National Basketball Association

The National Basketball Association is comprised of 30 professional teams playing basketball in the United States and Canada.

On March 26, 2009, the league changed the rule for having too many player on the court. Under the new policy, if a technical foul is given for too many men, the non-offending team has the choice to keep the previous play or void the action and revert the game clock.ESPN.com: NBA Approves New Rule for Violation

Regular Season Format

Each team plays a six month, 82-game regular season within two conferences, each of which have three geographical divisions. The NBA All-Star Game is held each February. Every four seasons, the league allows elite players to represent their country in the Summer Olympics.

NBA Teams

History

Originally founded as the Basketball Association of America on June 6, 1946, with 11 teams. The first game was played on November 1, 1946, in Toronto where the New York Knickerbockers defeated the Toronto Huskies 68-66. In 1949, the Basketball Association of America merged with the National Basketball League, forming the NBA. The league first started with 17 teams, then cut the league to 11 teams the following year. In 1976 the NBA absorbed four teams from the struggling American Basketball Association. The fall of the ABA was satirized in the 2008 Will Ferrell film Semi-Pro.

Issue Between NBA And Referees' Union

As of September 23, 2009, the NBA and the referees' union have been unable to come to a contract agreement, which means the season could start with replacement referees. Reportedly, the two sides are about $1 million apart.http://blogs.usatoday.com/gameon/2009/09/wednesday-eyeopener-3.html Replacement referees are scheduled to work starting the preseason on October 1.http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-09-29-referee-lockout_N.htm After replacement referees handled all the preseason games, the 57 NBA referees agreed to a collective bargaining deal on October 23 and will start the regular season on October 27.http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4590031

Use Of Instant Replay

The use of instant replay by the NBA started in the 2002-2003 season. It was used automatically to determine if a shot was made with no time remaining on the clock at the end of the first, second and third quarters and at the end of the game if the shot could determine the outcome of the game. It was also used to determine if a shooting foul was called with no time remaining on the clock in each quarter or if the foul could determine the outcome of the game.http://www.nba.com/news/replay_020729.html

Starting in the 2008-2009 season, replay was used to determine whether a shot was a two point or three point field goal and whether or not a shooter was fouled taking a two point or three point shot. Referees were allowed to use replay when dealing with clock malfunctions at the end of the quarter.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/sports/basketball/03nba.html

On October 2, 2009 the use of replay was expanded further. It can now help determine whether a shot attempt was released or a foul committed before the shot clock expires. It's also used in the final two minutes to determine who touched the ball that goes out of bounds.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/sports/basketball/03nba.html

Aiding Relief Effort In Haiti

On January 15, 2010 Samuel Dalembert of the Philadelphia 76ers donated $100,000 to UNICEF to aid the relief effort in Haiti following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that left up to 100,000 people dead. Dalembert, a native of Haiti, and the 76ers asked for donations and would match the donation. The fans at the Wachovia Center responded with over $30,000 in donations. Dalembert plans on returning to Haiti to deliver supplies. The NBA and the players' union donated $1 million towards the relief effort.http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/01/16/haiti-on-the-nbas-mind/

League Commissioners And Presidents

List Of NBA Champions

Most Championships

Boston Celtics 17
Los Angeles Lakers 16
Chicago Bulls 6
San Antonio Spurs 4
Detroit Pistons 3
Golden State Warriors 3
Philadelphia 76ers 3
Houston Rockets 2
New York Knicks 2
Baltimore Bullets 1 (no longer an NBA team)
Miami Heat 1
Milwaukee Bucks 1
Rochester Royals (now Sacramento Kings) 1
Seattle Supersonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) 1
St. Louis Hawks (now Atlanta Hawks) 1
Washington Bullets (now Washington Wizards) 1

50 NBA Greats