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Everything you need to know about the fastest 48 minutes in sports.

Basketball

Big ballers, we're ranking the best basketball podcasts. Featuring sports analysts, NBA players, and celebrities, the most popular NBA podcasts is perfect for casual and serious fans of the game. What is the best basketball podcast?If you're looking for&nbsp;basketball podcasts currently airing new episodes, Road Trippin' with RJ and Channing is a must-listen. Hosted by <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-cleveland-cavaliers-of-all-time/ranker-nba?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Cleveland Cavaliers players</a> Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye, and sideline reporter Allie Clifton, the new basketball podcast features <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/shocking-sports-stories/jacob-shelton?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">locker room stories</a>, funny anecdotes, and NBA stars, like LeBron James, Tim Duncan, and Kyrie Irving.Covering basketball and other sports, The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/bill-simmons-podcast-guests/ranker-podcast?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Bill Simmons Podcast</a>, hosted by sports columnist and Boston Celtics fan Bill Simmons, also features celebrity guests, like Charlize Theron, Andy Samberg, and Jake Gyllenhaal. Other good NBA podcasts include The Lowe Post, The Ringer NBA Show, The Starters, and Believe The Hype.&nbsp;Vote up the best basketball podcasts and feel free to add any of your favorite basketball podcasts missing from the list.&nbsp;

The best NBA commentators have contributed to the game by greatly enhancing&nbsp;the television viewing experience. A great commentator can help make&nbsp;viewers feel like they are at the game, and their announcing&nbsp;helps fans appreciate the game on another level. These amazing announcers have created lasting legacies with their work for both local and national TV audiences.

Marv Albert and Mike Breen are known nationally for their incredible commentary on networks like ABC,&nbsp;TNT, and ESPN. However, a legend like Chick Hearn did his best work just for the Los Angeles Lakers, crafting a legacy with the fan base in LA that was as impressive as Albert&#39;s and Breen&#39;s. Other broadcasters split their time, as Ian Eagle works for the Brooklyn Nets and also calls national games for TNT.

So check out this list of the top basketball commentators of all-time. Vote up the announcers&nbsp;who have added the most to the game from a broadcasting role.

Only the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-top-nba-players-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best basketball players</a> in the NBA, but sometimes, the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-top-nba-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest NBA players</a> take their talents overseas. Including former NBA players, all-time greats, and those currently playing overseas, this list of NBA players abroad features some surprising names.&nbsp;NBA legends Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, Dominique Wilkins and Dennis Rodman have all played professionally outside the US. Many rising stars, like Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings, decided to play for China, while planning their NBA comeback. Since 2010, 2-time NBA All-Star&nbsp;Stephon Marbury&nbsp;has been&nbsp;a CBA legend, winning three championships with the Beijing Ducks.Some NBA players who struggled with injuries went on to dominate&nbsp;in international leagues, like Amar'e Stoudemire&nbsp;winning the Israeli League championship with Hapoel Jersulam. Other NBA players who play in Europe, Asia, Australia, and beyond include Boris Diaw, Andrea Bargnani, and Carlos Boozer.Vote up the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-10-current-nba-players?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best NBA players</a> who played overseas. Feel free to add any former NBA players who play internationally missing from the list.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Stadiums

Bankers Life Fieldhouse

The best NBA arenas are home to the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-basketball-players-from-iran/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best National Basketball Teams</a> and beloved by fans alike. These arenas seat roughly 20,000 of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/nba-teams-with-the-best-crowds/ryanhollins" target="_blank">best NBA fans</a> who pack the buildings to cheer on their favorite NBA teams each season. While each fan might like their home team's arena the best, there are a few that are adored by fans around the globe for the history or the new and updated amenities or anything in between. What are the best NBA stadiums? Time to vote!Like the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-nfl-stadiums/sportsyeah" target="_blank">best NFL stadiums</a>, the best NBA arenas range from those which have been around for decades and stand the test of time to those newer arenas with all the bells and whistles. Interestingly enough, one of the oldest arenas in the league is also one of the best. Madison Square Garden, home to the New York Knicks in New York City, has been around since 1968 and remains a favorite with its rich history and modern advances.On the newer side of things, fans cannot help but be impressed by the Barclays Center right down the street and home to the Brooklyn Nets. Opened in 2012, the Barclays Center was praised both for bringing pro sports back to Brooklyn and for its stylish modern design. One thing is for sure - this list has more than just the top 10 NBA arenas. It is full of the newest, oldest, most storied, and beloved NBA stadiums in the league.So whether you're a fan of the downtown arenas, like TD Bank Garden in Boston; those on the outskirts with ample room for parking, like The Palace of Auburn Hills outside of Detroit; or the biggest NBA stadium, each NBA fan surely has a few arenas that they love best. Vote up the best from these NBA arena rankings below!

Basketball terms and phrases can be <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/confusing-anime/anna-lindwasser?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">hard to understand</a> when casually watching a&nbsp;game or&nbsp;in the early stages of one&rsquo;s fandom. Some NBA slang will extend beyond just knowing the positions played by LeBron James or Stephen Curry or the names of the stats they accumulate.

Phrases related to basketball can range from the basic to insider, NBA&nbsp;slang, but they are all&nbsp;things fans should&nbsp;know to become experts.&nbsp;Whether you&#39;re using these terms on the court, at home with your friends, or just listening to a game on TV or the radio, all the NBA jargon below will be helpful in keeping your conversation flowing.&nbsp;

So&nbsp;pass the rock and give yourself a triple double by voting up the&nbsp;terms related to basketball that will be most useful for people just getting to know the sport or for basketball fans who need a primer.

