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NBA 101

What is the lowest scoring NBA game ever?

The lowest scoring NBA game in league history is the game played on November 22, 1950 between the Minneapolis Lakers (18 points) and Fort Wayne Pistons (19 points) – the two combined to score just 37 points. The Fort Wayne Pistons won the game by just one point defeating the Minneapolis Lakers 19-18.

The last lowest scoring game last year was played on November 3rd, 2011 between the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics. The Boston Celtics won the game by 13 points beating the Miami Heat 92-79. The two combined for 171 points. It was the lowest score in a game for the 2021-22 NBA season.

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Low scoring 40s and 50s NBA seasons

The lowest scoring NBA game ever

The lowest scoring game in the NBA’s first season 1946-47

Pre-shot clock vs Post-shot clock

The lowest scoring NBA game in the shot clock era

Low scoring 40s and 50s NBA seasons

NBA games were not very high scoring in the 40s and the 50s.

Some of the teams scored so low, that 47 teams did not manage to score more that 50 points in a game during that year.

However, teams did score well into the 70s and maybe even the 80s. The first NBA team to a 100 points in a game was the St. Louis Bombers. The Bombers scored 103 points in a game against the Chicago Stags back when the NBA was still the BAA. The Bombers won that game 103-90.

The lowest scoring NBA team that year was the Detroit Falcons who scored just 33 points in a loss against the Washington Capitals.

The highest scoring NBA teams that year were the Washington Capitols (2 games with a 100+ points), Chicago Stags (3 games with a 100+ points), the Philadelphia Warriors (1 game with a 100+ points) and the St. Louis Bombers.

The lowest score in an NBA game ever

However, on November 22nd 1950, the NBA saw it’s lowest scoring game ever.

The Fort Wayne Pistons were the fourth best team in the NBA the previous year with a record of 40-28. The Minneapolis Lakers were the best team in the NBA the previous year with a record of 51-17.

Now remember this was pre-24 second shot clock. So teams could hold on to the ball for longer periods of time.

The Lakers team featured George Mikan – a legendary player to just four days prior to this game, managed to score a season high 47 points in an 86-77 win against the Rochester Royals.

This day was different.

Both – Fort Wayne and the Minneapolis Lakers struggled to score the basketball. Lakers’ George Mikan was the highest scorer in the game – he scored 15 points.

The lowest scoring game in the NBA’s first season 1946-47

The NBA started in 1946.

The first game in league history, played in New York was won by the New York Knicks in a 68-66 win over the Toronto Huskies. The New York Knicks would go on to score 90+ points twice that season.

There was some exciting basketball played. But there was some of the lowest scoring games.

On November 2, 1946 the league saw it’s first low score game in league history between the Detroit Falcons and the Washington Capitols.

The Detroit Falcons managed just 33 points against the Washington Capitols who scored 50 points. The total scored was just 83.

The Washington Capitols were led by Bob Feerick and Fred Scolari who scored 14 each.

Pre-shot clock vs Post-shot clock

In fact, it was this game that prompted strong conversations in favor of the 24-second basketball shot clock.

It was led to deep conversations and eventually the 24 second shot clock was introduced. The shot clock had arrived by 1954.

Most of the NBA’s lowest scoring games took place before the shot clock was introduced.

As soon as the shot clock was introduced, however, scores began to climb.

In the 1953-54 season – the season before the shot clock was introduced – NBA teams scored more than 100 points just 24 times.

In 1954-55 – the first season of the basketball shot clock – the league saw that number double in December. That year, NBA clubs scored 100+ a whopping 173 times – a 700% jump from the previous year!

The lowest scoring NBA game in the shot clock era

However, the 1954-55 NBA season also featured the lowest score in a game in the shot clock era.

On February 27th, 1955, the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Hawks combined for a low score game with just 119 total points scored in the game.

The Boston Celtics were led by two Bob’s – Cousy and Brannum – totaling 28 – 14 points respectively, while the Chuck Share and Bob Petit of the Milwaukee Hawks combined for 31 points.

Interestingly enough, the Boston Celtics were also part of the game with the highest total that year. The game, against the Minneapolis Lakers, was among the best games that year. The Boston Celtics won that game 128-106 – both combining for 234 points.

The lowest scoring NBA game in the 2021-22

2021-22 was one of the best NBA seasons in the history of the league. So high were the scores that of 1,230 regular season games, only 75 low scoring games saw both teams failing to reach double digits.

While records were being broken two low scoring games in particular saw both teams fail to find the bottom of the net at a high level – both with totals of just 171 points respectively.

On October 27th, 2021, the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 92-79.

Similarly, On November 3rd, 2021, the Boston Celtics defeated the Orlando Magic 92-79.

Both times combining for just 171 points – the fewest points that season.

Interestingly enough, the Los Angeles Clippers also had one of the highest scoring games in the 2022 NBA season – scoring 153 points in a win against the Milwaukee Bucks.


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NBA 101

How does the NBA Draft work?

The NBA Draft is an annual event at which all 30 NBA teams pick a young and emerging player – either from college, or high school professional player (usually from Europe) to join their team.

The Number 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft was Paolo Banchero, a 6’10” forward of Italian origin, who was picked by the Orlando Magic.

The projected number 1 for the class of 2023 NBA Draft is Victor Wembanyama, a top-tier 18-year old player from France who stand 7’3″ tall.

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How old is the NBA draft?

How are the Players selected – the NBA Draft Lottery

NBA Draft Rounds & Picks

The Draft Order & Lottery

The 2023 NBA Draft Class (projected picks)

How old is the NBA draft?

The NBA Draft started in 1947.

Since then 8,214 NBA players have been drafted by NBA teams.

The NBA draft usually takes place in June, right after the NBA Finals and at the start of the NBA offseason.

How are the Players selected – the NBA Draft Lottery

Eligibility

Players become eligible for the NBADraft when they fulfill one of the below criteria:

  • Have completed at least four years in college
  • Have completed at least one year in college and declare for the Draft by giving up their college basketball eligibility
  • Are a player that has played internationally (Non-US league) – either professionally or as an amateur.

NBA Draft Rounds & Picks

The NBA Draft has two rounds – First Round and second round.

From 1947 to 1988, the Draft had multiple rounds, with teams picking players for up to 21 rounds, like they did in the 1960 Draft.

However, since 1989, the NBA decided to restrict the Draft to just two rounds with up to 60 players being selected over two rounds.

Each NBA team usually has two picks – one in the first round of the Draft and one in the second round.

Teams often trade draft picks away to acquire star players, so it is not uncommon for an NBA team to have more than two picks in a particular Draft.

In the 2022 Draft, four teams – Cleveland, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, and Minnesota – had four picks each.

Draft Order & Lottery

The NBA Draft order is determined using a lottery system.

The system uses ping-pong balls numbered 1 to 14, drawn four at a time.

