Founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has become one of the pillars of American sports. Comprised of thirty teams, the league plays a grueling 82-game regular season schedule. Major market franchises like the Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers perennially are the top ticket sellers on both the primary and secondary market. But for fans, players and those in the ticket industry, the best time of the year in the NBA is the playoffs. Sixteen teams qualify, but only two teams will make it to the biggest event in the game, the NBA Finals. The best of seven series is one of the top grossing events in professional sports alongside the Super Bowl and World Series.