National Basketball Association facts for kids
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| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | June 6, 1946 (as BAA), New York City, New York, U.S. August 3, 1949 (as NBA) |
| Commissioner | Adam Silver |
| No. of teams | 30 |
| Countries | United States (29 teams) Canada (1 team) |
| Headquarters | 645 Fifth Avenue New York City, New York, U.S. 100 Plaza Drive Secaucus, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Continent | North America |
| Most recent champion(s) |
New York Knicks (3rd title) |
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the top professional basketball league in North America. It has 30 teams, with 29 in the United States and one in Canada. It is widely viewed as the best basketball league on Earth. The NBA has head offices in New York City and Secaucus, New Jersey.
The league started on June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). On August 3, 1949, it joined with the National Basketball League (NBL) and took the name NBA. The league plays an 82-game regular schedule each year from October to April. The top teams then play in the NBA playoffs, which finish in June with the NBA Finals.
The Boston Celtics have won the most NBA championships with 18 titles. The New York Knicks won the title during the 2026 NBA Finals. The NBA also runs several other sports leagues. These include the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the NBA G League, the NBA 2K League, and the Basketball Africa League.
Contents
History of the National Basketball Association
Creation and early years of professional basketball
The league was created in 1946 by owners of major ice hockey arenas in the Northeast and Midwest. On November 1, 1946, the Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knicks in Toronto at Maple Leaf Gardens. The NBA considers this match to be its very first game. Ossie Schectman of the Knicks scored the first basket.
During these early years, basketball was still growing in popularity across big cities. In 1949, the BAA merged with the rival NBL to form the National Basketball Association. Maurice Podoloff served as the first league president.
The new league started with 17 clubs, but soon shrank to eight strong teams by 1954. All eight of those original clubs remain active today, though several moved to new host cities over time.
Wataru Misaka broke the league's color line in 1947 when he played for the New York Knicks. In 1950, other pioneers joined the league, including Chuck Cooper, Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton, and Earl Lloyd. Center George Mikan led the Minneapolis Lakers to five titles, becoming the sport's first major superstar. In 1954, the league introduced the 24-second shot clock to make games faster and more exciting for fans.
Legendary rivalries and expanding the league
In 1957, rookie center Bill Russell joined the Boston Celtics. Working with guard Bob Cousy and coach Red Auerbach, Russell led Boston to 11 championships in 13 seasons. The Celtics won eight championships in a row from 1959 to 1966. This remains the longest title streak in North American sports history.
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During the 1960s, superstar center Wilt Chamberlain set incredible records. In one famous game, he scored 100 points, and in another, he grabbed 55 rebounds. The intense rivalry between Russell and Chamberlain became famous worldwide.
The league expanded quickly during this decade. Teams were added in Chicago, Seattle, San Diego, Milwaukee, and Phoenix. In 1967, a rival league called the American Basketball Association (ABA) appeared. The two leagues competed for top talent like college star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
In 1969, designer Alan Siegel created the modern red, white, and blue NBA logo. It shows the silhouette of Hall of Fame guard Jerry West. In 1976, the NBA and ABA officially merged, bringing four ABA teams into the NBA: the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and New York Nets.
Golden era, global popularity, and Michael Jordan
The NBA adopted the three-point field goal line in 1979. That same season, superstars Larry Bird and Magic Johnson entered the league. Their rivalry energized fans across the globe. Bird led the Celtics to three championships, while Johnson led the Los Angeles Lakers to five titles. David Stern became league commissioner in 1984 and helped turn the NBA into a worldwide entertainment brand.
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Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls in 1984 and became one of the most famous athletes in history. Jordan and teammate Scottie Pippen led the Bulls to six NBA championships during the 1990s. The Houston Rockets, led by center Hakeem Olajuwon, won back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995.
In 1992, active NBA players competed in the Olympic Games for the first time on the famous United States Dream Team. The squad featured superstars like Jordan, Bird, Johnson, and Charles Barkley. The league also added two Canadian clubs in 1995: the Toronto Raptors and the Vancouver Grizzlies.
Western dominance and international superstars
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From 1999 to 2014, two Western Conference teams dominated the league: the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs. Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to three straight titles from 2000 to 2002. Bryant later led Los Angeles to two more championships in 2009 and 2010.
