An Informational Guide About the NBA

The NBA was founded in 1946, and over the course of 65+ seasons they’ve grown to become the premier global organization for professional basketball. The league is considered one of the “Big Four” in North America and enjoyed by casual and die-hard fans alike, although a 2014 Harris Poll shows that it lags behind the NFL, MLB, college football, and auto racing in overall popularity.

While the NBA doesn’t lead the pack in total viewers, they remain a cultural powerhouse that influences fashion and music and generates massive amounts of money. In 2015, the average NBA team was worth $1.1 billion, up 74% from the previous year. The most valuable franchise is the Los Angeles Lakers ($2.6 billion), followed by the New York Knicks ($2.5BN), Chicago Bulls ($2BN), and Boston Celtics ($1.7BN).

During the course of this article, our objective is to offer a wide variety of information about the National Basketball Association. From an overall history of the league to some of the best games ever played, our intention is to turn even the most raw basketball fan into someone capable of carrying on an intelligent conversation about the sport.

While the game of basketball was created in 1891 and spread to college campuses a few years later, the professional league later known as the National Basketball Association wouldn’t appear until 1946. That’s when the Basketball Association of America was founded by owners of major hockey arenas throughout Canada, the Northeast, and the Midwest. Other organizations such as the National Basketball League and the American Basketball League had already tried their luck at professional basketball, but the BAA was the first to concentrate on larger arenas in major metropolitan areas.

Inagural NBA Game

The inaugural game in league history took place on November 1st, 1946, between the New York Knickerbockers and Toronto Huskies, with shooting guard/small forward Ossie Schectman credited as the first player to score a goal. The Knicks would win the game 68-66.

Creation of NBA and Consolidation

While the ABL had already ceased operations, the existence of both the BAA and NBL resulted in a fierce battle for dominance. Teams jumped from league to league, but the BAA had established a clear advantage by the 1948-1949 season. The two leagues merged that same season, with the remaining NBL teams becoming part of the BAA. While the executives of the BAA were intact, they decided to rebrand their new league as the National Basketball Association.

Once their rival league had been dealt with, the NBA was left with a mix of teams playing in larger arenas and small venues such as local gymnasiums. The latter were considered undesirable for long-term success, so they were slowly phased out or moved to bigger cities with greater revenue potential. By the 1953-1954, the league had reduced itself to eight teams, including the Knicks, Warriors, Celtics, Kings, Pistons, Lakers, 76ers, and Hawks.

Until the shot clock was introduced, games were low-scoring and failed to generate the desired level of excitement among ticketholders. This rule had an immediate impact on the product, resulting in greater ticket sales and a more fan-friendly product.

Celtic Dominance and the ABA

From 1959 to 1969, the league was dominated by the Boston Celtics. Coached by Red Auerbach and starring future Hall of Famers Bill Russell and Bob Cousy, the Celtics put together a record eight consecutive championships and won 10 titles in 11 seasons. Thanks to playoff success in later decades, they remain the winningest franchise in NBA Finals history.

As the Celtic era was drawing to a close, the NBA faced a new challenge with the appearance of the American Basketball Association. The ABA had the money to lure away top NBA stars, and they also managed to sign a number of college players who were just turning pro. Combined with an emphasis on fan-pleasing moves such as the slam dunk and three-point shot, they posed a serious threat.

Moves were made to put teams in major markets before the competition could do so. By 1974, the league had added the Trail Blazers, Braves, Cavaliers, and Jazz for a total of 18 teams.The hard work and dedication of NBA executives finally paid off, and they were once again the only major professional basketball league following the 1976 season. A settlement with the American Basketball Association increased the number of teams to 22, as former ABA franchises such as the Spurs, Pacers, Nuggets, and Nets entered the league.

Mainstream Success

By the end of the 1970s, the league’s popularity was flagging. That changed in 1979, however, as the NBA adopted the three-point shot from the former ABA. Magic Johnson and Larry Bird also came aboard as rookies, and they quickly continued their college rivalry as members of the Celtics and Lakers.

Boston (three wins) and Los Angeles (five wins) would take turns winning NBA Finals throughout the 1980s. A number of other stars began to emerge during this period, including Isiah Thomas, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Charles Barkley. No athlete, however, was a bigger boon for the league than Bulls star Michael Jordan. Despite his franchise struggling for several years, Jordan and the Bulls became a dominant force throughout the 1990s, winning six NBA Finals in the process.

One of the highlights during this time was the 1992 “Dream Team,” a squad of mostly professional athletes who dominated the 1992 Olympic basketball competition and brought home a gold medal with a great deal of fanfare.

