各大品牌英文介绍-National Basketball Association（在线收听）

The NBA (National Basketball Association) is the professional body that controls basketball in the U.S.A. and Canada. It consists of 30 franchised teams, of which 29 are in the U.S. and one is in Canada. It was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America and changed its name three years later. The NBA is now a multi-billion-dollar business and has spread its appeal to an international audience. Many players from outside North America play in it, helping basketball become more popular. Among recent players is Yao Ming, who has increased basketball’s fan base in his native China. The 2009–10 season had a record 83 international players. This internationalization means the NBA is televised in over 200 countries.