NBA free agency can either be feast or famine for your favorite team. For every net positive signing, think LeBron taking his talents to South Beach and winning championships, there's been at least seven players who have been busts with their new teams. The worst signings far outweigh the players who actually matched the production that their contracts dictated.By far and away, the team that's best represented on this list or biggest culprits depending on your point of view are the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-ny-knicks-of-all-time/bootsinator">New York Knicks</a>. Since the early 2000s, the Knicks have spent a ridiculous amount of money on players who were less than worthy of a multi-year contract, nevertheless one that handsomely rewarded players who were mediocre at best. This was a common theme under the ownership of Jim Dolan and his former General Manager <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/worst-nba-executives-of-all-time/sportsyeah">Isiah Thomas</a>. Jerome James and Eddy Curry are the biggest players to be on this list, both literally and figuratively.There are other teams that may snicker at the Knicks run of ineptitude playing the free agent market, but they aren't so innocent either.&nbsp;The only stipulation for this list is that players had to switch teams, either by free agency or sign and trade when they were free agents. Players who received extensions from their own team do not qualify for the worst free agent signings since they didn't switch teams. This disqualifies a lot of NBA players who were free agents. Feel free to add players, rank and re-rank who you think the worst free agents to switch teams in the NBA are. &nbsp; &nbsp;

When talking about best single season NBA teams, there are a lot of choices, and a lot of great players who made up those teams. Whether the dominant Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls, or Magic Johnson's numerous Los Angeles Lakers seasons, you've got a lot to choose from! So take a look at this list of the greatest NBA teams of all time and vote up the ones you think were the true dream teams from all of professional basketball history.Whether it's the Kobe-era Lakeshow or the King James-led Miami Heat, there are a lot of championships here that were earned through sheer dominance against hall of famer teams. It's not about the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/favorite-nba-basketball-teams?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">top NBA teams</a> who win against weak opponents, it's the ones who battle against fierce competition and are still victorious time after time.&nbsp;Take a look at these greatest NBA teams ever and vote up the cream of the crop. Remember, you aren't voting for your favorite franchises, you're voting for the absolute greatest single season teams to have ever hit the hardwood in professional basketball.

Jeff Hornacek

The best NBA buys for the money are the top professional basketball players who were either undrafted free agents or selected late in the NBA Draft. These are all NBA players who were selected outside of the draft's top-20 picks. Many of these players had successful careers, winning NBA championships in addition to a slew of other personal awards. Some ended up being among the best NBA players ever. You will see former Finals MVPs, Defensive Players of the Year, Sixth Men of the Year, all-NBA players and some the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-10-current-nba-players">best players in the league</a>. in addition, guys who carved out solid, above average careers are on this list. There are a lot of familiar names and you will be surprised to see some names who were passed over by a number of NBA teams. There are some superstars and some role players who were in the league for many years.Unsurprisingly, the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-10-best-san-antonio-spurs-and-_39_-players-of-all-time/tristanshaw">San Antonio Spurs</a> are well represented on here. Drafting near the bottom of the draft for the better part of the 25 years, Gregg Popovich and company have managed to stay in contention due to smart drafting and getting bang for their buck with these picks. Finding players like Tony Parker, drafted 28th in 2001, and Manu Ginobili, drafted incredibly at 55 in 1999, are two examples of how well the Spurs have done in getting the best buys with their late round draft picks.What the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/worst-nba-executives-of-all-time/sportsyeah">worst NBA execs</a> have in common is that they don't have players that appear on this list. Which of these players is the ultimate late-round steal? Have your say by voting, adding or re-ranking this list of best NBA buys for the money.&nbsp;

With free agency and super teams and everything else that goes into building a title contender in the NBA, players move around to different teams more than ever. Some players, of course, move around more than others, and all of these athletes have played for eight or more NBA franchises.

Chucky Brown, Jim Jackson, Tony Massenburg, and Joe Smith are all tied for record for most NBA franchises played for at 12. Remarkably, Brown accomplished the feat in just 13 seasons in the league, joining nine teams for stints of one season or less.&nbsp;

Some players are often traded, while others are journeymen who went from franchise to franchise and filled in where they could. Surprising names on this list include Hall of Famer Moses Malone, who played for nine different franchises, and three-time NBA champion Shaun Livingston, who bounced around to nine different teams.&nbsp;

So check out this list of players with the most franchises played for, and vote up the NBA talents who maintained their success while playing for multiple teams. Help decide the best NBA player to play for eight or more teams in his career.

List of the longest NBA winning streaks by professional teams. A winning streak may span consecutive games or consecutive seasons, and the National Basketball Association has long been a vehicle for keeping such stats on professional sports teams. The winning streak record has been broken numerous times over the years, and this list includes several ties on the longest winning streaks list.  The NBA was founded in 1946 with the consolidation of existing leagues. Early teams such as the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics, and the Destroit Pistons are still active today, while other teams like the Minneapolis Lakers and the New Orleans Jazz have moved to different city. Basketball has been a favorite American sport for generations and draws crowds at high school, college, and professional levels. Basketball legends from Lenny Wilkins to Michael Jordan to Shaquille O'Neal are frequently listed among the &lt;a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-athletes-of-all-time"&gt;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-athletes-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest athletes of all time</a>&lt;/a&gt;.  This list of NBA winning streak records covers the entire <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-clemson-tigers-basketball-players/ranker-ncaa-basketball?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">history of professional basketball</a> in the US.

Current NBA

The biggest contracts in the NBA are only getting bigger as the league revolves more and more around superstars joining superteams. To compete for a championship, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-nba-teams-right-now/ranker-sports" target="_blank">the best teams in basketball</a>&nbsp;know they need more than one James Harden-level player, which is why teams like the Houston Rockets have given out two of the biggest contracts ever &mdash; in order to pair Harden with someone like Chris Paul. Russell Westbrook and Paul George got big money from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and even the Minnesota Timberwolves have Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins on&nbsp;gigantic deals.

Only 31 active players in the NBA are on contracts of more than $100 million and just three are earning more than $200 million. It&#39;s an exclusive club that will make you scratch your head equally at the ludicrously overpaid (looking at you, John Wall) and the scandalously underpaid (just see how far you have to scroll before reaching Giannis&nbsp;Antetokounmpo).

