Even if you don’t follow basketball very much, you’ve probably heard of the NBA (National Basketball Association). The acronym belongs to one of the most important sports leagues in the world, with top-level athletes. So let’s find out all about the NBA?
To get to know the NBA, what it does and how it works, we first need to understand the historical context of its existence. So let’s see when and where it was born, where its headquarters are and which are the main teams and stars of basketball that are affiliated to the NBA.
We’ll also learn a little about the rules and style of play, what special basketball events the NBA organizes and how the league impacts fans and sports enthusiasts all over the world!
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All about the NBA: history
To know all about the NBA, we need to understand its brief history!
The NBA was founded in 1946, previously known as the BAA, or Basketball Association of America. When it merged with the NBL, the National Basketball League, it became the NBA in 1949.
All this took place in New York and it wasn’t long before 17 teams joined the league to start the first championship season. During its first two decades of life, the NBA was very successful, but it was during the 1970s that there was a great expansion with more teams joining.
In the 1980s, popularity exploded and we began to see the world’s most skillful athletes on a global scale. Many of them are still known today.
One of the most popular is, of course, Michael Jordan, who was very successful in the 1990s with the Chicago Bulls. As well as standing out as a great basketball player, he became a world icon and a reference point for future sportsmen and women.
In the 2000s, the international expansion became even greater, and several other names began to take the world by storm, such as Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neil, Lebron James, among others.
Today, the NBA continues to be extremely popular all over the world, even though it is concentrated in the United States, and the league is constantly growing!
But the content with all about the NBA has only just begun, so get ready to learn a lot more about the league!
All about the NBA: top teams
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Chicago Bulls
- Boston Celtics
- Miami Heat
- Toronto Raptors
- Golden State Warriors
- Dallas Mavericks
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
We’re sure you know a lot of the names of popular NBA teams, but some stand out for leading several championships and having incredible players. Shall we get to know some of the top teams?
Los Angeles Lakers
The first team worth mentioning is the Los Angeles Lakers, who have won several NBA titles and have also been home to great athletes. Among them are Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neil and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls have also made a name for themselves in the NBA over the years, especially in the 1990s, putting Michael Jordan in the spotlight. To this day, the athlete is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Boston Celtics
We also need to mention the Boston Celtics, one of the teams with the most wins in NBA history. In all, the team has 17 titles.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat have made a name for themselves in the NBA in recent years, and one of their biggest milestones was signing LeBron James. So, with such a powerful athlete on the court, there’s no way the team won’t be featured on this list.
Toronto Raptors
Leaving the United States for a moment, one of the great highlights of the NBA is the Toronto Raptors, a team from Canada. The team won its first NBA title in 2019.
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors have been one of the NBA’s great powers in recent times, winning three championships in just four years. Among the team’s most outstanding players are Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.
Dallas Mavericks
In 2011, the Dallas Mavericks won their first NBA title. In the years that followed, the team became increasingly competitive, but with a stable performance.
Detroit Pistons
Between the 1980s and the 2000s, the Detroit Pistons made a name for themselves in NBA history by winning three titles. Among their greatest characteristics is a defense full of power.
Indiana pacers
The Indiana Pacers also made a name for themselves in the NBA between 1990 and 2000, being a team with significant results throughout their stay in the league.
These are just a few examples of the great teams that make up the NBA, but there are many other teams that stand out, that have been very popular in previous years and also others that are promising for the future. See below for a complete list of all the teams in the NBA league!
All about the NBA: all the teams
East Conference
Atlantic
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
Central
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
West Conference
Northwest
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
Pacific
- Golden State Warriors
- LA Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
Southwest
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- San Antonio Spurs
All about the NBA: top athletes
Now, let’s meet some of the NBA’s top athletes. Among them are Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, and others
Michael Jordan
Considered the greatest basketball player in the world, Michael Jordan stood out for the Chicago Bulls, winning six NBA titles in the 1990s alone.
