NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the largest professional basketball league in the United States. Its first season was held in 1949-50 when the then-Minneapolis Lakers won the inaugural title. In 1976, the NBA merged with the American Basketball Association (ABA) and absorbed four teams from the ABA; the league has since expanded to 30 teams.
The NBA league starts in October and runs through June, when the NBA Finals take place. The Larry O’Brien trophy, named in 1984 in honor of the league’s third commissioner, is awarded to the winner of the NBA Finals each year. The Lakers, which moved to Los Angeles in 1960, are tied with the Boston Celtics for the most NBA championships at 17.
Today, the average NBA team is valued at $4 billion and collectively, the league’s franchises are worth $120 billion, according to Sportico’s latest valuations. The NBA’s commissioner is Adam Silver who, in January 2024, signed a contract extension until the end of the decade.
League Information
- Name
-
National Basketball Association
- Commissioner
-
Adam Silver
- Reigning NBA Champion
-
Denver Nuggets
- First Season
-
1949
- Number of Teams
-
30
- Most Valuable Team
-
Golden State Warriors ($8.28 billion)
- Least Valuable Team
-
New Orleans Pelicans ($2.72 billion)