There are 1001 four-number combinations using the numbers 1-14.

These combinations are distributed amongst the 14 non-playoffs teams to give each of them a chance at landing the No. 1 pick.

The teams with the three worst records from the previous season get an equal chance, i.e. 14%, to win the first pick in the Draft; while the remaining 11 teams get odds in decreasing order.

For the 2022 NBA draft, the odds looked like this:

TeamRecordWin%Lottery
Probability
HOU20-620.24414.0%
ORL22-600.26814.0%
DET23-590.2814.0%
OKC24-580.29312.5%
IND25-570.30510.5%
POR27-550.3299.0%
SAC30-520.3667.5%
LAL33-490.4026.0%
SAS34-480.4154.5%
WAS35-470.4273.0%
NYK37-450.4512.0%
LAC
(to OKC)
42-400.5121.5%
CHA43-390.5241.0%
CLE44-380.5370.5%

The balls numbered 1-14 are then spun by a person in a lottery machine.

A person whose is facing away from the machine has a timer and tells the person spinning to stop.

The number that rolls out is the first number. This is repeated four time to get the first four-number combination. The team with this four-number combination gets the first pick.

This entire process is repeated four times to determine the first four picks.

After that, i.e. picks 5-14 are picked in inverse order of their regular season record in the previous season. That means, a team with the worst record that has not got one of the top four picks, picks at number 5; the team with the next worst record picks at number 6, and this goes on till 14.

What happens with the picks remaining in Round 1, and then Round 2?

Picks 15-30, and then Round 2, are determined using the records.

Assuming no picks are traded, then the team with the best record in the previous season picks number 30 in Round 1.

Similarly, the team with the worst record picks number 1 in Round 2, and then so on.

The 2023 NBA Draft Class (projected picks)

#1 Oklahoma City Thunder: Victor Wembanyama
Metropolitans 92 (France/ International)
19 | Forward | 7’2″ | 229 lbs

Wembanyama, a 7-foot-2 forward was brilliant against the NBA G League Ignite team in an exhibition game in October. A lock for the first pick in the first round, when he does suit up, the league would not have seen his combination of build, physique and skillset. He has a well-developed game around the perimeter game and can play against and cover all five positions. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski believes he is “the greatest prospect in NBA Draft history.”. It is no secret that NBA Teams have been following Wembanyama’s story and awaiting this draft for a few seasons now. Now that he is draft eligible, that wait is over.

#2 Indiana Pacers: Scoot Henderson
G League Ignite
19 | Guard | 6’2″ | 195 lbs

G League Ignite squad’s most prominent star Henderson has become draft eligible this season and could top the first round. Scoot Henderson is already being compared to the Grizzlies Ja Morant for his ability to light up a stat sheet and his explosive athletic ability. At 17 he averaged 14.7 points, 4.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds in the G League. Thus far, nothing indicates that he isn’t a lock at pick number 2 behind Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft.

#3 San Antonio Spurs: Amen Thompson
Overtime Elite
20 | Guard | 6’7″ | 207 lbs

Amen and Ausar – the Thompson twins were a huge win for the Overtime Elite Program. There is sufficient reason to believe that Amen’s (Unlike Ausar’s) size – he is listed at 6-foot-7 – and his ability to handle and distribute the ball are enough for teams to take him at No. 3.

#4 Utah Jazz: Nick Smith
Arkansas Razorbacks
19 (Freshman) | Guard | 6’4″ | 185 lbs

A guard believed to have the best two-way game in the top-10, Smith is a gifted athlete who can play off the ball and create for himself. Arkansas will help coaches and scouts determine where he fits in the grand scheme of an NBA offense and defense. For now they believe he could easily make a swithc between point guard and shooting guard depending on who he teams up with.

#5 Houston Rockets: Dariq Whitehead
Duke Blue Devils
19 (Freshman) | Guard | 6’6″ | 190 lbs

A Montverde Academy alumnus, Dariq Whitehead is following his seniors, many of whom were top NBA Draft picks. He counts the likes of Cade Cunningham, Scottie Barnes and Moses Moody as teammates and mentors. At 6-foot-6, Whitehead will be the latest in line for famous NBA players that have played a season at Duke before jumping to the NBA.

#6 Orlando Magic: Cameron Whitmore
Villanova Wildcats
19 (Freshman) | Forward | 6’6″ | 200 lbs

Whitmore brings explosive athletic ability, and seems like he has a body frame ready to play in the NBA. At the time of writing this Whitmore was nursing an injury so scouts would do well to take that into consideration. His playing time indicates that he will be ready in time for the tryouts come early-2023

#7 Detroit Pistons: Keyonte George
Baylor Bears
19 (Freshman) | Guard | 6’4″ | 185 lbs

Keyonte George will light up the scoreboards at Baylor. At 6-foot-4, he can score against nearly any type of defender, and can get the ball at the bottom of the net. Scouts are particularly impressed with his skillset – believed to be advanced enough to make it to the next level – the NBA.

#8 Sacramento Kings: Ausar Thompson
Overtime Elite
20 | Guard/Forward | 6’7″ | 210 lbs

The other half of Overtime Elite’s Thompson twins, Ausar needs the ball to be given to him in transiion or in the half court. Once the ball is securely in his hands though, few on this list can hold him from finishing at the rim with a varirety of creative moves.

#9 Washington Wizards: Dillon Mitchell
Texas Longhorns
19 (Freshman) | Forward | 6’8″ | 200 lbs

Dillon Mitchell was a virtual unknown over the past couple of years – now he is a top-10 prospect to round off the top-10 list behind Victor Wembanyama. This speaks volumes of his character and work ethic – both huge plus points to NBA scouts and teams. Add that to his ability to leap out of the building, and his elite-level defensive minded approach to the game, and he’s an asset for NBA teams. The year in college will only help his case to move up the top-10.

