National Basketball Association#Teams

{{Main|Basketball Association of America}}

File:Maple Leaf Gardens 2023.jpg in Toronto, site of the first ever NBA game on November 1, 1946]]

The NBA traces its roots to the Basketball Association of America which was founded in 1946 by owners of the major ice hockey arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. On November 1, 1946, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens, in a game the NBA now refers to as the first game played in NBA history.{{cite web |title=History of Basketball in Canada |url=http://www.nba.com/canada/History_of_Basketball_in_Canad-Canada_Generic_Article-18023.html |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=March 8, 2002 |access-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024035057/http://www.nba.com/canada/History_of_Basketball_in_Canad-Canada_Generic_Article-18023.html |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |url-status=dead}} The first basket was made by Ossie Schectman of the Knickerbockers.{{cite news |author1=Charley Rosen |title=NBA pioneer is no old fogey |url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/rosen/030408.html |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=ESPN}}

Although there had been earlier attempts at professional basketball leagues, including the American Basketball League (ABL) and the NBL, the BAA was the first league to attempt to play primarily in large arenas in major cities. During its early years, the quality of play in the BAA was not significantly better than in competing leagues or among leading independent clubs such as the Harlem Globetrotters. For instance, the 1947 ABL finalist Baltimore Bullets moved to the BAA and won that league's 1948 title,{{cite news |last1=Grill |first1=Grace |title=This day in sports: Baltimore Bullets defeat Philadelphia Warriors in 1948 BAA Finals |url=https://www.dcnewsnow.com/sports/this-day-in-sports-baltimore-bullets-defeat-philadelphia-warriors-in-1948-baa-finals/ |work=DC News Now |date=April 22, 2020}}{{cite web |title=Season Review: 1947-48 |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-season-review-1947-48 |website=NBA.com |access-date=June 28, 2024 |language=en}} and the 1948 NBL champion Minneapolis Lakers won the 1949 BAA title.{{cite news |author1=Dick Robb |title=Lakers make city world's pro capital |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-lakers-make-city-wo/149954500/ |access-date=June 24, 2024 |work=The Minneapolis Star |date=April 14, 1949 |page=45 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}

Prior to the 1948–49 season, the BAA lured away the Fort Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Kautskys, Minneapolis Lakers, and Rochester Royals from the NBL with the prospect of playing in major venues such as Boston Garden and Madison Square Garden.{{cite book |title=The Official NBA Basketball Encyclopedia |publisher=Villard Books |date=1994 |page=34 |isbn=0-679-43293-0}} The NBL hit back by outbidding the BAA for the services of several players, including Al Cervi, rookie Dolph Schayes and five stars from the University of Kentucky while also gaining the upper hand in Indianapolis with the creation of the Indianapolis Olympians while the Kautskys folded.{{cite news |author1=Curtis Harris |title=How the NBA's 75th anniversary sweeps away its early history |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/01/21/nba-history-nbl-baa/ |access-date=June 23, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 21, 2022}}{{cite news |author1=W.F. Fox jr. |title=N.B.L. seeks Field House, coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-news-1949-may-nbl-ken/45812376/ |access-date=June 24, 2024 |work=The Indianapolis News |date=May 5, 1949 |page=26}} With several teams facing financial difficulties,{{cite news |title=Story hints BAA to quit if 1949-50 proves loser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle-story-hints-baa-t/149984124/ |access-date=June 24, 2024 |work=Democrat and Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |date=June 24, 1949 |page=37 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} the BAA and the NBL agreed on a merger on August 3, 1949, to create the National Basketball Association. Maurice Podoloff, the president of BAA, became the president of the NBA while Ike Duffey, president of the NBL, became the chairman.{{cite news |author1=Glenn Gaff |title=Cage peace: Form 18-team league |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune-cage-peace-form-18-team-le/149924180/ |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=Star Tribune |date=August 4, 1949 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}}{{cite news |title=Pro hoop war comes to end |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review-pro-hoop-war-comes/149924952/ |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=The Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |date=August 4, 1949 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} The NBA later adopted the BAA's history and statistics as its own but did not do the same for NBL records and statistics.{{cite web |title=NBA's bogus birthday sweeps Syracuse's contributions under the confetti (Editorial Board Opinion, Video) |url=https://www.syracuse.com/opinion/2021/11/nbas-bogus-birthday-sweeps-syracuses-contributions-under-the-confetti-editorial-board-opinion-video.html |website=syracuse |access-date=December 30, 2021 |date=November 28, 2021}}

File:Wat Misaka.jpg broke BAA/NBA's color barrier as the first non-white player to play in the BAA in 1947.]]

The new league had seventeen franchises located in a mix of large and small cities,{{cite web |url=http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nba-is-born |title=NBA is born |work=History |date=November 16, 2009 |access-date=July 29, 2010}} as well as large arenas and smaller gymnasiums and armories. In 1950, the NBA consolidated{{cite news |author1=John Barrington |title=NBA plans only 12 clubs; $50,000 trust bond |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-nba-plans-only-12-clubs-50/149954362/ |access-date=June 24, 2024 |work=Scranton Tribune |date=April 12, 1950 |page=17 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{open access}} to eleven franchises, a process that continued until 1954–55, when the league reached its smallest size of eight franchises: the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia Warriors, Minneapolis Lakers, Rochester Royals, Fort Wayne Pistons, Milwaukee Hawks, and Syracuse Nationals, all of which remain in the league today, although the latter six all did eventually relocate. The process of contraction saw the league's smaller-city franchises move to larger cities. The Hawks had shifted from the Tri-Cities to Milwaukee in 1951, and later shifted to St. Louis in 1955. In 1957, the Rochester Royals moved from Rochester, New York, to Cincinnati and the Pistons moved from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Detroit.{{cite book |editor-last=Riess |editor-first=Stephen A. |author-link= |date=1998 |title=Sports and the American Jew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B3wX21fXD-QC |location= |publisher=Syracuse University Press |page=237 |isbn=9780815627548}}

Japanese-American Wataru Misaka is considered to have broken the NBA color barrier in the 1947–48 season when he played for the New York Knicks in the BAA. He remained the only non-white player in league history prior to the first African-American, Harold Hunter, signing with the Washington Capitols in 1950.{{cite news |first=Sam |last=McDowell |title=Sumner grad Harold Hunter, first African-American to sign with NBA team, dies at 86 |url=http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/08/4109211/sumner-grad-harold-hunter-first.html |work=Kansas City Star |date=March 9, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312014711/http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/08/4109211/sumner-grad-harold-hunter-first.html |archive-date=March 12, 2013}}{{cite news |title=NBA pioneer Harold Hunter, an ex-Xavier coach, died Thursday |url=http://www.nola.com/xavier/index.ssf/2013/03/pioneering_coach_harold_hunter.html |work=Times-Picayune |date=March 7, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2013}} Hunter was cut from the team during training camp,{{cite news |title=Former Tennessee State basketball coach Harold Hunter dies |url=http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/sports/former-tennessee-state-basketball-coach-harold-hunter-dies |work=The City Paper |date=March 7, 2013 |access-date=March 30, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102164059/http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/sports/former-tennessee-state-basketball-coach-harold-hunter-dies |archive-date=November 2, 2013}} but several African-American players did play in the league later that year, including Chuck Cooper with the Celtics, Nathaniel "Sweetwater" Clifton with the Knicks, and Earl Lloyd with the Washington Capitols. During this period, the Minneapolis Lakers won five NBA championships and established themselves as the league's first dynasty;{{cite web |title=1949–51: Lakers Win First NBA Finals |url=http://www.nba.com/lakers/history/lakers_history_new.html#4 |website=Lakers.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |access-date=July 30, 2010}} their squad was led by center George Mikan who was the NBA's first superstar.{{cite news |last=Mahoney |first=Brian |date=October 20, 2021 |title=NBA struggles during 1950s, begins its rise later in decade |url=https://apnews.com/article/mlb-nba-sports-baseball-racial-injustice-cd81a5b64be39578dfeccb6ae23e7221 |work=Associated Press |location= |access-date=May 26, 2024}} To encourage shooting and discourage stalling, the league introduced the 24-second shot clock in 1954.{{cite web |title=NBA Rules History |url=http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=May 8, 2008 |access-date=July 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303213838/http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html |archive-date=March 3, 2011 |url-status=dead}}

In 1957, rookie center Bill Russell joined the Boston Celtics, which already featured guard Bob Cousy and coach Red Auerbach, and went on to lead the franchise to eleven NBA titles in thirteen seasons.{{cite news |author= |date=July 31, 2022 |title=Bill Russell dies at 88. The 5-time MVP and civil rights activist led the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons. |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2022/07/31/bill-russell-dies-at-88-the-5-time-mvp-and-civil-rights-activist-led-the-boston-celtics-to-11-nba-titles-in-13-seasons/ |work=Chicago Tribune |location= |access-date=May 12, 2024}} Center Wilt Chamberlain entered the league with the Warriors in 1959 and became a dominant individual star of the 1960s, setting new single-game records in scoring (100) and rebounding (55). Russell's rivalry with Chamberlain became one of the greatest rivalries in the history of American team sports.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=December 1, 1991 |title=Russell vs. Chamberlain: A rivalry for the ages |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/12/01/russell-vs-chamberlain-a-rivalry-for-the-ages/ |work=Chicago Tribune |location= |access-date=March 10, 2024}}

File:Wilt Chamberlain Bill Russell (lighting fixed).jpg defending against Wilt Chamberlain in 1966.]]

The 1960s were dominated by the Celtics. Led by Russell, Cousy, and Auerbach, Boston won eight straight championships in the NBA from 1959 to 1966. This championship streak is the longest in the history of American professional sports.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/sportsnation/story/_/id/15153911/the-most-impressive-championship-streaks-all-sports |title=The most impressive championship streaks in all of sports |last=Whitten |first=Hannah |date=April 7, 2016 |website=ESPN |publisher=ESPN Inc. |access-date=April 10, 2024 |quote=}} They did not win the title in 1966–67, but regained it in the 1967–68 season and repeated in 1969. The domination totaled nine of the ten championship banners of the 1960s.{{cite web |title=Championship Wins |url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/history/championships |website=Celtics.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |access-date=December 31, 2018}}

Through this period, the NBA continued to evolve with the shift of the Minneapolis Lakers to Los Angeles, the Philadelphia Warriors to San Francisco, the Syracuse Nationals to Philadelphia to become the Philadelphia 76ers, and the St. Louis Hawks moving to Atlanta, as well as the addition of its first expansion franchises. The Chicago Packers (now Washington Wizards) became the ninth NBA team in 1961.{{cite book |last1=Leonard |first1=Bobby "Slick" |last2=Freedman |first2=Lew |last3=Bird |first3=Larry |author-link= |date=October 2013 |title=Boom, Baby! — My Basketball Life in Indiana |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MTS4AQAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Triumph Books |page=121 |chapter=Chapter 12: Off to the Windy City |isbn=9781623683238}} From 1966 to 1968, the league expanded from 9 to 14 teams, introducing the Chicago Bulls, Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder), San Diego Rockets (who moved to Houston four years later), Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns.