The Spurs, coached by Gregg Popovich and led by star forward Tim Duncan, captured five championships between 1999 and 2014. International stars like Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili played key roles in San Antonio's success. In 2006, guard Dwyane Wade led the Miami Heat to their first championship.
In 2010, superstar LeBron James joined Miami alongside Wade and Chris Bosh. This "Big Three" reached four straight Finals, winning titles in 2012 and 2013. Dirk Nowitzki led the Dallas Mavericks to an upset championship victory over Miami in 2011. Adam Silver took over as league commissioner in 2014 following David Stern's retirement.
Three-point revolution and modern parity
The Golden State Warriors rose to power behind guard Stephen Curry, whose incredible long-range shooting transformed basketball strategy. Golden State won championships in 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022. In 2016, the Warriors set an NBA regular season record by winning 73 out of 82 games.
LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers and led them to a historic championship in 2016. Cleveland overcame a 3–1 series deficit against Golden State to win the title. In 2019, Kawhi Leonard guided the Toronto Raptors to their first NBA championship.
The league experienced high competitive balance in the 2020s. Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to the 2021 title. Nikola Jokić guided the Denver Nuggets to their first championship in 2023. The Boston Celtics won their 18th title in 2024, the Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 title, and the New York Knicks captured the 2026 championship behind Finals MVP Jalen Brunson.
Current teams in the NBA
The NBA has 30 teams organized into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Each conference contains three divisions with five teams each.
| Conference | Division | Team | Location | Arena | Capacity | Coordinates | Founded | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Conference | Atlantic | Boston Celtics | Boston, Massachusetts | TD Garden | 19,156 | 42°21′59″N 71°03′44″W / 42.366303°N 71.062228°W | 1946 | |
| Brooklyn Nets | Brooklyn, New York | Barclays Center | 17,732 | 40°40′58″N 73°58′29″W / 40.68265°N 73.974689°W | 1967* | 1976 | ||
| New York Knicks | New York, New York | Madison Square Garden | 19,812 | 40°45′02″N 73°59′37″W / 40.750556°N 73.993611°W | 1946 | |||
| Philadelphia 76ers | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Xfinity Mobile Arena | 20,478 | 39°54′04″N 75°10′19″W / 39.901111°N 75.171944°W | 1946* | 1949 | ||
| Toronto Raptors | Toronto, Ontario | Scotiabank Arena | 19,800 | 43°38′36″N 79°22′45″W / 43.643333°N 79.379167°W | 1995 | |||
| Central | Chicago Bulls | Chicago, Illinois | United Center | 20,917 | 41°52′50″N 87°40′27″W / 41.880556°N 87.674167°W | 1966 | ||
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Cleveland, Ohio | Rocket Arena | 19,432 | 41°29′47″N 81°41′17″W / 41.496389°N 81.688056°W | 1970 | |||
| Detroit Pistons | Detroit, Michigan | Little Caesars Arena | 20,332 | 42°20′28″N 83°03′18″W / 42.341111°N 83.055°W | 1937* | 1948 | ||
| Indiana Pacers | Indianapolis, Indiana | Gainbridge Fieldhouse | 17,923 | 39°45′50″N 86°09′20″W / 39.763889°N 86.155556°W | 1967 | 1976 | ||
| Milwaukee Bucks | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Fiserv Forum | 17,341 | 43°02′37″N 87°55′01″W / 43.043611°N 87.916944°W | 1968 | |||
| Southeast | Atlanta Hawks | Atlanta, Georgia | State Farm Arena | 16,600 | 33°45′26″N 84°23′47″W / 33.757222°N 84.396389°W | 1946* | 1949 | |
| Charlotte Hornets | Charlotte, North Carolina | Spectrum Center | 19,077 | 35°13′30″N 80°50′21″W / 35.225°N 80.839167°W | 1988* | |||
| Miami Heat | Miami, Florida | Kaseya Center | 19,600 | 25°46′53″N 80°11′17″W / 25.781389°N 80.188056°W | 1988 | |||
| Orlando Magic | Orlando, Florida | Kia Center | 18,846 | 28°32′21″N 81°23′01″W / 28.539167°N 81.383611°W | 1989 | |||
