The Strange and Clustered Timeline of NBA Franchises 

Check out www.leaguestories.com !!

The Hornets-Pelicans connection is a little convoluted and involves one more thing you left out. When the New Orleans franchise changed their name to the Pelicans, they actually made a deal with the Charlotte franchise (with the NBA's blessing) to not only allow them to become the Charlotte Hornets, but to reclaim the history of the original 1988-2002 Charlotte Hornets. As such, the current Charlotte Hornets franchise is now considered an extension of the original Charlotte Hornets franchise founded in 1988. The Pelicans, meanwhile, only lay claim to the New Orleans (and OKC)-era history, going back to 2002.

The NBA really needs to give Seattle the Supersonics back as a Expansion team, I need it back

Imagine a team called the swamp dragons

Before Minneapolis got a team, there called the Detroit Gems. Just a fun fact

I had no idea the Rockets name came from San Diego. Houston Rockets always made sense since that's where the NASA space program takes off from.

Expansion to Europe would be insane. Imagine the plane flights

I really like how you organized each team's history. It makes it easier to follow.

I didn't know about some of the older relocations, but the Rockets one stuck out to me. I'd always assumed their nickname was to honor the massive NASA operation in Houston, but since they already had the nickname in San Diego it just happens to be a funny coincidence.

In the ABA, the Denver team was called the Denver Rockets, but the name was changed to the Nuggets when they switched to the NBA because of the Houston Rockets

As a Thunder fan give Seattle an expansion team that way OKC and Seattle will have a big rivalry

Even as a lifelong nba fan, this was very informative and intriguing. Also was not expecting a Dyatlov cameo, but it scores high marks in my book. Thanks!

Not sure if this had been mentioned, but the Oklahoma City Thunder, despite relocating from Seattle, are technically considered an expansion team. The SuperSonics records and history remained in Seattle; everything post-2008 in OKC is independent of the Sonics' history. That's the way it should be with franchise relocations, in my honest opinion.

Before watching this video I hope you mention how weird the whole Bobcats/Hornets / Hornets/Pelicans thing is. It annoys me sometimes. It’s kinda like the Ravens/Browns situation but more complicated.

What about the Flint Tropics?

A couple of things. 1. The NBL was originally an industrial league that consisted of factory teams mostly (In fact the Akron Wingfoots, Goodyear's factory team won the first title and they sponsored the Cavs since). It organically grew over the years with other local teams through the Great lakes/midwest area joining. The Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons were a factory team of the Zollner Piston company. During this period in the 40s there was also a world tournament that functioned a bit like the FA Cup in Football as well. 2. The Indianapolis Olympians are interesting case because they essentially shut down due to game fixing scandal at the college level that most of the players had been caught up in. 3. The Celtics/Clippers swap happened essentially because the owner Irv Levin wanted to move Boston closer to his home in SD, but NBA said absolutely not. So the swap was arranged with John Y Brown, the former owner of Kentucky's ABA team, who had picked up the Braves/Clippers as he found they were cheaper to buy than to move Kentucky (One of the most stable and successful franchises) into the NBA. With the Braves being less 10 years old and didn't have the 13 titles the Celtics did so the NBA didn't care what happened.

The map in the beginning made me realize how badly the NBA needs to do a realignment and/or dissolve east and west. OKC is still in the Northwest division despite Oklahoma being directly above texas. Pacific: Blazers, Kings, Warriors, Lakers, Clippers, Suns Southwest: Thunder, Spurs, Jazz, Nuggets, Mavs, Rockets Southeast: Heat, Pelicans, Magic, Hawks, Hornets, Grizzlies Central: Bulls, Pacers, T-wolves, Pistons, Cavs, Bucks Atlantic: Nets, Knicks, Sixers, Celtics, Raptors, Wizards

2:09 historys first broken ankles 😂😭

7:23 Incorrect, the Washington Bullets changed their name to the Washington Wizards in 1997 not 1995.

Very informative and well rehearsed/ structured video! Keep it up!

Cool video, just what I was looking for. Sharp, brief, entertaining, and informative. Thanks man.

This was sick but that pronunciation of Minneapolis killed me lmao

The weird thing not mentioned about the new Charlotte Hornets, is that all the franchise history and stats of the old Charlotte Hornets transferred to the new Charlotte Hornets. The Pelicans maintained the history and stats of the NO/OKC Hornets. It’s just odd that you can magically transfer history to a different franchise.

As a sports history buff, the NBA's erasure of the NBL annoys me. It was first, it was integrated, it had some of the game's biggest stars of the time, its teams proved competitive with BAA teams (as seen in the World Professional Basketball Tournament played annually throughout the 1940s, and in the first few seasons of the merged NBA), and some of the NBA's staple teams come from there (Lakers, Pistons, 76ers, Hawks, Kings), and a significant portion of their history is just ignored in most official materials.

The reason the "packers" were in Chicago is because Chicago used to have a huge meat packing industry. 6:34

Great video mate, I’ve always wondered about why teams randomly appear or relocate, just never enough to actually look it up but when RU-vid recommended me this all my questions were answered! Stellar work

Excellent vid - and so awesome to see all those old logos and how they evolved!

It’s a shame the flint tropics didn’t join the nba in the merger, Jackie Moon was a great player/owner/coach and really pushed them in their final season prior to the merger inventing the allyoop in their final game. You’d go to see the tropics play but you’d stay to see Jackie moon fight a bear.

Seeing Seattle move broke my heart

Very good video mate. I knew a few, but you explained it all here. Thx!

