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| NBA Growth Timetable |
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| Year |
Expansions, Changes and Mergers |
| 1946 |
The Basketball Association of America (BAA) is comprised of 11 teams in two divisions: Boston Celtics, Chicago Stags, Cleveland Rebels, Detroit Falcons, New York Knickerbockers, Philadelphia Warriors, Pittsburgh Ironmen, Providence Steamrollers, St Louis Bombers, Toronto and Washington Capitols |
| 1947 |
Baltimore Bullets join the BAA; Four teams drop out: Cleveland Rebels, Detroit Falcons, Pittsburgh Ironmen and Toronto Huskies (8-teams, 2 divisions). |
| 1948 |
Four teams from the more established National Basketball League (NBL) are added to the BAA: Ft Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Jets, Minneapolis Lakers and Rochester Royals (12-teams, 2 divisions). |
| 1949 |
The six remaining NBL franchises�Anderson (IN) Packers, Denver Nuggets, Indianapolis Olympians, Sheboygan (WI) Redskins, Syracuse Nationals, Tri-Cities Blackhawks and Waterloo (IA) Hawks�join along with the new Indianapolis Olympians; the BAA becomes the National Basketball Association; Providence Steamrollers and Indianapolis Jets drop out (17-teams, 3 divisions). |
| 1950 |
Six teams drop out: Anderson Packers, Chicago Stags, Denver Nuggets, Sheboygan Redskins, St Louis Bombers and Waterloo Hawks (11 teams, 2 divisions) |
| 1951 |
Tri-Cities Blackhawks, who divided home games between Moline and Rock Island (IL), and Davenport (IA) move to Milwaukee and become the Hawks. Washington Capitols disband before end of 1950-51 season (10 teams, 2 divisions). |
| 1953 |
Indianapolis Olympians drop out (9 teams, 2 divisions). |
| 1954 |
Baltimore Bullets drop out (8 teams, 2 divisions). |
| 1955 |
Milwaukee Hawks move to St Louis |
| 1957 |
Ft Wayne Pistons move to Detroit; Rochester Royals move to Cincinnati. |
| 1960 |
Minneapolis Lakers move to Los Angeles |
| 1961 |
Chicago Packers join the NBA as an expansion team (9 teams, 2 divisions) |
| 1962 |
Chicago Packers renamed Zephyrs; Philadelphia Warriors move to San Francisco. |
| 1963 |
Chicago Zephyrs move to Baltimore and become Bullets; Syracuse Nationals move to Philadelphia and become 76ers. |
| 1966 |
Chicago Bulls join league as an expansion team (10 teams, 2 divisions) |
| 1967 |
San Diego Rockets and Seattle SuperSonics join league as an expansion teams (12 teams, 2 divisions). |
| 1968 |
Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns join league as an expansion teams (14 teams, 2 divisions). St Louis Hawks move to Atlanta. |
| 1970 |
Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers and Portland Trail Blazers join league as an expansion teams (17 teams, 4 divisions). |
| 1971 |
San Diego Rockets move to Houston; San Francisco Warriors move to Oakland and become Golden State Warriors |
| 1972 |
Cincinnati Royals move to The Midwest, divide home games between Kansas City (MO) and Omaha (NE), and become Kings |
| 1973 |
Baltimore Bullets move to Landover (MD) and become Capital Bullets |
| 1974 |
New Orleans Jazz join league as an expansion team (18 teams, 4 divisions). Capital Bullets renamed Washington Bullets. |
| 1975 |
KC-Omaha Kings settle in Kansas City |
| 1976 |
Four teams from the ABA merge with the NBA: Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets and San Antonio Spurs (22 teams, 4 divisions). |
| 1977 |
New York Nets move from Uniondale (NY) to Piscataway (NJ) (later East Rutherford) and become New Jersey Nets |
| 1978 |
Buffalo Braves move to San Diego and become Clippers |
| 1979 |
New Orleans Jazz move to Salt Lake City and become Utah Jazz. |
| 1980 |
Dallas Mavericks join the NBA as an expansion team (23 teams, 4 divisions). |
| 1984 |
San Diego Clippers move to Los Angeles |
| 1985 |
Kansas City Kings move to Sacramento |
| 1988 |
Charlotte Hornets and Miami Heat join the NBA as an expansion teams (25 teams, 4 divisions). |
| 1989 |
Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic join the NBA as an expansion teams (27 teams, 4 divisions). |
| 1995 |
Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies join the NBA as an expansion teams (29 teams, 4 divisions). |
| 1997 |
Washington Bullets become Washington Wizards. |