Remaining picks – from #10 to #30

#10 Charlotte Hornets: Cason Wallace
School: Kentucky Wildcats
Guard | 6’4″ | 185 lbs

#11 New York Knicks: Dereck Lively II
School: Duke Blue Devils
Center | 7’1″ | 230

#12 Portland Trail Blazers: Jarace Walker
School: Houston Cougars
Forward | 6’8″ | 230

#13 Orlando Magic (from Bulls): Kel’el Ware
School: Oregon Ducks
Center | 6’11” | 210

#14 New Orleans Pelicans: Terquavion Smith
School: NC State Wolfpack
Guard | 6’4″ | 165

#15 Atlanta Hawks: Brandon Miller
School: Alabama Crimson Tide
Forward | 6’8″ | 200

#16 Toronto Raptors: GG Jackson
School: South Carolina
Forward/Center | 6’9″ | 210

#17 Utah Jazz (via Timberwolves): Anthony Black
School: Arkansas Razorbacks
Guard | 6’7″ | 198

#18 Indiana Pacers (via Cavaliers): Kyle Filipowski
School: Duke Blue Devils
Forward/Center | 7’0″ | 230

#19 New York Knicks (via Mavericks): Julian Phillips
School: Tennessee
Forward | 6’8″ | 200

#20 Memphis Grizzlies: Amari Bailey
School: UCLA Bruins
Guard | 6’5″ | 185

#21 Charlotte Hornets (via Nuggets): Gradey Dick
School: Kansas Jayhawks
Forward | 7’1″ | 230

#22 Los Angeles Lakers: Chris Livingston, SF
School: Kentucky Wildcats
Guard/Forward | 6’6″ | 200

#23 Miami Heat: J.J. Starling
School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Guard | 6’4″ | 200

#24 Brooklyn Nets (via 76ers): Mike Miles Jr.
School: TCU Horned Frogs
Guard | 5’11” | 150

#25 Phoenix Suns: Nikola Djurisic
Mega Basket (Serbia, International)
Guard/Forward | 6’8″ | 214

#26 Utah Jazz (via Nets): Rayan Rupert
New Zealand Breakers (New Zealand, International)
Guard | 6’7″ | 191

#27 Houston Rockets (via Bucks): Leonard Miller
G League Ignite
Forward | 6’10” | 211

#28 Los Angeles Clippers: Marcus Sasser
School: Houston Cougars
Guard | 6’2″ | 170

#29 Golden State Warriors: Sidy Cissoko
G League Ignite
Guard/Forward | 6’7″ | 217

#30 Indiana Pacers (via Celtics): Harrison Ingram
School: Stanford Cardinals
Forward | 6’7″ | 230


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NBA 101

Who are the 2022 NBA Champions?

The Golden State Warriors are NBA Champions 2022.

The 2022 NBA Finals were won by NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors. They defeated the Boston Celtics in six games.

They were led by NBA point guard Stephen Curry who won the 2022 NBA Finals MVP Award for the first time in his career. Curry was also helped along by Draymond Green and Klay Thompson, both of whom played with Curry in the 2015, 2017 and 2018 NBA Championship teams.

The Golden State Warriors won four NBA championships in eight years, and their seventh NBA championship in franchise history.

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How did the Golden State Warriors get to the 2022 NBA Finals?

How did the Boston Celtics get to the 2022 NBA Finals?

Stephen Curry’s 2022 NBA Finals MVP Performance

2022 NBA Finals Leaders

Game 1

Game 2

Game 3

Game 4

Game 5

Game 6

How did the Golden State Warriors get to the 2022 NBA Finals?

The Golden State Warriors finished the 2022 NBA Regular Season with 53 wins and 29 losses. This got them the third seed in the NBA Western Conference.

Championship favorites, the Los Angeles Lakers finished with the 11th seed.

In the first round, Golden State Warriors defeated the Denver Nuggets in five games.

Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

In Round 2 (2022 NBA Western Conference Semifinals), they defeated the Memphis Grizzlies in six games.

In Round 3 (2022 NBA Western Conference Finals), they defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games.

How did the Boston Celtics get to the 2022 NBA Finals?

The Boston Celtics finished the 2022 NBA Regular Season with 51 wins and 31 losses. This got them the second seed in the NBA Eastern Conference.

In the first round, the Celtics swept the Brooklyn Nets in four games.

In Round 2 (2022 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals), they defeated the Milwaukee Bucks in seven games.

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

In Round 3 (2022 NBA Eastern Conference Finals), they defeated the Miami Heat in six games.

Stephen Curry’s 2022 NBA Finals MVP Performance

Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

Legacy

American basketball player Wardell Stephen Curry is a point guard for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA’s Western Conference.

Born on February 14th 1988, Curry is viewed widely by NBA players as being among the greatest shooters in NBA history. He has always been a part of four-time NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors.

Curry is widely viewed as an outstanding basketball player. Many believe he has revolutionized basketball – especially shooting – and has encouraged players of all levels to become better shooters.

Some analysts have dubbed Curry to be the Michael Jordan of the three-point era.

2022 NBA Season

In the 2022 NBA Regular Season, Curry finished top-10 in points scored with 25.5 points per game, and shot 43.7% from the field, 38% from the three point line, 92.3% from the free throw line. He also averaged 6.3 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game.

In the 2022 NBA Playoffs Curry finished fifth in points scored with 27.4 points per game, and shot 45.9% from the field, 39.7% from the three point line, and 82.9% from the free throw line. He also averaged 5.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds per game.

In the 2022 NBA Finals Curry finished first in points scored with 31.2 points per game, and shot 48.2% from the field, 43.7% from the three point line, and 85.7% from the free throw line. He also averaged 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game.

2022 NBA Finals Leaders

Golden State Warriors Andrew Wiggins (22) (Photo by Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Golden State Warriors
Points: Stephen Curry – 31.2 ppg
Rebounds: Andrew Wiggins – 8.8 rpg
Assists: Draymond Green – 6.2 apg
Steals: Curry – 2.0 spg
Blocks: Wiggins – 1.5 bpg

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown #7 (Photo By Nancy Lane/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)

Boston Celtics
Points: Jaylen Brown – 23.5 ppg
Rebounds: Al Horford – 8.5 rpg
Assists: Jayson Tatum – 7.0 apg
Steals: Marcus Smart – 1.5 spg
Blocks: Robert Williams – 2.8 bpg

2022 NBA Finals Game 1 – Boston Celtics 120 – Warriors 108

The Celtics stunned the NBA world by winning Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals in San Francisco.

Many expected the Warriors to dominate the series, especially since the Celtics were coming off a hard-fought seven game series against the Miami Heat.

The Golden State Warriors, however, were surprised at the way the Celtics played. Curry led all players with 34 points. But it was the play of Al Horford, who led the Celtics with 26 points, that was the biggest surprise of the game.

The Celtics dominated the fourth quarter, outscoring the Golden State Warriors 40-16, and shot a blistering 51.2% from the three point line.

2022 NBA Finals Game 2 – Warriors 107, Boston Celtics 88

The Golden State Warriors came back blazing in Game 2 of the 2022 NBA Finals. They defended well, and held the Celtics to their lowest total in the 2022 NBA Playoffs.

The Celtics were particularly after they scored just 14 points, while the Golden State Warriors scored 35 points in the same period.

Curry once again led Golden State with 29 points, but it was the play of Golden State’s Kevon Looney that stood out. Looney had 12 points and 7 rebounds along with 3 steals in just over 21 minutes of play for the Golden State Warriors.

Tatum had 28 points for the Celtics, but the team had 18 turnovers in the game.

2022 NBA Finals Game 3: Boston Celtics 116 – Warriors 100

Back home for the first NBA Finals game since 2010, the Celtics were looking to make a statement. Especially since they had won Game 1 of the 2022 NBA Finals at San Francisco.