Great video, really insightful and well done👍

I can imagine the next two expansion teams being Seattle and Mexico City, the latter being a view to expanding the league further overseas. I know the Euroleague have their own thing going rn but imagine Real Madrid, Barcelona, Galatasaray or Fenerbache in the NBA - all places with strong basketball followings albeit through footballing roots

Great video. Final got a good explanation on the Hornets/Pelicans/Bobcats history

Great detailed video! Great channel! Keep hustling bud

NBA teams and their names such as Denver McNuggets Golden Steak Warriors Indiana Steakers Houston Hot Pockets Miami Eat Phoenix Sundaes Chicago Rolls New York Twix Washington Blizzards Los Angeles Cakers Sacramento Burger Kings Philedelphia 70 Snickers Oklahoma City Hunger Toronto Twizzlers Detroit Pizzatons

Love this video bro keep up the great work

Excellent recap abouth nba's history bro !!

dude i wish more people knew about your channel this is some good content

Very interesting video. I liked how you portrayed the history of the NBA. One thing I would've loved to see would've been a complete histogram of the league and mergers and the folding of the teams. Now that I think of it, seems like a lot of work. Interesting video nonetheless ☺️

Well explained. I enjoyed this video. Pretty entertaining

Just found your channel. I love it!

Great vid. Very informative

That was a sweet recap. Thanks

Thanks, this video was really helpful for a brazilian to understand this whole thing of reallocate teams, here the teams aren´t franchises, just clubs, so they remain in the same place always.

Enjoyed your presentation of the history of teams

Great video

Very Informative

Thank you for your project investigation! Impressive

Good stuff!!

Nice work, maaaate!

Great Vídeo Man

That was amazing👍🏼

good content, congratz

Great Video!!! I Liked!!!

The Hawks started out in 1946 as the Buffao Bisons. After 38 days the franchise was moved to Moline, Illinois, and renamed the Tri-Cities Blackhawks.

Very good video 😊😊😊

The 1988 - 89 NBA Season was a highlight for me. Seeing Charlotte and Miami was a sigh of fresh air.

The newer logos may be more streamlined, although the old(er) logos had more character.

Ahhh yes, an accurate account, properly separating teams by franchise, like the Pelicans and Hornets. Thank you and well done!

excellent concise presentation on the nba 🏀

I see you keep up the grind I bet you will hit 10 million befor you even know it keep up the grind

Well done!

Instant subscription

Bullets didn't officially become the Wizards until 1997-98. Great video though.

Subscribed!

great vid dont know y u dont have at least 1k subs

Pittsburgh needs a basketball team. Seattle should get back the SuperSonics and play at Climate Pledge Arena. Las Vegas needs an nba team as well

This is my kind of sports show. Maybe do a short documentary on each team next time?

this channel is good i like the narrator voice

Did you say Minnianapolis?

Nice bro this video roles

this deserves more views

10:54 So glad the Knicks are now the laughing stock of NY while the Nets have a chance to rule the East with KD and Kyrie.

Thanks !

Awesome!

Also before Minneapolis Lakers became Lakers they were known.. or well not really known as Detroit Gems, a team that bankrupted and got sold to form Lakers later

I’m from San Diego and having 2 different teams in the 70’s and 80’s makes me sad bc we’re still waiting for an nba team now!

I never heard of some of these teams

Had NO IDEA the T-wolves could've been born in 1980!

Very good. Swamp dragons??? Wtf 😳

Was the Hawks owned at one point by Ted Turner, the person that owned Turner Broadcasting System or TBS?

The og Magic’s and timberwolves logos look better than their logos today.

Great explanation! I'm trying to figure out where they got their start like were they independent and liked what the leagues were doing so they jumped in? Were the leagues at first a NPO?

The Washington Bullets final year was 1996 - 97. It was during that offseasons where they became the Washington Wizards. 1997 - Current.

Great history

Now the NBA is highly interested in adding an expansion team in Las Vegas and in Seattle.

Sick Ass Video & Benny The Butcher At The End

The NBL is the Australian National Basketball League

8:25 damn 1968 really predicted the 2021 finals

Cool overview but you should add a whole sheet which shows all the teams and their names in the end as an overview. That would be awesome

In reality Charlotte retains her history. So New Orleans figures as the franchise born in 2002. Charlotte, as the Cleveland Browns from 1996 to 1998, had suspended operations from 2002 to 2004 when rejoined Nba with the name Charlotte Bobcats until 2014 not 2013 when she became Charlotte Hornets for the second time.

The Hawks actually started in Bufffalo as the Bisons. They moved to then Tri-Cities, now Quad Cities, mid season during their inagual year.

Great job! Now do the other 3 major sports in the USA, and then put them out in their championship series or game

I remember attending a Vancouver Grizzlies vs Toronto Raptors charity off season game when I was a kid back in the early to mid 90's.

5:42 that pronunciation of Davenport killed me

well done.

The logos and team names were so much better in the 50’s,60’s and 70’s

When your city (Sheboygan) had an NBA Team 😳 they recently destroyed the arena

6:32 the chicago packers... as a football fan, this is VERY cursed

There's tons of rumors floating around that the NBA is planning to expand to 32 teams, most likely adding teams to Seattle and Las Vegas (just like the NHL recently did). It probably won't happen until the 2024-2025 season at the earliest though. Also, I don't think adding teams to Mexico and Europe would work both for logistical reasons and because I don't think they'd have a big enough fan base in either place, especially compared to how huge soccer is. However, I think the Raptors have proven that Canada is more than able to support an NBA team, and I'd love to see either expansion or relocated teams in Vancouver and Montreal.