BASKETBALL/NBA By: Chelsea

EASTERN CONFERNCE: Atlantic Teams: Central: South East: 1. Boston Celtics 1. Chicago Bulls 1. Atlanta Hawks 2. Brooklyn Nets 2. Cleveland Cavaliers 2. Charlotte Bobcats 3. New York Knicks 3. Detroit Pistons 3. Miami Heat 4. Philadelphia 76ers 4. Indiana Pacers 4. Orlando Magic 5. Toronto Raptors 5. Milwaukee Bucks 5. Washington Wizards

WESTERN CONFERNCE: South West: North West: Pacific: 1. Dallas Mavericks 1.Denver Nuggets Golden State Warriors 2. Houston Rockets 2. Minnesota Timberwolves 2. Los Angeles Clippers 3. Memphis Grizzles 3. Portland Trail Blazers 3. Los Angeles Lakers 4. New Orleans Hornets 4. Oklahoma City Thunder 4. Phoenix Suns 5. San Antonio Spurs 5. Utah Jazz 5. Sacramento Kings

12 Famous NBA Players Lebron James Pau Gasol Chris Bosh Kobe Bryant Dwyane Wade Magic Johnson Yao Ming Blake Griffin Michael Jordan Dirk Nowitzki Derrick Rose Chris Paul

The Best NBA Player Is: Michael Jordan Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. He joined the NBA’s Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly became a league star, he entertained a lot of crowds by his prolific scoring. He has a leaping ability, illustrated by performing the best slam-dunk in history at the slam dunk contest, he got some tape and marked it on the free throw line then moved back and started running towards the free throw line then as he touched the tape he used his leaping ability and slam dunked it!! He earned a nickname which was “Air Jordan". That's how the Air Jordan’s got created. MJ at the slam dunk competition Air Jordan’s

When, how and was basketball developed? In early December 1891, Canadian American Dr. James Naismith, a physical education professor and instructor at the International Young Men's Christian Association Training School(YMCA) in Springfield, Massachusetts, (USA), was trying to keep his gym class active on a rainy day. Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball. The first balls made specifically for basketball were brown, and it was only in the late 1950s that Tony Hinkle, searching for a ball that would be more visible to players and spectators alike, introduced the orange ball that is now in common use. Dribbling was not part of the original game except for the "bounce pass" to teammates. Passing the ball was the primary means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the asymmetric shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a major part of the game around the 1950s, as manufacturing improved the ball shape. The peach baskets were used until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal hoops with backboards.

List of countries that play basketball