Professional Basketball Team Names From "A Game With No Rules" (For other sports, go to Professional Sports Team Names) Revised June, 2006 The first column shows the teams currently making up the National Basketball Association (in bold) and other professional teams in recent history including the old ABA.  The second column shows only the new American Basketeball Association teams.  This information comes primarily from The Association for Professional Basketball Research and Remember the ABA and the ABA site. Abbreviations are as follows:   NBA — National Basketball Association ABA* — old Amereican Basketball Association BAA — Basketball Association of America NBL — National Basketball League AAU — Amateur Athletic Union NPBL — National Professional Basketball League Ind. — Independent
NBA Teams 1968-now, Atlanta Hawks; NBA 1955-1967, St. Louis Hawks; NBA 1951-1954, Milwaukee Hawks; NBA 1950-1951, Tri-Cities Blackhawks; NBA 1949-1950, Tri-City Blackhawks; NBA 1947-1949, Tri-City Blackhawks; NBL 1946-4196, Buffalo Bisons; NBL ——— 1950-1951, Anderson Packers; NPBL 1949-1949, Anderson Packers; NBA 1947-1948, Anderson Duffey Packers; NBL 1945-1946, Anderson Chiefs; Ind ——— 1975-1975, Baltimore Claws; ABA* 1975-1975, Baltimore Hustlers; ABA* 1974-1974, Memphis Sounds; ABA* 1972-1973, Memphis Tams; ABA* 1970-1971, Memphis Pros; ABA* 1967-1969, New Orleans Buccaneers; ABA* ——— 1950-1954, Baltimore Bullets; NBA 1948-1949, Baltimore Bullets; BAA 1944-1947, Baltimore Bullets; ABL ——— 1950-now, Boston Celtics; NBA 1946-1949, Boston Celtics; BAA ——— 2004-now, Charlotte Bobcats; NBA ——— 1966-now, Chicago Bulls; NBA ——— 1949-1950, Chicago Stags; NBA 1946-1948, Chicago Stags; BAA ——— 1970-now, Cleveland Cavaliers; NBA ——— 1946-1946, Cleveand Rebels; BAA ——— 1980-now, Dallas Mavericks; NBA ——— 1976-now, Denver Nuggets; NBA 1974-1975, Denver Nuggets; ABA* 1967-1974, Denver Rockets {Larks}; ABA* ——— 1951-1951, Evansville Agogans; NPBL 1950-1951, Denver Frontier Refiners; NPBL 1949-1949, Denver Nuggets; NBA 1948-1948, Denver Nuggets; NBL 1947-1947, Denver Nuggets; AAU 1945-1946, Denver Ambrose Jellymakers; AAU 1941-1944, Denver American Legion; AAU 1939-1940, Denver Nuggets; AAU 1936-1938, Denver Safeway Stores; AAU 1935-1935, Denver Safeway-Piggly Wigglys; AAU ——— 1957-now, Detroit Pistons;NBA 1950-1956, Fort Wayne Pistons; NBA 1948-1949, Fort Wayne Pistons; BAA 1941-1947, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons; NBL 1939-1940, Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons; Ind ——— 1947-1947, Detroit Falcons; BAA 1946-1946, Indianapolis; BAA ——— 1971-now, Golden State Warriors; NBA 1967-1970, San Francisco Warriors; ABA* 1962-1966, San Francisco Warriors; NBA 1950-1961, Philadelphia Warriors; NBA 1946-1949, Philadelphia Warriors; BAA ——— 1970-1972, The Floridians; ABA 1968-1970, Miami Floridians; ABA 1967-1968, Minnesota Muskies; ABA ——— 1971-now, Houston Rockets; NBA 1967-1970, San Diego Rockets; NBA ——— 1976-now, Indiana Pacers; NBA 1967-1975, Indiana Pacers; ABA* ——— 1949-1953, Indianapolis Olympians; NBA ——— 