You might be surprised to find the Golden State Warriors, despite featuring five All-Stars in their 2018-19 starting lineup, have just one of the largest contracts in the sport&rsquo;s history: Stephen Curry. But with Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, as well as non-Warriors stars like Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard, set for free agency, some of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-10-current-nba-players" target="_blank">the best players in the NBA</a> could be on the move and signing new record contracts wherever they go. So keep checking back here because some of the biggest NBA contracts of 2019 may be off the list by this time next year.

The most valuable NBA franchises are among the most famous and storied teams in the history of the league. While they are not necessarily the most successful teams the NBA has ever seen, they are all among the most popular sports teams in the world.

That is why the list of NBA team values features teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, and Chicago Bulls at the top, franchises with a history of championship basketball. However, the New York Knicks are the NBA team with the most valuable despite a lengthy title drought and years of recent poor player. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the least valuable current NBA team is the Memphis Grizzlies, who have never had much success in the league.

So, if you&#39;ve got $2 billion to spend (the average value of an NBA team is $2.12 billion) and are looking for an expensive splurge, check out this list of the most valuable teams in the NBA in 2020, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2020/02/11/nba-team-values-2020-lakers-and-warriors-join-knicks-in-rarefied-4-billion-club/#116b0dd72032" target="_blank">Forbes magazine</a>, and imagine what you would do to raise that value even more.

Robert Horry: Los Angeles vs Sacramento Kings in 2002

The NBA playoffs bring an all new intensity level that is nothing like the regular season. And with every possession of every game meaning so much, there is nothing better than watching a buzzer beater in the playoffs. These buzzer beaters have not only made for iconic moments that fans will never forget, but have helped shape the careers of many players in the NBA. Jordan jumping over Ehlo, Robert Horry beating the Kings, and Jerry West hitting a 60-footer to tie the game are just some of the great moments in NBA playoff history.&nbsp;Many factors go into the ranking such as the importance of the game, the difficulty of the shot, and whether it was a game-winning or game-tying shot. In your opinion, which ones are the best NBA playoff buzzer beaters?

All the coolest players in the NBA carry themselves with a swagger that can&#39;t be contained. They are confident and talented enought to back up that confidence. They are never shy in the biggest moments on the court, and they can handle the heat off the court.

The coolest basketball players in the game right now are champions like LeBron James and&nbsp;Stephen Curry, MVPs like James Harden and Russell Westbrook, and they are up-and-coming stars like Karl-Anthony Towns and Luka Doncic, all among <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-10-current-nba-players" target="_blank">the best players in basketball right now</a>.

These are the players kids try to imitate on the playground while wearing their jerseys and carrying backpacks with their names on them. They make great guests on <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-current-late-night-shows/ranker-tv?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">late night shows</a> and sometimes even appear in movies and TV shows.

So, who are the coolest players in basketball right now? Which of these players defines cool in the NBA? Vote for the players you think have that &quot;it&quot; factor.

List of the longest NBA losing streaks by professional teams. A losing streak may span consecutive games or consecutive seasons, and the National Basketball Association has long been a vehicle for keeping such stats on professional sports teams. The losing streak record has been broken numerous times over the years, and this list includes several ties on the longest losing streaks list.  The NBA was founded in 1946 with the consolidation of existing leagues. Early teams such as the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics, and the Destroit Pistons are still active today, while other teams like the Minneapolis Lakers and the New Orleans Jazz have moved to different city. Basketball has been a favorite American sport for generations and draws crowds at high school, college, and professional levels. Basketball legends from Lenny Wilkins to Michael Jordan to Shaquille O'Neal are frequently listed among the &lt;a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-athletes-of-all-time"&gt;<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-athletes-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest athletes of all time</a>&lt;/a&gt;.  This list of NBA losing streak records covers the entire <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-clemson-tigers-basketball-players/ranker-ncaa-basketball?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">history of professional basketball</a> in the US.

After ranking the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-nba-number-1-overall-draft-picks-of-all-time/surag" target="_blank">best number one draft picks in NBA history</a>, it&#39;s time to rank the biggest NBA busts of all time. Featuring former and active players, this list of the worst NBA number one draft picks includes <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/nba-players-in-china/ranker-nba" target="_blank">players who played&nbsp;in China</a>, players who retired early, and those who eventually became useless in the league. Who is the worst number 1 draft pick in NBA history?

Drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2013, Anthony Bennett is widely considered to the biggest draft bust ever. After a mediocre rookie season, Bennett was passed around teams until he landed in the G League. More recently, 2017 number one pick Markelle Fultz&nbsp;had an underwhelming debut due to a shoulder injury messing up his shooting form. Although he became the youngest player to record a triple double in NBA history, his shooting form never improved, and many speculate the problem has more to do with his mentality. Other bad NBA draft picks include Greg Oden, Andrea Bargnani, and Andrew Wiggins.&nbsp;

Vote up the most disappointing NBA players, and feel free to add any other&nbsp;bad number one picks who deserve to be on this list.

Fans love the NBA Draft as a spectacle and great TV, but not as many people know how the NBA Draft Lottery works.&nbsp;The precursor to the big show is a weird ceremony with plenty of complicated rules and a ping-pong ball machine that decides the fate of billion-dollar NBA franchises. Conspiracy theories have surrounded the draft lottery for decades, which makes the event much more interesting than it has any right to be. There are good luck charms. There are sponsored suitcases.While<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-nba-number-1-overall-draft-picks-of-all-time/surag" target="_blank"> top draft picks</a> can change the course of an entire organization, it <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/biggest-first-round-nba-draft-pick-busts/ranker-sports" target="_blank">doesn't always</a> guarantee success. That said, you are guaranteed entertainment on draft day, whether it comes in the form of awkward hugs or truly&nbsp;terrible&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/worst-suits-nba-draft/robert-wabash" target="_blank">NBA draft suits</a>. There's something for everybody.&nbsp;