LeBron James
LeBron James made a name for himself in the NBA in the 2000s, when he joined the league and managed to win four titles with three different teams.
Kareem abdul-jabbar
The player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is known as one of the NBA athletes with the most points accumulated. He has excelled in the league for two decades, winning six titles. He is known for his famous “Skyhook” shot.
Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson, who is also one of the greatest athletes in NBA history, led the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s, winning five titles. The athlete was known for being an extremely skilled passer.
Larry Bird
Playing for the Boston Celtics, Bird won three NBA titles during the 1980s. The athlete stood out not only for his shooting, but also for his leadership.
Bill Russell
Considered one of the NBA’s greatest defenders and also one of the league’s greatest winners, he distinguished himself by winning 11 titles for the Boston Celtics over 13 seasons.
Shaquille O’Neil
One of the most dominant players in the NBA, mainly because of his size, Shaquille O’Neal has won the NBA Finals four times and is one of the most feared power forwards in the entire league.
Tim Duncan
Team Duncan played for the San Antonio Spurs, winning five NBA titles. One of his main playing characteristics was his ability on defense
Hakeem Olajuwon
Known as “The Dream”, the player was one of the best pivots in the NBA. Playing for the Houston Rockets, he won two league titles.
Wilt Chamberlain
Wilt Chamberlain is considered a basketball legend, holding several records and two NBA titles. His main record is for the most points scored (100) in a single game.
All about the NBA: main rules
The NBA has a series of rules that must be followed by teams and players. Check out the main ones!
Number and position of players
Each basketball team can have up to 15 players, but only five from each team can be on the court during the course of the match.
These players are distributed in the following positions: guard, wing and pivot. In each position, the players perform different functions. However, in the more modern form of the sport, these roles can change.
Game time
Each NBA game has four halves, each lasting 12 minutes. In all, there are 48 minutes of play. If there is a tie at the end, the teams can play five-minute overtime periods until there is a winner.
Absences
Each player on a team can have a maximum of six fouls, and if they have more than six fractions they are sent off. If a player commits five fouls, after this infraction the opposing team can take free throws.
Infringements
NBA players need to be aware of unsportsmanlike conduct that could jeopardize their careers with the team. Discourteous behavior on and off the court is not acceptable to the NBA.
These are just some of the rules that NBA teams and players have to follow, and these rules can be changed from time to time by the league.
All about the NBA: Draft
The NBA has an annual event called the Draft, which consists of selecting new players. To compete for these annual vacancies, athletes must receive approval from the league, be of a certain age, among other criteria to be analyzed.
The evaluations begin with a lottery, and the leaders of each team analyze various eligibility criteria to choose the best players for their teams. The teams that take part in the Draft are those that have performed worst in previous seasons.
All about the NBA: curiosities
- One of the NBA’s most interesting curiosities is that its famous logo is the silhouette of a real basketball player in the league. The athlete in question is Jerry West, considered one of the greatest of all time.
- Another interesting fact is that the rim of the basketball hoop has a movement technology, used to prevent players from injuring themselves when burying the ball. So, when too much force is thrown at the rim, it is flexed.
- In addition, the first player not from North America to be chosen by the NBA through the Draft was Frenchman Hervé Dubuisson. In 1984, he was selected by the Boston Celtics.
- Did you know that the longest basketball game of all time lasted a total of 78 minutes? The match took place between the Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals in January 1951.
- The NBA is broadcast in more than 200 countries and territories around the world and is one of the most watched sports leagues.
All about the NBA: how to watch the games?
The NBA is broadcast by various sports channels around the world, such as ESPN. You can also follow the matches via streaming, such as ESPN’s own, as well as YouTube and League Pass, created by the NBA. The service is available in several countries!
The sport can also be followed on the NBA’s official social networks and apps, so you can stay up to date with everything that’s happening in the championships.
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