Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB) (English: New Basketball Brazil) is the Brazilian premier professional men's basketball league. It is organized by the Liga Nacional de Basquete (LNB) (National Basketball League), in a new format of Brazil's previous top-tier level basketball competition, the Campeonato Brasileiro de Basquete (Brazilian Basketball Championship). The NBB is managed by the Brazilian basketball associations, which were founding members of the LNB. Format The NBB is the annual basketball league that is promoted by the national Brazilian league (LNB) organizing body, and is endorsed by the Brazilian Basketball Confederation (CFB). The first phase of the season consists of fifteen teams playing against each other, on a home and away basis. Then the top eight teams go to the playoffs, where the top ranked team plays against the one in the eighth place, the second from the top plays the seventh, and so on. Each playoff series is a best-of-five, apart from the championship final, which is a single game. In all of those, the best placed team has the home court advantage. Finally, the best placed teams in the league qualify to the South American top-tier level FIBA Americas League and the South American second-tier level FIBA South American League. LOB The NBB has a promotion and relegation format with the Brazilian second-tier level league, the Liga Ouro de Basquete (LOB) (Gold Basketball League). The worst performing teams of each NBB season are relegated down to the second-tier level LOB, while the best performing teams of each LOB season are promoted up to the top-tier level NBB. LDB The NBB also features an Under-20 age development league, called the Liga de Desenvolvimento de Basquete (LDB) (Developmental Basketball League). History 2009 season The NBB inaugural season didn't have the participation of founding-members Iguaçu, Londrina, Ulbra/Rio Claro, and Uberlândia. 2009–10 season For the second NBB edition, the LNB confirmed the participation of 14 teams. Limeira and Bira-Lajeado could not keep their squads, thus did not join the season. On the other hand, Londrina joined the League, while an Araraquara/Palmeiras deal brought back to the national competition one of the most traditional Brazilian clubs. 2010–11 season The 15 teams from the previous season confirmed their participation. The third NBB edition also featured former national and South American champions Uberlândia, who managed to gather a strong squad sponsored by Brasília's former partner, Universo. After a one-year hiatus, Limeira returned to the League.