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Today, the NBA is one of the most popular sports in America, but that wasn’t always the case. The National Basketball Association (NBA) was founded in 1949, a result of a merger of competing organizations Basketball Association of America (BAA) and National Basketball League (NBL). At that time, the new league was comprised of 17 teams, 11 from the BAA and six from the NBL. The games were slower than the ones we watch today, though. The addition of the 24-second clock in 1954 sped up the game, added additional points to the board and drew in a new audience as the NBA was struggling to retain fans and teams.

Today, the NBA is comprised of 30 teams, including 29 in the United States and the Toronto Raptors, divided into two conferences of three divisions each having five teams. The NBA didn’t implement a three-point line until 1979. Today, with superstar player Steph Curry holding the record for the most three-point shots in a season, it may be hard for young NBA fans to imagine a time when it wasn’t a major part of the game. The 80s and 90s saw the popularity of superstar players, most notably Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, and growing interest in the industry.

Stay up to date on news involving superstar players, rookies and coaches with FanBuzz. Our writers keep up with breaking news involving drafts, trades, injuries, schedules and interesting news off the court so that you’re in the know regarding your favorite teams (and rivals).

Godzilla vs. Charles Barkley: The Classic, Forgotten Nike Commercial Auburn Godzilla vs. Charles Barkley: The Classic, Forgotten Nike Commercial , The League 1:05pm, April 9

Charles Barkley is an all-time basketball legend both on and off the court. After dominating the boards at Auburn University,…
Chris Paul Scored 61 Points After His Grandfather’s Murder NBA Chris Paul Scored 61 Points After His Grandfather’s Murder , The League 12:01pm, April 8

Chris Paul air-balled a free throw. This was uncharacteristic for the West Forsyth High School point guard. With the game…
Shaq’s $22 Million, 12-Bedroom Mansion is Hide-and-Seek Heaven NBA Shaq’s $22 Million, 12-Bedroom Mansion is Hide-and-Seek Heaven , The League 4:12pm, April 7

Everything Shaquille O'Neal does is big. The 7-foot-1, 325-pound former NBA center was one of the best big men and…
Kobe, Duncan, Garnett Headline 2020 Hall of Fame Class NBA Kobe, Duncan, Garnett Headline 2020 Hall of Fame Class , 1:19pm, April 4

Kobe Bryant’s resume has yet another entry to prove his greatness: He’s now, officially, a Hall of Famer. And he’s…
Woodworker Carves Stunning Portrait of the Late Kobe Bryant NBA Woodworker Carves Stunning Portrait of the Late Kobe Bryant , Editor 12:53pm, April 3

Need a hobby during the coronavirus pandemic? Why not try your hand at something creative like woodworking? Sure it's going…
LeBron James Wins Super Bowl for Cleveland Browns in Classic Commercial NBA LeBron James Wins Super Bowl for Cleveland Browns in Classic Commercial , The League 3:41pm, April 2

There's no denying LeBron James is an athletic freak with a clearly different set of DNA from the rest of…
PETA Slams Shaq for Connection to ‘Tiger King’ Outlaw NBA PETA Slams Shaq for Connection to ‘Tiger King’ Outlaw , Editor 11:15am, April 2

The year 2020 will be defined by the coronavirus pandemic. Unprecedented measures are being taken to keep as many Americans…
Kevin Hart Uses Stilts to Impersonate Shaq in Hilarious SNL Skit LSU Kevin Hart Uses Stilts to Impersonate Shaq in Hilarious SNL Skit , The League 5:06pm, April 1

Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Hart are two of the funniest people in pop culture right now. Scroll through the former…
Drazen Petrovic Paved the Way for NBA’s European Takeover NBA Drazen Petrovic Paved the Way for NBA’s European Takeover , The League 11:46am, April 1

The Croatian basketball player steadies off one leg with the balance of a ballerina. He deftly leans backward to avoid…
Michael Jordan’s Untold Story With Bulls Will Be Released Early NBA Michael Jordan’s Untold Story With Bulls Will Be Released Early , Senior Writer 12:53pm, March 31