They did not disappoint their fans.

They came out firing away in the first quarter, scoring 33 points to the Golden State’s 22. They held the Golden State Warriors to just 20% from the three point line, and outrebounded them 16-8.

Tatum, Brown and Smart combined for 77 points, 22 rebounds and 19 assists. For the Golden State Warriors, Curry had 31 points, while Klay Thompson had 25 points.

2022 NBA Finals Game 4: Warriors 107 – Boston Celtics 97

Golden State needed to win Game 4 in order to avoid going down 1-3 to the Boston Celtics. They dug deep into their championship pedigree and pulled off a win.

The game started off neck to neck with the score at 54-49 at the half. The Golden State Warriors were down.

It was over the next two quarters that they turned up the heat and took charge of the game.

Led by Stephen Curry’s 24 second half points, the Warriors rallied to to level the 2022 NBA Finals at 2-2 each.

Curry led all scorers with 43 points for the Golden State Warriors. Tatum and Brown combined for 44 points for the Boston Celtics.

2022 NBA Finals Game 5: Warriors 104, Boston Celtics 94

This was the best defensive game in the 2022 NBA Finals.

With just ten points separating the two teams in the final score – this was also probably the closest game of the 2022 NBA Finals.

Boston started the game slow, being held to just 16 points in the first quarter by the Golden State Warriors throttling defense.

They did outscore the Golden State Warriors in the third quarter 35-24. This stunned the Warriors a bit as the third quarter is usually their best quarter.

However, Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins exploded for 10 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Warriors close out the game and take home win number 3 in the 2022 NBA Finals.

2022 NBA Finals Game 6: Warriors 103 – Boston Celtics 90

The Warriors started and finished this game like the NBA Champions they were.

The Warriors’ Draymond Green had a great game with 12 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists.

Curry was once again spectacular finishing the game with 34 points, tying the Celtics’ Jaylen Brown as leading scorers for the game.

Celtics’ Tatum was held to just 13 points, while the Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins finished with 18 points.

Categories
NBA 101

How many quarters are in a basketball game?

There are four quarters in a basketball game.

As per FIBA rules, a quarter lasts 10 minutes for a total game time of 40 minutes, while in the NBA, a quarter lasts 12 minutes for a total game time of 48 minutes.

The NCAA has chosen to have two halves of 20 minutes each for a total game time of 40 minutes.

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FIBA Basketball Quarters

NBA Basketball Quarters

NCAA Basketball Halves

FIBA Basketball Quarters

The Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur, commomnly know as FIBA, is the governing body for all basketball activity across the globe.

It was founded on June 18th, 1932 and has 212 basketball-playing member countries.

It sets the rules for all FIBA-associated tournaments such as the Olympics, the Asian Games, and other such international competitions.

The playing time in a FIBA basketball game is 40 minutes. Teams play for four quarters which are 10 minutes long each.

There is a 2 minutes break between the first and the second quarter, and then again between the third and the fourth quarter.

The period between the second and the third quarters is called a halftime which lasts for 15 minutes.

NBA Basketball Quarters

The National Basketball Association, commonly know as NBA, is the premier basketball league in the United States of America. Many believe that it is the best basketball league in the world. governing body for all basketball activity across the globe.

It was founded on June 6th, 1946 and currently has 30 teams playing in a season.

The playing time in an NBA basketball game is 48 minutes.

Are there quarters Teams play for four quarters which are 12 minutes long each.

The duration of the breaks is the same as FIBA basketball, i.e. 2 minutes between the first and second, and then the third and fourth quarters. NBA games also have a 15-minutes long halftime.

NCAA Basketball Halves

The National Collegiate Athletic Association, commonly know as NCAA, is the premier university and college basketball league in the United States of America.

It governs all college and university level athletics and sports played in the USA.

It was founded in 1910 and currently has nearly 1,100 member colleges and universities. They are divided into three divisions:

Division I – 350 member institutions

Division II – 310 member institutions

Division III – 440 member institutions

The playing time in an NCAA basketball game is 40 minutes. Teams play for two halves which are 20 minutes long each.

The duration of the halftime in the NCAA game is 15 minutes.


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NBA 101

What is LeBron James net worth?

NBA star LeBron James has earned over $1 billion in his lifetime. He has earned nearly $350 million in NBA salary, and over $700 million in endorsements.

Hi biggest NBA paycheck is $41 million which he will earn playing for the Los Angles Lakers this season (2021-22). His biggest endorsement – an estimated $30 million dollars per year – comes from Nike – a sportswear brand.

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LeBron James current NBA contract
LeBron James Nike deal
LeBron James other endorsements
LeBron James investments

LeBron James current NBA Contract

LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

LeBron James has earned nearly $350 million in NBA salary during his career.

He made his most money playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Over the 11 seasons he has played for the franchise, he has earned close to $170 million.

His current contract with the Los Angeles Lakers is a 2-year/$85.6 million contract that ends after the 2022-23 season. He will earn $41.1 million in the first year, and $44.4 million in the second year of the contract.

He is eligible for a $97 million extension that could see James continue with the Lakers franchise till 2025.

LeBron James Nike deal

A detail view of the Nike Lebron 15 sneakers worn by LeBron James. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

LeBron James is a brand ambassador for Nike. his current deal is a “lifetime” deal that is reportedly worth about $30 million a year.

James’ signed his first contract with Nike Basketball in 2003 for seven years worth $90 million. It was the largest contract that Nike had ever given to a rookie player at the time. It was reported that Reebok had offered James a seven year deal worth $115 million which he turned down.

LeBron James endorsements

LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers. Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

LeBron James has more than a dozen multi-million dollar endorsement contracts.

Some of his biggest endorsement contracts include Nike, PepsiCo, 2K Sports, AT&T, Beats by Dre, Calm, GMC, RIMOWA, Tonal, and Walmart.

PepsiCo: James’ deal with the beverage maker is reportedly a multi-year contract that he signed in 2021. James moved to endorsing Pepsi after 18 years with Coca Cola; Coke signed him as a 18-year-old rookie.

2KSports: is a video-game producer that produces the wildly popular NBA 2K series of games.

AT&T: This is a multi-year deal with the world’s largest telecommunications company. James entered this deal in 2020.

Beats by Dre: is a primarily an audio company that produces speakers and headphones. in 2014, when Apple acquired Beats by Dre for $3 billion, it was reported that James made over $30 million in that deal. James received a stake in the company for simply agreeing to wear the headphones while in public. However, in 2020 former NBA player Kendrick Perkins said that LeBron as actually a “silent investor” in Beats Electronics, and that the acquisition in 2014 might have netted James close to $700 million. The claim remains unconfirmed and unsubstantiated.

Calm: is a meditation app that was valued at over $2 billion in 2020. In 2019, James partnered with Calm to release a series of videos in which he talks about the importance of mental health and how meditation helps his stay focused.

