National Basketball Association Teams
NBA teams play 82 games during the regular season, 41 each home and away. All NBA teams must play each opponent at least twice during the regular season and four times if they are in the same division. The NBA is available for bettors for nine months giving to sports fans multiple chances to wager on basketball.
The peak of the NBA season is around May and June when the playoffs and the NBA finals are around. This is mostly when sportsbooks will get more of the betting action. Before placing the first NBA bet, it’s better to have a full understanding of how the league works. How many NBA teams there are; how the schedule is played and who are the best and worst franchises to follow.
Best NBA Betting Sites 2023
NBA Teams
All NBA teams make an equal share of money on the NBA Billion TV deal. A team can’t have more success just because their franchise is bigger or more popular than the other. There is a salary cap rule that prevents richer teams from getting richer. Instead, all teams have to use the number in the salary cap to equip their team to the best way possible. The Golden State Warriors are the gold standard team in the NBA over the last five seasons. They have won three of the previous four titles. They only lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 2016 season, in a final that needed seven games to decide a winner.
The NBA has a draft system that will give the worst teams an opportunity to have the best player coming out of the University system or NCAA. It’s not an automatic system; meaning the worst team won’t get the first pick in the draft by default. Instead, the league takes the 14 NBA teams that did not make the playoffs and assigns them a number of combinations. Then the number one pick is decided on a lottery. A good number one pick choice could turn around a losing franchise. The NBA Free Agency is another option to get the top players. It’s the period where teams break the bank trying to add the most skilled player to the franchise.
The All- Star Game
The NBA All-Star game is a mix of the league’s best players facing each other during February. It’s considered an exhibition game because fans vote for their favorite players to be in. It’s also the main event of a three-day weekend put together to entertain the fans. Most sportsbooks will offer betting lines for the NBA All-start game as well as the three-point contest, the dunk contest, and others.
NBA Playoffs
16 out of the 30 NBA teams qualify for the NBA playoffs. Each conference will have eight teams playing to advance in a best-of-seven elimination. The teams are ranked from one to eight based on the win-loss records during the regular season. The tie-break criteria for playoff seeding is the head-to-head results in the season. If they split the regular season series, the second tie-breaker is whether a team won its division championship. The playoffs series are played in a 2–2–1–1–1 format. The winner from each conference will advance to the NBA Finals where it will be determined the league’s champion.
NBA Basketball Conferences
The NBA is divided into two conferences (west and east). The Western and Easter conferences are subdivided into 3 divisions of 5 teams each for a total of 30 teams in total fighting for their spot in the NBA finals each season. The NBA Western Conference has been the better of the two Conferences over the past 20 years.
It usually has the best teams and the better players. It is far more noticeable by the quality of their games in the NBA playoffs. The Golden State Warriors have won the last four straight conference titles. The West has won four of the previous five NBA Championships and 14 of the last 19 NBA titles. The Warriors are the team to beat. They have two of the three best players in the NBA in point guard Steph Curry and forward Kevin Durant. Between the two players have combined to win three Most-Valuable-Player Awards.
The Houston Rockets have the most recent MVP winner in James Harden. He’s the most unstoppable offensive force in the league at the moment. The Los Angeles Lakers added LeBron James in the summer to try to rebuild a new winning project. Both the Rockets and the Lakers are the two teams called to give the Warriors are run for the title in the West during the next few years. Los Angeles is a work in progress team, but with LeBron James in the roster, they will be in the conversation sooner or later. The Dallas Mavericks have the most exciting rookie in the NBA. The Slovenian Luka Doncic has taken the NBA by storm with his abilities and intelligence.
Golden State Warriors (Current champions) – BET ON THE WARRIORS
Houston Rockets – BET ON THE ROCKETS
Los Angeles Lakers
San Antonio Spurs
Oklahoma City Thunder
Portland Trail Blazers
Dallas Mavericks
Utah Jazz
Sacramento Kings
Phoenix Suns
Minnesota Timberwolves
Los Angeles Clippers
New Orleans Pelicans
Denver Nuggets
Memphis Grizzlies
The Eastern Conference hasn’t featured the same talent level as the Western Conference. Before jumping on the Lakers, the conference saw LeBron James lead his teams to eight straight Conference titles, between the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Teams from the East have won the NBA title five times in the last 19 seasons.