The NBA D-League, which stands for the NBA 'Developmental' League, is the official minor league basketball organization of the real NBA. With the exception of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/all-die-hard-movies-ranked-best-to-worst?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">die hard</a> basketball fans, a lot of people have never heard of it. That's why I'm here. That is why I was lovingly placed on this earth.I am here to tell you that the D-League does exist. It's real. I've seen it.Largely, it serves as a place for stars that get hurt to go play a few games before they come back up and join the active roster of the &quot;big league&quot; club. It's exactly like AAA or AA baseball in that sense. It's also a place for rookies to go play and remain a part of the organization if their skills aren't quite up to NBA level yet and they'd just be taking up space on the bench otherwise.All in all, The D-League is a good idea. But that doesn't mean it isn't semi-horrific. To start, they call it &quot;The D-League&quot;. Even though I just told you what it stands for, it just has a really negative ring to it. &quot;Sorry, you just aren't cutting it. We're sending you down to the D-League.&quot;&nbsp;Ouch.A lot of people don't know about the D-League, and if they do they probably don't even know who any of the teams are. Ranker has been kind enough to let me list The NBA D-League teams for you. The following list is all of the current teams as well as teams that are either no longer in existence or have since changed their names to one of the currently active teams. Vote for the names that are the most thoroughly embarrassing.DISCLAIMER: I didn't make any of these up. These are all real. People that were drafted in the NBA draft have to play on these teams.D-LEAGUE 4 LIFE!!!

Fathers

Steve Nash Takes a Team Stroll

On the court and off, NBA player dads and their kids are bringing their A-game. And in this case, A is for adorable. No matter what team they play for during the season, there team that matters is the one cheering from the sidelines. And being a dad is their most important job.NBA players who are dads, like Dwayne Wade and Steve Nash, have proven they know how to handle dribbling on the court and at the kitchen table, too. As you'll see from the pictures of NBA stars LeBron James and Amar'e Stoudemire, these basketball stars know how to steal a sideline kiss. And Donte Green's son has definitely mastered the lay-up, or rather a &quot;lay-down.&quot; You already know your favorite basketball stars are talented, but this list of NBA players and their kids prove they are also devoted dads. Vote up the cutest dad moments these NBA stars have been caught in.

Does your city deserve a professional NBA team? Here is a list of cities that should have a professional basketball team, but for one reason or another, don't. These cities are either big enough to have a team or have many sports fans who live there who want a team. From metropolises like Seattle&nbsp;that had a franchise but lost it, to strongholds of other sports franchises like St. Louis and Pittsburgh, there are plenty of cities in America that don't have NBA teams that should.What cities don't have NBA teams? What cities should get NBA expansion teams? It's possible that some of the county's best basketball cities are toiling way without a professional team! If you have an opinion, you can add to this list of cities that should have NBA teams and share it with your friends. Who knows, maybe one of these cities without NBA teams will get one because of you.

Inside the NBA

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2018

It's officially the offseason, so let's make some crazy NBA predictions, starting with which team&nbsp;LeBron James will join for the 2018-2019 season.&nbsp;After taking his talents to South Beach for his first two rings and then returning home&nbsp;to get Cleveland first NBA championship, one of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-top-nba-players-of-all-time" target="_blank">best basketball players of all time</a>&nbsp;has an important decision to make this summer following his loss to the unstoppable Golden State Warriors. Where do you think LeBron James will go?Currently, LeBron James's contract gives him an option to stay in Cleveland for $35.6 million or leave for free agency. While everyone&nbsp;would certainly want to add LeBron to their lineup, only several teams actually have the cap space and roster talent&nbsp;to attract the 33-year-old. According to Vegas odds, the teams most likely to sign LeBron James include the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Houston Rockets.Vote up the teams you think LeBron James will be playing for next. If LeBron James finally leaves the Eastern Conference to&nbsp;join the Golden State Warriors, shut down the NBA.

Will LeBron Leave Cleveland?

Teams LeBron James Will Most Likely Join In 2018-2019, Ranked

Vote: Which Team Will LeBron James Join In 2018-2019?

Basketball Team

Best Rankings of Sports Teams and Players, Interesting Sports Facts, and Moments in Sports

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Millenials

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Baby Boomers

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Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. The Lakers play their home games at Staples Center, an arena shared with the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League. The Lakers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NBA, and have won 17 NBA championships, tied with the Boston Celtics for the most in NBA history.

