NBA
The National Basketball Association is the professional basketball league for North America and is comprised of 30 teams, including one in Canada.
The NBA was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946, and was then known as the Basketball Association of America. The name changed to the NBA in 1949 when the BAA merged with the National Basketball League. The NBA is the third wealthiest major sports league in the U.S.A behind the NFL and the MLB.
As of 2020, NBA players are the world's highest-paid athletes by average annual salary per player.
When was the first NBA game?
On Nov. 1, 1946, the New York Knickerbockers played the Toronto Huskies in the first BAA game, and the Knicks won the game with a score of 68-66.
NBA teams:
Atlantic:
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
Central:
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast:
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
Northwest:
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
Pacific:
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
Southwest:
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- San Antonio Spurs
- New Orleans Pelicans
Who has the most NBA Championships?
As a team, the Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers have the most NBA championships with 17 each, followed by the Chicago Bulls with six. Individually, Celtics players Bill Russell and Sam Jones have the most championship rings with 11 and 10 respectively. Coach-wise, Phil Jackson has 11 NBA championships under his belt, six with the Chicago Bulls and five with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Is the NBA rigged?
Some players have called out the league for extending the championship series.
"[NBA Commissioner David] Stern told a fan that the NBA needed a seven-game series, that the league needed the money. When the commissioner makes a statement like that to a fan, you know it’s going to be tough," Larry Bird reportedly told The Boston Globe in 1984.
Ex-referee Tim Donaghy also claimed in 2008 that the NBA encourages referees to call bogus fouls to manipulate games. However, there is no evidence that the NBA is rigged.
Latest NBA News and Updates
Chris Bosh Is One of the Richest NBA Players of All-Time, Despite a Premature Career-Ending Illness
NBA player Chris Bosh’s career was ended by a blood clotting condition. In 2024, he shared that he’s a full-time dad.Kobe Bryant Once Sued His Parents and Was Estranged From Them for Years — What Happened?
Kobe Bryant's relationship to his parents changed for the worse after he married Vanessa Bryant in 2001.Joe Bryant Was an NBA Legend in His Own Right — A Look at His Net Worth
Joe Bryant earned millions on and off of the basketball court before his July 2024 death.Family Ties or Similar Talent? Sue Bird Clears the Air on Larry Bird Connection (EXCLUSIVE)
"Up until, who knows, second or third grade, I was lying and telling people [Larry Bird] was my uncle," Sue Bird exclusively told 'Distractify.'NBA Legend Allen Iverson Now Has the Title "Vice President of Basketball"
Allen Iverson has had an unorthodox post-career after breaking boundaries in the NBA. Where is he now?Joel Embiid Draws Criticism for Choosing to Play for Team USA at Paris Olympics Basketball
The 30-year-old player has split basketball fans ahead of the Paris Olympics.Fans Think Jayson Tatum's Rumored Girlfriend, Ella Mai, Is Pregnant — Is She?
Jayson Tatum has kept his romantic life on the DL. Now, fans speculate that his possible boo is pregnant.Kyle Filipowski's Girlfriend Accused of Grooming Him After NBA Draft Fail
"He has an older girlfriend, she's like 25 or 26 and people are like 'Ah, this is weird' and it's like give me a freaking break guys."JJ Redick Said NBA Wives Are "Single Parents for Nine Months Out of the Year" — Who Is His Wife?
Basketball star JJ Redick is pivoting his career with his wife and kids by his side as he becomes the Lakers’ new head coach.When Will the Boston Celtics Championship Parade Be? Details Here!
The Celtics won their first NBA championship in 16 years.Derrick White Is an NBA Champion, but He's Also Without Half of His Tooth
Derrick White is down a few teeth, but he'd happily trade them for his NBA championship.Why Did Jerry West Leave the Lakers? Inside Their Rift
"One disappointing thing [about my career] is that my relationship with the Lakers is horrible."The NBA Logo Was Much Worse Before Jerry West Inspired the One We Know Now
Jerry "The Logo" West had a very literal nickname.NBA Legend Jerry West Was Married Twice During His Long Public Life
Jerry West was an all-time great, and he had two marriages that each lasted over a decade.NBA Legend Jerry West Passed Away at Age 86
One of Jerry's nicknames was "The Logo," because his silhouette was the inspiration for NBA logo.Is Dallas Mavericks Star Luka Doncic Married? Details on His Swoon-Worthy Love Life
"I met her in Croatia in the same camp I go to now. I met her when we were 11 — I don't know, something like that," Luka said.NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving Has Controversial Opinions on the Earth's Shape
Athletes aren’t often known for their intellect, but their beliefs can still spread. And Kyrie Irving may be a flat-earther.Who’s Cheering on Jaylen Brown’s NBA Career? Meet His Reported Girlfriend
Boston Celtics player Jaylen Brown is reportedly dating a fashion CEO with 7.3 million Instagram followers. Read more about his off-court life.Celtics Fans Continue Their "Anti-Kyrie Irving" Agenda During the NBA Playoffs
OK, how much time do you have?Jason Kidd Has Been Married Twice Throughout His Tenure as a Player and Coach
Jason Kidd's first marriage was characterized by allegations of domestic abuse.Celtics Star Jrue Holiday's Wife Once Had Surgery to Remove a Brain Tumor
Jrue Holiday's wife was diagnosed with a brain tumor while pregnant with their first child.The Celtics Paid Tribute to NBA Legend Bill Walton During Game 1 of the Finals
The Celtics paid tribute to NBA legend Bill Walton ahead of and during Game 1 of the NBA Finals.Jaylen Brown Is Playing in the NBA Finals, but Basketball Isn't His Only Interest
Jaylen is one of the most intelligent players in the NBA, and that intelligence shows up even when he isn't on the court.Donald Sterling Went From a Beloved NBA Team Owner to Disgraced Racist — Where Is He Now?