1948-1949, Indianapolis Jets; NBL 1945-1947, Indianapolis Kautskys ;NBL 1941-1942, Indianapolis Kautskys; NBL 1940-1940, Indianapolis Kautskys; Ind 1937-1938, Indianapolis Kautskys; NBL 1935-1936, Indianapolis Kautskys; MBC 1933-1935, Indianapolis Kautskys; Ind 1932-1932, Indianapolis Kautskys; NBL 1931-1931, Indianapolis Kausky ACs; Ind ——— 1967-1975, Kentucky Colonels; ABA* ——— 1984-now, Los Angeles Clippers; NBA 1978-1984, San Diego Clippers; NBA 1970-1977, Buffalo Braves; NBA ——— 1960-now, Los Angeles Lakers; NBA 1949-1959, Minneapolis Lakers; NBA 1948-1948, Minneapolis Lakers; BAA 1947-1947, Minneapolis Lakers; NBL 1946-1946, Detroit Gems; NBL ——— 2002-now, Memphis Grizzlies; NBA 1995-2001, Vancouver Grizzlies; NBA ——— 1988-now, Miami Heat; NBA ——— 1968-now, Milwaukee Bucks; NBA ——— 1989-now, Minnesota Timberwolves; NBA ——— 1977-now, New Jersey Nets; NBA 1976-1977, New York Nets; NBA 1968-1975, New York Nets; ABA* 1967-1968, New Jersey Americans; ABA* ——— 2003-now, New Orleans Hornets; NBA 1988-2002, Charlotte Hornets; NBA ——— 1950-now, New York Knickerbockers; NBA 1946-1949, New York Knickerbockers; BAA ——— 1989-now, Orlando Magic; NBA ——— 1963-now, Philadelphia 76ers; NBA 1950-1962, Syracuse Nationals; NBA 1946-1949, Syracuse Nationals; NBL ——— 1968-now, Phoenix Suns; NBA ——— 1970-1971, Pittsburgh Condors; ABA 1966-1969, Pittsburgh Pipers; ABA 1968-1968, Minnesota Pipers; ABA* 1967-1967, Pittsburgh Pipers; ABA* ——— 1946-1947, Pittsburgh Ironmen; BAA ——— 1970-now, Portland Trail Blazers; NBA ——— 1946-1948, Providence Steam Rollers; BAA ——— 1985-now, Sacramento Kings; NBA 1975-1984, Kansas City Kings; NBA 1972-1974, Kansas City-Omaha Kings; NBA 1957-1971, Cincinnati Royals; NBA 1950-1956, Rochester Royals; NBA 1948-1949, Rochester Royals; BAA 1945-1947, Rochester Royals; NBL 1943-1944, Rochester Pros; Ind 1942-1942, Rochester Eber Seagrams; Ind 1936-1941, Rochester Seagrams; Ind 1933-1935, Rochester Seagrams; District Basketball League 1932-1932, Rochester Seagrams; District Basketball Association 1923-1931, Rochester Seagrams; Ind ——— 1974-1975, Spirits of St. Louis; ABA* 1969-1973, Carolina Cougars; ABA* 1967-1968, Houston Mavericks; ABA* ——— 1976-now, San Antonio Spurs; NBA 1974-1975, San Antonio Spurs; ABA* 1973-1973, San Antonio Gunslinger; ABA* 1971-1972, Dallas Chaparrals; ABA* 1970-1970,Texas Chaparrals; ABA* 1967-1969, Dallas Chaparrals; ABA* ——— 1975-1975, San Diego Sails; ABA* 1972-1974, San Diego Conquistadors; ABA* ——— 1967-now, Seattle Supersonics; NBA ——— 1950-1951, Sheboygan Red Skins; NPBL 1949-1949, Sheboygan Red Skins; NBA 1938-1948, Sheboygan Red Skins; NBL ——— 1950-1950, St. Louis Bombers; NBA 1946-1949, St. Louis Bombers; BAA ——— 1995-now, Toronto Raptors; NBA ——— 1946-1947, Toronto Huskies; BAA ——— 1979-now, Utah Jazz; NBA ——— 1974-1978, New Orleans Jazz; NBA ——— 1970-1975, Utah Stars; ABA* 1968-1970, Los Angeles Stars; ABA* 1967-1968, Anaheim Amegos; ABA* ——— 1970-1975, Virginia Squires; ABA* 1969-1969, Washington Caps; ABA* 1967-1968, Oakland Oaks; ABA* ——— 1997-now, Washington Wizards; NBA 1974-1996, Washington