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The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada and is considered the premier professional basketball league in the world. [3]
The commissioner of the NBA is Adam Silver and his job is to oversee the tasks in the organization. Many rule changes have occurred since the inception of professional basketball that has altered the game to what we now recognize today. These rule changes did not occur all at once but instead evolved to suit the changing style of play.
The league was formed as the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1946 and took its current name in 1949. The histories of NBA franchises that were also members of the American Basketball League (ABL), National Basketball League (NBL), National Pro Basketball League (NPBL), and American Basketball Association (ABA) are also included.
Earl Lloyd (right) was the first African American to play in the NBA in 1950. The NBA was founded in June 1946, with its first season played in 1946–47. Wat Misaka debuted in 1947–48 as the first non-white player and the first Asian American to play in the league. [1] [4] African Americans first appeared in the NBA in 1950.
The NBA welcomed the four ABA teams whose rabid fan bases made them legitimate NBA cities: the Denver Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers, the New Jersey Nets and the San Antonio Spurs.
The NBA experienced tremendous growth with the rise of stars like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. Jordan's Chicago Bulls dominated the 1990s, leading to increased global interest in the sport. The 1992 "Dream Team," featuring NBA stars, won the Barcelona Olympics and helped popularize basketball internationally. The NHL continued ...
The Spurs have had the most players from Latin America and are one of only three NBA teams who have had at least five players on their rosters who originate from Latin America and Spain (if one includes Puerto Rico as part of Latin America, although it is a U.S. territory), the others being the Memphis Grizzlies and the Portland Trail Blazers ...
The Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce shoots a layup in the first half of Game 3 of the NBA Finals on June 10, 2008, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)