| Washington Wizards | Washington, D.C. | Capital One Arena | 20,356 | 38°53′53″N 77°01′15″W / 38.898056°N 77.020833°W | 1961* | |||
| Western Conference | Northwest | Denver Nuggets | Denver, Colorado | Ball Arena | 19,520 | 39°44′55″N 105°00′27″W / 39.748611°N 105.0075°W | 1967 | 1976 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Target Center | 18,798 | 44°58′46″N 93°16′34″W / 44.979444°N 93.276111°W | 1989 | |||
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Paycom Center | 18,203 | 35°27′48″N 97°30′54″W / 35.463333°N 97.515°W | 1967* | |||
| Portland Trail Blazers | Portland, Oregon | Moda Center | 19,393 | 45°31′54″N 122°40′00″W / 45.531667°N 122.666667°W | 1970 | |||
| Utah Jazz | Salt Lake City, Utah | Delta Center | 18,306 | 40°46′06″N 111°54′04″W / 40.768333°N 111.901111°W | 1974* | |||
| Pacific | Golden State Warriors | San Francisco, California | Chase Center | 18,064 | 37°46′05″N 122°23′15″W / 37.768056°N 122.3875°W | 1946* | ||
| Los Angeles Clippers | Inglewood, California | Intuit Dome | 18,000 | 33°56′42″N 118°20′35″W / 33.9451°N 118.3431°W | 1970* | |||
| Los Angeles Lakers | Los Angeles, California | Crypto.com Arena | 19,079 | 34°02′35″N 118°16′02″W / 34.043056°N 118.267222°W | 1947* | 1948 | ||
| Phoenix Suns | Phoenix, Arizona | Mortgage Matchup Center | 16,645 | 33°26′45″N 112°04′17″W / 33.445833°N 112.071389°W | 1968 | |||
| Sacramento Kings | Sacramento, California | Golden 1 Center | 17,608 | 38°38′57″N 121°31′05″W / 38.649167°N 121.518056°W | 1923* | 1948 | ||
| Southwest | Dallas Mavericks | Dallas, Texas | American Airlines Center | 19,200 | 32°47′26″N 96°48′37″W / 32.790556°N 96.810278°W | 1980 | ||
| Houston Rockets | Houston, Texas | Toyota Center | 18,055 | 29°45′03″N 95°21′44″W / 29.750833°N 95.362222°W | 1967* | |||
| Memphis Grizzlies | Memphis, Tennessee | FedExForum | 18,119 | 35°08′18″N 90°03′02″W / 35.138333°N 90.050556°W | 1995* | |||
| New Orleans Pelicans | New Orleans, Louisiana | Smoothie King Center | 16,867 | 29°56′56″N 90°04′55″W / 29.948889°N 90.081944°W | 2002* | |||
| San Antonio Spurs | San Antonio, Texas | Frost Bank Center | 18,418 | 29°25′37″N 98°26′15″W / 29.426944°N 98.4375°W | 1967* | 1976 | ||
How the NBA season works
Regular season schedule and special events
The regular season starts in October. Each team plays 82 games, divided evenly between 41 home games and 41 away games. Teams play against division rivals four times each year.
The schedule also includes the NBA Cup, an exciting in-season tournament. The league also plays marquee games on Christmas Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
In February, the league pauses for the annual NBA All-Star Game. Fans and coaches vote for top players to take part in the showcase. The weekend features fun competitions, including the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, the Three Point Contest, and the Skills Challenge.
Season awards and honors
At the end of the regular season, sports writers vote on major individual honors. These awards recognize top achievements throughout the year:
- Most Valuable Player (MVP): Awarded to the season's best overall player.
- Defensive Player of the Year: Given to the most dominant defensive standout.
- Rookie of the Year: Presented to the best first-year player.
- Sixth Man of the Year: Given to the best player coming off the bench.
- Most Improved Player: Awarded to the player showing the biggest improvement.
- Coach of the Year: Awarded to the head coach who made the biggest impact.
The NBA playoffs and finals
The NBA playoffs start in April after the play-in tournament. Eight teams from each conference qualify. Teams play best-of-seven series, where the first team to win four games moves to the next round.
The champions of the Eastern and Western Conferences meet in the NBA Finals in June. The winning team receives the famous Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. The most outstanding player in the championship series receives the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.
