When Did the NBA Get 30 Teams?

The NBA has seen a lot of growth in recent years. Here’s a look at when each team was added to the league.

The Early Days of the NBA

The National Basketball Association was founded in 1946 with just eleven teams. Over the next few years, the league slowly expanded as new teams were added. By 1950, there were seventeen teams in the NBA. This number would more than double in just a few years, but not without some growing pains first.

The National Basketball League (NBL) is formed in 1937

The National Basketball League (NBL) is a men’s professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1937 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). It changed its name to the National Basketball Association (NBA) after merging with the rival National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949. The NBA is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognized by FIBA (also known as the International Basketball Federation) as the national governing body for basketball in the United States. The NBA is one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada. NBA players are the world’s best paid athletes by average annual salary per player.

The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The BAA was created by owners of the major ice hockey arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. On August 3, 1949, representatives of the BAA and NBL met at parksfor kids0 talks to discuss a merger, and that evening they announced that it would happen. In 1950, with cartoon character hoops hero Howie Morenz servingas honorary president, three additional NBL teams–the Minneapolis Lakers, Detroit Pistonsand Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons–jumped to join what became known asthe NBA.

The Basketball Association of America (BAA) is formed in 1946

The BAA was formed in 1946 by owners of the major ice hockey arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. On November 1, 1946, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the owners of the BAA’s hockey arenas met to organize a professional basketball league. At the meeting, they elected Ned Irish of the New York Knickerbockers as president and Maurice Podoloff of the Hartford Capitols as vice-president. Of the eight franchises granted by the BAA, six were located in cities that currently have NBA teams: Boston (Celtics), Chicago (Bulls), Detroit (Pistons), New York City (Knicks), Philadelphia (76ers), and Washington, D.C. (Wizards). The only two franchises that did not eventually join the NBA were the Toronto Huskies and Montreal Canadiens.

The Merger of the NBL and BAA

On August 3, 1949, the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA) merge to form the NBA. The BAA was formed in 1946, and the NBL was formed in 1937. The NBL and BAA were the two biggest basketball leagues in the United States at the time.

The NBL and BAA merge to form the NBA in 1949

In a landmark move, the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA) merge to form the National Basketball Association in 1949. The NBA, as it is now known, consists of 17 teams from the two leagues. Initially, only four teams join the NBA from the BAA: the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia Warriors and Minneapolis Lakers.

The NBA expands to include the Syracuse Nationals and the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in 1950

In the late 1940s, the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Basketball Association of America (BAA) competed against each other for players, fans, and arena dates. On August 3, 1949, representatives of the two leagues announced a merger to form the National Basketball Association. Syracuse Nationals owner Danny Biasone and Tri-Cities Blackhawks owner James Trimble were both named as NBA board members.

The NBL was a five-team league that was founded in 1937. The league added four teams in 1938, but three of those teams folded by the end of the season. The NBL’s final year was 1949; by that time, it was down to just five teams: the Akron Wingfoots, Anderson Packers, Denver Nuggets, Indianapolis Kautskys, and Sheboygan Red Skins.

The BAA was founded in 1946 with 11 teams. The league added one team each in 1947 and 1948 before absorbing four NBL teams prior to the 1949-50 season: the Anderson Packers, Denver Nuggets, Indianapolis Kautskys, and Sheboygan Red Skins. With the merger of the two leagues, the NBA grew to 17 teams for the 1950-51 season.

The NBA Grows in the 1960s

The 1960s was a decade of growth for the NBA. The league doubled its number of teams, from nine to eighteen. The NBA also saw the addition of its first African American players in this decade. 1966 was a landmark year for the NBA, as it was the first time that two African American players were on an NBA roster.

The NBA expands to include the Chicago Packers (now the Washington Wizards) in 1961

In 1961, the NBA expanded to include the Chicago Packers (now the Washington Wizards), bringing the total number of NBA teams to nine. The 1960s were a decade of growth for the NBA, with the league adding eight new teams between 1961 and 1967. The expansion of the 1960s doubled the size of the league and laid the groundwork for the NBA’s growth into a global sports powerhouse in subsequent decades.

