The NFL and AFL were separate football leagues until their merger.

The decision to maintain the historic identity of each league led to the NFL becoming the NFC and the AFL becoming the AFC.

This division was partly based on preserving the legacy and rivalries of these leagues.

On the other hand, when the NBA merged with the ABA, the remaining teams were integrated into the existing East/West structure, simplifying the transition.

Expansion and Rivalries

The NFL's decision to keep the AFC and NFC as separate entities allows for longstanding rivalries such as the Dallas Cowboys vs. the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC and the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the New England Patriots in the AFC, intensifying conference pride and competition.

The NBA's East vs.

West structure promotes coast-to-coast rivalries and allows for iconic matchups such as Lakers vs.

Celtics to captivate fans.

Geographic Distribution and Travel

The NFL's division preserves a balanced geographic distribution, minimizing travel distances and reducing costs and fatigue for players and staff.

Conversely, the NBA's structure demands cross-country travel for many matchups, potentially leading to higher travel expenses and player exhaustion.

Playoff Scenarios and Diversity

The AFC-NFC structure allows for diverse playoff matchups, leading to unexpected but thrilling games, providing parity and showcasing talents from different regions, making the NFL playoffs captivating for fans and neutrals alike.

Meanwhile, the NBA's East vs.

West format pits top teams in each conference against one another, sometimes resulting in one-sided championship series and potentially reducing the overall diversity of matchups at the highest level of the league.

Salary Cap and Talent Distribution

The NFL's salary cap and revenue-sharing policies aim to maintain parity and prevent teams from monopolizing top talent.

The conference division helps to safeguard these policies by ensuring that local markets stay competitive, enhancing the overall quality and equity of the league.

The NBA's Eastern and Western Conferences coexist within the same salary cap policies, fostering fair competition across the league and enabling large and small markets to vie for top talent on an equal footing.