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The Rockets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Southwest Division. The team plays its home games at the Toyota Center, located in downtown Houston. The Rockets have won two NBA championships and four Western Conference titles. The team was established in 1967 as the San Diego Rockets, an expansion team originally based in San Diego. In 1971, the Rockets moved to Houston.
The Rockets won only 15 games in their debut season as a franchise in 1967. In the 1968 NBA draft, the Rockets were awarded the first overall pick and selected power forward Elvin Hayes, who would lead the team to its first playoff appearance in his rookie season. The Rockets did not finish a season with a winning record for almost a decade until the 1976–77 season, when they traded for All-Star center Moses Malone. Malone went on to win the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice while playing with the Rockets and led Houston to the Eastern Conference Finals in his first year with the team. During the 1980–81 season, the Rockets finished the regular season with a 40–42 record. Despite their losing record, they qualified for the playoffs. Led by Malone, the Rockets stunned the entire league by making their first NBA Finals appearance in 1981, becoming only the second team in NBA history to make the NBA Finals with a losing record. They would lose in six games to the 62–20 Boston Celtics, led by Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and future Rockets' head coach Kevin McHale. As of 2019, the 1980–81 Rockets are the last team since the 1954–55 Minneapolis Lakers to make it all the way to the NBA Finals with a losing record.
In the 1984 NBA draft, once again with the first overall pick, the Rockets drafted center Hakeem Olajuwon, who would become the cornerstone of the most successful period in franchise history. Paired with 7 feet 4 inches (2.24 m) Ralph Sampson, they formed one of the tallest front courts in the NBA. Nicknamed the "Twin Towers", they led the team to the 1986 NBA Finals—the second NBA Finals appearance in franchise history—where Houston was again defeated by Larry Bird and the 67-win Boston Celtics. The Rockets continued to reach the playoffs throughout the 1980s, but failed to advance past the first round for several years following a second round defeat to the Seattle SuperSonics in 1987. Rudy Tomjanovich took over as head coach midway through the 1991–92 season, ushering in the most successful period in franchise history. Led by Olajuwon, the Rockets dominated the 1993–94 season, setting a franchise record 58 wins and went to the 1994 NBA Finals—the third NBA Finals appearance in franchise history—and won the franchise's first championship against Patrick Ewing and the New York Knicks. During the following season, reinforced by another All-Star, Clyde Drexler, the Rockets—in their fourth NBA Finals appearance in franchise history—repeated as champions with a four-game sweep of the Orlando Magic, who were led by a young Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. Houston, which finished the season with a 47–35 record and was seeded sixth in the Western Conference during the 1995 playoffs, became the lowest-seeded team in NBA history to win the title.
The Rockets acquired all-star forward Charles Barkley in 1996, but the presence of three of the NBA's 50 greatest players of all-time (Olajuwon, Drexler, and Barkley) was not enough to propel Houston past the Western Conference Finals. Each one of the aging trio had left the team by 2001. The Rockets of the early 2000s, led by superstars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, followed the trend of consistent regular season respectability followed by playoff underachievement as both players struggled with injuries. After Yao's early retirement in 2011, the Rockets entered a period of rebuilding, completely dismantling and retooling their roster. The acquisition of franchise player James Harden in 2012 has launched the Rockets back into championship contention in the mid-2010s.
Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, and James Harden have been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player while playing for the Rockets, for a total of four MVP awards. The Rockets, under general manager Daryl Morey, are notable for popularizing the use of advanced statistical analytics (similar to sabermetrics in baseball) in player acquisitions and style of play.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are an American professional basketball franchise based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. Founded in 1946 and originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA, and one of only eight to survive the league's first decade.
The 76ers have had a rich history, with many of the greatest players in NBA history having played for the organization, including Wilt Chamberlain, Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, and Allen Iverson. They have won three NBA championships, with their first coming as the Syracuse Nationals in 1955. The second title came in the 1966–67 season, a team which was led by Chamberlain. The third title came in the 1982–83 season, won by a team led by Erving and Malone. They have only been back to the Finals once since then, during the 2001 campaign, led by Iverson, only to fall to the Los Angeles Lakers, 4–1. They won game 1 in overtime, but lost the next 4. The Sixers set a franchise record and tied an NBA record for futility during the 2013–14 season, losing 26 consecutive games.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers, often referred to as the Cavs, are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavs compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team began play as an expansion team in 1970, along with the Portland Trail Blazers and Buffalo Braves. Home games were first held at Cleveland Arena from 1970 to 1974, followed by the Richfield Coliseum from 1974 to 1994. Since 1994, the Cavs have played home games at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in downtown Cleveland, which is shared with the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League and the Cleveland Monsters of the American Hockey League. Dan Gilbert has owned the team since March 2005.
The Cavaliers opened their inaugural season losing their first 15 games and struggled in their early years, placing no better than sixth in the Eastern Conference during their first five seasons. The team won their first Central Division title in 1976, which also marked the first winning season and playoff appearance in franchise history, where they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals. The franchise was purchased by Ted Stepien in 1980. Stepien's tenure as owner was marked by six coaching changes, questionable trades and draft decisions, and poor attendance, leading to $15 million in financial losses. The Cavs went 66–180 in that time and endured a 24-game losing streak spanning the 1981–82 and 1982–83 seasons.
George and Gordon Gund purchased the franchise in 1983. During the latter half of the 1980s and through much of the 1990s, the Cavs were a regular playoff contender, led by players such as Mark Price and Brad Daugherty, and advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1992. After the team's playoff appearance in 1998, however, the Cavs had six consecutive losing seasons with no playoff action. Cleveland was awarded with the top overall pick in the 2003 draft, and they selected LeBron James. Behind James and Zydrunas Ilgauskas, the Cavaliers again became a regular playoff contender by 2005. They made their first appearance in the NBA Finals in 2007 after winning the first Eastern Conference championship in franchise history. After failing to return to the NBA Finals in the ensuing three seasons, James joined the Miami Heat in 2010. As a result, the Cavaliers finished the 2010–11 season last in the conference, enduring a 26-game losing streak that, as of 2017, ranks as the longest in NBA history for a single season and second overall. Between 2010 and 2014, however, the team won the top pick in the NBA draft lottery three times, first in 2011 where they selected Kyrie Irving, and again in 2013 and 2014.
LeBron James returned to the Cavs in 2014 and led the team to four straight NBA Finals appearances. In 2016, the Cavaliers won their first NBA Championship, marking Cleveland's first major sports title since 1964. The 2016 NBA Finals victory over the Golden State Warriors marked the first time in Finals history a team had come back to win the series after trailing three games to one. The Cavaliers have made 22 playoff appearances, and won seven Central Division titles, five Eastern Conference titles, and one NBA title.

