National Basketball Association

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a men's professional basketball league. It is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. It is widely considered to be the premier men's professional basketball league in the world.

The NBA was formed in 1949 after the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and National Basketball League (NBL). Although the NBA does not include the NBL's history as part of its own, this site does.

The NBA merged with the American Basketball Association in 1976, resulting in the addition of four franchises.

Teams

The NBA originated in 1946 with 11 teams, and through a sequence of team expansions, reductions, and relocations, currently consists of 30 teams. The United States is home to 29 teams; another is in Canada.

The current league organization divides 30 teams into two conferences of three divisions with five teams each. The current divisional alignment was introduced in the 2004-05 season. Reflecting the population distribution of the United States and Canada as a whole, most teams are in the eastern half of the country: 13 teams are in the Eastern Time Zone, nine in the Central, three in the Mountain, and five in the Pacific.

Division Team Location Arena Founded First Season
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Boston Celtics Boston, Massachusetts TD Garden June 6, 1946 1946-47
Brooklyn Nets New York City, New York Barclays Center February 2, 1967 1967-68
New York Knicks New York City, New York Madison Square Garden June 6, 1946 1946-47
Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wells Fargo Center 1946* 1949
Toronto Raptors Toronto, Ontario Scotiabank Arena November 4, 1993 1995-96
Central Chicago Bulls Chicago, Illinois United Center January 16, 1966 1966-67
Cleveland Cavaliers Cleveland, Ohio Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse February 6, 1970 1970-71
Detroit Pistons Detroit, Michigan Little Caesars Arena 1941* 1948
Indiana Pacers Indianapolis, Indiana Bankers Life Fieldhouse February 2, 1967 1967-68
Milwaukee Bucks Milwaukee, Wisconsin Fiserv Forum January 22, 1968 1968-69
Southeast Atlanta Hawks Atlanta, Georgia State Farm Arena April 24, 1946 1946-47
Charlotte Hornets Charlotte, North Carolina Spectrum Center April 22, 1987 1988-89
Miami Heat Miami, Florida FTX Arena April 22, 1987 1988-89
Orlando Magic Orlando, Florida Amway Center April 22, 1987 1989-90
Washington Wizards Washington, D.C. Capital One Arena 1961*
Western Conference
Northwest Denver Nuggets Denver, Colorado Pepsi Center April 1, 1967 1967-68 (ABA) / 1976-77 (NBA)
Minnesota Timberwolves Minneapolis, Minnesota Target Center April 22, 1987 1989-90
Oklahoma City Thunder Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Paycom Center December 20, 1966 1967-68
Portland Trail Blazers Portland, Oregon Moda Center February 6, 1970 1970-71
Utah Jazz Salt Lake City, Utah Vivint Arena June 7, 1974 1974-75
Pacific Golden State Warriors San Francisco, California Chase Center June 6, 1946 1946-47
Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles, California Crypto.com Arena February 6, 1970 1970-71
Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles, California Crypto.com Arena 1947* 1948
Phoenix Suns Phoenix, Arizona Footprint Center January 22, 1968 1968-69
Sacramento Kings Sacramento, California Golden 1 Center 1923* 1948
Southwest Dallas Mavericks Dallas, Texas American Airlines Center February 2, 1980 1980-81
Houston Rockets Houston, Texas Toyota Center Janaury 11, 1967 1967-68
Memphis Grizzlies Memphis, Tennessee FedExForum April 27, 1994 1995-96
New Orleans Pelicans New Orleans, Louisiana Smoothie King Center 2002*
San Antonio Spurs San Antonio, Texas AT&T Center February 2, 1967 1967-68

See also

Seasons

National Basketball Association
Eastern Conference Atlantic Central Southeast
Boston Celtics (TD Garden)
Brooklyn Nets (Barclays Center)
New York Knicks (Madison Square Garden)
Philadelphia 76ers (Wells Fargo Center)
Toronto Raptors (Scotiabank Arena)
Chicago Bulls (United Center)
Cleveland Cavaliers (Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse)
Detroit Pistons (Little Caesars Arena)
Indiana Pacers (Bankers Life Fieldhouse)
Milwaukee Bucks (Fiserv Forum)
Atlanta Hawks (State Farm Arena)
Charlotte Hornets (Spectrum Center)
Miami Heat (FTX Arena)
Orlando Magic (Amway Center)
Washington Wizards (Capital One Arena)
Western Conference Northwest Pacific Southwest
Denver Nuggets (Ball Arena)
Minnesota Timberwolves (Target Center)
Oklahoma City Thunder (Paycom Center)
Portland Trail Blazers (Moda Center)
Utah Jazz (Vivint Arena)
Golden State Warriors (Chase Center)
Los Angeles Clippers (Crypto.com Arena)
Los Angeles Lakers (Crypto.com Arena)
Phoenix Suns (Footprint Center)
Sacramento Kings (Golden 1 Center)
Dallas Mavericks (American Airlines Center)
Houston Rockets (Toyota Center)
Memphis Grizzlies (FedExForum)
New Orleans Pelicans (Smoothie King Center)
San Antonio Spurs (AT&T Center)
Defunct franchises All defunct franchises
Related Hoop Magazine • League publications • All-Star Games • Seasons • Venues


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