Championship records
| Teams | Win | Loss | Total | Year(s) won | Year(s) runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 18 | 5 | 23 | 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008, 2024 | 1958, 1985, 1987, 2010, 2022 |
| Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers | 17 | 15 | 32 | 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009, 2010, 2020 | 1959, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1983, 1984, 1989, 1991, 2004, 2008 |
| Philadelphia/San Francisco/Golden State Warriors | 7 | 5 | 12 | 1947, 1956, 1975, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 | 1948, 1964, 1967, 2016, 2019 |
| Chicago Bulls | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998 | — |
| San Antonio Spurs | 5 | 2 | 7 | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014 | 2013, 2026 |
| Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1955, 1967, 1983 | 1950, 1954, 1977, 1980, 1982, 2001 |
| New York Knicks | 3 | 6 | 9 | 1970, 1973, 2026 | 1951, 1952, 1953, 1972, 1994, 1999 |
| Fort Wayne/Detroit Pistons | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1989, 1990, 2004 | 1955, 1956, 1988, 2005 |
| Miami Heat | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2006, 2012, 2013 | 2011, 2014, 2020, 2023 |
| Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder | 2 | 3 | 5 | 1979, 2025 | 1978, 1996, 2012 |
| Houston Rockets | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1994, 1995 | 1981, 1986 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1971, 2021 | 1974 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2016 | 2007, 2015, 2017, 2018 |
| St. Louis/Atlanta Hawks | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1958 | 1957, 1960, 1961 |
| Baltimore/Washington Bullets (now Washington Wizards) | 1 | 3 | 4 | 1978 | 1971, 1975, 1979 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1977 | 1990, 1992 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2011 | 2006, 2024 |
| Baltimore Bullets (original) (folded in 1954) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1948 | — |
| Rochester Royals (now Sacramento Kings) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1951 | — |
| Toronto Raptors | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2019 | — |
| Denver Nuggets | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2023 | — |
| Phoenix Suns | 0 | 3 | 3 | — | 1976, 1993, 2021 |
| Utah Jazz (formerly New Orleans Jazz) | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 1997, 1998 |
| New Jersey Nets (now Brooklyn Nets) | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 2002, 2003 |
| Orlando Magic | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 1995, 2009 |
| Indiana Pacers | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 2000, 2025 |
| Chicago Stags (folded in 1950) | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 1947 |
| Washington Capitols (folded in 1951) | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | 1949 |
International players in the NBA
Basketball is a truly global sport. Many top athletes from around the world have had remarkable NBA careers.
Pioneers like Dražen Petrović (Croatia), Vlade Divac (Serbia), Šarūnas Marčiulionis (Lithuania), and Arvydas Sabonis (Lithuania) helped open doors for European players in the late 1980s and 1990s. In 2002, Chinese center Yao Ming became the first international player drafted number one overall without playing college basketball in the United States.
Many foreign-born players have won major NBA honors:
- Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria): Won two championships and the 1994 regular season MVP award.
- Dirk Nowitzki (Germany): Won the 2007 MVP award and the 2011 championship with Dallas.
- Pau Gasol (Spain): Won two championships with the Lakers and was a multi-time All-Star.
- Tony Parker (France) and Manu Ginóbili (Argentina): Won four championships together with San Antonio.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece): Two-time MVP who won the 2021 championship with Milwaukee.
- Nikola Jokić (Serbia): Three-time MVP and 2023 champion with the Denver Nuggets.
- Luka Dončić (Slovenia): Named Rookie of the Year in 2019 and became a perennial All-Star.
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada): Won two MVP awards and led the Thunder to the 2025 title.
- Victor Wembanyama (France): Rookie of the Year in 2024 and premier defensive star.
Images for kids
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Stephen Curry revolutionized basketball with his incredible long-distance shooting.
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LeBron James brought a historic championship to Cleveland in 2016.
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See also
In Spanish: National Basketball Association para niños
- List of NBA regular season records
- List of NBA awards
- List of NBA seasons
- NBA cheerleading
- List of NBA rivalries
- NBA salary cap
- List of NBA playoff series
- NBA Summer League
- List of NBA franchise post-season droughts
- List of NBA franchise post-season streaks
- NBA Store