Downturn and Reemergence

Despite all the positives, the NBA went into a slump with the onset of the new millennium. Michael Jordan had entered his second retirement, and a nasty 191-day lockout reduced the 1998-1999 season by 39%. These two events sapped fan interest, as did the emergence of the San Antonio Spurs and their perceived combination of methodical play and boring players.

The play of Kobe Brant and Shaquille, as well as a renewal of the Lakers-Celtics rivalry once again grabbed fan interest in the latter half of the 2000s, but then another lockout in 2011 brought the league’s momentum to a crashing halt.

Teams normally not associated with the playoffs are beginning to enjoy consistent success, and a new generation of NBA players are coming into their own. While names like Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Paul George can’t rival those of Bird and Johnson, they each have years to create their own legacies.

Television Ratings

Television rating for the NBA have waxed and waned over the decades. NBA Finals ratings reached a record high during the 1997-1998 season, but a league lockout, increased competition from prime time television programs, and the absence of star players like Michael Jordan resulted in record low ratings for the 2002-2003 championship series. Ratings eventually began to climb again beginning in 2007, but 2012 marked another drop in numbers.

On a positive note, the 2015 NBA Finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers resulted in an average viewership of 19.94 million, which is the largest North American audience since Michael Jordan played his last game with the Bulls in 1998.

the case of professional basketball in America, this individual is known as the Commissioner of the NBA. Elected by the 30 franchise owners, this executive levies fines and suspensions, looks for new ways to develop the brand across the globe, and generally steers the ship through good times and bad.

Going all the way back to the days of the BAA, only five individuals have served as commissioner. This section lists these men and provides a brief summary of their tenure.

If you’re new to the game of basketball, you may not be familiar with the various positions on the court. In this section, we’ll explain each of these and list Notable players who have filled those roles.

Point Guard

This position is responsible for directing the offense and calling the plays. Point guards tend to be agile and fast, as they must be able to work the ball around the court to find teammates in the best position to score.

Notable NBA point guards include: Magic Johnson, Bob Cousy, Oscar Robertson, Walt Frazier, John Stockton, Isiah Thomas, Steve Nash, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul and Stephen Curry

Shooting Guard

As their name would indicate, these players are relied upon to score points. This is especially true when it comes to shooting from the outside, and these players often excel at the three-point shot.

Notable NBA shooting guards include: Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Earl Monroe, Reggie Miller, George Gervin, Clyde Drexler, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Dwyane Wade and Kobe Bryant

Small Forward

A quality player at this position needs to be able to defend and score. They may be asked to shoot from the outside, but they also need to be durable enough to get in close to the basket.

Notable NBA small forwards include: John Havlicek, Rick Barry, Elgin Baylor, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, James Worthy, Dominique Wilkins, Scottie Pippen, Kevin Durant and LeBron James

Power Forward

This player spends much of his time close to the basket (low post), as he’s responsible for grabbing rebounds and defending the opposition. These individuals tend to be among the strongest players on their team

Notable NBA power forwards include: Bob Pettit, Elvin Hayes, Kevin McHale, Karl Malone, Charles Barkley, Kevin Garnett, Dennis Rodman, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki and Tim Duncan

Center

Usually the tallest player on a team, the center is responsible for scoring close to the basket, blocking shots, and grabbing rebounds.

Notable NBA centers include: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Mikan, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Walton, Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O’Neal

Over the years, the game of professional basketball has changed to meet the demands of the audience. This section provides an overview of some modern-day NBA rules, as well as documenting the changes they’ve underwent over the years. It’s hard to believe that the original game only had 13 rules.

Three-point Shot

In the early days of the NBA, players didn’t have the option of draining a three-pointer. That changed in the 1960s, however, as the ABA drew positive response when they introduced an additional way to score. After the two leagues merged, the NBA adopted the idea in 1979.

Size of the Teams

The number of players on the court has been fixed at five per team since the beginning of the 20th century, but it’s interesting to note that the early days of the game used anywhere from nine to 50 players per team.

Lane Width

The NBA lane was originally only six feet wide, but this was changed to 12 feet for the 1951-1952 season. According to the official NBA site, this change was due to the dominance of Lakers center George Mikan. Starting with the 1964-1965 season, it was enlarged to its current size of 16 feet due to the dominance of Wilt Chamberlain.

Shot Clock

Prior to the 1954-1955 season, the NBA did not use a shot clock. This became increasingly unpopular with fans, as a team in the lead would often pass endlessly around the court in order to keep the opposition from receiving the ball. The inclusion of this rule revolutionized the game and resulted in a 40% increase in attendance. In the last year before the shot clock, teams averaged 79 points per game. Four years later, the average had increased to 107.

