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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).

The 18 Greatest Women’s Basketball Players to Ever Step on the Hardwood NBA The 18 Greatest Women’s Basketball Players to Ever Step on the Hardwood , 10:03am, August 8

Women's basketball gets a bad rap. Just because the players don't dunk as often as men's basketball players and aren't…
Sean Tuohy From ‘The Blind Side’ is Now a Millionaire NBA Broadcaster National Sean Tuohy From ‘The Blind Side’ is Now a Millionaire NBA Broadcaster , Staff Writer 10:30am, August 5

Since its release in 2009, "The Blindside" has become the highest-grossing sports movie of all time. The unforgettable flick told…
PSG x Jordan: Collaborative Culture Across Continents NBA PSG x Jordan: Collaborative Culture Across Continents , Contributor 11:00am, August 4

In the sneaker world, it could be argued that the collaboration sneaker is king. While player exclusives and signature endorsements…
Without “Sole Man” Sonny Vaccaro, There Wouldn’t Be a Jordan Brand NBA Without “Sole Man” Sonny Vaccaro, There Wouldn’t Be a Jordan Brand , Contributor 9:30am, August 3

There is a long list of names that comes to mind when asked to think about pivotal figures in the…
Bill Russell’s Impact Touched Every Generation of Celtics Fans NBA Bill Russell’s Impact Touched Every Generation of Celtics Fans , Contributor 10:30am, August 2

The NBA and Boston Celtics' families lost a legend on Sunday when Bill Russell died at the age of 88.…
Bill Russell Refused to Accept His Hall of Fame Ring for 44 Years. Here’s Why. NBA Bill Russell Refused to Accept His Hall of Fame Ring for 44 Years. Here’s Why. , Original Author 4:07pm, July 31

Former Boston Celtics center Bill Russell was a legend. There's no debating that fact, so don't even try. What the…
Remembering Bill Russell’s 30-Point, 40-Rebound NBA Title-Winning Game 7 NBA Remembering Bill Russell’s 30-Point, 40-Rebound NBA Title-Winning Game 7 , Staff Writer 3:45pm, July 31

When Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls graced our television screens with "The Last Dance" on ESPN, we got…
Will the White House’s Proposed Prisoner Swap with Russia Bring Brittney Griner Home? NBA Will the White House’s Proposed Prisoner Swap with Russia Bring Brittney Griner Home? , Contributor 8:15am, July 30

When Russia invaded Ukraine earlier this year, the dominos started to fall throughout Europe, and the economic fallout has been…
The Golden State Warriors Dynasty Blueprint for NBA Franchises NBA The Golden State Warriors Dynasty Blueprint for NBA Franchises , Contributor 2:46pm, July 29

After the Golden State Warriors failed to receive an invite to the NBA bubble in 2020 and lost to the…
The 5 Best Hoop Mixtapes of All Time Wow the Internet to This Day NBA The 5 Best Hoop Mixtapes of All Time Wow the Internet to This Day , Contributor 12:17pm, July 28

Hoop mixtape creators should be commended for their creativity on a regular basis. They could easily make dull videos that…
Maybe the Celtics Are Not the Villains in the Jaylen Brown Trade Rumors NBA Maybe the Celtics Are Not the Villains in the Jaylen Brown Trade Rumors , Contributor 1:56pm, July 26

At around 2 a.m. ET on Monday, July 25, Twitter saw the latest Woj Bomb from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski: "ESPN…
6 Women Are Changing What the Modern NBA Referee Looks Like NBA 6 Women Are Changing What the Modern NBA Referee Looks Like , Staff Writer 4:05pm, July 25

Sameness is a word of emphasis when talking about officiating in the NBA. It is imperative refs put biases aside…
Danny Ainge Can Find Redemption in a Donovan Mitchell Trade NBA Danny Ainge Can Find Redemption in a Donovan Mitchell Trade , Contributor 2:05pm, July 14