Donald Sterling lost everything in 2014, except his money. He's actually still incredibly wealthy and seemingly doing just fine.Angel Reese Is Worth Far More Than Her Salary — She's Priceless!
The salaries of women in basketball (and all sports) have been hotly debated. Now Angel Reese is in the WNBA. Have things changed?Indiana Pacers Star Tyrese Haliburton Has Found His "Forever Date"
"Love you girl, so thankful for you," Tyrese Haliburton sweetly said about his girlfriend.Who Is NBA Star Jayson Tatum's Mom? She's His "Best Friend"
Jayson adorably admitted he was "the biggest mama's boy ever," and referred to Brandy, a former volleyball player, as his "best friend."Basketball Hall of Famer Bill Walton Died in May 2024 — He Is Survived by His Wife and Kids
Basketball star Bill Walton passed away on May 27, 2024. He is survived by his wife and adult children.Magic Johnson Shocked the World When He Retired From Basketball in 1991
"I'm going to go on. I'm going to beat this, and I'm going to have fun," said Magic in his first retirement.Is Minnesota Timberwolves Superstar Anthony Edwards Related to Michael Jordan?
Anthony Edwards is getting compared to Michael Jordan often, but are there more than on court similarities?Anthony Edwards Is Building a Family With His Influencer Girlfriend
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves has a daughter with his doting girlfriend and that child’s half-brother is Chief Keef’s son!Why Does the NBA Do a Draft Lottery? Let's Break It Down
A team with only a 3 percent chance of winning the lottery literally won the lottery.Anthony Edwards’s Latest Jersey Number Has a Special Meaning for Him
Turns out, Anthony always wanted to be No. 5, but former teammate Malik Beasley didn’t want to give the number up.Is OG Anunoby Dating Anyone Special? Details on the Knicks Player's Love Life
OG is such an enigma, that he was called "Toronto's man of mystery" in a 2019 piece about him. He keeps his personal life private.Chris Finch Won't Be on the Court During the NBA Playoffs, but Will He Be on the Sideline?
Sports injuries are never fun. But what about when they happen to a coach? During playoff season, that’s a big problem.Jalen Brunson and His Dad Make the New York Knicks a Family Affair
Rick Brunson, Jalen’s dad, is an assistant coach for the Knicks… and he’s not above heckling his son!Joel Embiid Clarifies What Happened to His Eye
While fans have been focused on Joel's eyes and why he wears sunglasses, he has been nursing a knee injury that has limited his playing time.V. Stiviano Was the Force Behind Donald Sterling's NBA Ejection — Where Is She Now?
Donald Sterling’s ex-girlfriend V. Stiviano caused his downfall. Now, she’s lying low as a FX’s ‘Clipped’ revisits the scandal.Former NBA Star Matt Barnes Earned His Net Worth on and off the Court
'The Barnes Bunch' star has played for many popular NBA teams and is now a professional podcaster.Former Clippers Owner Donald Sterling Caused One of the NBA's Biggest Scandals
"There's no room for that in our game. Can't have that from a player, we can't ever from an owner, we can't have it from a fan," LeBron James said.Why Is Former NBA Star Kevin Porter Jr. Not Playing Anymore?
Kevin is actually still playing — just not in the United States.Basketball Pros Steph Curry and Cameron Brink Have Known Each Other for Years
Steph Curry and Cameron Brink are godsiblings, and their parents have known one another for decades.Klay Thompson May Not Stay With the Warriors, but He's Unlikely to Retire
Klay Thompson is not retiring, but he may be done with the team that made him a legend.The NBA Play-In Tournament Isn't Quite the Regular Season or the Playoffs
There are a few mid-April NBA games that feel like game 7s that aren't regular season or playoff games — meet the NBA Play-In Tournament.LeBron James and His Wife Savannah Share Three Talented Kids — Let's Meet Them!
Savannah Brinson is the mother of LeBron's children. The couple wed in 2013, but began dating when he was just 17 and she only 16.LSU Star Angel Reese Has NBA Legend Shaq in Her Corner
In March Madness’s Final Four, star LSU player Angel Reese’s team lost to Iowa. But Angel won something — an affiliation with Shaq.Golden State Warrior Andrew Wiggins Comes From a Big Family With Five Siblings
One of Andrew's siblings was briefly in the NBA, and has played plenty of international basketball too.Prodigal Basketball Player RJ Barrett's Brother Died — What Happened to Nathan?
Nathan's family said he was "a God-fearing young man of strong character. He was thoughtful, kind, loving, compassionate, creative, admirable, and driven."Former NBA Player Greg Oden Is Still Haunted by His Many Serious Injuries
Since officially hanging up his basketball shoes, Greg has landed some sweet gigs.What Happened to Shaq's Family That Led Him to Warn Jason Kelce?
"So enjoy your beautiful wife, enjoy your beautiful kids, and never dwell on what we had," Shaq told Jason.