NBA Dress Code

While this rule doesn’t impact a player’s performance on the court, it does remain one of the more interesting rule additions in the last few decades. Following the notorious Pacers-Piston brawl during the 2004 season, Commissioner David Stern issued a new dress code that went into effect during the 2005-2006 season. Players were now required to wear conservative attire while conducting league business or even entering an arena, and items traditionally associated with hip-hop culture were forbidden. Players from Allen Iverson to Paul Pierce opposed the idea, but it remains in place as of this writing.

In August of 1949, a pair of basketball leagues merged to create what would later become the modern-day NBA. The fledgling league was initially comprised of 17 teams, but its continued popularity over the years has allowed it to add a number of expansion franchises. The NBA is currently comprised of 29 teams in the United States and one in Canada; this section details each of them.

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Besides the Raptors, all teams in this division can be found on the East Coast. The Atlantic has been around since the 1970-1971 season, when the league expanded to 17 franchises and added the Trail Blazers, Cavaliers, and Buffalo Braves. Former franchises have included the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Buffalo Braves, and Washington Wizards/Bullets. Notable rivalries include the following: Knicks vs 76ers, Knicks vs Nets, Celtics vs 76ers, and Celtics vs Knicks.

Central Division

This division first appeared during the 1970-1971 season following league expansion and realignment. Most of the teams come from the former Midwest Division, with the exception of the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons have the most title wins of the division, while the Cavs are the most recent champions. Notable division rivalries include the Bulls vs Pacers and Bulls vs Pistons, both of which reached their peak during the career of Michael Jordan.

Southeast Division

This division was created for the 2004-2005, as the league added the Charlotte Bobcats and expanded from 29 to 30 teams. During this time, the Miami Heat have been the most successful franchise, winning seven division championships. Since 2004, teams in the Southeast have also advanced to the NBA Finals six times and won three league championships. Notable rivalries include the Heat vs Magic and Hawks vs Magic.

Western Conference

Northern Division

Created for the 2004-2005 season, this division contains teams from such diverse locales as Oklahoma City and Salt Lake City. The Thunder have been the dominant franchise since 2010, winning the division title four out of five times. Since the division was formed, the Thunder is also the only team to have made it to the NBA Finals (where they lost to the Miami Heat).

Pacific Division

Created at the beginning of the 1970-1971 season, the Pacific Division has produced 14 NBA champions, with the Lakers being one of the two most successful franchises in league history. The most notable rivalry is between the Lakers and the Clippers, and the two even play games in the same area. To date, the Lakers hold a commanding lead in this rivalry (98-40), although the Clippers have closed the gap in recent years.

Southwest Division

Comprised of three Texas teams and a pair of other Southern franchises, the Southwest Division came into existence when the league expanded to 30 teams for the 2004-2005 season. Teams in the division have won 4 NBA titles since its creation, although they also captured another four championships prior to realignment. Every team in the division made the playoffs during the 2014-2015 season, an accomplishment that’s only occurred twice in the last three decades. Notable rivalries include the Rockets vs Spurs and Mavericks vs Spurs.

The history of the National Basketball Association is filled with brilliant and innovative head coaches. Some have been masters of defensive schemes, while others specialized in accumulating a mind-boggling number of points. Regardless of their main area of expertise, the following men are some of the legendary names in the coaching world.

The NBA has produced thousands of thrilling contests over its history. The following, however, should all be considered as candidates for the greatest pro basketball game of all time.

Straight from the NBA record books, here are some notable player milestones in the history of the league.

Each year, the best NBA teams meet in the postseason to determine the champion for that season. The award given to the top finisher was originally known as the NBA Finals trophy, but this was changed to the Walter A. Brown Trophy from 1964 to 1984 (when it became the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy). Much like the NHL, the original tradition was for the winning team to keep the trophy for a year and then pass it on to the next champion, but this practice ended in 1977.

The following is a complete list of all the teams to win a title since the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League merged to form the NBA.

Just in case you can’t be bothered to read through the entire list above, here’s a rundown of the NBA franchises to capture multiple championships (as of early 2018).

Each year, the best NBA teams meet in the postseason to determine the champion for that season. The award given to the top finisher was originally known as the NBA Finals trophy, but this was changed to the Walter A. Brown Trophy from 1964 to 1984 (when it became the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy). Much like the NHL, the original tradition was for the winning team to keep the trophy for a year and then pass it on to the next champion, but this practice ended in 1977.

The following is a complete list of all the teams to win a title since the Basketball Association of America and the National Basketball League merged to form the NBA.

Malice at the Palace

During a 2004 games between the Detroit Pistons and the Indiana Pacers at The Palace of Auburn Hills, a fight broke out on the court after Ben Wallace took violent exception to being fouled by Ron Artest. Several players got involved, and Artest eventually ended up resting on the scorer’s table. That’s when a fan threw a drink on him, and the volatile small forward (who would later legally change his name to Metta World Peace) wasted no time in wading into the crowd in search of the perpetrator. Absolute chaos broke loose as players and fans brawled, and the suspensions handed down to nine players totaled 146 games and $11 million in lost pay.