In 1967, the league faced a new external threat with the formation of the American Basketball Association (ABA). The leagues engaged in a bidding war.{{cite book |last1=Quirk |first1=James P. |last2=Fort |first2=Rodney D. |author-link= |date=June 5, 2018 |title=Pay Dirt: The Business of Professional Team Sports |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q_1ZDwAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Princeton University Press |page=202 |isbn=9780691187945}} The NBA landed the most important college star of the era, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor), who went on to become the league's best player of the 1970s.{{cite news |last=Gay |first=Carlan |date=May 29, 2020 |title=The NBA/ABA 1970s All-Decade Team |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/news/the-nba-aba-1970s-all-decade-team/1che9a3s7c6eg17bt9m2i36nic |work=Sporting News |location= |access-date=May 25, 2024}} However, the NBA's leading scorer, Rick Barry, jumped to the ABA, as did four veteran referees—Norm Drucker, Earl Strom, John Vanak, and Joe Gushue.{{cite book |last=Salzberg |first=Charles |title=From Set Shot to Slam Dunk |publisher=McGraw-Hill |location=New York |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-8032-9250-5 |page=203}}

File:Wes Unseld and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.jpeg, shown shooting his signature "skyhook" shot, was one of the league's best players of the 1970s.]]

In 1969, Alan Siegel, who oversaw the design of Jerry Dior's Major League Baseball logo a year prior, created the modern NBA logo inspired by the MLB's. It incorporates the silhouette of Jerry West, based on a photo by Wen Roberts. The NBA would not confirm that a particular player was used because, according to Siegel, "They want to institutionalize it rather than individualize it. It's become such a ubiquitous, classic symbol and focal point of their identity and their licensing program that they don't necessarily want to identify it with one player." The logo debuted in 1971 (with a small change to the typeface on the NBA wordmark in 2017) and would remain a fixture of the NBA brand.{{cite news |last=Crowe |first=Jerry |title=That iconic NBA silhouette can be traced back to him |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-apr-26-la-sp-crowe-20100427-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100429022209/http://articles.latimes.com/2010/apr/27/sports/la-sp-crowe-20100427 |url-status=live |archive-date=April 29, 2010 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=April 27, 2010 |access-date=May 23, 2011}}

The ABA succeeded in signing a number of major stars in the 1970s, including Julius Erving of the Virginia Squires, in part because it allowed teams to sign college undergraduates. The NBA expanded rapidly during this period. From 1966 to 1974, the NBA grew from nine franchises to 18.{{cite book |last=Jozsa Jr. |first=Frank P. |author-link= |date=October 2014 |title=National Basketball Association Strategies: Business Expansions, Relocations, and Mergers |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H02qBAAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Springer International Publishing |page=89 |isbn=9783319100586}} In 1970, the Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers) all made their debuts expanding the league to 17.{{cite web |title=1970–71 SEASON OVERVIEW |url=http://www.nba.com/history/season/19701971.html |publisher=National Basketball Association |access-date=July 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119020355/http://www.nba.com/history/season/19701971.html |archive-date=November 19, 2010 |url-status=dead}} The New Orleans Jazz (now in Utah) came aboard in 1974 bringing the total to 18. Following the 1976 season, the leagues reached a settlement that provided for the addition of four ABA franchises to the NBA, raising the number of franchises in the league at that time to 22. The franchises added were the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and New York Nets (now the Brooklyn Nets).{{cite book |last1=Leeds |first1=Michael A. |last2=von Allmen |first2=Peter |author-link= |date=2016 |title=The Economics of Sports |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Aw3DAAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Routledge |page=75 |edition=Fifth |chapter=Chapter 3: Sports Franchises as Profit-Maximizing Firms |isbn=9780133022926}} Some of the biggest stars of this era were Abdul-Jabbar, Barry, Dave Cowens, Erving, Elvin Hayes, Walt Frazier, Moses Malone, Artis Gilmore, George Gervin, Dan Issel, and Pete Maravich. The end of the decade, however, saw declining television ratings, low attendance and drug-related player issues – both perceived and real – that threatened to derail the league.{{cite magazine |last=Runstedtler |first=Theresa |date=March 16, 2023 |title=How Black Basketball Players in the '70s Paved the Way for the All Stars Today |url=https://time.com/6262690/black-basketball-players-70s-impact/ |magazine=Time |location= |publisher= |access-date=March 10, 2024}}

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The league added the ABA's three-point field goal beginning in 1979.{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1979/10/11/new-twist-in-nba-the-3-point-goal/e5547a77-ec79-491c-af8e-b09966d893a6/ |title=New Twist in NBA: the 3-Point Goal |last=DuPree |first=David |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=October 11, 1979}} That same year, rookies Larry Bird and Magic Johnson joined the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers respectively, initiating a period of significant growth of fan interest in the NBA.{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/endofcentury/s/century/katz.html |title=ESPN.com – ENDOFCENTURY – Katz: Magic and Bird did it all |publisher=ESPN |access-date=April 5, 2019}} The two had faced each other in the 1979 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Game, and they later played against each other in three NBA Finals (1984, 1985, and 1987). In the 10 seasons of the 1980s, Johnson led the Lakers to five titles{{Cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com/nba/gallery/la-lakers-lonzo-ball-nba-draft-greatest-moments-magic-johnson-kobe-bryant-shaq-oneal-phil-jackson-jerry-buss-062217 |title=The 12 defining moments in Lakers history |last=ET |first=2017 at 9:17p |work=Fox Sports |access-date=April 5, 2019}} while Bird led the Celtics to three titles.{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-08-13-sp-856-story.html |title=Bird's Salary Projected at $6 Million in '91–'92 |date=August 13, 1989 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 5, 2019 |issn=0458-3035}} Also in the early 1980s, the NBA added one more expansion franchise, the Dallas Mavericks,{{Cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-08-ss-374-story.html |title=NBA: A Season Begins : Price of a Starting NBA Franchise Is Up to $32.5 Million |date=November 8, 1988 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 5, 2019 |issn=0458-3035}} bringing the total to 23 teams. Later on, Larry Bird won the first three three-point shooting contests.{{Cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1531590-5-top-performances-in-history-of-nba-three-point-shooting-contest |title=Top 5 Performances in NBA 3-Point Contest History |last=Burns |first=Scott |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=April 5, 2019}} On February 1, 1984 David Stern became commissioner of the NBA.{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/ffje45ekde/david-stern-becomes-fourth-nba-commissioner-1984/ |title=David Stern becomes fourth NBA Commissioner, 1984 |website=Forbes |access-date=April 5, 2019}} Stern has been recognized as playing a major role in the growth of the league during his career.{{Cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2014/01/26/david-stern-commissioner-30-years-retirement-legacy/4913299/ |title=David Stern leaves as 'No. 1 reason' for NBA success |website=USA Today |access-date=April 5, 2019}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2012/10/26/163729671/nba-commissioner-stern-helped-league-grow |title=NBA Commissioner Stern Helped League Grow |website=NPR.org |access-date=April 5, 2019}}

File:Jordan by Lipofsky 16577.jpg became the league's most popular player during the 1990s, while leading the Chicago Bulls to six championships.]]

Michael Jordan entered the league in 1984 with the Chicago Bulls, spurring more interest in the league.{{Cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-bulls-draft-michael-jordan-1984-lincicome-column.html |title=June 20, 1984: Apologetic Bulls 'stuck' with Michael Jordan |last=Lincicome |first=Bernie |website=Chicago Tribune |date=June 23, 2017 |access-date=April 9, 2019}} In 1988 and 1989, four cities got their wishes as the Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Minnesota Timberwolves made their NBA debuts, bringing the total to 27 teams.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/29/sports/nba-89-90-turnovers-2-more-teams-and-questions.html |title=NBA '89–90; Turnovers, 2 More Teams And Questions |last=Goldaper |first=Sam |date=October 29, 1989 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 9, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}} The Detroit Pistons won back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990, led by coach Chuck Daly and guard Isiah Thomas.{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4153982 |title=Daly dies at 78; led Pistons to titles, U.S. to gold |date=May 9, 2009 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=April 9, 2019}} Jordan and Scottie Pippen led the Bulls to two three-peats in eight years during the 1991–1998 seasons.{{Cite web |url=http://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/packages/html/sports/year_in_sports/06.12.html?scp=2&sq=whirlaway&st=cse |title=The New York Times: This Day In Sports |website=The New York Times |access-date=April 9, 2019}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/repeat-3-peat-bulls-win-again/ |title=Repeat 3-Peat, Bulls Win Again! |date=June 14, 1998 |publisher=CBS News |access-date=April 9, 2019}} Hakeem Olajuwon won back-to-back titles with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and 1995.{{Cite news |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texas-sports-nation/rockets/article/Flashback-Rockets-sweep-Magic-for-2nd-straight-12994612.php |title=Flashback: Rockets sweep Magic for 2nd straight NBA crown |date=June 14, 2018 |website=Houston Chronicle |access-date=April 9, 2019 |last1=Sports |first1=Houston Chronicle}}

The 1992 Olympic basketball Dream Team, the first to use current NBA stars, featured Michael Jordan as the anchor, along with Bird, Johnson, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin, Charles Barkley, and star NCAA amateur Christian Laettner.{{Cite web |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/where-are-they-now-1992-dream-team-2016-8 |title=WHERE ARE THEY NOW? The 1992 Dream Team that dominated Olympic basketball |last=Davis |first=Scott |website=Business Insider |access-date=April 9, 2019}} The team was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, while 11 of the 12 players (along with three out of four coaches) have been inducted as individuals in their own right.{{Cite web |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/25-facts-to-celebrate-the-dream-team-25-years-later/ |title=25 facts to celebrate the Dream Team 25 years later |website=Chicago Sun-Times |date=July 27, 2017 |access-date=April 9, 2019}}

In 1995, the NBA expanded to Canada with the addition of the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/raptors-a-model-franchise-nba-boss-silver-says-but-he-can-t-fix-the-leafs-1.3444450 |title=NBA commissioner Adam Silver praises Toronto, but says no more Canadian teams}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/03/sports/pro-basketball-now-playing-in-the-nba-the-raptors-and-the-grizzlies.html |title=PRO BASKETBALL;Now Playing in the N.B.A., the Raptors and the Grizzlies |last=Brown |first=Clifton |date=November 3, 1995 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 9, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}} In 1996, the NBA created a women's league, the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/sports/basketball/wnba-opens-its-20th-season-recall-los-angeles-sparks.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513095527/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/14/sports/basketball/wnba-opens-its-20th-season-recall-los-angeles-sparks.html |archive-date=May 13, 2016 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=As W.N.B.A. Opens Its 20th Season, Key Figures Recall the First Game |last=Araton |first=Harvey |date=May 13, 2016 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 9, 2019 |issn=0362-4331}}

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In 1998, the NBA owners began a lockout that suspended all league business until a new labor agreement could be reached, which led to the season being shortened to 50 games.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/30/sports/basketball-it-s-their-ball-and-nba-owners-call-for-lockout.html |title=BASKETBALL; It's Their Ball, and N.B.A. Owners Call for Lockout |last=Wise |first=Mike |date=June 30, 1998 |work=The New York Times |access-date=April 9, 2019 |issn=0362-4331 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127115018/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/30/sports/basketball-it-s-their-ball-and-nba-owners-call-for-lockout.html |archive-date=November 27, 2020}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/06/reasons-to-be-optimistic-about-the-nba-lockout/241273/ |title=Reasons to Be Optimistic About the NBA Lockout |last=Johnson |first=Martin |date=June 30, 2011 |website=The Atlantic |access-date=April 9, 2019}}

