This clue appeared in the NYT Crossword on Thursday, December 18, 2025 (58 Down). The answer is hidden below until you want it. Thursday puzzles often have a trick, such as a rebus (several letters in one square) or answers that bend the rules.
Answer length: 3 squares
First letter
N _ _
Show the answer
About the answer
NBA as a word: (sports) Initialism of National Basketball Association; (sports) Initialism of National Boxing Association.
NBA has been an answer 13 times in the NYT Crossword and Mini since December 15, 2025.
Other clues with the same answer
- ___ Cup, tournament established in the 2020s
- Thunder setting, in brief
- Heat setting, in brief?
- Jordan joined it in 1984, for short
- Magic setting, in brief
- Org. with Bulls and Bucks
- Org. with the Nuggets and Nets
- Org. for Wizards and Magic
- Org. for the Raptors, but not the Blue Jays
- Org. with a draft lottery
- Org. with a Slam Dunk Contest
- Org. infiltrated by aliens in "Space Jam"
More clues from this puzzle
- "Ratatouille" topper (51 Down)
- Fabrication expert (52 Down)
- "I guess so" (53 Down)
- Barred from competing, for short (55 Down)
- "Severance" actress Tullock (59 Down)
- Microdosing drug (60 Down)
- "Quit ___ yappin'!" (61 Down)
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