The NBA expands to include the San Diego Rockets (now the Houston Rockets) in 1967

In 1967, the National Basketball Association (NBA) doubled in size when it absorbed four teams from the American Basketball Association (ABA). This included the San Diego Rockets, who would eventually become the Houston Rockets.

The NBA’s growth in the 1960s was largely driven by the rival ABA, which began play in 1967. The ABA was viewed as a more progressive and flashy league than the NBA, and it quickly gained a following. In an effort to stay competitive, the NBA began expanding its own roster of teams.

The addition of the Rockets brought the total number of NBA teams to 14. The league would continue to grow over the next decade, eventually reaching 30 teams by 1980.

The NBA Grows in the 1970s

By the 1970s, the National Basketball Association (NBA) had grown to 18 teams. After several decades of stability, the NBA began to expand rapidly in the 1970s. This expansion was due in part to the ABA-NBA merger in 1976, which brought four ABA teams into the NBA. The NBA also added eight new teams in the 1970s, including the New Orleans Jazz and the San Diego Clippers. As a result of this expansion, the NBA became a 30-team league in the 1980s.

The NBA expands to include the Portland Trail Blazers and the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers) in 1970

In 1970, the NBA expands to include the Portland Trail Blazers and the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers). This brings the total number of teams in the NBA to 18. The 1970s are a decade of growth for the NBA, with nine new teams joining the league. Among them are the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted LeBron James in 2003. The Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs also join the NBA in the 1970s.

The NBA expands to include the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Seattle SuperSonics in 1970

000The National Basketball Association (NBA) expands to include the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Seattle SuperSonics in 1970. With the addition of these three teams, the NBA reaches 30 teams. The expansion comes as the sport of basketball continues to grow in popularity. The 1970s are considered a golden era for the NBA, with great players such as Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar leading the way. The expansion of the NBA in the 1970s helps to solidify basketball as one of America’s major sports.

The NBA Grows in the 1980s

The NBA saw a significant expansion in the 1980s with the merge of the ABA and the NBA, as well as the addition of several new teams. This expansion helped the NBA to become the global phenomenon that it is today. Let’s take a look at how the NBA got to 30 teams.

The NBA expands to include the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz in 1980

After years of steady growth, the National Basketball Association (NBA) underwent a major expansion in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The league added several new teams, including the Dallas Mavericks and the Utah Jazz, bringing its total number of franchises to 30. This period of growth coincided with a surge in popularity for the sport of basketball, as well as a newfound interest in professional sports league in general. The NBA’s expansion led to a more diverse and competitive league, which helped it to become one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world.

The NBA expands to include the Indiana Pacers, the Charlotte Hornets (now the New Orleans Pelicans), the Miami Heat, the Orlando Magic, and the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1988

In the late 1980s, the NBA expanded to include several new teams, including the Indiana Pacers, the Charlotte Hornets (now the New Orleans Pelicans), the Miami Heat, the Orlando Magic, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. This expansion increased the number of teams in the league from 23 to 30. The addition of these new teams helped to increase the popularity of the NBA and further solidify its status as one of the premier professional sports leagues in the world.

The NBA Today

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the world’s premier men’s professional basketball league. It is composed of 30 teams; 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. The NBA is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB),[3] which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the national governing body for basketball in the United States.

The NBA currently has 30 teams

The National Basketball Association (NBA) currently has 30 teams. The league was founded in 1946 with just 11 teams, and has since grown to its current size. In January 2020, the NBA expanded again with the addition of the Charlotte Hornets, bringing the total number of teams to 30.

The NBA is one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada, and is widely considered to be the premier men’s professional basketball league in the world. With millions of fans worldwide, the NBA features some of the most talented and popular players in history. Every year, the best players in the league compete for the NBA championship.

The NBA is divided into two conferences, the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Each conference has 15 teams, and each team plays 82 regular season games. The regular season typically runs from October to April, with each team playing 82 games.

At the end of the regular season, 16 teams qualify for the playoffs. The playoffs are a single-elimination tournament that culminates with the NBA Finals, where two teams from each conference compete for the championship title.

The 2020 NBA Finals will be played between The Los Angeles Lakers (Western Conference champions) and The Miami Heat (Eastern Conference champions).