Welcome to the BballWire glossary — the reference for understanding how the NBA works, from cap rules to playoff formats. Each entry is written for fans who want clear definitions, real examples, and frequent updates as the rules evolve.
What’s in here
Salary cap, Collective Bargaining Agreement, trade mechanics, draft and free agency rules, the NBA playoffs format, and the NCAA NIL framework — the core terms every NBA fan eventually wants explained.
All entries
- What is the NBA Salary Cap?
- What is the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)?
- How NBA Trades Work: Rules and Mechanics
- NBA Playoffs Format: Play-In, Brackets and Seeds
- What is NIL? NCAA Name, Image and Likeness
This glossary is expanded regularly. New entries are added every few weeks during the season.