After the breakup of the Chicago Bulls championship roster in the summer of 1998, the Western Conference dominated much of the next two decades.{{cite news |last=Hoffman |first=Benjamin |date=March 27, 2016 |title=N.B.A.'s Eastern Conference Chips Away at West's Dominance |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/28/sports/basketball/nbas-eastern-conference-chips-away-at-wests-dominance.html |work=New York Times |location= |access-date=May 12, 2024 |quote=…since Michael Jordan's second (of three) retirements, the West has truly dominated, winning 12 of 17 titles. It is an edge that becomes even more extreme when you realize the Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers have each won as many titles in that time as all Eastern Conference teams combined.}} The Los Angeles Lakers, coached by Phil Jackson, and the San Antonio Spurs, coached by Gregg Popovich, combined to make 13 Finals in 16 seasons, with 10 titles.{{cite news |last=Marquez |first=RJ |date=January 7, 2020 |title=Kobe Bryant says 'tough' Spurs stopped Lakers from winning 10 straight championships |url=https://www.ksat.com/sports/2020/01/07/kobe-bryant-says-tough-spurs-stopped-lakers-from-winning-10-straight-championships/ |work=KSAT-TV |location= |access-date=May 6, 2024}} "Twin Towers" Tim Duncan and David Robinson won the 1999 championship with the Spurs, becoming the first former ABA team to win the NBA championship.{{cite news |url=https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Today-in-San-Antonio-history-The-Spurs-won-their-13023872.php |title=On this day in San Antonio history: The Spurs won their first NBA Championship 19 years ago |last=Mendoza |first=Madalyn |date=June 25, 2018 |newspaper=Mysa |access-date=April 9, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109010439/https://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/article/Today-in-San-Antonio-history-The-Spurs-won-their-13023872.php |archive-date=November 9, 2020}} Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant started the 2000s with three consecutive championships for the Lakers.{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Tom |date=July 11, 2023 |title=This Day In Sports: The pairing that produced a 3-peat |url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/opinion/columnists/scott-slant/july-11-1996-this-day-in-sports-jerry-west-los-angeles-lakers-kobe-bryant-shaquille-oneal-phil-jackson-three-peat/277-c174b50e-f453-45c6-b0b0-b4c2217ba2e9 |work=KTVB |location=Boise, Idaho |access-date=May 6, 2024}} The Spurs reclaimed the title in 2003 against the Nets.{{cite news |last=Orsborn |first=Tom |date=June 15, 2023 |title=Twenty years later, unsung heroes recall role in Spurs' 2003 title |url=https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/twenty-years-later-unsung-heroes-recall-role-18148393.php |work=San Antonio Express-News |location= |access-date=May 6, 2024}} In 2004, the Lakers returned to the Finals, only to lose in five games to the Detroit Pistons.{{cite news |last=Alter |first=Marlowe |date=June 15, 2020 |title=R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Detroit Pistons complete '5-game sweep' of Shaq-Kobe Lakers, 16 years ago |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2020/06/15/detroit-pistons-lakers-2004-nba-finals/3192889001/ |work=Detroit Free Press |location= |access-date=May 6, 2024}}

After the Hornets' moved to New Orleans in 2002, the NBA returned to North Carolina, as the Charlotte Bobcats were formed as an expansion team in 2004.{{cite news |last=Mattioli |first=Kami |date=April 28, 2014 |title=Nine defining moments in Charlotte Bobcats history |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/defining-moments-in-charlotte-bobcats-history-michael-jordan-hornets-kemba-walker/6gdguc9uvg9u1k49avpwq8ysc |work=Sporting News |location= |access-date=May 16, 2024}} New Orleans then temporarily moved to Oklahoma City in 2005 for two seasons due to damage caused to their arena by Hurricane Katrina.{{cite news |last=Mayberry |first=Darnell |date=September 21, 2015 |title=NBA: How a two-year relationship with the Hornets showed the country that OKC was indeed a big-league city |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/sports/nba/thunder/2015/09/21/how-two-year-relationship-with-the-hornets-showed-the-country-that-okc-was-indeed-big-league-city/60721691007/ |work=The Oklahoman |location= |access-date=May 16, 2024}} The team returned to New Orleans in 2007.{{cite news |last=Longman |first=Jeré |date=November 1, 2007 |title=Putting the New Orleans in the New Orleans Hornets |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/sports/basketball/01hornets.html |work=New York Times |location=New Orleans |access-date=May 16, 2024}}

The league's image was marred by a violent incident between players and fans in a November 2004 game between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.{{cite book |last=Prunty |first=Brendan |author-link= |date=February 2017 |title=Basketball's Game Changers: Icons, Record Breakers, Rivalries, Scandals, and More |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eZRwDQAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Lyons Press |pages=187–189 |isbn=9781493026999}} In response, players were suspended for a total of 146 games with $11 million total lost in salary, and the league tightened security and limited the sale of alcohol.

On May 19, 2005, Commissioner Stern testified before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Government Reform about the NBA's actions to combat the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs. The NBA started its drug-testing program in 1983 and substantially improved it in 1999. In the 1999–2000 season, all players were randomly tested during training camp, and all rookies were additionally tested three more times during the regular season. Of the nearly 4,200 tests for steroids and performance-enhancing drugs conducted over six seasons, only three players were confirmed positive for NBA's drug program, all were immediately suspended, and as of the time of the testimony, none were playing in the NBA.{{cite web |url=https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/documents/20050519101929-30269.pdf |title=Testimony of David J. Stern, Commissioner, National Basketball Association and Richard W. Buchanan, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, National Basketball Association, Before the Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives |last1=Stern |first1=David J. |last2=Buchanan |first2=Richard W. |date=May 19, 2005 |website=oversight.house.gov |publisher=United States House of Representatives |access-date=January 17, 2021 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118035824/https://oversight.house.gov/sites/democrats.oversight.house.gov/files/documents/20050519101929-30269.pdf |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |quote=The NBA has conducted almost 4,200 tests for steroids and performance-enhancing drugs in the six seasons since these substances were banned by our drug program, and have had a total of 23 initial laboratory positives – approximately ½ of 1 percent. Of the 23 initial laboratory positives in the NBA's program, only three satisfied the additional criteria that must be met for a sample to be confirmed as "positive" under the NBA's drug program (i.e., a laboratory positive on the "B" sample conducted at a different laboratory, and review and confirmation by the Medical Review Officer). Several initial laboratory positives involved players that were terminated from employment prior to confirmation of their test results; others were found by the Medical Review Officer to be subject to a reasonable medical explanation. Each of the 3 players with a confirmed positive test result was immediately suspended. None of these players are currently playing in the NBA.}}

After the Spurs won the championship again in 2005, the 2006 Finals featured two franchises making their inaugural Finals appearances.{{cite news |last=Spears |first=Marc J. |date=June 7, 2006 |title=Miami vs. Dallas breakdown |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2006/06/07/miami-vs-dallas-breakdown/ |work=The Denver Post |location= |access-date=May 6, 2024}} The Miami Heat, led by their star shooting guard, Dwyane Wade, and Shaquille O'Neal, who had been traded from the Lakers during the summer of 2004,{{cite news |last=Matange |first=Yash |date=July 13, 2021 |title=This Date in NBA History (July 14): Miami Heat acquire Shaquille O'Neal from Los Angeles Lakers in 2004 and more |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/miami-heat/news/this-date-in-nba-history-july-14-miami-heat-acquire-shaquille-oneal-from-los-angeles-lakers-in-2004-trade/u5lezaphncr21s62gy27fd1n0 |work=The Sporting News |location= |access-date=May 9, 2024}} won the series over the Dallas Mavericks.{{cite news |last=Le Batard |first=Dan |date=June 20, 2016 |title=Ten years ago, the Miami Heat won its first NBA championship |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article84765582.html |work=Miami Herald |location= |access-date=May 9, 2024}} The Lakers/Spurs dominance continued in 2007 with a four-game sweep by the Spurs over the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers.{{cite news |last=Robbins |first=Liz |date=June 15, 2007 |title=With Sweep of Cavs, Spurs Are Champions Again |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/15/sports/basketball/15nba.html |work=New York Times |location=Cleveland |access-date=May 7, 2024}} The 2008 Finals saw a rematch of the league's highest profile rivalry, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers, with the Celtics winning their 17th championship.{{cite news |last=Withers |first=Tom |date=June 18, 2008 |title=Celtics win 17th NBA title with 131-92 rout of Lakers |url=https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/news/2008/06/18/celtics-win-17th-nba-title-with-131-92-rout-of-lakers/30452976007/ |work=Star-News |location=Boston |access-date=May 9, 2024}}

The NBA Board of Governors approved the request of the Seattle SuperSonics to move to Oklahoma City on April 18, 2008.{{cite news |title=NBA Board of Governors Approve Sonics Move to Oklahoma City Pending Resolution of Litigation |url=http://www.nba.com/news/bog_sonics_080418.html |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=NBA.com |date=April 18, 2008 |access-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520212020/http://www.nba.com/news/bog_sonics_080418.html |archive-date=May 20, 2017 |url-status=dead}} The team, however, could not move until it had settled a lawsuit filed by the city of Seattle, which was intended to keep the SuperSonics in Seattle for the remaining two seasons of the team's lease at KeyArena. Following a court case, the city of Seattle settled with the ownership group of the SuperSonics on July 2, 2008, allowing the team to move to Oklahoma City immediately in exchange for terminating the final two seasons of the team's lease at KeyArena.{{cite news |title=NBA Commissioner David Stern Statement on Settlement Between Sonics and the City of Seattle |url=http://www.nba.com/news/sternsonicsstatement_080702.html |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |website=NBA.com |date=July 2, 2008 |access-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705063414/https://www.nba.com/news/sternsonicsstatement_080702.html |archive-date=July 5, 2008 |url-status=dead}} The Oklahoma City Thunder began playing in the 2008–09 season.

The Lakers won back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010, against the Orlando Magic and the Celtics.{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2009061419&prov=ap |title=Redemption: Bryant leads Lakers to 15th NBA title |last1=Withers |first1=Tom |date=June 15, 2009 |work=Yahoo! Sports |access-date=August 5, 2010}}{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010061713 |title=Lakers edge Celtics in Game 7, win 16th title |last1=Beacham |first1=Greg |date=June 18, 2010 |work=Yahoo! Sports |access-date=July 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805044734/http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/recap?gid=2010061713 |archive-date=August 5, 2011}} The 2010 NBA All-Star Game was held at Cowboys Stadium in front of the largest crowd ever, 108,713.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/news/story?id=4914993 |title=Record crowd at All-Star Game |publisher=ESPN |first=Tim |last=MacMahon |date=February 15, 2010 |access-date=July 25, 2010}}

A referee lockout began on September 1, 2009, when the contract between the NBA and its referees expired. The first preseason games were played on October 1, 2009, and replacement referees from the WNBA and NBA Development League were used, the first time replacement referees had been used since the beginning of the 1995–96 season. The NBA and the regular referees reached a deal on October 23, 2009.{{cite news |date=October 23, 2009 |title=NBA, referees agree to two-year deal, ending lockout |publisher=National Basketball Association |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.nba.com/2009/news/10/23/ap.refs.agreement.ap/ |access-date=June 3, 2017}}{{cite news |last=Sheridan |first=Chris |date=October 26, 2009 |title=NBA refs to return for regular season |publisher=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=4590031 |access-date=August 5, 2010}}