More often than not, basketball fans love to debate. Could Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James actually be better than…
Dunking Science Teacher Puts on a Show for Entire Student Body NBA Dunking Science Teacher Puts on a Show for Entire Student Body , Editor 11:10am, March 31

The NBA Dunk Contest has largely disappointed in recent years. From Michael Jordan versus Dominique Wilkins in 1988 to the…
Shaq’s Kids: Where Are the 6 O’Neal Children Today? NBA Shaq’s Kids: Where Are the 6 O’Neal Children Today? , Editor 10:00am, March 31

At every level of basketball, Shaquille O'Neal dominated. He was the McDonald's All-American Game MVP after his prep career in…
Red Panda is Basketball’s Can’t-Miss Halftime Show College Basketball Red Panda is Basketball’s Can’t-Miss Halftime Show , The League 5:40pm, March 30

I've seen my fair share of halftime shows. From dunking off trampolines to chainsaw juggling Mad Chad, I always enter…
“I Am Not a Role Model” Commercial is Vintage Charles Barkley NBA “I Am Not a Role Model” Commercial is Vintage Charles Barkley , Senior Writer 4:39pm, March 30

Charles Barkley is one of the most polarizing professional athletes in history. That is not up for any sort of…
The Legend of “Big Shot Bob” Started in Alabama NBA The Legend of “Big Shot Bob” Started in Alabama , The League 3:18pm, March 30

In crunch time, there's the one guy on your team you want taking the last shot. NBA legends Hakeem Olajuwon,…
LaVar Ball’s Net Worth Is Proof He’s Not a Big Baller NBA LaVar Ball’s Net Worth Is Proof He’s Not a Big Baller , The League 1:47pm, March 30

LaVar Ball is the king of making outrageous statements to garner attention. The father of basketball players Lonzo, LaMelo and…
Dominique Wilkins’ Net Worth: “Human Highlight Film” Reeled in Millions NBA Dominique Wilkins’ Net Worth: “Human Highlight Film” Reeled in Millions , The League 4:33pm, March 27

The highlight is embedded in how we consume sports today. The most bewildering plays in a brief clip. They're what…
The Clutch Shot That Sparked Michael Jordan’s Legacy ACC The Clutch Shot That Sparked Michael Jordan’s Legacy , The League 1:42pm, March 27

Only 32 seconds left. North Carolina's ball to inbound after a timeout. Georgetown leads 62-61. The college basketball crown on…
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The Insane Story of How “Birdman” Got Catfished NBA The Insane Story of How “Birdman” Got Catfished , The League 3:53pm, March 3

Former NBA star Chris "Birdman" Andersen earned his nickname through a spiked mohawk, dunks, tattoos, and lengthy wingspan. In his…
LeBron James’ Net Worth: The King’s Wealth is Untouchable NBA LeBron James’ Net Worth: The King’s Wealth is Untouchable , The League 12:30pm, March 4

LeBron James is the greatest basketball player on the planet. Debate all you want about Michael Jordan being the greatest…
Shaq’s Kids: Where Are the 6 O’Neal Children Today? NBA Shaq’s Kids: Where Are the 6 O’Neal Children Today? , Editor 10:00am, March 31

At every level of basketball, Shaquille O'Neal dominated. He was the McDonald's All-American Game MVP after his prep career in…
PETA Slams Shaq for Connection to ‘Tiger King’ Outlaw NBA PETA Slams Shaq for Connection to ‘Tiger King’ Outlaw , Editor 11:15am, April 2

The year 2020 will be defined by the coronavirus pandemic. Unprecedented measures are being taken to keep as many Americans…
LaVar Ball’s Net Worth Is Proof He’s Not a Big Baller NBA LaVar Ball’s Net Worth Is Proof He’s Not a Big Baller , The League 1:47pm, March 30