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics are an American professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. Founded in 1946 as one of the league's original eight teams, the team play their home games at TD Garden, which they share with the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Boston Bruins. The Celtics are one of the most successful teams in NBA history; the franchise has won the most championships in the NBA with 17, accounting for 23.9 percent of all NBA championships since the league's founding.The Celtics have a notable rivalry with the Los Angeles Lakers, who have won 16 NBA championships, second behind the Celtics. The rivalry was heavily highlighted throughout the 1960s and 1980s. The franchise has played the Lakers a record 12 times in the NBA Finals (including their most recent appearances in 2008 and 2010), of which the Celtics have won nine. Four Celtics players (Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Dave Cowens and Larry Bird) have won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for an NBA record total of 10 MVP awards. Both the nickname "Celtics" and their mascot "Lucky the Leprechaun" are a nod to Boston's historically large Irish population.The Celtics' rise to dominance began in the late 1950s, after acquiring center Bill Russell in a draft day trade in 1956, who would become the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty. Led by Russell and superstar point guard Bob Cousy, the Celtics won their first NBA championship in 1957. Russell, along with a talented supporting cast of future Hall of Famers including John Havlicek, Tom Heinsohn, K. C. Jones, Sam Jones, Satch Sanders, and Bill Sharman, would usher the Celtics into the greatest period in franchise history, winning eight consecutive NBA championships throughout the 1960s. After the retirement of Russell in 1969, the Celtics entered a period of rebuilding. Led by center Dave Cowens and point guard JoJo White, the Celtics returned to championship caliber, winning two NBA titles in 1974 and 1976. The Celtics again returned to dominance in the 1980s. Led by the "Big Three" that featured Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish, the Celtics won the 1981, 1984, and 1986 championships. After winning 16 championships throughout the 20th century, the Celtics, after struggling through the 1990s, rose again to win a championship in 2008 with the help of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen in what was known as the new "Big Three" era.
Following the win in 2008, general manager Danny Ainge commenced a rebuilding process with the help of head coach Brad Stevens, who led the Celtics to a return to the playoffs from 2015. During the following season, the Celtics clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but were eliminated in the Conference Finals. This prompted an aggressive rebuild in 2017, where the team acquired All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. However, the pair struggled with injuries throughout the 2017–18 season, and the team was again defeated in the Eastern Conference Finals.

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association. They are the current NBA champions.
The Spurs are one of four former American Basketball Association teams to remain intact in the NBA after the 1976 ABA–NBA merger and the only former ABA team to have won an NBA championship. The Spurs' five NBA championships are the fourth most in history behind only the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, and Chicago Bulls. The Spurs currently rank first among active franchises for the highest winning percentage in NBA history.
In their 38 NBA seasons since 1976–1977, the Spurs have won 20 division titles. They have made the playoffs in 24 of the last 25 seasons and have missed the playoffs four times since entering the NBA; they have not missed the playoffs in the 18 seasons since Tim Duncan was drafted by the Spurs in 1997. With their 50th win in the 2014–2015 season, the Spurs extended their record for most consecutive 50+ win seasons to 16.

Miami Heat

The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. They play their home games at the American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami. The team owner is Micky Arison, who also owns cruise-ship giant Carnival Corporation. The team president and de facto general manager is Pat Riley, and the head coach is Erik Spoelstra. The mascot of the team is Burnie, an anthropomorphic fireball.
Formed in 1988 as one of the NBA's four expansion franchises, the Heat have won three league championships, five conference titles and 11 division titles. From February 3 to March 27, 2013, the Heat won 27 games in a row, the second-longest streak in NBA history. In 2013, Forbes valued the Heat at $625 million, sixth-most-valuable among NBA franchises.
The Heat are not related to the Miami Floridians, an ABA team in the early 1970s, although the Heat have occasionally paid tribute to the older franchise by wearing a replica version of the Floridians' uniforms for the NBA's "Hardwood Classics Nights" during the 2005–06 and 2011–12 seasons.

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. Founded in 1946 in Philadelphia, the Warriors relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1962 and took the city's name, before changing its geographic moniker to Golden State in 1971. They will begin playing their home games at the Chase Center starting in October 2019.
The Warriors won the inaugural Basketball Association of America (BAA) championship in 1947, and won its second championship in 1956, led by Hall of Fame trio Paul Arizin, Tom Gola, and Neil Johnston. However, the Warriors would not return to similar heights in Philadelphia, and after a brief rebuilding period following the trade of star Wilt Chamberlain, the team moved to San Francisco. With star players Jamaal Wilkes and Rick Barry, the Warriors returned to title contention, and won their third championship in 1975, in what is largely considered one of the biggest upsets in NBA history.
This would precede another period of struggle in the 1980s, before becoming playoff regulars at the turn of the decade with stars Tim Hardaway, Mitch Richmond, and Chris Mullin, colloquially referred to as "Run TMC". After failing to capture a championship, the team entered another rebuilding phase in the 2000s. The Warriors' fortunes changed in the 2010s, ushering in a new era of success led by Stephen Curry. After drafting perennial All-Stars Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, the team returned to championship glory in 2015, before winning another two in 2017 and 2018 with the help of former league MVP Kevin Durant.
Nicknamed the Dubs as a shortening of "W's", the Warriors hold several NBA records; they have registered the best ever regular season, most wins in a season (regular season and postseason combined), as well as the best ever postseason run. With the combined shooting of Curry and Thompson, they are credited as one of the greatest backcourts of all time. The team's six NBA championships are tied for third-most in NBA history with the Chicago Bulls. According to Forbes, the Warriors are the seventh highest valued sports franchise in the United States, and joint-tenth in the world, with an estimated value of approximately $3.1 billion.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder is an American professional basketball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team plays in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association. Its home court is at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Thunder's NBA Development League affiliate is the Oklahoma City Blue, which is owned by the Thunder. The Thunder is the only team in the major professional North American sports leagues based in the state of Oklahoma.
Formerly the Seattle SuperSonics, the team relocated in 2008 after a dispute between owner Clay Bennett and lawmakers in Seattle, Washington. As the SuperSonics, the franchise qualified for the NBA Playoffs 22 times, won their division six times, and won the 1979 NBA Championship. In Oklahoma City, the Thunder qualified for their first playoff berth during the 2009–10 season. They followed that success by winning their first division title as the Thunder in the 2010–11 season and their first Western Conference championship as the Thunder in the 2011–12 season, appearing in the NBA Finals for the fourth time in franchise history and first since 1996, when the club was based in Seattle.

