<P> Of those Americans citing their favorite sport, basketball is ranked second (counting amateur levels) behind American football . However, in regards to money the NBA is ranked third in popularity . More Americans play basketball than any other team sport, according to the National Sporting Goods Association, with over 26 million Americans playing basketball . Basketball was invented in 1891 by Canadian physical education teacher James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts . </P> <P> The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the world's premier men's professional basketball league and one of the major professional sports leagues of North America . It contains 30 teams (29 teams in the U.S. and 1 in Canada) that play an 82 - game season from October to June . After the regular season, eight teams from each conference compete in the playoffs for the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy . </P> <P> Since the 1992 Summer Olympics, NBA players have represented the United States in international competition and won several important tournaments . The Dream Team was the unofficial nickname of the United States men's basketball team that won the gold medal at the 1992 Olympics . </P> <P> Basketball at both the college and high school levels is popular throughout the country . Every March, a 68 - team, six - round, single - elimination tournament (commonly called March Madness) determines the national champions of NCAA Division I men's college basketball . </P>

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