The NBA (National Basketball Association) is one of the four major professional sports leagues in the US, with 30 teams representing 28 US markets and one in Canada. The NBA oversees the rules of the game and officiating, markets its teams and players, and regulates franchise ownership. It also licenses broadcasting rights and collects revenue from corporate sponsorships. In addition, the NBA operates the WNBA, a 14-team women's league; the NBA Development League for up-and-coming players; and NBA TV, a cable TV channel offering news, original programming, and live game broadcasts. The NBA was founded as the Basketball Association of America in 1946.

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