New York Knicks

The New York Knickerbockers, commonly referred to as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City, New York. The Knicks are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association. The team, established by Ned Irish in 1946, was one of the founding members of the Basketball Association of America, which became the NBA after merging with the rival National Basketball League in 1949. The team plays at Madison Square Garden, above Pennsylvania Station in the borough of Manhattan, and along with the Boston Celtics is one of only two original NBA teams still located in its original city.
The Knicks were successful during their early years and were constant playoff contenders under the franchise's first head coach Joe Lapchick. Beginning in 1950, the Knicks made three consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals, all of which were losing efforts. Lapchick resigned in 1956 and the team subsequently began to falter. It was not until the late 1960s when Red Holzman became head coach that the Knicks began to regain their former dominance. Holzman successfully guided the Knicks to two championship titles in 1970 and 1973.

New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans are an American professional basketball team based in New Orleans, Louisiana, that competes in the National Basketball Association. They play in the Southwest Division of the league's Western Conference. The team plays their home games in the Smoothie King Center.
The Pelicans were established as the New Orleans Hornets in the 2002–03 season when then-owner of the Charlotte Hornets, George Shinn, relocated the franchise to New Orleans. Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the franchise temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City, where they spent two seasons officially known as the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets. The team returned to New Orleans full-time for the 2007–08 season. On January 24, 2013, the franchise announced it would rename itself the Pelicans. The name change to the Pelicans took effect after the conclusion of the 2012–13 season. The Charlotte Hornets name, history and records from 1988–2002 were returned to its original city to be used by the then-Charlotte Bobcats franchise, which subsequently became the Charlotte Hornets, starting May 20, 2014.

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are a Canadian professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario, that competes in the National Basketball Association. The Raptors are part of the league's Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team was established in 1995, along with the Vancouver Grizzlies, as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada. When the Grizzlies relocated to Memphis, Tennessee to become the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001, the Raptors became the only Canadian team in the NBA. They originally played their home games at the SkyDome, before moving along Bremner Boulevard to the Air Canada Centre in 1999.
Like most expansion teams, the Raptors struggled in their early years, but after the acquisition of Vince Carter through a draft day trade in 1998, the team set league attendance records and made the NBA playoffs in 2000, 2001, and 2002. Carter was instrumental in leading the team to a then-franchise high 47 wins and their first playoff series win in 2001, where they advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. During the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, they failed to make significant progress and he was traded in 2004 to the New Jersey Nets.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers (branded as the LA Clippers) are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Clippers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division in the league's Western Conference. They play their home games at the Staples Center, an arena they share with fellow NBA team Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association. The team was founded on January 26, 1966. The Bulls play their home games at the United Center. The Bulls saw their greatest success during the 1990s. They are known for having one of the NBA's greatest dynasties, winning six NBA championships between 1991 and 1998 with two three-peats. All six championship teams were led by Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and coach Phil Jackson. The Bulls are the only NBA franchise to win multiple championships and never lose an NBA Finals in their history.
The Bulls won an NBA record-72 games during the 1995–96 NBA season and are the only team in NBA history to win 70 games or more in a single season. Many experts and analysts consider the 1996 Bulls to be one of the greatest teams in NBA history. As of 2013, the Bulls were estimated to be the third most valuable NBA franchise according to Forbes, with an estimated value of $1 billion, earning an estimated $52.2 million in operating income in 2013.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks are a basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association. The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and plays at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. Former U.S. Senator Herb Kohl was the long-time owner of the team, with John Hammond as current general manager; as of April 16, 2014 a group led by billionaire hedge fund managers Wesley Edens and Marc Lasry agreed to purchase the team from Kohl, a sale which was approved by the owners of the NBA and its board of governors a month later on May 16. The team is currently valued at $405 million according to Forbes, ranking last in the league.
The Bucks have won one league title, two conference titles, and thirteen division titles. They have featured such notable players as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sidney Moncrief, Oscar Robertson, Bob Lanier, Glenn "Big Dog" Robinson, Ray Allen, Andrew Bogut, Michael Redd, Terry Cummings, Vin Baker, Jon McGlocklin, Brandon Jennings, Toni Kukoč, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker, and Anthony Mason.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. The team played its home games in the Memorial Coliseum before moving to Moda Center in 1995 (called the Rose Garden until 2013). The franchise entered the league as an expansion team in 1970, and has enjoyed a strong following: from 1977 through 1995, the team sold out 814 consecutive home games, the longest such streak in American major professional sports at the time, and only since surpassed by the Boston Red Sox. The Trail Blazers are the only NBA team based in the bi-national Pacific Northwest, after the Vancouver Grizzlies relocated to Memphis and became the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001 and the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City and became the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2008.
The team has advanced to the NBA Finals three times, winning the NBA championship once in 1977. Their other NBA Finals appearances were in 1990 and 1992. The team has qualified for the playoffs in 34 seasons of their 48-season existence, including a streak of 21 straight appearances from 1983 through 2003, tied for the second longest streak in NBA history. The Trail Blazers' 34 playoff appearances rank third in the NBA only behind the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs since the team's inception in 1970. Six Hall of Fame players have played for the Trail Blazers (Lenny Wilkens, Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler, Dražen Petrović, Arvydas Sabonis, and Scottie Pippen).  Bill Walton is the franchise's most decorated player; he was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1977, and the regular season MVP the following year. Four Blazer rookies (Geoff Petrie, Sidney Wicks, Brandon Roy and Damian Lillard) have won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Three players have earned the Most Improved Player award: Kevin Duckworth (1988), Zach Randolph (2004), and CJ McCollum (2016). Two Hall of Fame coaches, Lenny Wilkens and Jack Ramsay, have patrolled the sidelines for the Blazers, and two others, Mike Schuler and Mike Dunleavy, have won the NBA Coach of the Year Award with the team.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association. Founded in 1989, the team is owned by Glen Taylor. The Timberwolves played their home games at the Metrodome during their inaugural season, before moving to Target Center in 1990.
Like most expansion teams, the Timberwolves struggled in their early years, but after the acquisition of Kevin Garnett in the 1995 NBA draft, the team made the playoffs eight consecutive times from 1997 to 2004. Despite losing in the first round in their first seven attempts, the Timberwolves won their first division title in 2004 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals. Garnett was also named the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for that season. The team has been in rebuilding mode since missing the playoffs in 2005, and trading Garnett to the Boston Celtics in 2007. Garnett returned to the Timberwolves in a February 2015 trade.

