TheNational Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional men'sbasketball league, consisting of 30 teams in North America—29 in the United States andone in Canada . The NBA was founded inNew York City on June 6, 1946, as theBasketball Association of America (BAA).[ 1] 1949–50 season when it absorbed theNational Basketball League (NBL).[ 1] USA Basketball , which is recognized by theInternational Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the national governing body for basketball in the country.[ 2] major professional sports leagues of North America.[ 3]
The list contains current franchises in the NBA. It does not include name changes.[ 4]
First First year in original city Last Last year in original city Win% Winning percentage PA NBA Playoffs appearancesC Championship titles ^ City later received a new franchise * Later relocated again
Permanent relocations [ edit ] Temporary relocations [ edit ] ^ Sold to Houston ownership group after original owner Robert Breitbard came under financial distress due to tax assessment issues surrounding the arena he developed, theSan Diego International Sports Center ^ The Capital Bullets were later renamedWashington Bullets (1974–1997) andWashington Wizards (since 1997). Despite relocating, the team would play a few home games in Baltimore from 1989 to 1997. ^ Sale to California ownerIrv Levin , who previously owned theBoston Celtics and swapped franchises with Braves ownerJohn Y. Brown Jr. ^ Sold toDonald Sterling , who wanted the team in his hometown and eventually succeeded in relocation. In 2024, the Clippers'NBA G League team moved fromOntario, California to San Diego, adopting theSan Diego Clippers branding. ^ Financial problems caused by low attendance and the weak Canadian dollar; sold toMichael Heisley with the intention ofmoving the team to Memphis . ^ Declining attendance, reported lack of profitability, and the declining popularity of owner George Shinn. This relocation was reversedretroactively in 2014 when thenewly rebranded Charlotte Hornets (founded as the Bobcats in 2004) was awarded the history and records of the original Hornets in Charlotte from 1988 to 2002, while retroactively suspending operations from 2002 to 2004. The now-New Orleans Pelicans (rebranded from the Hornets in 2013) kept the history and records of the team in New Orleans from 2002 onward, but were retroactively reclassified as an expansion team. ^ Financial problems exacerbated by the failure to provide funds for a new arena in Seattle; sold toClay Bennett in 2006 who concealed the intention ofmoving the team to Oklahoma City . Retains the SuperSonics franchise records but not the team colors and trademarks, which remain in Seattle for use by a future expansion team. Said expansion team may also share the records with the Thunder. ^ Nets former ownerBruce Ratner bought them to move them to theirnew arena inBrooklyn , which is within 14 miles of its former arena inEast Rutherford, New Jersey , both of which are in the sameNew York Metropolitan Area ^ Damage to the New Orleans metropolitan area caused byHurricane Katrina forced the Hornets toplay most of their home games in Oklahoma City as theNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets . The Hornets returned to New Orleans after repairs to the team's home arena were completed. The team was later renamed theNew Orleans Pelicans (since 2013) and subsequently returned the Hornets brand to the NBA, which was reclaimed by thenew Charlotte team (originally Bobcats) in 2014. Oklahoma City would later be the site for a permanent location, as theSeattle SuperSonics relocated there in 2008 and became theOklahoma City Thunder . ^ The Raptors played their home games atAmalie Arena inTampa, Florida , home of theTampa Bay Lightning of theNational Hockey League during their2020–21 season , as a result of COVID-19cross-border travel restrictions imposed by theGovernment of Canada . They returned to Toronto the following season. ^a b Goldaper, Sam (17 April 2006)."The First Game" .NBA.com . NBA Media Ventures, LLC. Retrieved6 July 2009 . ^ "Inside USA Basketball" .USA Basketball . Archived fromthe original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved4 July 2009 .^ Pennington, Bill (April 4, 2003)."Drugs; Anti-Doping Executive Plans to Prod Pro Leagues" .The New York Times . RetrievedJuly 6, 2009 . ^ "Team Index" . Sport Reference. Retrieved25 May 2011 .^ "History of the Lakers" .Lakers.com . NBA Media Ventures, LLC. RetrievedFebruary 3, 2016 .^ "Owners, fans waited years before Rockets took off" .Houston Chronicle . RetrievedFebruary 3, 2016 .^ Beamish, Mike (February 19, 2011)."NBA dreams rekindled, 10 years after Grizzlies' demise" .The Vancouver Sun the original on February 23, 2011. RetrievedFebruary 3, 2016 . ^ "HORNETS: Move to New Orleans Approved" .www.nba.com . Archived fromthe original on 5 August 2002. Retrieved12 January 2022 .^ "Charlotte Hornets Name Returns to Carolinas" .Hornets.com . NBA Media Ventures, LLC. May 20, 2014.Archived from the original on May 22, 2014.^ "NBA Commissioner David Stern Statement on Settlement Between Sonics and the City of Seattle" .NBA.com . NBA Media Ventures, LLC. July 2, 2008. RetrievedFebruary 6, 2019 .^ Brunner, Jim;Pian Chan, Sharon (July 2, 2008)."Sonics, city reach settlement" .The Seattle Times . RetrievedFebruary 6, 2019 . ^ "Hornets to Play in Oklahoma City" .Pelicans.com . NBA Media Ventures, LLC. September 21, 2005. RetrievedSeptember 21, 2005 .^ Smith, Jimmy (September 21, 2005). "The buzz is Oklahoma City – Hornets will play 35 games there, six at the PMAC".New Orleans Times-Picayune . p. C5. ^ Longman, Jeré (November 1, 2007)."Putting the New Orleans in the New Orleans Hornets" .The New York Times . RetrievedFebruary 3, 2016 . ^ "Toronto Raptors to Start Season in Tampa" .SI.com . November 20, 2020. RetrievedNovember 20, 2020 .