Boston Celtics Governor Wyc Grousbeck once said, "Danny Ainge would throw his mother in for the right trade." It was…
If Danny Ainge Calls, Hang Up: He Proved Why in Boston & He’s Proving it Again in Utah NBA If Danny Ainge Calls, Hang Up: He Proved Why in Boston & He’s Proving it Again in Utah , Contributor 11:05am, July 14

Having Danny Ainge as the general manager of your team has its ups and downs. On one hand, the Boston…
The Orlando Magic Shutting Down Paolo Banchero Spits On the Sanctity of the Summer League NBA The Orlando Magic Shutting Down Paolo Banchero Spits On the Sanctity of the Summer League , Staff Writer 1:52pm, July 12

The Orlando Magic clearly don't care about the fans. How could they when they shut down Paolo Banchero for the…
Becky Hammon Shines in Her First Season as Head Coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces NBA Becky Hammon Shines in Her First Season as Head Coach of the WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces , Contributor 8:30am, July 10

The WNBA season is officially in full swing and no one had a hotter start than the Las Vegas Aces.…
The “Baseketball” Report: 6 Reasons Why the 1998 Comedy is a Sports Movie Hall of Famer MLB The “Baseketball” Report: 6 Reasons Why the 1998 Comedy is a Sports Movie Hall of Famer , Staff Writer 10:00am, July 8

From the minds that brought you "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" series comes a sports movie for the common man…
The Minnesota Timberwolves Moved Heaven & Earth To Take On Rudy Gobert’s $205 Million Contract NBA The Minnesota Timberwolves Moved Heaven & Earth To Take On Rudy Gobert’s $205 Million Contract , Staff Writer 5:04pm, July 5

Brian Windhorst predicted something fishy was going on with the Utah Jazz last Friday on ESPN's "First Take". The NBA…
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The 12 Tallest NBA Players in History Don’t Just Block Shots, They Block Out the Sun NBA The 12 Tallest NBA Players in History Don’t Just Block Shots, They Block Out the Sun , Staff Writer 12:25pm, June 18

The average height of an NBA player is 6-foot-7, which is only a tad taller than the 5-foot-9 the average…
Bill Russell Refused to Accept His Hall of Fame Ring for 44 Years. Here’s Why. NBA Bill Russell Refused to Accept His Hall of Fame Ring for 44 Years. Here’s Why. , Original Author 4:07pm, July 31

Former Boston Celtics center Bill Russell was a legend. There's no debating that fact, so don't even try. What the…
Stephen A. Smith’s Net Worth Is Bigger Than His Mouth NBA Stephen A. Smith’s Net Worth Is Bigger Than His Mouth , Staff Writer 5:09pm, June 27

There may not be a more annoying person in American sports than Stephen A. Smith. Actually, let me rephrase that: ESPN's…
Remembering Bill Russell’s 30-Point, 40-Rebound NBA Title-Winning Game 7 NBA Remembering Bill Russell’s 30-Point, 40-Rebound NBA Title-Winning Game 7 , Staff Writer 3:45pm, July 31

When Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls graced our television screens with "The Last Dance" on ESPN, we got…
Re-Drafting the 2011 NBA Draft Class Changes the Entire League, Possibly Eliminates a Dynasty NBA Re-Drafting the 2011 NBA Draft Class Changes the Entire League, Possibly Eliminates a Dynasty , Staff Writer 3:13pm, June 24

Hindsight is always 20/20. NBA franchises draft guys based on potential and needs, but at the end of the day…
Jabari Smith Made His Mark at Auburn. Now, He’s the Likely No. 1 NBA Draft Pick Auburn Jabari Smith Made His Mark at Auburn. Now, He’s the Likely No. 1 NBA Draft Pick , Staff Writer 2:05pm, June 22

Jabari Smith Jr. can do it all. The 6-foot-10, 220-pound basketball player out of Sandy Creek High School in Fayetteville,…
The Moment the 76ers Should Have Known Markelle Fultz Wasn’t the Right Pick NBA The Moment the 76ers Should Have Known Markelle Fultz Wasn’t the Right Pick , Editor-in-Chief 5:15pm, June 21

The worst kept secret prior to the 2017 NBA Draft was that Markelle Fultz would be the No. 1 overall…