Phantom Buzzer Game

During a 1969 game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Chicago, the Hawks were leading 124-122 with seconds remaining. A desperation shot by the Bulls was tipped in, but referee Bob Rakel refused to allow the tying goal because he claimed to have heard the final buzzer sound. Despite the fact that one second remained on the clock, and in the face of overwhelming evidence, Rakel refuses to reverse his decision. A petition was immediately filed with the league office by the Bulls, and it was the first time that the NBA upheld an official protest. The game was later finished, although the Bulls lost in overtime by a score of 142-137.

Donald Sterling Controversy

In 2014, Clippers owners Donald Sterling had a long talk with his mistress, but it turned out that the entire conversation was being recorded. During their chat, Sterling gave her permission to take black lovers, but he then remarked, “It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people.” The audio ended up in the hands of TMZ, and the media had a field day raking Sterling and the league over the coals. Sterling lost out on a chance to receive a second lifetime achievement award from the NAACP, and even President Barack Obama weighed in on the controversy. Four days after the tapes became public, Sterling was fined $2.5 million and banned from the NBA for life.

Knicks-Nuggets Brawl

Two years after the Pacers-Pistons brawl, an on-court battle took place between the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets. Seven players wound up with suspensions after the melee, including Carmelo Anthony, Nate Robinson, and J.R. Smith. No suspension was forthcoming for Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, however, even though he reportedly told his players to deliver a hard foul to any opponent attempting a dunk or layup and even went so far as to personally warn Carmelo Anthony about going into the lane.

Tim Donaghy Betting Scandal

From 1994 to 2007, Tim Donaghy worked as an NBA referee and officiated 772 regular season games and 20 playoff games. He resigned from the league in 2007, but this was shortly followed by the release of an FBI report alleging that Donaghy had been betting on games he was officiating for the last two years. While the league suffered a major black eye in the media, the former referee was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison. During interviews with federal agents, he also claimed that the league would sometimes seek to manipulate games by using referees, a claim that would provide NBA conspiracy theorists with years-worth of ammunition.

Looking for a way to break the ice with an NBA fan?

If so, try throwing out one of these interesting bits of basketball trivia to get the conversation started.

• After the Air Jordan brand of sneaker was introduced, NBA players were banned from wearing them during games. Michael Jordan chose to wear them anyway, as Nike happily paid each fine.
• In the 1983 NBA draft, Philadelphia 76ers owner Harold Katz drafted Norman Horvitz, a 49-year-old from the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. While the exact reason for this was never known, the most common version involves the two men being poker buddies.
• From 1990 to 1998, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls never lost more than two consecutive games.
• Tim Duncan originally aspired to be a swimmer and compete on the 1992 Olympic team. When Hurricane Hugo destroyed his training facility, lessons were moved to the ocean. Due to his extreme fear of sharks, Duncan put his swimming dreams on hold and took up basketball to stay in shape.
• None of the following NBA stars played basketball at the college level: LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, Moses Malone, Dwight Howard, Shawn Kemp, and Tracy McGrady.
• When Michael Jordan stepped away from the NBA to try his hand at baseball, Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf continued to pay his $4 million annual salary.
• Notorious eccentric Rasheed Wallace had his Pistons championship ring made so that it would fit his middle finger. One can only guess at the reasons for this.
• The three-point shot originated in the ABA and didn’t appear in the NBA until the 1979-1980 season.
• During the 1961-1962 season, Wilt Chamberlain averaged 50.4 points and 22.9 rebounds per game. Despite these incredible numbers, the MVP award for that season went to Bill Russell. It should also be noted that Wilt the Stilt’s scoring average is 31.6% better than the next-highest.
• During his career, Shaquille O’Neal missed 5,317 free throws. Only 72 players in the history of the league have even attempted more than that number.

As the biggest basketball league in the world and a member of the “big four” betting sports, the NBA is a prime market for amateur and expert sports bettors to make some serious cash. With all different types of bets available, you can leverage all your past NBA knowledge and future NBA predictions to put some cold hard cash in your wallet.

NBA betting is not easy, though, especially if you don’t know where or how to get started. Thankfully, we’ve compiled a healthy list of resources to help get you started on the road towards profitability. From helping you select sites to bet with (critical for line shopping) to helping you understand the nuances of the game to advanced betting strategies, we cover everything from A to Z to take you from Joe to Pro.

We recommend starting with the NBA Betting Sites guide below to establish your home base and then moving on to the Basketball Betting Guide to start establishing and building your winning strategy. This is the optimal progression as recommended by our experts on staff.