At the start of the 2010–11 season, free agents LeBron James and Chris Bosh signed with the Miami Heat, joining Dwyane Wade to form the "Big Three".{{cite news |last=Wallace |first=Michael |date=July 4, 2017 |title=The formation of the super team was a dream come true for Miami |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article159637004.html |work=Miami Herald |location= |access-date=May 9, 2024}} The Heat dominated the league,{{cite news |author= |date=August 14, 2022 |title=Dwyane Wade: The hate for the 'Big Three' was because of the colour of our skin |url=https://www.marca.com/en/basketball/nba/2022/08/14/62f9624bca4741af098b4583.html |work=Marca |location= |access-date=May 7, 2024}} reaching the Finals for four straight years.{{cite news |author= |date=May 31, 2014 |title=Miami Heat the first team to reach four straight NBA finals since the 1980s |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/basketball/miami-heat-the-first-team-to-reach-four-straight-nba-finals-since-the-1980s-20140531-zrtyv.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |location= |access-date=May 6, 2024}} In 2011, they faced a re-match with the Dallas Mavericks but lost to the Dirk Nowitzki-led team.{{cite news |last=Beck |first=Howard |date=June 12, 2011 |title=Mavericks Defeat Heat for First Title |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/sports/basketball/nba-finals-mavericks-defeats-heat-for-first-championship.html |work=New York Times |location=Miami |access-date=May 7, 2024}} They won back-to-back titles in 2012 and 2013 against the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Spurs,{{cite news |author= |date=June 21, 2013 |title=Miami Heat retain NBA championship |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2013/6/21/miami-heat-retain-nba-championship |work=Al Jazeera |location= |access-date=May 7, 2024}} and lost in a re-match with the Spurs in the 2014 Finals.{{cite news |last=Cacciola |first=Scott |date=June 15, 2014 |title=Spurs Win Fifth Title, Cementing Dynasty Across Decades |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/16/sports/basketball/spurs-rally-to-rout-heat-and-win-the-nba-title.html |work=New York Times |location=San Antonio |access-date=May 7, 2024}}

The 2011–12 season began with another lockout, the league's fourth.{{cite news |first=Marc |last=Stein |author-link=Marc Stein (reporter) |title=NBA cancels first 2 weeks of season |date=October 11, 2011 |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/7085089/nba-labor-david-stern-cancels-first-two-weeks-nba-season |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 12, 2011}} After the first few weeks of the season were canceled, the players and owners ratified a new collective bargaining agreement on December 8, 2011, setting up a shortened 66-game season.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/sports/basketball/nba-owners-and-players-ratify-labor-deal.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111210004918/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/sports/basketball/nba-owners-and-players-ratify-labor-deal.html |archive-date=December 10, 2011 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=N.B.A. Owners and Players Ratify Labor Deal |date=December 9, 2011 |work=The New York Times |access-date=December 8, 2016}}

After the 2012–13 season, the New Orleans Hornets were renamed the Pelicans.{{cite news |title=New Orleans Pelicans Officially Adopt New Namesake |url=http://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/new-orleans-pelicans-officially-adopt-new-namesake |website=Pelicans.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=April 18, 2013 |access-date=December 31, 2018}} By May 2014, the Bobcats officially reclaimed the Hornets name, and by agreement with the league and the Pelicans, also received sole ownership of all history, records, and statistics from the Pelicans' time in Charlotte. As a result, the Hornets are now officially considered to have been founded in 1988, suspended operations in 2002, and resumed in 2004 as the Bobcats, while the Pelicans are officially treated as a 2002 expansion team.{{cite news |title=Charlotte Hornets Name Returns to Carolinas |url=http://www.nba.com/hornets/charlotte-hornets-name-returns-carolinas |website=Hornets.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=May 20, 2014 |access-date=December 31, 2018}} (This is somewhat similar to the relationship between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens in the NFL.)

On February 1, 2014, commissioner David Stern retired after 30 years in the position, and was succeeded by his deputy, Adam Silver.{{cite news |author= |date=February 1, 2014 |title=Silver takes over as commissioner from Stern |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nba-stern-silver/silver-takes-over-as-commissioner-from-stern-idUSBREA100K020140201/ |work=Reuters |location= |access-date=March 12, 2024}}

File:LeBron James (15849043985).jpg became an era-defining star during the 2010s, while leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a historic title in 2016.]]

After four seasons with the Miami Heat, LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 2014–15 season.{{cite news |last=Chappell |first=Bill |date=July 11, 2014 |title=LeBron James Will Return To The Cleveland Cavaliers |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/07/11/330706371/lebron-james-will-reportedly-return-to-the-cleveland-cavaliers |work=NPR |location= |access-date=May 15, 2024}} He led the team to their second Finals appearance with the help of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Cavaliers in six games, led by the "Splash Brothers" Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The Cavaliers and the Warriors faced each other in the Finals a record four consecutive times.{{cite news |last=Ganguli |first=Tania |date=May 30, 2018 |title=Cavaliers vs. Warriors: They meet in the NBA Finals for a record fourth consecutive season |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/nba/la-sp-cavaliers-warriors-preview-20180530-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |location=Oakland |access-date=May 15, 2024}} In the 2015–16 season, the Warriors finished the season 73–9, the best season record in NBA history.{{cite web |title=Top Moments: Warriors set record with 73-win season |url=https://www.nba.com/history/top-moments/golden-state-warriors-win-73-games |publisher=National Basketball Association |access-date=April 6, 2020}} However, the Cavaliers overcame a 3–1 deficit in the Finals to win their first championship that season,{{cite web |last1=Maloney |first1=Jack |title=A timeline of LeBron James' eight consecutive NBA Finals appearances |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/a-timeline-of-lebron-james-eight-consecutive-nba-finals-appearances/ |website=CBSSports.com |access-date=April 6, 2020 |date=June 10, 2018}} and end a 52-year professional sports championship drought for the city of Cleveland.{{cite news |last=McLaughlin |first=Elliott C. |date=October 23, 2016 |title='Finally, we did it!': Cavs' title ends 52 years of Cleveland sports agony |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/06/20/sport/cleveland-cavaliers-nba-championship-ends-drought/index.html |work=CNN |location= |access-date=May 22, 2024}} In the 2016–17 season, the Warriors recruited free agent Kevin Durant{{cite news |last=Matange |first=Yash |date=July 7, 2021 |title=This Date in NBA History (July 7): Free agent Kevin Durant signs with the Golden State Warriors in 2016 |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nba/news/this-date-in-nba-history-july-7-free-agent-kevin-durant-signs-with-the-golden-state-warriors-in-2016/1b7m0eyiwi9hz15l7ufdob9itw |work=Sporting News |location= |access-date=May 17, 2024}} and went on to win the 2017 and 2018 Finals against the Cavaliers.{{cite news |last=Maloney |first=Jack |date=June 29, 2022 |title=Draymond Green says Warriors wouldn't have beaten Cavaliers in 2017 and 2018 Finals without Kevin Durant |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/draymond-green-says-warriors-wouldnt-have-beaten-cavaliers-in-2017-and-2018-finals-without-kevin-durant/ |work=CBS Sports |location= |access-date=May 17, 2024}}

After the departure of James in free agency in 2018, the Cavaliers' streak of playoff and Finals appearances ended. The Warriors returned for a fifth consecutive Finals appearance in 2019 but lost to the Toronto Raptors, who won their first championship after acquiring Kawhi Leonard in a trade.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Alex |title=Toronto Raptors beat Golden State Warriors for first NBA title |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/toronto-raptors-beat-golden-state-warriors-first-nba-title-n1017461 |publisher=NBC News |access-date=April 7, 2020 |date=June 13, 2019}}

The 2019–20 season was suspended indefinitely on March 11, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus.{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Tim |title=NBA suspends season after Utah Jazz player tests positive for COVID-19 |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/nba-suspends-season-after-utah-jazz-player-tests-positive-for-covid-19-1.4849502 |website=CTVNews |access-date=March 12, 2020 |date=March 11, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Cacciola |first1=Scott |last2=Deb |first2=Sopan |title=N.B.A. Suspends Season After Player Tests Positive for Coronavirus |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/sports/basketball/nba-season-postponed-coronavirus.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312015004/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/11/sports/basketball/nba-season-postponed-coronavirus.html |archive-date=March 12, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The New York Times |access-date=March 12, 2020 |date=March 11, 2020}} On June 4, 2020, the NBA Board of Governors voted to resume the season in a 22-team format with 8 seeding games per team and a regular playoffs format, with all games played in a "bubble" in Walt Disney World without any fans present.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nba.com/article/2020/06/04/board-of-governors-approves-nba-return-official-release |title=NBA Board of Governors approves competitive format to restart 2019–20 season with 22 teams returning to play |first=Official |last=release |publisher=National Basketball Association}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/nba/2020/07/21/nba-bubble-unique-experience-disney |title=Free From Quarantine: The NBA Bubble Is A Unique Experience |first=Chris |last=Mannix |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}{{Cite web |url=https://slate.com/culture/2020/07/nba-bubble-coronavirus-orlando-life.html |title=The Bizarre Stories of Everyday Life Within the NBA Bubble |first=Mary |last=Harris |date=July 22, 2020 |website=Slate}}

File:Stephen Curry shooting.jpg revolutionized the NBA during the 2010s, while leading the Golden State Warriors to four championships between 2015 and 2022.]]

This era also saw the continuous near year-over-year decline in NBA viewership. Between 2012 and 2019, the league lost 40 to 45 percent of its viewership. While some of it can be attributed to "cable-cutting", other professional leagues, like the NFL and MLB have retained stable viewership demographics. The opening game of the 2020 Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat brought in only 7.41 million viewers to ABC, according to The Hollywood Reporter. That is reportedly the lowest viewership seen for the Finals since at least 1994, when total viewers began to be regularly recorded and is a 45 percent decline from game one between the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors, which had 13.51 million viewers a year earlier. Some attribute this decline to the political stances the league and its players are taking, while others consider load management, the uneven talent distribution between the conferences and the cord-cutting of younger viewers as the main reason for the decline.{{Cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/game-1-nba-finals-lakers-heat-ratings-low-abc-225636681.html |title=Game 1 of NBA Finals sees lowest viewership in recorded ratings history |date=October 2020 |publisher=Yahoo! Sport}}{{Cite web |url=https://itsgame7.com/nba-ratings-drop-new-poll-reveals-main-reason-why/ |title=NBA Ratings Drop: New Poll Reveals Main Reason Why |work=Game 7 |date=September 8, 2020}}{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/nba-amico/tv-ratings-historic-lows-caveats |title=Insider: NBA's historic TV ratings lows come with 'obvious caveats' |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/nba-amico/basketball-playoffs-television-ratings |title=NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Amico |first=Sam |access-date=January 6, 2021}}{{Cite web |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/259193/NBA-On-ABC-Ratings-Down-45-Percent-Compared-To-11-12-Season |title=NBA On ABC Ratings Down 45 Percent Compared To 11–12 Season |website=basketball.realgm.com}}

During the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons, the Milwaukee Bucks would defeat the Phoenix Suns in the 2021 NBA Finals, securing their second NBA championship since 1971, and the Golden State Warriors made their sixth appearance in the finals defeating the Boston Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals, their fourth championship in eight years.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/20/sports/basketball/milwaukee-bucks-nba-finals-championship.html |title=The Milwaukee Bucks Win the N.B.A. Championship |last=Deb |first=Sopan |date=July 20, 2021 |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 8, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4175114/2022/06/17/nba-finals-warriors-win-2022-championship-defeat-celtics-in-6-games/ |title=NBA Finals: Warriors win 2022 championship, defeat Celtics in 6 games |last=Vardon |first=Joe |date=June 17, 2022 |website=The Athletic |access-date=December 8, 2023}}

The 2022–23 season saw the Denver Nuggets, led by center Nikola Jokić, make the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance and defeat the Miami Heat in five games to win their first NBA championship.{{cite web |last1=Almasy |first1=Steve |last2=De la Fuente |first2=Homero |title=Denver Nuggets win first NBA championship title in Game 5 victory over Miami Heat |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/12/sport/denver-nuggets-nba-championship-spt-intl/index.html |website=CNN |access-date=January 22, 2024 |date=June 13, 2023}}

The 2023–24 NBA season saw the star-studded Boston Celtics, winning a championship over the Dallas Mavericks, after five conference finals appearances, and a finals appearance marking their 18th championship, their first since 2008.{{Cite web |title=2023-24 NBA Season Summary |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2024.html |access-date=July 10, 2024 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}