GMC: The automobile maker roped in James to push and promote the EV (electronic vehicle) version of its flagship Hummer SUV.

RIMOWA: is a luxury luggage maker that partnered with James in 2018. in fact, James was already customer of the brand for a few years before the opportunity to partner with them on an endorsement came through.

Walmart: LeBron James partnered with Walmart in 2019 to help improve accessibility and availability of daily necessities to underprivileged communities. It started with the launch of James’ I PROMISE School that aims to pro vide high quality education to economically underprivileged children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

LeBron James investments and other earnings

NBA Player Lebron James and Maverick Carter. (Photo by George Pimentel/Getty Images)

SpringHill Entertainment: Is an entertainment and production company owned by LeBron James and Maverick Carter and is valued at $725 million.

Blaze Pizza: In 2012, James took an active investment of $1 million in in a pizza restaurant called Blaze Pizza. In addition to owning close to two dozen outlets of the pizza chain, James has also seen his initial investment rise. Blaze Pizza has seen its valuation rise to over 300 million over the last ten years, taking the value of James’ stake to an estimated #30-40 million.

Epic Games: The creators behind the game Fortnite, were part of a group that invested over $100 million dollars into LeBron James’ SpringHill company. The deal also included Fortnite being able to use James’ likeness for a character in the game.

Tonal: The company makes an interactive exercise machine. James made an undisclosed investment in the company, and also signed up as its brand ambassador. By 2021 the company had raised over $450 million and was valued at $1.6 billion.


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NBA 101

How many rings does Michael Jordan have?

Michael Jordan retired from the NBA having won six rings, or six NBA Championships.

He won rings in the following seasons – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 1998.

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Michael Jordan’s first NBA Ring
Jordan’s first NBA three-peat
Jordan’s first NBA ring after retirement
Jordan’s second three-peat and last NBA ring

Michael Jordan’s first NBA ring

Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls with the 1991 NBA Championship Trophy.(Photo by Ken Levine/Getty Images)

Jordan was a four-time NBA scoring champion before the 1990-91 NBA season. However, no matter how hard he tried he never seemed to get to the NBA Finals.

In fact, in the three prior seasons his Bulls team was eliminated by the Detroit Pistons.

In the 1991 NBA Playoffs, Jordan – who was once again scoring champion – took care of business against the Detroit Pistons in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals. The Chicago Bulls swept the Pistons to setup an NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers, led by their star Magic Johnson, came prepared to fight a young Bulls team led by a 27-year-old Jordan.

The Bulls proved to be the better team throughout, beating the Lakers in five games and giving Jordan his first NBA ring.

Jordan’s first NBA three-peat

Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan victorious with three fingers(Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./Sports Illustrated via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Jordan and his Bulls were now the two-time reigning NBA champions. They had finished the 1992-93 NBA season with 57 wins – the second best record in the Eastern Conference.

They won their first two series in the 1993 NBA Playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks and the Cleveland Cavaliers fairly easily, sweeping the Hawks 3-0 and the Cavaliers 4-0.

The 1993 NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Bulls and their arch rivals the New York Knicks did not go as per Jordan’s plans.

The New York Knicks came blazing out of the gate winning the first two games. Jordan and the Bulls had not lost two playoff games back-to-back since the 1990 NBA playoffs.

However, the team and Jordan jumped back with stunning performances and won four games straight.

They then beat the Phoenix Suns – led by regular season MVP Charles Barkley – in six games to give Jordan is third NBA ring and first NBA three-peat.

Jordan’s first NBA ring returning from retirement

Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls. (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jordan retired for the first time in 1993 after finding out about the tragic passing of his father. He went to play baseball – a sport his father had encouraged him to play.

However, in 1995, Jordan chose to return to the NBA halfway through the season. The 1995 season did not end as per Jordan’s or the Bulls’s expectations as they lost to the Orlando Magic in six games in the 1995 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The next season – 1995-96 – Jordan and the Bulls came back with a vengeance.

They won a record 72-games, and Jordan once again led the NBA in scoring.

The NBA Playoffs were just as entertaining as Jordan and the Bulls lost just three out of fifteen games to put NBA ring no. 4 on Jordan’s hand. Tis was Jordan’s most emotional championship since it was his first NBA championship without his father around.

Jordan’s second three-peat and last NBA ring

Michael Jordan (L) and Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson (R). (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo by JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)

By the 1997-98 season, Jordan had played 12 seasons in the NBA. He had won five rings, and was the scoring champion for nine seasons.

However, at the start of the season there were rumblings that the team might be dismantled at the end of the season.

There was buzz that Phil Jackson would be replaced, and Jordan and some of the key Bulls members such as Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman were sure they did not want to play for anyone else.

The Bulls ownership stood steadfast in their decision. Jordan and Bulls decided to make one last run at the championship.

They finished the regular season with 62 wins – tied with the Utah Jazz for the best record in the NBA.

The 1998 NBA Playoffs started well for the Bulls – they swept the New Jersey Nets and beat the Charlotte Hornets in five games.

However, the Indian Pacers gave Jordan and the Bulls a hard time. They took them to a Game 7, but eventually lost.

Bulls then went on to play the Utah Jazz in the NBA Finals for the second time in two seasons. Jordan and the Bulls beat the Jazz in six games, giving Jordan his second career three-peat and NBA ring No. 6.


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Who is the youngest NBA player?

Andrew Bynum is the youngest player to have ever played in an NBA game. He was 17 years and 244 days old when he suited up for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2005-06 NBA season.

Jalen Duren, who is 18 years and 335 days, is the youngest NBA player actively playing in the 2022-23 season. He is a center for the Detroit Pistons.

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Youngest NBA player ever
Youngest NBA player in the 2022-23 NBA season
Youngest NBA player to start an NBA game
Youngest NBA player to win an MVP
Youngest NBA player to win an NBA Finals MVP
Youngest NBA player to win an NBA championship

Youngest NBA player ever

Andrew Bynum was drafted with the 10th overall pick in Round 1 of the 2005 NBA Draft. He was 17 years and 244 days old on the day.

The Los Angeles Lakers were looking for a gifted big man, and Bynum seemed to their answer. He averaged 22 points, 17 rebounds and 5 blocks as a senior in high school. The Lakers franchise felt they could repeat the success they had with another high school player named Kobe Bryant.

Bynum did no play much his first season. Between battling injuries and his inexperience he played just 46 games and finished with averages of 1.6 points and 1.7 rebounds.

It wasn’t until the 2011-12 season that he played and started in 60 games and finished with career highs of 18.7 points and 11.8 rebounds.

An injury sdielined him for the whole of next season and Bynum was never the same.

He retired in 2014 with career averages of 11.5 points and 7.7 rebounds.

