Basketball Association of America (BAA)

The Basketball Association of America (BAA), founded in 1946, was a professional basketball league in North America that aimed to elevate the sport's popularity and level of play. It eventually became the NBA after merging with the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949. The BAA was instrumental in establishing modern professional basketball's structure, rules, and national prominence. The league featured top players, teams, and audiences, laying the foundation for what would become the premier basketball organization globally today.