Boston Celtics – BET ON THE CELTICS
Toronto Raptors
Milwaukee Bucks – BET ON THE BUCKS
Indiana Pacers
Philadelphia 76ers
Miami Heat
New York Knicks
Detroit Pistons
Orlando Magic
Washington Wizards
Brooklyn Nets
Charlotte Hornets
Atlanta Hawks
Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
NBA Teams With The Most Titles
The NBA started in 1947, and there have been 72 NBA titles up for grabs. Between the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers are 33 of those 72 NBA championships. Those two franchises have reached the NBA Finals 52 times combined. No other team has won more six titles, and 19 franchises have won at least one. The last one to do so was Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016.
Boston Celtics
- 17 NBA Championships
The Celtics have a huge rate of success when they reach the NBA Finals. Boston has won 17 titles in 21 NBA finals appearance. Their first championship came in 1957 and their last 2018. During the 60’s they won nine NBA rings as the best team in the decade and one of the best in history. They won two more in the 70’s and added three more in the 80’s under Larry Bird. Bill Russell who had 11 championships with the Celtics and Larry Bird who earned three are considered the two best players in franchise history.
Los Angeles Lakers
- 16 NBA Championships
The Lakers have had several winning eras starting in 1949 with their first NBA title. During the 80’s they won five championships in the “Showtime Lakers” era under Magic Johnson. Los Angeles had a drought of 12 years without a title from 1998 to 2000 until the “Shaq and Kobe” era began. Just this century they have won five championships alone; although their last NBA title was back in 2010.
Chicago Bulls
- 6 NBA Championships
The 90’s is known to be the golden era of the NBA with Michael Jordan and the Bulls dominating the basketball world for about a decade. The team won six NBA titles in eight years. Those two years were they failed had Jordan briefly retired as he tried to play baseball. MJ, Scottie Pippen and the rest of the Bulls formed one of the best and more unstoppable dynasties in NBA history.
Golden State Warriors
- 6 NBA Championships
The Warriors have been one of the most dominating teams in NBA history. They have won three of their last four NBA title, and they don’t look like they want to stop. Golden State won its first title in 1947. In 2015, Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson led the team to its first NBA championship in 40 years. In 2016 they followed it with a 73-9 season but failed to close the finals against the Cavaliers. The following season they added the top player in the market, Kevin Durant, and won the next two NBA championships in a row. If Curry and Durant stay on the same team, the Warriors promised to remain unbeatable.
San Antonio Spurs
- 5 NBA Championships
When coach Gregg Popovich took the job in San Antonio in 1996, the franchise had zero championships. They drafted center Tim Duncan in 1997; fast forward 20 years the franchise had won five NBA rings since. The success of the team also goes on the back of the international players Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker. Both were key members of the Spurs dynasty this century. San Antonio never won back-to-back NBA titles but extended their success from 1999 when they won their first championship up to 2014.
Key Basketball Player Positions
Knowing the position of NBA players will help a lot. Before finding the edge betting NBA basketball, it’s good to know the basics. Identifying the best players in the world by position helps understand matchups, and why a team is favored over the other. There is also the proposition bets available on every game. Betting on a player’s performance is possible, and it has a lot of value in the long run.
Point guard (PG)
Usually, the point guard is the player who starts the offense for the team. They are the one that commands the attack and are known as the floor general. It is often the smallest player on the roster but with lots of handling and passing abilities. Most recently, the point guard has evolved to become more of a score, and not only a facilitator for others. The PG is responsible for directing plays but will hang on the top of the three-point line ready to hit a three-pointer in any moment notice. Steph Curry from the Warriors, Chris Paul from the Rockets and Kyrie Irving from the Celtics might be the best current point guards in the NBA.
Shooting Guard (SG)
This position’s name is self-explanatory. The guard is used in tactical situations mostly trying to open the space on the floor. Its number one task is to be ready to shoot or attack the basket. The best shooting guards have a good combination of skills including being great three-point shooters. But they can also create their own shot by driving the ball into the basket with their handling abilities. James Harden from Houston is the best shooting guard right now in the NBA. He’s the league’s current most valuable player.
Small forward (SF)
The small forward is the other wing on the floor. The position is considered the most versatile out of the five in the lineup. The players on this role are fast and strong but can also shoot as well as the shooting guard, especially in the NBA’s current day and age. The small forward will try to get to the basket as much as they can because they can dunk the ball easier and quicker than the rest of the players on the floor. They are also defensive specialists. LeBron James from the Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Warriors, Kawhi Leonard of the Raptors and Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Bucks are the best in the business.