Youngest NBA player in the 2022-23 NBA season

Jalen Duren #0 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)

Jalen Duren, 18 years, was picked 13th overall in Round 1 of the 2022 NBA Draft. He was 18 years and 335 days old at the draft.

A 6’10” center, Duren attended the University of Memphis for one season before declaring for the NBA Draft.

The Pistons are looking to build a contender around their 2021 NBA Draft star – Cade Cunningham.

Duren opened the 2022-23 NBA Preseason with a 14 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in a win against the No.1 pick Paolo Banchero and his Orlando Magic.

Youngest NBA player to start a game

Kobe Bryant #8 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)

The late great Kobe Bryant was the youngest NBA player to start a game.

Bryant, a 6’8″ guard, was just shy of his 18th birthday (17 years and 312 days) when he was picked 13th overall in Round 1 by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1996 NBA Draft.

On January 28, 1997, Bryant started the game against the Dallas Mavericks. He finished the game with 12 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals.

Bryant retired after the 2015-16 season after winning five championships, and finishing with a career total of 33,643 points scored.

Youngest NBA player to win MVP

Derrick Rose #1 of the Chicago Bulls. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Derrick Rose, a 6’2″ point guard, was the youngest NBA player to win an MVP Trophy at the age of 22 years and 191 days.

Rose was the 1st pick in the 2008 NBA Draft and was everything the Chicago Bulls hoped he would be.

In the 2010-11 season, finished with a career high 25.0 points per game, while also averaging 7.7 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game.

He led the Bulls to 62 wins – the best record in the NBA – and wins in Round 1 and Round 2 of the 2011 NBA playoffs.

Youngest NBA player to win an NBA Finals MVP

Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson (32) (Photo by Manny Millan /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X24508 )

Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson is the youngest NBA player to win the NBA Finals MVP trophy. He was 20 years old.

Johnson, a 6’9″ guard, was the first pick in the 1979 NBA draft. He was believed to be way ahead of his time – a 6’9″ player running and playing point was non-existent in the NBA at the time.

In the 1980 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, Johnson and the Lakers were up 3-2 after Game 5. In that game, their best player – the center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – suffered a badly sprained ankle in the third quarter. While Jabbar finished the game after receiving some treatment, he was unable to travel to Philadelphia for Game 6.

Johnson, a 20-year-old rookie at the time, bravely agreed to start and the play the game at the center position.

He blew away everyone, finishing with a game high 42 points and 15 rebounds, and bringing home the NBA championship and the NBA Finals MVP Trophy.

Youngest NBA player to win an NBA championship

Darko Milicic #31 of the Detroit Pistons. (Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

This may come as a shock to most NBA fans, but the youngest NBA player to win a championship is Darko Milicic.

Milicic, a 7’0″ forward, was a phenom in Europe. He was drafted with the 2nd pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. He was picked ahead of players such as Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade.

While Milicic never lived up to the hype, he was fortunate enough to be part of a Detroit Pistons team that had put together a contender with players such as Chauncey Billups, Richard ‘Rip’ Hamilton, and Ben Wallace.

The Pistons upset the three-time reigning champions, the Los Angeles Lakers in five games in the 2004 NBA Finals, making Milicic the youngest NBA champion at the age 18 years and 361 days.


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NBA 101

How long is a basketball game?

An NBA game has 48 minutes of playing time. It is divided into four quarters of 12 minutes each.

An NCAA game has 40 minutes of playing time. It is divided into two halves of 20 minutes each.

A FIBA-regulation game has 40 minutes of playing time. It is divided into four halves of 10 minutes each.

There is a break of two (2) minutes between the 1st & 2nd quarter, and between the 3rd and 4th quarter, while halftime at an NBA game is 15 minutes long.

Incase a game goes into overtime, each overtime period is 5 minutes with a break of two (2) minutes between each overtime period.

Basketball is a stoppage-time game, i.e. the clock stops when there is a foul, or the ball goes out of bounds. Due to this, modern NBA games last up to two and a half (2.5) hours including breaks and entertainment, while an overtime game can last up to three (3) hours.

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How long was the first basketball game?
College basketball vs. the NBA – Two halves vs. Four quarters
How long is a live NBA game?
What was the longest NBA game ever played?

How long was the first basketball game?

Dr. James Naismith, who invented the game of basketball, decided that a game should be no more that 35 minutes long.

A basketball was divided into two halves of 30 minutes each, and a five (5) minute break between the halves.

12. The time shall be two fifteen-minute halves, with five minutes rest between.

Rules of basket ball – Dr. James Naismith, inventor of basketball

Since the game was invented to his students active, he felt 35 minutes of activity was long enough for his students to get a good workout, yet short enough so they did not get too bored.

College basketball vs. the NBA – Two halves vs. Four quarters

Basketball was soon adopted by colleges as a part of their sports calendar.

They increased the length of each half to be twenty minutes. The five (5) minute break in between remained the same. This took the total playing time to forty minutes and a full game to forty five minutes.

When the BAA or Basketball Association of America (as the NBA was called at the time) it decided to increase the length of a full game experience to two hours. They felt two (2) hours was the perfect amount of time for a fan and his or her family to enjoy a game of basketball.

To do this, the BAA decided to:

One, divide the game into four quarters instead of two halves.
Two, increase the length of each quarter to twelve minutes.
Three, keep a break of two minutes between the 1st & 2nd, and the 3rd & 4th quarters.
Four, to increase the halftime break to 15 minutes.

That took the total playing time to 48 minutes, and the length of a full game to 1 hour 7 minutes including breaks.

However, since in basketball is a stoppage game, i.e. the time stops when the ball goes out of bounds or a foul is committed. This takes the total time from the opening tip-off to the final whistle to about two (2) hours.

How long is a live NBA game?

The length of a full NBA game has not changed.

It is still four quarters of 12 minutes each with two minute break between quarters and a 15-minute break between halves.

However, as the NBA grows, it has a host of partners and entertainment events during live games.

In the arena, fans are entertained with team dancers, mascots, partner or sponsor activity, and popular performers and music artists.

For the fans watching at home, they get to see advertisements, and sometimes the entertainment at the venue as mentioned above.

This has taken the total time of a modern NBA game to two and a half hours.

In addition to what was discussed above, the modern NBA game also allows fans to watch pre-game warmups, and an elaborate player introduction.

In case an NBA game goes into overtime, the a modern NBA game can last up to three (3) hours.

The longest NBA game ever played

The Indianapolis Olympians and the Rochester Royals hold the record for the longest game ever played. It was game that lasted six overtimes, and finished with a score of 75-74. In fact the teams shot more free throws (75) than they made field-goals (34).

The contest was among a handful that convinced the NBA that something needed to be done about the duration of games. It led to the discussion about a “shot” clock in 1953, and eventually the introduction of the 24-second shot clock in 1954.


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NBA 101

How many games are in an NBA season?

NBA team play 82 games in the regular season, up to two games in the Play-In tournament, and up to 28 games in the playoffs.

