How well do you know the NBA?
The NBA is one of the world's most popular sports leagues. Six questions, from easy to hard, about how it works and how it began.
Did you know?
- The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is in Springfield, Massachusetts. It honors players, coaches and contributors from the NBA, WNBA, college and international basketball.
- NBA basketballs are inflated to between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds per square inch. Every game ball is checked before tipoff to make sure it meets official standards.
- The NBA's logo, showing a player dribbling in silhouette, was introduced in 1969. It is widely believed to be based on Hall of Famer Jerry West, though the league has never officially confirmed it.
The world's biggest basketball league
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the top professional basketball league in North America and one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. Its games are broadcast in more than 200 countries, and its players include stars from Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and Australia. The league's fast pace and athletic plays attract fans of all ages.
How the season works
The NBA regular season runs from October to April. The top teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs, while teams ranked seventh to tenth compete in a play-in tournament for the final spots. The playoffs end with the NBA Finals, a best-of-seven series, in June.
Stars and style
Legendary players such as Bill Russell, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James helped make the NBA a global brand. Their skills and personalities attracted new fans and inspired generations of players worldwide.
The draft
Each June, NBA teams select new players in the NBA Draft. Teams with the worst records have the best chance of winning top picks through a lottery. The draft helps weaker teams improve over time and keeps competition balanced.
A global game
International players now make up a large share of NBA rosters. Players from countries such as Serbia, Greece, Slovenia, Cameroon and Canada have won major awards. The NBA also plays preseason and regular-season games in other countries to grow its worldwide audience.
The WNBA
The Women's National Basketball Association, founded in 1996, is the top professional women's league in the United States. Its popularity has grown rapidly in recent years, with record crowds, television audiences and new teams joining the league.
All-Star weekend
Each February, the NBA All-Star Weekend brings together the league's best players for a showcase game and events such as the Slam Dunk Contest and Three-Point Contest. Fans vote for starters, and the weekend has become a major celebration of basketball, music and fashion, held in a different host city each year.