NBA Basketball

Founded in 1947 as the Basketball Association of America, the league changed its name to the National Basketball Association in 1949 when it merged with the rival National Basketball League.

In 1967 the American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed, which created a bidding war for talent. In 1976 the NBA and ABA reached a settlement that provided adding four ABA franchises to the NBA.

There are currently 30 teams, 29 in the United States and one in Canada, which make up the NBA. The teams are divided into the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. Both conferences have three divisions with five teams.

Making up the Eastern Conference are: Atlantic Division – Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors; Central Division – Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks; Southeast Division – Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards.

Teams in the Western Conference are: Southwest Division – Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, San Antonio Spurs; Northwest – Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Seattle SuperSonics, Utah Jazz; Pacific Division – Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Sacramento Kings.

Each team plays 82 games during the regular season that runs from November into April. Playoffs begin in late April with eight teams from each conference qualifying. Each team plays a rival in the best of seven series with the team winning four of the games advancing and the loser being eliminated. The last two teams left in each conference play a best of seven series in the NBA finals to determine the season’s championship team.

The Miami Heat defeated the Dallas Mavericks, four games to two, to win the 2006 championship. Other recent NBA champions include: San Antonio Spurs, 2005, 2003 and 1999; Detroit Pistons, 2004; Los Angeles Lakers, 2002, 2001 and 2000; and Chicago Bulls, 1998, 1997 and 1996.

The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA titles, 16, while the Los Angeles Lakers have 14 and the Chicago Bulls six.