Jump to a section:

How and when did the NBA first decide to play 82 games?
How are NBA teams are divided by conference and divisions?
How are the 82 games calculated in the modern NBA era?
How many playoff games do NBA teams play?
What is the NBA Play-In tournament?
Summary
Sam Jones #24 of the Boston Celtics dribbles against Wilt Chamberlain #13 of the 76ers. (Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images)

How did the NBA first decide to play 82 games?

The NBA had its first season in 1946-47.

Its regular season and playoffs, however, underwent several changes over the years.

The first season, with just 11 teams, the NBA’s schedule had teams playing a total of at least 60 regular-season games, and up to 20 playoff games.

In the 1967-68 season, two expansion teams – the San Diego Rockets, and the Seattle Supersonics – took the total number of NBA teams to 12.

That season, each NBA team played eight (8) games against their conference rival – Eastern conference and Western conference – and seven (7) games against non-conference rivals.

Each conference had six teams.

Thus 82 games came from:

8 games x 5 conference rivals = 40 games.

7 games x 6 opposite conference rivals = 42 games.

The NBA however, continued to expand until the 2004-05 season. This was when the last expansion team – the Charlotte Bobcats (now the Charlotte Hornets) – joined the NBA, taking the total number of teams to 30. The number of teams remains unchanged to this day.

Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs reaches for the opening tip-off against Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat during Game One of the 2013 NBA Finals. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

How NBA teams divided into conferences and divisions?

The modern NBA era features a total of 30 teams.

These teams are divided into two conferences – Eastern and Western – of 15 teams each.

Within a conference, teams are further subdivided into divisions. featuring five (5) teams each.

The Eastern Conference features the Atlantic Division, the Central Division and the Southeast Division.

The Western Conference features the Northwest Division, the Pacific Division, and the Southwest Division.

Here is the breakup of the teams by division, sorted alphabetically:

Eastern ConferenceWestern Conference
Atlantic DivisionNorthwest Division
Boston CelticsDenver Nuggets
Brooklyn NetsMinnesota Timberwolves
New York KnicksOklahoma City Thunder
Philadelphia 76ersPortland Trailblazers
Toronto RaptorsUtah Jazz
Central DivisionPacific Division
Chicago BullsGolden State Warriors
Cleveland CavaliersLos Angeles Clippers
Detroit PistonsLos Angeles Lakers
Indiana PacersPhoenix Suns
Milwaukee BucksSacramento Kings
Southeast DivisionSouthwest Division
Atlanta HawksDallas Mavericks
Charlotte HornetsHouston Rockets
Miami HeatMemphis Grizzlies
Orlando MagicNew Orleans Hornets
Washington WizardsSan Antonio Spurs
NBA teams sorted by conference and division.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors hugs Vince Carter #15 of the Memphis Grizzlies after the Warriors finished the 2015-16 NBA regular season with a 73-9 record. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

How are the 82 games calculated in the modern NBA era?

As we see above, there are 30 teams divided into two conferences and six divisions.

Each team will play

I. Four games against its division rivals; 4 games x 4 teams = 16 games.

II. Four games against six of its out-of-division conference rivals; 4 games x 6 teams = 24 games.

III. Three games against the remaining four out-of-division rivals; 3 games x 4 teams = 12 games.

III. Two games against its non-conference rivals; 2 games x 15 teams = 30 games.

That gives us a total of 82 games.

How, then, does the NBA decide which out-of-division conference rivals should a team play four times, and which they should play three times.

For this, the NBA has come up with a five-year rotation policy.

This means that once every five years, a team will play an out-of-division conference rival four times.

Year 1 to Year 4 – 3 games.

Year 5 – 4 games.

Year 6 – Year 9 – 3 games.

Year 10 – 4 games.

And so on.

Tim Duncan #21 of the San Antonio Spurs reaches for the opening tip-off against Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat during Game One of the 2013 NBA Finals. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

How many playoff games do NBA teams play?

The NBA playoffs format has evolved over the years.

In its first season, the two top teams in each conference qualified for a best-of-seven semifinal. The second and the third-best teams in each conference battled for a spot in the second semifinal.

In the modern NBA era, there are four playoff rounds:

The first round (or) Quarter-Finals

The second round (or) Semi-Finals

The third round (or) Conference Finals

The NBA Finals.

Each round is a best-of-seven series; i.e. a team has to win four out of seven games to proceed to the next round.

Credit: NBA.com

What is the NBA Play-In tournament?

Till the 2019 playoffs, the top eight teams – based on their regular-season record – from each conference moved on to the Playoffs.

However, since the difference between the records of the seventh-seed and the tenth-seed was often so small, the NBA wanted to give more teams a chance to try and make it into the playoffs.

So starting in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, the NBA initiated the Play-In tournament.

The Play-in tournament is fairly simple:

It starts with two games:

Game 1 – 7-seed vs. 8-seed, and

Game 2 – 9-seed vs. 10-seed

The winner of Game 1 proceeds to get the seventh seed in the Playoffs.

The loser of Game 1 plays the winner of Game 2. The winner of this game gets the eighth seed in the Playoffs.

Summary

As mentioned at the start of this article, NBA teams play 82 regular season games, up to two games in the Play-In tournament, and up to 28 games in the NBA playoffs.

***

If you like this article you probably would like to learn more about how NBA teams earn their playoffs seeds, and how the regular season record matters.


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What is the Highest Career NBA Salary Earned by a player?

NBA salaries continue to climb.

This is because of the growth in the NBA’s broadcasting deal – the last broadcasting deal was signed in 2014, a nine-year/$24 billion deal – and the growth of the NBA brand around the world.

Since it was first instituted in the 1984-’85 season, the NBA salary cap has increased or stayed the same for every NBA season except one – the 2009-’10 season –

Since then the career salary earnings of the top 100 players exceeds $17 billion (as of 2022), with the top ten earning 16% of that – $2.8 billion.

48 out of the top 100 are actively playing having made $8.3 billion till date.

This is a list of the ten NBA players who have earned the most salary in playing contracts during their careers.

Click to jump to section

10. Blake Griffin
9. Carmelo Anthony
8. James Harden
7. Shaquille O’Neal
6. Russell Westbrook
5. Kevin Durant
4. Kobe Bryant
3. Chris Paul
2. Kevin Garnett
1. LeBron James

10. Blake Griffin, Brooklyn Nets

NBA Career salary earnings: $255 million ($255,764,829)
Blake Griffin #2 of the Brooklyn Nets against the Boston Celtics (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images)

Griffin was one-third of the Big Three on the LA Clippers.

He formed a high-flying and high scoring trio with point guard Chris Paul, and centre DeAndre Jordan between 2011 and 2017.

His current contract is a 1-year / $2.6 million player minimum contract.