The 2025 NBA playoffs features four teams (the Knicks, Pacers, Thunder and Timberwolves) who have championship droughts spanning several decades or who have never won a championship. 2019–2025 is the longest continuous period in the NBA's history where a different team has won the Finals each season, leading numerous outlets to dub this the "parity era" in contrast to the dynasties which dominated previous decades.{{cite web | url=https://www.news18.com/sports/a-new-nba-champion-set-to-arise-yet-again-the-parity-era-continues-through-2025-playoffs-9343387.html | title=A New NBA Champion Set to Arise Yet Again: The Parity Era Continues Through 2025 }}{{cite web |title=NBA to have seven different champions in seven years as parity reigns |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article/nba-to-have-seven-different-champions-in-seven-years-as-parity-reigns/ |access-date=June 7, 2025 |website=Sportsnet.ca |date=May 20, 2025}}

{{Further|List of foreign NBA players}}

Following pioneers like Vlade Divac (Serbia) and Dražen Petrović (Croatia), who joined the NBA in the late 1980s, an increasing number of international players have moved directly from playing elsewhere in the world to starring in the NBA.{{cite news |last=Freeman |first=Mike |date=June 9, 1993 |title=Pro Basketball; Details Emerge, but Petrovic's Death Still Baffles |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/09/sports/pro-basketball-details-emerge-but-petrovic-s-death-still-baffles.html |work=New York Times |location= |quote=…Petrovic 'paved the way for other international players to compete successfully in this league.' |access-date=May 27, 2024}}{{cite news |last=Ham |first=James |date=September 5, 2019 |title=How Vlade Divac Made Global Impact, Paved Basketball Hall of Fame Path |url=https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/how_vlade_divac_made_global_impact__paved_basketball_hall_of_fame_path_bay/215090/?amp=1 |work=NBC Bay Area |location= |quote=His pioneering spirit as one of the first Europeans to transition to the NBA in the late 1980s opened a floodgate that allowed the league to expand to countries around the world. |access-date=May 27, 2024}} Since 2006, the NBA has faced EuroLeague teams in exhibition matches in the NBA Europe Live Tour,{{cite book |editor-last1=Thomas |editor-first1=Niklas |editor-last2=Neuhas |editor-first2=Till |date=January 3, 2024 |title=Interdisciplinary Analyses of Professional Basketball: Investigating the Hardwood |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1DvsEAAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Springer Nature Switzerland |page=281 |isbn=9783031416569}} and since 2009, in the EuroLeague American Tour. On November 9, 2007, when the Houston Rockets with Yao Ming faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks with Yi Jianlian, over 200 million people in China watched on 19 different networks, making it the most-viewed game in NBA history.{{cite book |last=Riess |first=Steven A. |author-link= |date=March 26, 2015 |title=Sports in America from Colonial Times to the Twenty-First Century: An Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DnCsBwAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Taylor & Francis |page=57 |isbn=9781317459477}}

The 2013–14 season opened with a record 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and comprising over 20 percent of the league.{{cite web |url=http://nba.nbcsports.com/2013/10/29/record-92-foreign-players-on-nba-rosters-to-start-season/ |title=Record 92 foreign players on NBA rosters to start season |first=Kurt |last=Helin |date=October 29, 2013 |access-date=December 8, 2016}} The NBA defines "international" players as those born outside the 50 United States and Washington, D.C. This means that:

• Players born in U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, most notably USVI native Tim Duncan, are counted as "international" even though they are U.S. citizens by birth, and may even have represented the U.S. in international competition (like Duncan).
• U.S.-born players are not counted as "international" even if they were born with citizenship in another country and represent that country internationally, such as Joakim Noah, and Kosta Koufos.

The beginning of the 2017–18 season saw a record 108 international players representing 42 countries marking 4 consecutive years of at least 100 international players and each team having at least one international player.{{cite press release |title=NBA rosters feature 108 international players from record 42 countries and territories |url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/10/17/nba-international-players-2017-18-season-record-countries |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=October 17, 2017 |access-date=December 31, 2018}} In 2018, the Phoenix Suns hired Serbian coach Igor Kokoškov as their new head coach, replacing Canadian interim coach Jay Triano, making Kokoškov the first European coach to become a head coach for a team in the NBA.{{cite news |author= |date=May 2, 2018 |title=Phoenix Suns hire Igor Kokoskov as first European-born NBA coach |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2018/05/02/suns-hire-igor-kokoskov-first-european-born-nba-coach/575475002/ |work=USA Today |location= |access-date=May 16, 2024}}

In the 2023–24 season, the Mavericks and the Thunder each had eight international players on their roster.{{Cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/38734176/record-125-international-players-nba-opening-night-rosters |title=Record 125 international players on NBA opening-night rosters |date=October 24, 2023 |website=ESPN}} For seven consecutive seasons from 2018–19 to 2024–25, the league's MVP award has been given to an international player.{{cite news |last=Pasciolla |first=Anthony |date=May 9, 2024 |title=Nikola Jokić marks sixth consecutive international NBA MVP |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/denver-nuggets/news/nba-mvp-international-jokic-giannis-embiid/5d7f1d55e738def69d874324 |work=Sporting News |location= |access-date=May 16, 2024}}{{cite news |last=McGregor |first=Gilbert |date=May 21, 2025 |title=Canadians to win NBA MVP: How Shai Gilgeous-Alexander joins Steve Nash in rare company

|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/oklahoma-city-thunder/news/canadians-nba-mvp-shai-gilgeous-alexander-steve-nash/55dc82f222c69bd881417567 |work=Sporting News |location= |access-date=June 6, 2025}}

{{Recentism|date=July 2020}}

In 2001, an affiliated minor league, the National Basketball Development League, now called the NBA G League, was created.{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions: NBA G League |url=https://gleague.nba.com/faq/ |publisher=National Basketball Association |access-date=December 31, 2018}}

A new official game ball was introduced on June 28, 2006, for the 2006–07 season, marking the first change to the ball in over 35 years and only the second ball in 60 seasons.{{cite news |title=NBA Introduces New Game Ball |url=http://www.nba.com/news/blackbox_060628.html |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=June 28, 2006 |access-date=December 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317211343/http://www.nba.com/news/blackbox_060628.html |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |url-status=dead}} Manufactured by Spalding, the new ball featured a new design and new synthetic material that Spalding claimed offered a better grip, feel, and consistency than the original ball. However, many players were vocal in their disdain for the new ball, saying that it was too sticky when dry, and too slippery when wet.

Commissioner Stern announced on December 11, 2006, that beginning January 1, 2007, the NBA would return to the traditional leather basketball in use prior to the 2006–07 season. The change was influenced by frequent player complaints and confirmed hand injuries (cuts) caused by the microfiber ball.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2694335 |last=Stein |first=Marc |title=Leather ball will return on Jan. 1 |publisher=ESPN |date=December 12, 2006 |author-link=Marc Stein (reporter) |access-date=June 13, 2011}} The Players' Association filed a suit on behalf of the players against the NBA over the new ball.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=stein_marc&id=2689744 |title=NBA ball controversy reaches new level |last=Stein |first=Marc |publisher=ESPN |date=December 8, 2006 |author-link=Marc Stein (reporter) |access-date=June 13, 2011}}

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began an investigation on July 19, 2007, over allegations that veteran NBA referee Tim Donaghy bet on basketball games he officiated over the past two seasons and that he made calls affecting the point spread in those games.{{cite web |title=Donaghy under investigation for betting on NBA games |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2943095 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=December 27, 2022 |date=July 20, 2007}} On August 15, 2007, Donaghy pleaded guilty to two federal charges related to the investigation. Donaghy claimed in 2008 that certain referees were friendly with players and "company men" for the NBA, and he alleged that referees influenced the outcome of certain playoff and finals games in 2002 and 2005. NBA commissioner David Stern denied the allegations and said Donaghy was a convicted felon and a "singing, cooperating witness".{{cite web |title=2002 Lakers-Kings Game 6 at heart of Donaghy allegations |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3436401 |date=June 11, 2008 |access-date=December 16, 2010}} Donaghy served 15 months in prison and was released in November 2009.{{cite web |last=Virgin |first=Ryan |title=David Stern and Tim Donaghy's Motives Are Not That Different |website=Bleacher Report |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/378154-david-stern-and-tim-donaghys-motives-are-not-that-different |date=April 13, 2010 |access-date=January 3, 2015}} According to an independent study by Ronald Beech of Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Sacramento Kings, although the refs increased the Lakers' chances of winning through foul calls during the game, there was no collusion to fix the game. On alleged "star treatment" during Game 6 by the referees toward certain players, Beech claimed, "there does seem to be issues with different standards and allowances for different players."{{cite web |last=Beech |first=Ronald |title=Reviewing the calls: Lakers-Kings Game 6 |url=http://www.82games.com/lakerskingsgame6.htm |year=2008 |access-date=January 3, 2015}}

The first outdoor game in the modern era of the league was played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on October 11, 2008, between the Phoenix Suns and the Denver Nuggets.{{cite news |last=McMenamin |first=Dave |title=Outdoor game sees shooting, temperature drop |url=http://www.nba.com/2008/news/features/dave_mcmenamin/10/12/101108mcmenaminoutdoor/ |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=October 12, 2008 |access-date=July 25, 2010}}

The first official NBA league games on European ground took place in 2011. In two matchups, the New Jersey Nets faced the Toronto Raptors at the O2 Arena in London in front of over 20,000 fans.

Donald Sterling, who was then-owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, received a lifetime ban from the NBA on April 29, 2014, after racist remarks he made became public. Sterling was also fined US$2.5 million, the maximum allowed under the NBA Constitution.{{cite news |title=Clippers owner Sterling banned for life by the NBA |url=http://www.nba.com/2014/news/04/29/nba-bans-donald-sterling.ap/ |agency=Associated Press |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=April 29, 2014 |access-date=April 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229050022/http://www.nba.com/2014/news/04/29/nba-bans-donald-sterling.ap/ |archive-date=December 29, 2018 |url-status=dead}}

Becky Hammon was hired by the San Antonio Spurs on August 5, 2014, as an assistant coach, becoming the second female coach in NBA history but the first full-time coach.{{cite news |title=Spurs make WNBA's Hammon first female NBA assistant |url=http://www.nba.com/2014/news/08/05/spurs-becky-hammon.ap/ |agency=Associated Press |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=August 5, 2014 |access-date=April 15, 2016}}{{cite news |last=Fagan |first=Kate |title=Becky Hammon was born to coach |url=https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/11313239/wnba-san-antonio-stars-future-spurs-assistant-becky-hammon-was-born-coach |publisher=ESPN |date=August 5, 2014 |access-date=April 15, 2016}} This also makes her the first full-time female coach in any of the four major professional sports in North America.

