NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION

(NBA) professional basketball league formed in the United States in 1949 by the merger of two rival organizations, the National Basketball League (founded 1937) and the Basketball Association of America (founded 1946). In 1976 the NBA absorbed four teams from the former American Basketball Association (ABA). By the early 1980s the NBA was plagued by money-losing franchises, low attendance, declining television ratings, and limited national appeal. The league soon rebounded under the leadership of David Stern, NBA commissioner from 1984, who helped transform it into an international entertainment company. Aggressive marketing highlighted such star players as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan. Other innovations included league limits on player salaries, lucrative broadcast rights for network and cable television, and expanded All-Star Game festivities. The NBA membership is divided into two conferences, each with two divisions. In the mid-1990s there were 29 teams that were aligned as follows: Eastern Conference: Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Bullets. Central Division: Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors. Western Conference: Midwest Division: Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, San Antonio Spurs, Utah Jazz, Vancouver Grizzlies. Pacific Division: Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, Seattle SuperSonics. The top-ranking teams at the end of each season engage in a play-off to determine the NBA champion, which claims the title of world champion. Probably the most outstanding team in NBA history was the Boston Celtics, which, led by centre Bill Russell, won 11 of 13 titles from 195657 to 196869. Other dominant clubs were the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1980s and the Chicago Bulls in the '90s.