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz are an American professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Jazz compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member club of the league's Western Conference, Northwest Division. Since 1991, the team has played its home games at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The franchise began play as an expansion team in 1974 as the New Orleans Jazz (as a tribute to New Orleans' history of originating Jazz music). The Jazz moved to Salt Lake City in 1979.
The Jazz were one of the least successful teams in the league in their early years. Although 10 seasons elapsed before the Jazz qualified for their first playoff appearance in 1984, they did not miss the playoffs again until 2004. During the late 1980s, John Stockton and Karl Malone arose as the franchise players for the team, and formed one of the most famed point guard–power forward duos in NBA history. Led by coach Jerry Sloan, who took over from Frank Layden in 1988, they became one of the powerhouse teams of the 1990s, culminating in two NBA Finals appearances in 1997 and 1998, where they lost both times to the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan.
Both Stockton and Malone moved on in 2003. After missing the playoffs for three consecutive seasons the Jazz returned to prominence under the on-court leadership of point guard Deron Williams. However, partway through the 2010–11 season, the Jazz began restructuring after Sloan's retirement and Williams' trade to the New Jersey Nets. Quin Snyder was hired as head coach in June 2014.
Under Snyder's leadership, the Jazz have experienced success. The franchise qualified for the playoffs for three consecutive years from 2017–2019 with players such as Gordon Hayward, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley Jr. and Donovan Mitchell as centerpieces.

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are an American professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C. The Wizards compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The team plays its home games at the Capital One Arena, in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
The franchise was established in 1961 as the Chicago Packers based in Chicago, Illinois, and were renamed to Chicago Zephyrs the following season. In 1963, they relocated to Baltimore, Maryland and became the Baltimore Bullets, taking the name from a previous team of the same name. In 1973, the team changed its name to the Capital Bullets to reflect their move to the Washington metropolitan area, and then to Washington Bullets in the following season. In 1997, they rebranded themselves as the Wizards.
The Wizards have appeared in four NBA Finals, and won in 1978. They have had a total of 28 playoff appearances, won four conference titles (1971, 1975, 1978, 1979), and seven division titles (1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979, 2017). Their best season came in 1975 with a record of 60–22. Wes Unseld is the only player in franchise history to become the MVP (1969), and win the Finals MVP award (1978). Four players (Walt Bellamy, Terry Dischinger, Earl Monroe and Wes Unseld) have won the Rookie of the Year award.

Indiana Pacers

The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Pacers were first established in 1967 as members of the American Basketball Association and became members of the NBA in 1976 as a result of the ABA-NBA merger. They play their home games at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The team is named after Indiana's history with the Indianapolis 500's pace cars.
The Pacers have won three championships, all in the ABA. The Pacers were Eastern Conference champions in 2000. The team has won eight division titles. Five Hall of Fame players - Reggie Miller, Chris Mullin, Alex English, Mel Daniels, and Roger Brown - played with the Pacers for multiple seasons.

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan in Metro Detroit. In 1941, the team was founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons, a member of the National Basketball League. Since moving to Detroit in 1957, the Pistons have won NBA championships in 1989, 1990 and 2004. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team based in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The Nets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. The team plays its home games at Barclays Center. They are one of two NBA teams located in New York City; the other is the New York Knicks. The team was established in 1967 as a charter franchise of the NBA's rival league, the American Basketball Association (ABA). They played in New Jersey as the New Jersey Americans during their first season, before moving to Long Island in 1968 and changing their name to the New York Nets. During this time, the Nets won two ABA championships (in 1974 and 1976). In 1976, the ABA merged with the NBA, and the Nets were absorbed into the NBA along with three other ABA teams (the San Antonio Spurs, Indiana Pacers, and Denver Nuggets, all of whom remain in the league today).
In 1977, the team returned to New Jersey and played as the New Jersey Nets from 1977 to 2012. During this time, the Nets won two consecutive Eastern Conference championships (in the 2001–02 and 2002–03 seasons), but failed to win a league title. In the summer of 2012, the team moved to Barclays Center, and took its current geographic name.



Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association.
According to a 2013 Forbes magazine report, they are the fifth-most valuable basketball franchise in the United States, valued at approximately $685 million; the franchise is surpassed in value only by the New York Knicks, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics.
As of the 2013 season, the Mavericks have sold out 477 consecutive games since December 15, 2001, the longest currently running sellout streak in North American major league sports.
Since their inaugural 1980–81 season, the Mavericks have won three division titles, two conference championships, and one NBA Championship.

Charlotte Hornets

The Charlotte Hornets were an American football team in the short-lived World Football League. They were relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina, from New York City in the middle of the 1974 season.

Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association. They play their home games at Philips Arena in Downtown Atlanta. They will win the Finals this year and will not lose a game.
Their origins can be traced to the establishment of the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in 1946, a member of the National Basketball League. In 1949, they joined the National Basketball Association as part of the National Basketball League and the Basketball Association of America merger. In 1951, the team moved to Milwaukee, where they changed their name to the Hawks. The team moved again in 1955 to St. Louis, where they won their only NBA Championship in 1958. The Hawks moved to Atlanta in 1968, where they have been ever since.
The Hawks currently own the second-longest run of not winning an NBA title at 56 years. All the franchise's NBA Finals appearances and lone NBA championship took place when the team resided in St. Louis. Meanwhile, since the elimination of first-round byes in 1967, they have not advanced beyond the second round in any playoff format.

It's officially the offseason, so let's make some crazy NBA predictions, starting with which team&nbsp;LeBron James will join for the 2018-2019 ...