About NBA Basketball Players

When it comes to basketball, NBA players are truly the cream of the crop. During any given season, less than 500 of the world's best players get an opportunity to see action with the league's 30 teams. Those special few who make the cut are athletically gifted and determined individuals in peak physical condition.

Function

Each NBA team consists of a roster of 15 players, 12 of whom are allowed to suit up for games. A team's 5 starting players and top substitutes must be able to perform at their highest level for between 30 and 40 minutes per game. While staying prepared to enter the game at a moment's notice, less talented NBA players get far fewer minutes of playing time, often hitting the court only at the end of lopsided contests.
NBA-caliber players are highly specialized. Each team needs a starting quintet made up of a point-guard with superb ball-handling skills, a shooting guard adept at hitting long-range jumpers, a pair of forwards who can score and rebound and a center who provides a powerful physical presence near the basket. Bench players typically fill specific roles such as providing stifling defense or rapid-fire scoring.

History

Basketball was invented by physical education teacher named James Naismith in 1891, and the first professional games were held less than a decade later. The inaugural game in what would become the National Basketball Association took place on November 1, 1946, when the Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens. To speed up the pace of the game, in 1954 the NBA instituted a 24-second shot clock that remains in use today.
Opportunities for NBA players have grown as the league expanded from 8 teams in 1954 to its current lineup of 30 teams.
Some of the greatest athletes in the history of sports have played in the NBA, including such stars as Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain.
The average NBA player is almost 27 years old and has nearly 5 seasons of experience in the league.

Size

Generally speaking, the NBA is a league in which taller players excel. The average NBA player is 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 218 lbs. The shortest player in NBA history was Tyrone "Mugsy" Bouges, who was only 5 feet 3 inches. Manute Bol was the league's all-time tallest player, measuring 7 feet 7 inches in height.

Geography

The majority of NBA players are from the United States. But the NBA's increasing global popularity has led to a rising number of international players on team rosters. These rosters included a total of 52 foreign players at the start 2008-2009 season, including stars like Yao Ming from China, Germany's Dirk Nowitzki and Manu Ginobili of Argentina. Among foreign countries, France currently leads the pack with 9 players in the NBA.
Of the 30 existing NBA franchises, the Toronto Raptors is the only team not based in the United States.

Time Frame

NBA players face a grueling schedule that starts with the opening of training camp in early October. Following several preseason contests, the 82-game regular season tips off in late October and extends until mid-April. Players on 16 teams then compete in the playoffs, which conclude with the NBA Finals in June.

Misconceptions

NBA players are very well compensated for their skills, earning an average salary of more than $5 million per season. Nine players in the league currently make more than $20 million annually. Despite these lucrative salaries, a career as a NBA player is no guarantee of long-lasting financial security. In fact it is estimated that 60 percent of NBA players go broke within 5 years after they stop playing due to excessive spending and poor financial planning.

Resources

• NBA.com