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User:Mileslivingston/List of relocated and renamed National Basketball Association teams

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Current team Current city Relocation / renaming history Notes
Atlanta Hawks Atlanta, Georgia Buffalo Bisons
1946 (NBL)
Tri-Cities Blackhawks
1946–51 (NBL, NBA)
Milwaukee Hawks
1951–55 (NBA)
St. Louis Hawks
1955–68
Atlanta Hawks
1968–present
*Moved to Tri-Cities 13 games into inaugural 1946-1947 season.
*Named after the Black Hawk War which took place in the Tri-Cities area.
*Joined the NBA in 1949 merger of NBL and BAA.
Denver Nuggets Denver, Colorado Denver Larks
1967 (ABA)
Denver Rockets
1967–74 (ABA)
Denver Nuggets
1974–present (NBA)
*Joined NBA in 1974.
*As the name "Rockets" was already taken by Houston, a renaming contest was held with "Nuggets" winning (a reference to the defunct NBL Nuggets team.
Detroit Pistons Detroit, Michigan Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons
1941–48 (NBL)
Fort Wayne Pistons
1948-57 (BAA, NBA)
Detroit Pistons
1957–present (NBA)
*"Zollner" after owner Fred Zollner.
*Zollner removed from name in 1948 switch to BAA.
*Joined the NBA in 1949 merger of NBL and BAA, a formation brokered by Fred Zollner.
Golden State Warriors Oakland, California Philadelphia Warriors
1946–62 (BAA, NBA)
San Francisco Warriors
1962–71 (NBA)
Golden State Warriors
1971–present
*Merger
Houston Rockets Houston, Texas San Diego Rockets
1967–71 (NBA)
Houston Rockets
1971–present
*Joined the NBA as an expansion team.
Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles, California Buffalo Braves
1970–1978 (NBA)
San Diego Clippers
1978–1984
Los Angeles Clippers
1984–present
*Joined the NBA as an expansion team.
Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles, California Detroit Gems
1946–47 (NBL)
Minneapolis Lakers
1947–60 (NBL, BAA, NBA)
Los Angeles Lakers
1960–present (NBA)
*Joined the BAA for the 1948-49 Season
*Joined the NBA as a result of 1949 BAA NBL merger.
Memphis Grizzlies Memphis, Tennessee Vancouver Grizzlies
1995–01 (NBA)
Memphis Grizzlies
2001–present
*Joined the NBA as an expansion team.
New Jersey Nets East Rutherford, New Jersey New Jersey Americans (Teaneck)
1967–68 (ABA)
New York Nets
1968–77 (ABA, NBA)
New Jersey Nets
1977–present (NBA)
*Renamed after New York relocation to rhyme with New York's Mets and Jets.
*Joined the NBA as a result of 1976 ABA NBA merger.
New Orleans Hornets New Orleans, Louisiana Charlotte Hornets
1988-02 (NBA)
New Orleans Hornets
2002-05
New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets
2005-07
New Orleans Hornets
2007-present
*Joined the NBA as an expansion team.
*Originally intended to be named the Charlotte "Spirit" but renamed in a contest.
*Temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Syracuse Nationals
1939–63 (NBL, NBA)
Philadelphia 76ers
1963–present (NBA)
*Joined the NBA as a result of 1949 NBL BAA merger.
*Renamed the 76ers after relocation to Philadelphia.
Sacramento Kings Sacramento, California Rochester Royals
1945–57 (NBL, BAA, NBA)
Cincinnati Royals
1957–72 (NBA)
Kansas City-Omaha Kings
1972–75
Kansas City Kings
1975–85
Sacramento Kings
1985–present
*"Royals" chosen in a name-the-team contest.
*Joined the BAA for 1948-49 season.
*Joined the NBA as a result of 1949 NBL BAA merger.
*Renamed the Kings after relocation to Kansas City (due to pre-existing Kansas City Royals baseball team).
San Antonio Spurs San Antonio, Texas Dallas Chaparrals
1967-70 (ABA)
Texas Chaparrals
1970-71 (ABA)
Dallas Chaparrals
1971-73 (ABA)
San Antonio Spurs
1973-present (ABA, NBA)
*Renamed Texas Chaparrals in an attempt to increase regional fanbase.
*Joined the NBA as a result of 1976 ABA NBA merger.
Oklahoma City Thunder Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Seattle SuperSonics
1967–08 (NBA)
Oklahoma City Thunder
2008–present
*Joined the NBA as an expansion team.
Utah Jazz Salt Lake City, Utah New Orleans Jazz
1974–79 (NBA)
Utah Jazz
1979–present
Washington Wizards Washington, D.C. Chicago Packers
1961-62 (NBA)
Chicago Zephyrs
1962-63
Baltimore Bullets
1963-73
Capital Bullets
1973-74
Washington Bullets
1974-97
Washington Wizards
1997-present
*Name changed to Wizards as a result of owner Abe Pollin citing violent overtones of the word "Bullet."


See also

[edit]

List of defunct National Basketball Association teams
Basketball Association of America
National Basketball League (United States)