The National Basketball Association currently has 30 teams. However, this wasn’t the case when the league began. In 1946, the organisation was called the Basketball Association of America, and only 11 franchises were initial members. Fast-forward to today, and we have 30 teams fighting for the NBA Championship.
How Many NBA Teams Are There?
On August 3, 1949, the BAA and the National Basketball League (NBL) merged to establish the NBA. Seventeen teams participated in the first NBA season. Before that, there were only 11 teams in the 1946-47 season. Eight teams played in the 1947-48 season. 12 franchises participated in the final season before the NBA was created.
In 1950, the number of teams dropped to 11, which had fallen to just eight by 1954-55. The Chicago Packers (now the Washington Wizards) entered the league in 1961. Five more teams were introduced in the league by 1968, taking the total to 14. The league expanded to 18 franchises in 1974. After the NBA-ABA merger, four American Basketball Association (ABA) teams were added to the NBA in 1976.
Expansion continued for over two decades. Two Canada-based teams (the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors) entered the league in 1995. The Charlotte Bobcats, who joined in 2004, were the last franchise to join the league.
NBA Teams By Conference And Division
The NBA is divided into two conferences — the Eastern and Western. Both are separated into three divisions. You can also see a complete list of NBA teams in alphabetical order.
Eastern Conference
- Atlanta Hawks
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Miami Heat
- Milwaukee Bucks
- New York Knicks
- Orlando Magic
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
- Washington Wizards
Western Conference
- Dallas Mavericks
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Golden State Warriors
- Houston Rockets
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Phoenix Suns
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
- Utah Jazz
Atlantic Division
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
Central Division
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast Division
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
Northwest Division
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
Pacific Division
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
Southwest Division
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- San Antonio Spurs
