Changes

The first incarnation of the league was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). In these early years, there were numerous leagues that competed to be the one true professional association, yet none really stood out. In 1949, the BAA made the decision to merge with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the National Basketball Association. By 1954, the League had contracted to only eight professional teams. The NBA was considerably strengthened, however, by the fact that its franchises moved and expanded to the more populated areas. (Minneapolis Lakers to Los Angeles, etc.) By the 1970s, the NBA had gained in popularity, growing from eight franchises to eighteen. And after the merger with another competing league, the American Basketball Association (ABA), the NBA grew to twenty-two teams. Today, the NBA consists of thirty franchises, with all but one (Toronto Raptors - [[Canada]]) located throughout the [[United States]]. The NBA is also mostly popular in the United States, Canada, [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Eastern Europe]]an countries, and [[Mediterranean]] countries. It is also growing in popularity in many [[South America]]n countries, [[Turkey]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]].

The first incarnation of the league was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). In these early years, there were numerous leagues that competed to be the one true professional association, yet none really stood out. In 1949, the BAA made the decision to merge with the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the National Basketball Association. By 1954, the League had contracted to only eight professional teams. The NBA was considerably strengthened, however, by the fact that its franchises moved and expanded to the more populated areas. (Minneapolis Lakers to Los Angeles, etc.) By the 1970s, the NBA had gained in popularity, growing from eight franchises to eighteen. And after the merger with another competing league, the American Basketball Association (ABA), the NBA grew to twenty-two teams. Today, the NBA consists of thirty franchises, with all but one (Toronto Raptors - [[Canada]]) located throughout the [[United States]]. The NBA is also mostly popular in the United States, Canada, [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Eastern Europe]]an countries, and [[Mediterranean]] countries. It is also growing in popularity in many [[South America]]n countries, [[Turkey]], [[Armenia]], [[Azerbaijan]], and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]].

The NBA was organized into two conferences, consisting of three, five-team divisions.  Beginning with the 2019-2020 season, the divisions were maintained only for purposes of determining tie-breakers; the top eight teams from each conference make the playoffs regardless of divisional alignment.  The playoff consists of four rounds, each series best-of-seven.<ref>For the COVID-affected 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons, the NBA modified the playoff system, expanding it to the top ten teams in each conference, with the 7-8 seeds and 9-10 seeds playing each other in a single game; the 7-8 winner gets the 7 seed, the 9-10 loser is eliminated, and the 7-8 loser plays the 9-10 winner for the 8 seed.</ref>

The NBA is organized into two conferences, consisting of three, five-team divisions.  Beginning with the 2019-2020 season, the divisions exist for purposes of reducing travel among nearby teams and determining tie-breakers but no longer does a division champion receive a preferential seeding.  Instead, the top eight teams from each conference make the playoffs regardless of divisional success.  The playoff consists of four rounds, each series best-of-seven.<ref>For the COVID-affected 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons, the NBA modified the playoff system, expanding it to the top ten teams in each conference, with the 7-8 seeds and 9-10 seeds playing each other in a single game; the 7-8 winner gets the 7 seed, the 9-10 loser is eliminated, and the 7-8 loser plays the 9-10 winner for the 8 seed.</ref>

==NBA and Black Lives Matter==

==NBA and Black Lives Matter==