The NBA announced on April 15, 2016, that it would allow all 30 of its teams to sell corporate sponsor advertisement patches on official game uniforms, beginning with the 2017–18 season. The sponsorship advertisement patches would appear on the left front of jerseys, opposite Nike's logo, marking the first time a manufacturer's logo would appear on NBA jerseys, and would measure approximately 2.5 by 2.5 inches. The NBA would become the first major North American professional sports league to allow corporate sponsorship logos on official team uniforms, and the last to have a uniform manufacturer logo appear on its team uniforms.{{cite news |last=Mahoney |first=Brian |title=NBA to begin selling jersey sponsorships in 2017–18 |url=http://www.nba.com/2016/news/04/15/nba-to-begin-selling-jersey-sponsorships-in-2017-18.ap/index.html |agency=Associated Press |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=April 15, 2016 |access-date=April 15, 2016}} The first team to announce a jersey sponsorship was the Philadelphia 76ers, who agreed to a deal with StubHub.{{cite press release |title=Philadelphia 76ers And StubHub Announce First Jersey Sponsorship in Major American Professional Sports |url=http://www.nba.com/sixers/philadelphia-76ers-and-stubhub-announce-first-jersey-sponsorship-major-american-professional-sports |website=Sixers.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC |date=May 15, 2016 |access-date=January 31, 2017}}

On July 6, 2017, the NBA unveiled an updated rendition of its logo; it was largely identical to the previous design, except with revised typography and a "richer" color scheme. The league began to phase in the updated logo across its properties during the 2017 NBA Summer League.{{cite news |title=A first look at the NBA's refreshed logo |url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/06/first-look-nbas-refreshed-logo-2017-18-season |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=July 6, 2017 |access-date=December 18, 2017}}

The NBA also officially released new Nike uniforms for all 30 teams beginning with the 2017–18 season, replacing the previous supplier, Adidas. All team jerseys included the Nike logo except for the Charlotte Hornets, whose jerseys instead had the Jumpman logo associated with longtime Nike endorser Michael Jordan, who owns the Hornets.{{cite web |url=https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2017/6/26/15872910/hornets-jumpman-jerseys-nba-nike-license |title=The Hornets will be the only NBA team to have jerseys licensed by Jumpman |first=James |last=Dator |publisher=SB Nation |date=June 26, 2017 |access-date=July 6, 2017}} In addition, the league eliminated "home" and "away" uniform designations. Instead, each team would have four or six uniforms: the "Association" edition, which is the team's white uniform, the "Icon" edition, which is the team's color uniform, and the "Statement" and "City" uniforms, which most teams use as an alternate uniform.{{cite news |last=Whitaker |first=Lang |title=NBA, Nike unveil new uniforms for 2017–18 season |url=http://www.nba.com/article/2017/07/18/nba-nike-new-uniforms#/ |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=July 18, 2017 |access-date=December 18, 2017}} In 2018, the NBA added the "Earned" uniform.{{cite press release |title=Teams unveil Earned Edition uniforms for 2018–19 season |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-unveils-earned-edition-uniforms |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=December 12, 2018 |access-date=April 25, 2021}}

In 2018, Adam Silver showed support in the Supreme Court's decision to overturn a federal ban on sports betting. Silver thought it would bring greater transparency and integrity as well as business opportunities.{{Cite web |title=NBA's Adam Silver on Why He Supports Legal Sports Betting |url=https://www.wsj.com/video/nba-adam-silver-on-why-he-supports-legal-sports-betting/27DC4F82-D2D1-4890-AF3D-C551375620A2 |access-date=January 30, 2024 |website=WSJ}} Before naming DraftKings and FanDuel co-official sports betting partners of the NBA in 2021, the NBA first named MGM as the exclusive official gaming partner of the NBA and WNBA—the first major American sports league to do so.{{Cite web |title=DraftKings, FanDuel become NBA's co-official sports betting partners |url=https://www.nba.com/news/draftkings-fanduel-become-nbas-co-official-sports-betting-partners |access-date=January 30, 2024 |website=NBA.com}}{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2018 |title=NBA signs deal with MGM to be gaming partner |url=https://www.espn.com/sports-betting/story/_/id/24245142/nba-first-league-betting-sponsor-deal-mgm |access-date=January 30, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}} With a deal between the 76ers and then-sportsbook FOX Bet as the first agreement between an NBA team and a sportsbook app, more teams partnered with operators thereafter.{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=Matthew Impelli |date=November 25, 2019 |title=Philadelphia 76ers Partner With Mobile Sports Betting Brand, FOX Bet |url=https://www.newsweek.com/philadelphia-76ers-become-first-nba-team-partner-online-sports-betting-brand-1473968 |access-date=January 30, 2024 |website=Newsweek}} This early acceptance of sports betting translated to basketball being the most bet-on sport in the United States over football in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Molter |first=Michael |date=January 25, 2024 |title=Basketball Eclipsing Football As Most Bet On Sport In USA |url=https://www.usaonlinegambling.com/news/basketball-eclipsing-football-as-most-bet-on-sport-in-usa-01-25-2024/ |access-date=January 30, 2024}}

As a part of its November 2021 multi-year partnership deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the NBA hosted two preseason games in Abu Dhabi on October 4 and 6, 2024, marking its third annual trip to the country. However, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) raised concerns, citing the UAE's pattern of using high-profile events to enhance its image. HRW accused the league of being complicit in "sportswashing" the UAE's poor human rights record, while the country seeks to display itself as open country, without addressing the abuses. On September 30, HRW wrote a letter to the NBA, urging it to implement a human rights risk mitigation strategy, and to ensure that the preseason games were not used as a distraction from the UAE's human rights abuses. The rights organization also pointed out that the UAE hosted the games amidst the reports of the country being directly involved in fuelling the Sudanese civil war. A coalition of human rights groups called upon the NBA to cancel the games in Abu Dhabi in solidarity with Sudanese.{{cite news |title=UAE: NBA Games Risk "Sportswashing" Abuses |date=October 3, 2024 |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/10/03/uae-nba-games-risk-sportswashing-abuses |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241006054231/https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/10/03/uae-nba-games-risk-sportswashing-abuses |archive-date=October 6, 2024 |access-date=October 16, 2024}}

On March 10, 2025, NBA and Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) announced that in October 2025, the New Orleans Pelicans would play two preseason games at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne as part of the NBA x NBL: Melbourne Series.{{cite web |title=New Orleans Pelicans to play two NBL teams in first NBA games in Australia this October |url=https://www.nba.com/pelicans/news/2025-2026-nba-preseason-nbl-nba-games-australia-october-melbourne-united-south-east-melbourne-phoenix |website=NBA.com |access-date=March 23, 2025 |date=March 10, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Pelicans to play NBL teams in Australia |url=https://nbl.com.au/news/pelicans-to-play-nbl-teams-in-australia |website=NBL.com.au |access-date=March 11, 2025 |language=en-AU |date=March 11, 2025}}

{{See also|List of defunct NBA teams|List of relocated NBA teams|Timeline of the National Basketball Association|Expansion of the NBA}}

{{NBA labeled map|float=right}}

{{geoGroup|float=right}}

The NBA originated in 1946 with 11 teams, and through a sequence of team expansions, reductions and relocations consists of 30 teams – 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada.

The current league organization divides 30 teams into two 15-team conferences of three divisions with five teams each. The current divisional alignment was introduced in the 2004–05 season.{{cite news |last=Henson |first=Joaquin M. |date=July 1, 2004 |title=Realignment in NBA |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2004/07/01/255956/realignment-nba |work=The Philippine Star |location= |access-date=May 18, 2024}} Reflecting the population distribution of the United States and Canada as a whole, most teams are in the eastern half of the country: 13 teams are in the Eastern Time Zone, nine in the Central, three in the Mountain, and five in the Pacific.

Notes:

• An asterisk (*) denotes a franchise move. See the respective team articles for more information.
• The Fort Wayne Pistons, Minneapolis Lakers and Rochester Royals all joined the NBA (BAA) in 1948 from the NBL.
• The Syracuse Nationals and Tri-Cities Blackhawks joined the NBA in 1949 as part of the BAA-NBL merger.
• The Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, San Antonio Spurs, and Denver Nuggets all joined the NBA in 1976 as part of the ABA–NBA merger.
• The Charlotte Hornets are regarded as a continuation of the original Charlotte franchise, which suspended operations in 2002 and rejoined the league in 2004. They were known as the Bobcats from 2004 to 2014. The New Orleans Pelicans are regarded as being established as an expansion team in 2002, originally known as the New Orleans Hornets until 2013.

{{more citations needed|section|date=August 2020}}

{{main|List of NBA seasons}}

Following the summer break, teams begin training camps in late September.{{cite magazine |last=Metallinos |first=Nick |date=August 17, 2022 |title=When does the NBA regular season start? Key dates for training camp, preseason entering 2022-23 season |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nba-key-dates-training-camp-preseason/vmiq2ozctylvqsvzwbvu3un3 |magazine=Sporting News |location= |publisher= |access-date=March 18, 2024}} Training camps allow the coaching staff to evaluate players (especially rookies), scout the team's strengths and weaknesses, prepare the players for the rigorous regular season and determine the 12-man active roster (and a 3-man inactive list) with which they will begin the regular season. Teams have the ability to assign players with less than two years of experience to the NBA G League. After training camp, a series of preseason exhibition games are held. Preseason matches are sometimes held in non-NBA cities, both in the United States and overseas. The NBA regular season begins in mid-October.{{cite book |last1=Sutton |first1=Gary |last2=Turnbull |first2=Doug |last3=Grainger |first3=Trey |last4=Irwin |first4=Max |author-link= |date=February 6, 2024 |title=Statistics Slam Dunk: Statistical Analysis with R on Real NBA Data |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UhDtEAAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Manning Publications |page=270 |isbn=9781633438682}}

During the regular season, each team plays 82 games, 41 each home and away.{{cite book |editor-first1=Adetayo |editor-last1=Kasim |editor-first2=Sebastian |editor-last2=Kaiser |editor-first3=Sepp |editor-last3=Hochreiter |editor-first4=Willem |editor-last4=Talloen |editor-first5=Ziv |editor-last5=Shkedy |date=October 3, 2016 |title=Applied Biclustering Methods for Big and High-Dimensional Data Using R |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p2gNDgAAQBAJ |publisher=CRC Press |page=298 |chapter=Chapter 19: Identification of Local Patterns in the NBA Performance Indicators |isbn=9781482208245}} A team faces opponents in its own division four times a year (16 games). Each team plays six of the teams from the other two divisions in its conference four times (24 games), and the remaining four teams three times (12 games). Finally, each team plays all the teams in the other conference twice apiece (30 games). This asymmetrical structure means the strength of schedule will vary between teams (but not as significantly as the NFL or MLB). Over five seasons, each team will have played 80 games against their division (20 games against each opponent, 10 at home, 10 on the road), 180 games against the rest of their conference (18 games against each opponent, 9 at home, 9 on the road), and 150 games against the other conference (10 games against each team, 5 at home, 5 on the road).

Starting with the 2023–24 season, the regular season includes an in-season tournament, in which all games in the tournament (except for the final) count towards the regular season.{{cite news |title=NBA In-Season Tournament to debut in 2023-24 season |url=https://www.nba.com/news/2023-in-season-tournament-debut-official-release |work=NBA.com |date=July 8, 2023 |access-date=July 8, 2023}}

The NBA is also the only league that regularly schedules games on Christmas Day.{{cite news |last=Schuhmann |first=John |title=Knicks, Kobe and more part of Christmas Day lore |url=http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/john_schuhmann/12/17/numbers.christmas/index.html |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=December 17, 2009 |access-date=December 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202114508/http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/john_schuhmann/12/17/numbers.christmas/index.html |archive-date=December 2, 2010 |url-status=dead}}{{Original research inline|date=March 2025|certain=true}} The league has been playing games regularly on the holiday since 1947,{{cite news |title=Christmas Tradition |newspaper=The Riverside (Ca.) Press-Enterprise |date=December 24, 2009 |page=B1 |first=Jeff |last=Eisenberg}} though the first Christmas Day games were not televised until {{nbay|1983}}.{{cite news |last=Garcia |first=Art |title=Christmas Day clashes bring back fond memories |url=http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/art_garcia/12/13/christmas.history/index.html |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=December 13, 2009 |access-date=December 27, 2010}} Games played on this day have featured some of the best teams and players. Christmas is also notable for NBA on television, as the holiday is when the first NBA games air on network television each season. Games played on this day have been some of the highest-rated games during a particular season.

