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

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