Power Forward (PF)
The power forward position has a similar role to the center. However, they can do a lot more scoring because the players in this position have mostly developed a mid-range shot. Coaches ask the power forward to do a bit of everything. It goes from scoring to rebounding, to stretching the floor and playing good defense. The position has lost some value in recent years as the NBA evolves to a more three-point league. Draymond Green of the Warriors, Joel Embiid from the Sixers and Blake Griffin of the Pistons are the best the NBA.
Center (C)
NBA Game Rules
During an NBA Basketball game, there are two teams of five players trying to score as many points as possible shooting the ball through the hoop. Is a simple concept, however, there are rules in the game that players must follow to score valid points and keep the action flowing. For example, When the offensive team starts playing behind the mid-court line, they must cross that line within 10 seconds otherwise they lose possession of the ball. Once the offensive team crosses the mid-court line in possession of the ball, they can’t go back of the line while carrying the ball, because if they do the defensive team gets it. Other common NBA basketball game rules are:
- Traveling – A player can’t run or walk with the ball without dribbling. Each bounce of the ball allows two steps to advance. If a player takes more than a step and a half without bouncing the ball that’s considered traveling. Is also considered traveling when a player moves the pivot foot once it stopped dribbling.
- Fouls – Basketball is a contact sport, but this doesn’t mean that the court is a boxing ring or an MMA octagon, there’s legal and illegal contact that might occur during the game. for instance, Shouldering, holding, striking, pushing, slapping or tripping the opponent is not allowed.
- Held ball – Is not uncommon during an NBA game —or any basketball game, to be honest. That two or more players from opposite teams gain possession of the ball at the same time and “fight” to keep it. Some referees will give players a few seconds to see if anyone can keep the ball, however more often than not to avoid a prolonged and potentially violent situation, the referee stops the action and gives the ball to any team and the game continues.
- Goaltending – When a player is defending and interferes with a shot aiming the hoop while it’s on the way down toward the basket, or if the interference happens while the ball is going up toward the hoop after it hits the backboard, or when the ball is in the cylinder just right above the rim, it’s considered goaltending and the shot is taken as a valid point.
- Game Time – NBA games have four quarters of 12 minutes each. The game is played out on average over 2 hours 15 minutes. When there’s a tie, the overtime is 5 minutes long until the game has a winner. The NBA also has a 24-second rule, this means that a team has 24 seconds after gaining possession to attempt scoring a point.
NBA History
The Early Days Of The League
The first ever basket was made by Ossie Schectman of the Knickerbockers on November 1, 1946, in Toronto, Canada. The first game was between the Toronto Huskies and the New York Knickerbockers. When the league evolved to becoming the NBA in 1949, there were 17 franchises located in big and small cities. A year later the league decided to unify efforts and have only eight well-equipped franchises to play in the NBA. In 1954 it was introduced the 24-second shot clock. It was put in the rule book to encourage shooting and discourage stalling.
NBA League Growth
The Chicago Packers (now Washington Wizards) became the ninth NBA team in 1961. By 1968 there were 14 franchises already in the league with the addition of the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and Phoenix Suns, who still remain in the NBA. The league’s current logo inspired by the legendary Jerry West was introduced in 1971. It remains as one of the primary logos in pop culture to this day. In 1974 the NBA evolved to 18 franchises with the arrival of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Utah Jazz and the Buffalo Braves.
The three-point field goal was implemented in 1979. That same year the Boston Celtics selected rookie Larry Bird, and the Los Angeles Lakers picked rookie Magic Johnson. The 80’s is known as the decade that saved the NBA after years with low TV ratings. Bird and Magic were the two most prominent figures of the era. The two players battled in three NBA finals and won eight NBA championships combined.
In 1984 the Chicago Bulls selected Michael Jordan with the second pick in the NBA Draft. Jordan and the Bulls would win their first title in 1990 and dominated the decade with six championships in eight seasons. Jordan is responsible for the skyrocketed NBA popularity in the entire world. The league evolved from being a National product to becoming a global mainstream league during the 90’s. In 1995 the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors were created. Those were the first Canadian based franchised since the Toronto Huskies appear in the 40’s. The Raptors are the only remaining team from Canada in the NBA.
The modern era of basketball has seen the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers reached 13 NBA finals since the breakup of the Chicago Bulls. The Spurs and Lakers combined for 10 NBA championships during this span. The recent era has seen international players become superstars in their respective teams. German Dirk Nowitzki won a title with the Dallas Mavericks in 2011. The Argentinean Manu Ginobili and French Tony Parker were crucial pieces in four of the Spurs five titles.