The NBA has also played games on Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) every year since the holiday was first observed in 1986.{{Cite web |last1=Martin |first1=Brian |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-on-mlk-day-history-records-2024 |title=NBA on MLK Day: History and records |date=January 13, 2024 |website=NBA}}

In February, the regular season pauses to celebrate the annual NBA All-Star Game.{{cite book |last=Tuchman |first=Robert |author-link= |date=March 17, 2009 |title=The 100 Sporting Events You Must See Live: An Insider's Guide to Creating the Sports Experience of a Lifetime |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=McQeT-K-RcwC |location= |publisher=BenBella Books |page=257 |isbn=9781933771458}} Fans vote throughout the United States, Canada, and on the Internet, and the top vote-getters in each conference are named captains. Fan votes determine the rest of the All-Star starters. Coaches vote to choose the remaining 14 All-Stars. The player with the best performance during the game is rewarded with a Game MVP award. Other attractions of the All-Star break include the Rising Stars Challenge (originally Rookie Challenge), where the top rookies and second-year players in the NBA play in a 5-on-5 basketball game, with the current format pitting U.S. players against those from the rest of the world; the Skills Challenge, where players compete to finish an obstacle course consisting of shooting, passing, and dribbling in the fastest time; the Three Point Contest, where players compete to score the highest number of three-point field goals in a given time; and the NBA Slam Dunk Contest, where players compete to dunk the ball in the most entertaining way according to the judges. These other attractions have varying names which include the names of the various sponsors who have paid for naming rights.

Shortly after the All-Star break is the trade deadline, which is set to fall on the 16th Thursday of the season (usually in February) at 3 pm Eastern Time.{{cite web |title=NBA Trading Deadline Trades Since 1987 |url=http://www.nba.com/history/deadline_deals.html |publisher=National Basketball Association |access-date=January 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109033255/http://www.nba.com/history/deadline_deals.html |archive-date=November 9, 2009 |url-status=dead}} After this date, teams are not allowed to exchange players with each other for the remainder of the season, although they may still sign and release players. Major trades are often completed right before the trading deadline, making that day a hectic time for general managers.

Around the middle of April, the regular season ends. It is during this time that voting begins for individual awards, as well as the selection of the honorary, league-wide, postseason teams. The Sixth Man of the Year Award is given to the best player coming off the bench (must have more games coming off the bench than actual games started). The Rookie of the Year Award is awarded to the most outstanding first-year player. The Most Improved Player Award is awarded to the player who is deemed to have shown the most improvement from the previous season. The Defensive Player of the Year Award is awarded to the league's best defender. The Coach of the Year Award is awarded to the coach that has made the most positive difference to a team. The Most Valuable Player Award is given to the player deemed the most valuable for (his team) that season. Additionally, Sporting News awards an unofficial (but widely recognized) Executive of the Year Award to the general manager who is adjudged to have performed the best job for the benefit of his franchise.

The postseason teams are the All-NBA Team, the All-Defensive Team, and the All-Rookie Team; each consists of five players. There are three All-NBA teams, consisting of the top players at each position, with first-team status being the most desirable. There are two All-Defensive teams, consisting of the top defenders at each position. There are also two All-Rookie teams, consisting of the top first-year players regardless of position.{{cite web |title=Year-by-year NBA All-Rookie Teams |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-rookie-teams |website=NBA.com |access-date=December 27, 2022}}{{cite web |title=Year-by-year NBA All-Defensive Teams |url=https://www.nba.com/news/history-all-defensive-team |website=NBA.com |access-date=December 27, 2022}}

{{Main|NBA playoffs}}

File:Golden State Warriors hold Hoops for Troops event at 129th Rescue Wing (10).jpg is awarded annually to the winning team of the NBA Finals, the league's championship series that concludes the playoffs.]]

The NBA playoffs begin in April after the conclusion of the regular season and play-in tournament with the top eight teams in each conference, regardless of divisional alignment, competing for the league's championship title, the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Seeds are awarded in strict order of regular season record (with a tiebreaker system used as needed).

Having a higher seed offers several advantages. Since the first seed begins the playoffs playing against the eighth seed, the second seed plays the seventh seed, the third seed plays the sixth seed, and the fourth seed plays the fifth seed, having a higher seed typically means a team faces a weaker opponent in the first round. The team in each series with the better record has home-court advantage, including the First Round.

The league began using its current format, with the top eight teams in each conference advancing regardless of divisional alignment, in the 2015–16 season. Previously, the top three seeds went to the division winners.{{cite news |title=NBA to seed playoff teams in each conference by record |url=http://www.nba.com/2015/news/09/08/nba-playoff-seeding-change-ap.ap/ |agency=Associated Press |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=September 8, 2015 |access-date=July 16, 2017}}

The playoffs follow a tournament format. Each team plays an opponent in a best-of-seven series, with the first team to win four games advancing into the next round, while the other team is eliminated from the playoffs. In the next round, the successful team plays against another advancing team of the same conference. All but one team in each conference are eliminated from the playoffs. Since the NBA does not re-seed teams, the playoff bracket in each conference uses a traditional design, with the winner of the series matching the first- and eighth-seeded teams playing the winner of the series matching the fourth- and fifth-seeded teams, and the winner of the series matching the second- and seventh-seeded teams playing the winner of the series matching the third- and sixth-seeded teams. In every round, the best-of-7 series follows a 2–2–1–1–1 home-court pattern, meaning that one team will have home court in games 1, 2, 5, and 7, while the other plays at home in games 3, 4, and 6. From 1985 to 2013, the NBA Finals followed a 2–3–2 pattern, meaning that one team had home court in games 1, 2, 6, and 7, while the other played at home in games 3, 4, and 5.{{cite news |title=NBA owners change Finals format to 2–2–1–1–1 |url=http://www.nba.com/2013/news/10/23/nba-board-of-governors-format-change.ap |agency=Associated Press |publisher=National Basketball Association |date=October 23, 2013 |access-date=April 19, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515022449/http://www.nba.com/2013/news/10/23/nba-board-of-governors-format-change.ap/ |archive-date=May 15, 2014 |url-status=dead}}

The final playoff round, a best-of-seven series between the victors of both conferences, is known as the NBA Finals and is held annually in June (sometimes, the series will start in late May). The winner of the NBA Finals receives the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Each player and major contributor—including coaches and the general manager—on the winning team receive a championship ring. In addition, the league awards the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award to the best performing player of the series.

{{Main|List of NBA champions}}

The Boston Celtics have the most championships, with 18 NBA Finals wins.{{cite news |last=Rosenstein |first=Greg |date=June 17, 2024 |title=NBA Finals: Celtics defeat Mavericks for record-setting 18th championship |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/sports/nba-finals-celtics-defeat-mavericks-league-best-18th-championship-rcna157266 |work=NBC News |location= |access-date=June 18, 2024}} The Los Angeles Lakers have the second-most with 17; the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls have the third- and fourth-most, respectively, with seven and six titles.

Current teams that have no NBA Finals appearances:{{cite news |last=McGregor |first=Gilbert |date=May 22, 2023 |title=Which teams have never made the NBA Finals? Nuggets make history with trip in 2023 |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/teams-never-made-nba-finals-history/dxdrv5uxzd8njvbcz4iiqhc3 |work=Sporting News |location= |access-date=May 1, 2024}}

• Charlotte Hornets {{small|(formerly Charlotte Bobcats)}}
• Los Angeles Clippers {{small|(formerly Buffalo Braves, San Diego Clippers)}}
• Memphis Grizzlies {{small|(formerly Vancouver Grizzlies)}}
• Minnesota Timberwolves
• New Orleans Pelicans {{small|(formerly New Orleans Hornets, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets)}}

{{Main|NBA on television}}

{{See also|List of current NBA broadcasters}}

As one of the major sports leagues in North America, the NBA has a long history of partnerships with television networks in the United States. The NBA signed a contract with DuMont Television Network in its eighth season, the 1953–54 season, marking the first year the NBA had a national television broadcaster.{{cite book |last=Deninger |first=Dennis |author-link= |date=2012 |title=Sports on Television: The How and Why Behind What You See |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MitTh_reHL8C |location= |publisher=Routledge |page=16 |isbn=9780415896757}} Similar to the National Football League, the lack of television stations led to NBC taking over the rights from the 1954–55 season until April 1962–NBC's first tenure with the NBA.{{cite news |last=Hall |first=Jason |date=June 28, 2023 |title=NBC 'Is A Player' To Reclaim NBA Media Rights: Report |url=https://sportssd.iheart.com/content/2023-06-28-nbc-is-a-player-to-reclaim-nba-media-rights-report/ |work=KGB (AM) |location= |access-date=May 22, 2024}} The 2025–26 season marks the first year of 11-year agreements with broadcast networks ABC and NBC, pay television network ESPN, and streaming services Peacock and Amazon Prime Video to nationally televise games in the United States.{{cite press release|url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-media-agreements-2024|title=NBA signs new 11-year media agreements with the Walt Disney Company, NBCUniversal and Amazon Prime Video through 2035-36 season|website=nba.com|date=July 24, 2024}} Games that are not broadcast nationally are usually aired over regional sports networks specific to the area where the teams are located.

{{Main article|List of games played between NBA and international teams}}

The National Basketball Association has sporadically participated in international club competitions. The first international competition involving the NBA was a 1978 exhibition game in Tel Aviv, Israel between the Washington Bullets and Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv.{{cite book |last=Conrad |first=Mark |author-link= |date=February 17, 2017 |title=The Business of Sports: Off the Field, in the Office, on the News |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ylklDgAAQBAJ |location= |publisher=Taylor & Francis |page= |isbn=9781317430520}} From 1987 to 1999 an NBA team played against championship club teams from Asia, Europe and South America in the McDonald's Championship. This tournament was won by the NBA invitee every year it was held.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/olybb/news/story?id=3754278 |title=New club basketball championship to debut in 2010 |date=December 9, 2008 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=June 13, 2011}}

In 2022, an average ticket cost $77.75.{{Cite web |date=May 8, 2022 |title=Team Market Report Publishes NBA Fan Cost Index; Slight Increase Reported |url=https://sportslawexpert.com/2022/05/08/team-market-report-publishes-nba-fan-cost-index-slight-increase-reported/ |access-date=October 1, 2022 |website=Sports Law Expert}} Depending on the market and stage of the season—preseason, regular season, postseason—a ticket can range from $10 to $100,000.{{Efn|During the 2019 NBA Finals between the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors, two courtside tickets were sold for $69,287.21 each at Oracle Arena.}}{{Cite web |last=May |first=Jeffrey |date=November 24, 2021 |title=How much are NBA tickets? What's the average price? |url=https://en.as.com/en/2021/11/25/nba/1637800806_916397.html |access-date=October 1, 2022 |website=Diario AS}}{{Cite web |last1=Brooks |first1=Khristopher |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lebron-james-nba-scoring-record-all-time-stats-kareem-abdul-jabbar-ticket-prices/ |title=Tickets to watch LeBron James break the NBA scoring record are going for more than $100,000 |date=February 7, 2023 |website=CBS News}}

In 2020, ticket prices for the NBA All Star Game became more expensive than ever before, averaging around $2,600, and even more on the secondary market.{{Cite web |url=https://www.slamonline.com/nba/2020-all-star-game-tickets-most-expensive-10-years/ |title=2020 NBA All-Star Game Tickets Are Most Expensive in Last 10 Years 🎟️ |date=February 13, 2020 |website=SLAM |access-date=February 19, 2020}}

