.

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. The Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy is a trophy awarded to the National Basketball Association (NBA team that wins the NBA Finals at the conclusion of 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. The National Basketball Association Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA award given since the 1969 NBA Finals.

On August 2, 2006, the NBA announced the new playoff format. Events 338 BC - A Macedonian army led by Philip II defeated the combined forces of Athens and Thebes in the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The new format takes the three division winners and the second-place team with the best record and rank them 1-4 by record. The other 4 slots are filled by best record other than those other 4 teams. Previously, the top three seeds went to the division winners.

Recent problems

The NBA has lost a lot of its popularity due to widely publicized problems within the league. In 1998, Sports Illustated reported on the large number of players, including many of the league's stars, who exhibited a general lack of responsibility by fathering multiple children with multiple women in many different cities across the country. [1] Numerous stories have also been published over the last decade reporting on the criminal activities of many players. [2] On November 19, 2004, the NBA suffered one of its most embarrassing and damaging moments, now known as the Pacers-Pistons brawl, when an altercation involving players and fans broke out near the end of the game. The Pacers-Pistons brawl (also known as The Malice at the Palace and The Basketbrawl) was an altercation that occurred in a National Basketball Association [3] More recently, accusations of game fixing by referees, possibly at the direction of NBA executives, have been reported as a way to extend the playoffs and increase television revenues. [4]

Notable people

Further information: Basketball Hall of Fame

Presidents and commissioners

• Maurice Podoloff, President from 1946 to 1963
• Walter Kennedy, President from 1963 to 1967 and Commissioner from 1967 to 1975
• Larry O'Brien, Commissioner from 1975 to 1984
• David Stern, Commissioner since 1984

Players

• List of National Basketball Association players
  • List of foreign NBA players, a list that is exclusively for players who are not from the United States

Coaches

• List of NBA head coaches
• List of NBA championship head coaches

Awards

See also

• List of NBA champions
• Index of Professional Sports teams in the United States and Canada
• List of attendance figures at domestic professional sports leagues
• List of TV markets and major sports teams
• Major North American professional sports leagues
• Miscellaneous:
  • Criticisms and controversies
  • Music
  • Nielsen ratings
• National Basketball Association All-Star Game
• NBA All-Star Weekend
• NBA Development League (NBA D-League)
• NBA Draft
• NBA Finals
• NBA first overall draft pick
• NBA International
• NBA Playoffs
• NBA records
• NBA All-Star Game records
• Notable statistics:
  • Active NBA non-playoff appearance streaks
  • Active NBA playoff appearance streaks
  • All-time NBA playoff appearance streaks
  • National Basketball Association lists
• Rivalries of the NBA
• Television partners:
  • NBA On BTV
  • ABC
  • CBS
  • ESPN
  • NBA TV
  • NBC
  • TNT
• Video games:
  • NBA 2K
  • NBA Jam
  • NBA Live
  • NBA Street
• Women's National Basketball Association

Notes

External links

• Official Site
• NBA Player Rater
• NBA.com Official PC/Mac Site
• NBA.mobi Official Mobile Site
• NBA on Hoopedia Basketball Wiki sponsored by the NBA
• Official Myspace Site
• National Basketball Players Association
• NBRA NBA Referees Site
• Internationalistreview.com Article by the Internationalist Review on race issues in the NBA
• A chronology of teams in the NBA