LaVar Ball is the king of making outrageous statements to garner attention. The father of basketball players Lonzo, LaMelo and…
The Most Popular Sport in All 50 States? Here’s Your Answer College Basketball The Most Popular Sport in All 50 States? Here’s Your Answer , Senior Writer 5:15pm, March 25

No matter where you live in the United States, American sports are a part of every community. Although some prefer…
Allen Iverson’s Net Worth: A.I. Earned Millions, But Lived Lavishly NBA Allen Iverson’s Net Worth: A.I. Earned Millions, But Lived Lavishly , The League 4:10pm, March 5

Allen Iverson is one of the most dynamic and fun players in NBA history. His ball-handling skills put defenders on…
Wilt Chamberlain Claimed He Slept with 20,000 Women NBA Wilt Chamberlain Claimed He Slept with 20,000 Women , The League 3:57pm, March 23

968 double-doubles. 22.9 rebounds per game. 50.4 season scoring average. 100 points in a single game against the New York…
Shaq’s $22 Million, 12-Bedroom Mansion is Hide-and-Seek Heaven NBA Shaq’s $22 Million, 12-Bedroom Mansion is Hide-and-Seek Heaven , The League 4:12pm, April 7

Everything Shaquille O'Neal does is big. The 7-foot-1, 325-pound former NBA center was one of the best big men and…
What Happened to Jimmer Fredette and Where Is He Now? College Basketball What Happened to Jimmer Fredette and Where Is He Now? , The League 3:15pm, March 16

College basketball is volatile. It's the sport that lends itself the most to "anything can happen." Whether that be huge…
Basketball Movies We Love to Watch, From Space Jam to Hoosiers College Basketball Basketball Movies We Love to Watch, From Space Jam to Hoosiers , The League 1:28pm, March 10

Basketball's stage is the hardwood. It's where stars shine, storylines come to fruition, and iconic moments are made. Basketball has…
Kevin Hart Uses Stilts to Impersonate Shaq in Hilarious SNL Skit LSU Kevin Hart Uses Stilts to Impersonate Shaq in Hilarious SNL Skit , The League 5:06pm, April 1

Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Hart are two of the funniest people in pop culture right now. Scroll through the former…
LeBron James Wins Super Bowl for Cleveland Browns in Classic Commercial NBA LeBron James Wins Super Bowl for Cleveland Browns in Classic Commercial , The League 3:41pm, April 2

There's no denying LeBron James is an athletic freak with a clearly different set of DNA from the rest of…
Kobe, Duncan, Garnett Headline 2020 Hall of Fame Class NBA Kobe, Duncan, Garnett Headline 2020 Hall of Fame Class , 1:19pm, April 4

Kobe Bryant’s resume has yet another entry to prove his greatness: He’s now, officially, a Hall of Famer. And he’s…
Zion Williamson’s High School Highlights Are Terrifying High School Zion Williamson’s High School Highlights Are Terrifying , The League 3:45pm, February 19

South Carolina high school gyms transformed into stages when the Spartanburg Day School came to play. Fans packed the stands…
Woodworker Carves Stunning Portrait of the Late Kobe Bryant NBA Woodworker Carves Stunning Portrait of the Late Kobe Bryant , Editor 12:53pm, April 3

Need a hobby during the coronavirus pandemic? Why not try your hand at something creative like woodworking? Sure it's going…
Dunking Science Teacher Puts on a Show for Entire Student Body NBA Dunking Science Teacher Puts on a Show for Entire Student Body , Editor 11:10am, March 31

The NBA Dunk Contest has largely disappointed in recent years. From Michael Jordan versus Dominique Wilkins in 1988 to the…
“I Am Not a Role Model” Commercial is Vintage Charles Barkley NBA “I Am Not a Role Model” Commercial is Vintage Charles Barkley , Senior Writer 4:39pm, March 30

Charles Barkley is one of the most polarizing professional athletes in history. That is not up for any sort of…