According to Nielsen's survey, in 2013 the NBA had the youngest audience, with 45 percent of its viewers under 35. {{as of|2022}}, the league remains the least likely to be watched by women, who make up only 30% of the viewership.{{cite web |title=Show Me the Money: Affluent Fans & the Economics of Sports |url=https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/knowledge/media-brand-communication/Show-Me-the-Money-Affluent-Fans-the-Economics-of-Sports-recording |publisher=Ipsos |access-date=July 11, 2023 |date=April 14, 2022}} {{As of|2014}}, 45 percent of its viewers were black, while 40 percent of viewers were white, making it the only top North American sport that does not have a white majority audience.{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/02/which-sports-have-the-whitest-richest-oldest-fans/283626/ |title=Which Sports Have the Whitest/Richest/Oldest Fans? |first=Derek |last=Thompson |date=February 10, 2014 |website=The Atlantic |access-date=December 8, 2016}}

{{As of|2017}}, the NBA's popularity further declined among white Americans, who during the 2016–17 season, made up only 34% of the viewership. At the same time, the black viewership increased to 47 percent, while Hispanic (of any race) stood at 11% and Asian viewership stood at 8%. According to the same poll, the NBA was favored more strongly by Democrats than Republicans.{{cite web |url=https://morningconsult.com/2018/01/25/nfl-isnt-divisive-sport-america/ |title=The NFL Isn't the Only Divisive Sport in America |last=Piacenza |first=Joanna |date=January 25, 2018 |publisher=Morning Consult}}

Outside the U.S., the NBA's biggest international market is in China,{{cite news |title=Silver hopes for 'mutual respect' between NBA and China amid questions |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/3091336/nba-china-crisis-adam-silver-hopes-mutual-respect-amid-questions-us |access-date=December 2, 2020 |work=South China Morning Post |date=July 1, 2020}}{{cite news |title=How the NBA's rift with China laid bare the cost of free speech |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/oct/12/how-the-nbas-rift-with-china-laid-bare-the-cost-of-free-speech |access-date=December 2, 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=October 12, 2019}} where an estimated 800 million viewers watched the 2017–18 season.{{cite news |title=The NBA Is Seeking Its First Head of Government in China |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-20/nba-seeks-government-point-guard-in-china-amid-u-s-tensions |access-date=December 2, 2020 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=March 20, 2019}} NBA China is worth approximately $4 billion.

{{Further|Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame}}

File:Adam Silver.jpg, the NBA Commissioner since 2014]]

{{Further|Commissioner of the NBA}}

• Maurice Podoloff, President from 1946 to 1963{{cite web |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/maurice-podoloff |title=Maurice Podoloff Biography |website=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=December 6, 2023}}
• Walter Kennedy, President from 1963 to 1967 and Commissioner from 1967 to 1975{{cite web |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/james-walter-kennedy/ |title=James Walter Kennedy Biography |website=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=December 6, 2023}}
• Larry O'Brien, Commissioner from 1975 to 1984{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/10/sports/o-brien-steps-down-as-commissioner-of-nba.html |title=O'Brien Steps Down As Commissioner of N.B.A. |last=Goldaper |first=Sam |date=November 10, 1983 |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 6, 2023}}
• David Stern, Commissioner from 1984 to 2014{{cite web |url=https://www.nba.com/news/david-stern-passes-away-77 |title=NBA Commissioner Emeritus David Stern dies at 77 |last=Mahoney |first=Brian |date=January 2, 2020 |website=NBA.com |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=December 6, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://time.com/5757570/david-sterm-rescued-nba/ |title=How David Stern Rescued the NBA and Turned Basketball Into a Global Force |last=Gregory |first=Sean |date=January 2, 2020 |website=Time Magazine |access-date=December 6, 2023}}
• Adam Silver, Commissioner from 2014 to present{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/10387067/adam-silver-replaces-david-stern-nba-commissioner |title=Adam Silver replaces David Stern |date=February 1, 2014 |website=ESPN.com |access-date=December 6, 2023}}

• NBA 75th Anniversary Team
• Lists of National Basketball Association players
• List of foreign NBA players, a list that is exclusively for players who are not from the United States

{{Further|List of foreign NBA players}}

Following pioneers like Vlade Divac (Serbia) and Dražen Petrović (Croatia), who joined the NBA in the late 1980s, an increasing number of international players have moved directly from playing elsewhere in the world to starring in the NBA. Below is a list of foreign players who have won NBA awards or have otherwise been recognized for their contributions to basketball, either currently or formerly active in the league:

• Dražen Petrović, Croatia – 2002 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, four-time Euroscar winner, two-time Mr. Europa winner, MVP of the 1986 FIBA World Championship and EuroBasket 1989, two-time Olympic silver medalist, World champion, European champion, 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors.{{cite web |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/drazen-petrovic/ |title=Drazen Petrovic Biography |website=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=March 28, 2024}}
• Arvydas Sabonis, Lithuania – 2011 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, five-time Euroscar winner, two-time Mr. Europa winner, Olympic gold medalist in 1988 with the Soviet Union and bronze medalist in 1992 and 1996 with Lithuania, 1996 NBA All-Rookie First Team, 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors.{{cite web |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/arvydas-sabonis/ |title=Arvydas Sabonis Biography |website=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=March 30, 2024}}
• Šarūnas Marčiulionis, Lithuania – 2014 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. First player from the Soviet Union and one of the first Europeans to sign a contract with an NBA club and to play solidly in the league, helping to lead the way for the internationalization of the league in the late 1990s.{{cite web |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/sarunas-marciulionis/ |title=Sarūnas Marciulionis Biography |website=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=March 28, 2024}}
• Vlade Divac, Serbia – 2019 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, two-time Olympic silver medalist, 2001 NBA All-Star, two-time World champion, three-time European champion, 1989 Mr. Europa winner, 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors.{{cite web |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/vlade-divac/ |title=Vlade Divac Biography |website=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=March 28, 2024}}
• Toni Kukoč, Croatia – 2021 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, three-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls (1996, 1997, 1998), 1996 Sixth Man Award winner, named in 2008 as one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors.{{cite web |url=https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/toni-kukoc |title=Toni Kukoc Biography |website=Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |access-date=March 30, 2024}}
• Peja Stojaković, Serbia – NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks (2011), MVP of the EuroBasket 2001, member of the all-tournament team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship, 2001 Euroscar winner, two-time Mr. Europa winner, two-time NBA Three-Point Shootout champion, three-time NBA All-Star.
• Dirk Nowitzki, Germany – NBA champion with the Dallas Mavericks (2011), MVP of the 2002 FIBA World Championship and EuroBasket 2005, member of the all-tournament team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship, six-time Euroscar winner, 2005 Mr. Europa, two-time FIBA Europe Player of the Year, 2007 NBA MVP, 2011 Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, 2006 NBA Three-Point Shootout champion and 14-time NBA All-Star.
• Hedo Türkoğlu, Turkey – 2008 Most Improved Player Award winner, member of the all-tournament team in the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
• Pau Gasol, Spain – two-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers (2009 and 2010), six-time NBA All-Star, 2002 NBA Rookie of the Year, two-time Mr. Europa, 2006 FIBA World Championship MVP, four-time Euroscar, two-time FIBA Europe Player of the Year, MVP of the EuroBasket 2009 and EuroBasket 2015, winner of the NBA Citizenship Award in 2012.
• Andrei Kirilenko, Russia – 2004 NBA All-Star, MVP of the EuroBasket 2007, 2007 FIBA Europe Player of the Year.
• Tony Parker, France – four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, 2007 NBA Finals MVP, six-time NBA All-Star and 2007 Euroscar winner.
• Manu Ginóbili, Argentina – four-time NBA champion with the San Antonio Spurs, 2008 Sixth Man Award winner, two-time NBA All-Star, 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors, Olympic gold medalist in 2004 with Argentina.
• Yao Ming, China – 2016 inductee into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, first overall pick in the 2002 NBA draft and eight-time NBA All-Star.
• Leandro Barbosa, Brazil – NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors (2015),{{cite news |last1=Salvadore |first1=Damon |title=Leandro Barbosa Makes NBA History as Golden State Warriors Defeat Cleveland Cavaliers in Finals |url=http://www.latinpost.com/articles/60324/20150617/leandro-barbosa-makes-nba-history-as-golden-state-warriors-defeat-cleveland-cavaliers.htm |access-date=January 20, 2016 |work=Latin Post |date=June 17, 2015 |ref=Leandro Barbosa Makes NBA History as Golden State Warriors Defeat Cleveland Cavaliers in Finals}} 2007 Sixth Man Award winner.
• Andrea Bargnani, Italy – first overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft by the Toronto Raptors.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo, Greece – NBA champion with the Milwaukee Bucks (2021), 2021 NBA Finals MVP, two-time NBA MVP, 2017 Most Improved Player, eight-time NBA All-Star.
• Nikola Jokić, Serbia – NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets (2023), 2023 NBA Finals MVP, three-time NBA MVP, six-time NBA All-Star, 2016 NBA All-Rookie First Team, Olympic silver medalist.
• Luka Dončić, Slovenia – 2019 NBA Rookie of the Year, five-time NBA All-Star, European champion

On some occasions, young players, most but not all from the English-speaking world, have attended U.S. colleges before playing in the NBA. Notable examples are:

• Nigerian Hakeem Olajuwon – first overall pick in the 1984 NBA draft, two-time champion, 12-time NBA All-Star, 1994 NBA MVP, two-time NBA Finals MVP, two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year (only player to receive the MVP Award, Defensive Player of the Year Award, and Finals MVP award in the same season,) and Hall of Famer.
• Congolese Dikembe Mutombo – fourth overall pick in the 1991 NBA draft, four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer.
• Dutchman Rik Smits – second overall pick in the 1988 NBA draft, 1998 NBA All-Star, played 12 years for the Indiana Pacers.
• German Detlef Schrempf – two-time NBA Sixth Man Award winner, three-time NBA All-Star.
• Canadians Steve Nash (two-time NBA MVP, eight-time NBA All-Star, Hall of Famer) and Andrew Wiggins (first overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft, 2015 NBA Rookie of the Year)
• Australians Luc Longley (three-time champion with the Chicago Bulls), Andrew Bogut (first overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft, 2015 NBA champion with Golden State Warriors) and Ben Simmons (first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year, three-time NBA All-Star).
• Sudanese-born Englishman Luol Deng – 2007 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner, two-time NBA All-Star.
• Cameroonians Joel Embiid (2023 NBA MVP, four-time NBA All-Star, 2017 NBA All-Rookie First Team) and Pascal Siakam (2019 NBA champion with Toronto Raptors, 2019 Most Improved Player, two-time NBA All-Star)

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The league has a global social responsibility program, NBA Cares, that is responsible for the league's stated mission of addressing important social issues worldwide.{{cite news |title=NBA Cares, coaches clinic to take place ahead of weekend matches |date=October 2, 2019 |work=Free Press Journal |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/nba-cares-coaches-clinic-to-take-place-ahead-of-weekend-matches |access-date=October 9, 2019}}

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{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |first=John |last=Havlicek |year=2003 |title=NBA's Greatest 1st edition |publisher=DK |isbn=0-7894-9977-0 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/nbasgreatest00hare}}
• {{cite book |last=Kirchberg |first=Connie |year=2007 |title=Hoop Lore: A History of the National Basketball Association |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=spJT3VxogqIC |publisher=McFarland & Company |isbn=9780786426737}}
• {{cite book |first=Robert W. |last=Peterson |title=Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball's Early Years |location=Lincoln |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |year=2002 |isbn=0-8032-8772-0}}
• {{cite book |first=Charley |last=Rosen |year=2009 |title=The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA |publisher=McGraw-Hill Professional |isbn=978-0-07-148785-6}}
• {{cite book |last=Surdam |first=David George |year=2012 |title=The Rise of the National Basketball Association |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-dfZcRHk1kwC |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=9780252037139}}

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