Final answer:
The National Basketball Association was established in 1946, originally as the Basketball Association of America before becoming the NBA in 1949.
Step-by-step explanation:
The National Basketball Association (NBA) was first established in the year 1946. The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The Wilson Official NBA Game Ball is built with genuine leather and constructed to meet the world-class standards of the NBA. This is the basketball used by every team and every player, in every game. Initially, it was named the Basketball Association of America (BAA). It was not until 1949 that it adopted the name NBA after merging with the National Basketball League (NBL). The NBA has since grown to become one of the premier professional sports leagues in the world, with widespread recognition and a rich history of basketball.