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 Boston Celtics hold the record for the most NBA championships at 18 after winning the NBA Finals last season.
Today, the average NBA team is valued at $4.6 billion and collectively, the league’s franchises are worth $138 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
-
Boston Celtics
- Reigning MVP
-
Nikola Jokić
- First Season
-
1949
- Number of Teams
-
30
- Most Valuable Team
-
Golden State Warriors ($9.14 billion)
- Least Valuable Team
-
Memphis Grizzlies ($3.06 billion)