Current NBA, Its Future, Chances for basketball Betting
The NBA features 30 teams at this point, and their ratings remain as the second-most watched major league in American sports, only behind the NFL. The dominance of the Golden State Warriors in recent years hasn’t hurt the league. Instead, most franchises are creating super teams with superstar players to try to end their dominance.
The league has evolved to a more three-point shooting environment. That has made three-point shooters more valuable both in the draft and the free agency. The NBA has the most exciting free agency period of the four major leagues in the United States. Several players move from one team to another trying to become the missing piece for any franchise’s title shot. Even the big names like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and James Harden have hit the market looking for a better opportunity.
With a palpable increased in scoring, there are multiple chances to bet on basketball in the recent climate of the NBA. Basketball betting is a must during the season and even more in the playoffs and the NBA finals. Betting the NBA spread, the money line or the game totals give both the new and usual bettors a chance to increase their bankroll every night. There is a well-known gap between the best teams in the league and the ones trying to build something. That is the best opportunity to take advantage of the trusted sportsbooks betting lines.
Is It legal To Bet On The NBA?
The NBA was the first major league to sign a deal with MGM entertainment back in July 2018. It was a three-year deal worth $25 Million for MGM resorts to using all the league’s official date, logos and promotions tools. The NBA features MGM and betting products throughout the games in the states where sports betting has been legalized. Similar deals are now in place with the MLB and the NFL.
The NBA also signed a second deal with the Canadian-based sports betting company, The Stars Group. They became an “Authorized Gaming Operator” of the league. Since the US Supreme Court gave the favorable decision in 2018 where states can legalize sports betting at their individual discretion, six states have allowed state-regulated sports betting industries. New Jersey was the first state to join Nevada as states with legalized sports betting. Delaware, Mississippi, Rhode Island, West Virginia and Pennsylvania followed them. 16 more states are lined up to be added to the list in the next few months.
While betting with local bookies or at brick n’ mortar sportsbooks is an option, there is nothing like betting from the comfort of home or any place for that matter. Driving to a sportsbook takes time and effort, and even then, you’re not going to beat the options that online betting sites offer. Only online sportsbooks offer deposit bonuses and lucrative VIP programs. They also have a far better selection of odds.
“If you have mobile betting, I’m not really sure that in-arena is any different than anywhere else. That’s not to say we would rule out in-arena kiosks, but in different states, the licensing of that may be more cumbersome than you’d think, but to the extent that there is mobile betting, we know that there will be betting in the arena”, Scott Kaufman-Ross, the NBA’s Vice President, said.
Online sportsbooks give customers bonuses when they sign-up and offer regular promotions centered around major sporting events, such as the NBA All-Star Game, NBA Playoffs, and NBA Finals. Using several different betting sites when you wager on basketball will not only allow you to take advantage of more bonuses but will enable you to get the best price on your bets through line shopping.
We encourage betting fans to read our reviews about NBA betting sites. We have gone through all them trying to reach for the best in NBA bonuses, user-friendly tools, and fastest payouts. Our experts have spent a lot of time using the top-rated sportsbooks and have a wealth of experience and knowledge in betting markets. Sports betting sites have spent a lot of money to attract betting fans. They have a lot of experience on how to make easy to use platforms. Each offers live betting, which makes betting on NBA basketball even more exciting.
Best NBA Betting Sites To Bet On Your Team
- Accepts Cryptocurrencies
- Accepts credit card deposits
- Timely payouts guarantees
- NBA promotions and bonuses year-round
- Generous deposit bonus up to $1000
- Excellent software for desktop and mobile
Start Betting & Winning at Mybookie.ag
Why Bet At Mybookie?
Welcome Bonus of 50% Up To $1,000 on the first deposit makes Mybookie one of the top betting sites. They have a long history in the industry but have truly come on in the last couple of years to become a leader in sports betting. Timely payouts are something worth noting.
- Accepts Litecoin and Bitcoin
- Credit card deposits accepted
- Excellent and timely payouts
- Competitive odds for NBA
- NBA specific bonuses offered each season
- Large assortment of sports betting markets
Start Betting & Winning at Sportsbetting.ag
Why Is SportsBetting The Best?
The 50% Up To $1,000 Welcome Bonus is hard to pass by and the payout times are fast. Sportsbetting is the top betting site in the industry and easily the most professional. They offer competitive odds in all sports and tons of NBA markets, from propositions to live betting.