Prior to joining the Brooklyn Nets, Griffin was a star on the Detroit Pistons and the LA Clippers.

His largest single-season salary was $34.2 million he received from the Pistons in 2019-20 – his last season there.

Griffin’s largest contract was with the LA Clippers with whom he signed a 5-year / $171 million deal in 2017.

9. Carmelo Anthony, Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Career salary earnings: $262 million ($262,523,093)
Carmelo Anthony #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Chris Elise/NBAE via Getty Images)

Anthony is one of the two oldest active players on this list. He is considered by many to be among the most effortless scorers in the history of the NBA.

His current contract with the Los Angeles Lakers is a 1-year/$2.6 million player minimum deal.

Prior to that, Howard was a big earner, earning over $230 million over a 15-year span.

His career’s largest contract is the 5-years/$124 million contract the New York Knicks gave him at the start of the 2014-15 season. This was following the 3 years/$64 million contract he received from them in 2012. Prior to the Knicks, Anthony was a star with the Denver Nuggets and earned $75 million in salary over the eight he played for them.

Anthony’s highest single-season salary was the $26.2 million he earned during his one season with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

8. James Harden, Philadelphia 76ers

NBA Career salary earnings: $268 million ($268,660,574)
James Harden #1 of Philadelphia 76ers (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

James Harden is by many to be one of the most skilled scoring guards in the history of the NBA.

He is one of three players – the other two being Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan – who have more than one season ranked in the All-time top-15 season scoring averages. The two seasons were 2018-19 where he averaged 36.13 ppg and 2019-20 where he averaged 34.34 ppg.

His current contract is a 4-year / $171 million contract he had signed with the Houston Rockets in 2019. This has carried on to his current team – the Philadelphia 76ers – through trades that included a stop at the Brooklyn Nets.

He is set to earn $47.4 million for the 2022-23 season – his highest per season salary ever.

This is Harden’s second $100 million+ contract; the last one being a 4 year / $117.9 million contract he signed with the Houston Rockets.

7. Shaquille O’Neal, retired

NBA Career salary earnings: $286 million ($286,344,668)
Shaquille O’Neal #34 of the Los Angeles Lakers. Mandatory Credit: Donald Miralle/Allsport.

The most dominant big man to ever play the sport, Shaq towered at 7’2″ and weighed a monstrous 325 pounds (147 kgs) at his apex.

The four-time NBA Champion led the NBA in FG% for ten seasons during his 20 year NBA career, topping off with 29.3 ppg in 1994-95.

His largest contract was the 7-year / $120 million contract he signed when he moved to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Orlando Magic – the team that drafted him.

It was the first of two $100 million+ contracts he signed in his career; the second one coming with the Miami Heat in 2005, where he signed a 5-year / $101 million contract.

In the 2004-05 season, O’Neal earned $27.6 million, making that the highest salary he has earned in a single season.

6. Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Career salary earnings: $288 million ($288,581,670)
Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)

Westbrook rakes in the numbers both on and off the court.

The former NBA MVP is the only player in the top 100 to make at least $30 million with four different teams.

Westbrook’s biggest single-season salary jump came at the start of the 2016-17 season when he earned $26.5 million for the season. He averaged a triple-double that season – only the second NBA player to do so after Oscar Robertson.

His largest contract is the 5-years/$206 million contract he signed in with the Oklahoma City Thunder at the start of the 2018-’19 season. He has been traded thrice since that contract, which will end in 2023 with Westbrook expecting to be paid over $47 million for the 2022-23 season.

Westbrook’s highest-earning season is the current season (2021-22) where is drawing a salary of $44 million.

5. Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

NBA Career salary earnings: $306 million ($306,172,746)
Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets against the Indiana Pacers. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

At just under 7-feet tall, Durant is a smooth operator on the court. The two time NBA champions has been the scoring champion four times in five seasons between 2009 and 2014.

His current contract is 4-year / $198 million extension he signed with the Brooklyn Nets starting 2022.

This was an extension of the 4-year / $164 million contract he had signed with the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade deal in 2019.

His current contract is the largest contract he has ever signed. The $40 million he will earn this season makes it the biggest season paycheck of his career.

4. Kobe Bryant (late)

NBA Career salary earnings: $323 million ($323,312,307)
Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

The late Kobe Bryant is a five-time NBA Champion. He finished his career with 33,000 points, giving him the fourth highest points total in NBA history.

Bryant’s last contract with the Los Angeles Lakers was a 2-year / $48.5 million contract. This came on the heels of a 3-year / $83 million contract he signed in 2011

His career’s largest contract was the 7-year / $136 million contract he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2004.

The highest salary he has received in a season is the $30.4 he received in 2013-14.

3. Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

NBA Career salary earnings: $330 million ($330,709,419)
Chris Paul #3 of the Phoenix Suns (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Nicknamed “The Point God”, Paul continues to be be among the top points guards in the NBA in 2022 – his 17th year in the league.

He has led the NBA in steals six times, and in assists five times. He is also the only NBA player to lead the NBA in assists and steals three times – ’08, ’09, and ’14

His largest contract is the 4-year / $159.7 million which he signed while with the Houston Rockets in 2018. It also included a salary of $41 million in 2020-21 which is the highest salary he has received in a single season.

This is second $100 million+ contract, the first one being the 5-year / $107 million contract he signed when he joined the LA Clippers in 2013.

2. Kevin Garnett, retired

NBA Career salary earnings: $334 million ($334,304,240)
Kevin Garnett #21 of the Minnesota Timberwolves. (Photo by Bill Frakes/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

“The Big Ticket”, as he was often referred to, Kevin Garnett is one of three players on this list who entered the NBA right out of high school.

He led the NBA in rebounding four times and was named NBA regular season MVP in ’04.

His last contract was a 2-year / $ 16.5 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Garnett made headlines early in his career by getting a $100 million+ extension contract in 1998 right after his rookie contract. It was a 5-year / $126 million contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. This was immediately followed by another $100 million+ contract. The Timberwolves put their trust in him by giving him a 4-year / $100 million contract in ’04.

The highest salary he has earned in a season is the $28 million he earned in ’04 as part of his extension contract with the Timberwolves.

1. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

NBA Career salary earnings: $387 million ($387,384,119)
LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The self-proclaimed “The King” tops the list of All-time career earnings list, getting close to that coveted $400 million number.

The four-time NBA Champion has amassed just over 37,000 career points, putting him in second place behind the great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. He is also the only active player in the top-10 all time scoring list.

His current contract is a 2-year / $85.6 million which ends with the 2023 season.

The largest contract he has ever singed is the 4-year / $153.3 million contract he signed in 2018 with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He has signed almost three $100 million contract in his career – the other two being (a.) a 3-year / $99.8 million contract in 2016, and (b.) a 6-year / $109.8 million contract in 2010 – both of which he signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

His highest season payday will come in ’23 where he will rake in $44 million.


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