Bullets; NBA 1973-1973, Capital Bullets; NBA 1963-1972, Baltimore Bullets; NBA 1962-1962, Chicago Zephyrs; NBA 1961-1961, Chicago Packers; NBA ——— 1946-1950, Washington Capitals; BAA ——— 1950-1951, Waterloo Hawks; NPBL 1949-1949, Waterloo Hawks; NBA 1948-1948, Waterloo Hawks; NBL ———	The new American Basketball Association The new American Basketball Association played two years, 2000 and 2001, suspended operations for 2003, expanded and resumed play in 2004.  The league is in such a state of flux that teams and names rarely last one full season—so these data are no longer accurate.  It is very frustrating keeping this chart up-to-date, so I have given up and urge you to please check the ABA site for ABA team names.  The roster of ABA teams as of early 2006 was as follows: 2005- now, Alexandria-Mongolia United 2004- now, Atlanta Vision 2005- now, Beijing Aoshen Olympian 2005- now, Bellingham Slam 2005- now, Big Valley Shockwave 2005- now, Birmingham Magicians 2005- now, Brooklyn Wonders 2005- now, Buffalo Silverbacks 2006- now, Cape Cod Frenzy * 2005- now, Carson Buzz 2005- now, Cedar Rapids Running Guns 2005- now, Columbia Rottweilers 2004- now, Detroit Wheels 2005- now, Fresno Heatwave 2005- now, Gallup Outlaws 2005- now, Hammond Rollers 2005- now, Houston Havoc 2005- now, Indiana Alley Cats 2005- now, Jacksonville Jam 2005- now, Knoxville Noise 2005- now, Las Vegas Venom 2005- now, Lincoln Thunder 2005- now, Los Angeles Aftershock 2004- now, Maryland Nighthawks 2006- now, Mexicali Sentinels 2005- now, Minneapolis/St. Paul Slamma Jammas 2005- now, Mississauga Red Wolves 2005- now, Mississippi Miracles 2005- now, Monterrey Poison 2005- now, Montreal Matrix 2005- now, Newark Express 2005- now, New Mexico Style 2005- now, New Orleans Blues 2005- now, Ohio Aviators 2005- now, Oregon Riptide 2006- now, Orlando Aces 2005- now, Palm Beach Imperials 2005- now, Peoria Kings 2005- now, Pittsburgh Xplosion 2005- now, Quebec Jumping Frogs 2005- now, Rochester Razorsharks 2005- now, Salt Lake Dream 2005- now, San Diego Wildcats 2005- now, St. Louis Stunners 2005- now, Strong Island Sound 2005- now, Tampa Bay Strong Dogs 2004- now, Texas Tycoons 2004- now, Tijuana Dragons 2005- now, Toledo Ice 2005- now, Twin City Ballers 2005- now, Vermont Frost Heaves 2005- now, Waco Wranglers — * formerly the Boston Frenzy ——— The following ABA teams no longer play 2005-2006, Baltimore Pearls 2004-2006, Bellevue Blackhawks 2004-2004, Calgary Drillers 2004-2004, Carolina Thunder 2004-2004, Central Valley Dawgs 2005-2006, Chicago Rockstars 2000-2001, Chicago Skyliners 2004-2005, Colorado Storm 2000-2002, Detroit Dogs 2004-2004, Fresno Heat 2004-2004, Georgia Reigning Knights 2004-2004, Harlem Strong Dogs 2004-2005, Hermosillo Seris 2002-2004, Indiana Legends 2004-2004, Jersey Squires 2004-2004, Juarez Gallos 2000-2004, Kansas City Knights 2004-2005, Kentucky Colonels 2000-2001, Kentucky Pro Cats 2004-2005, Las Vegas Rattlers 2002-2002, Las Vegas Slam 2004-2004, Long Beach Jam 2000-2004, Los Angeles Stars 2004-2004, Louisiana Cajun Pelicans 2000-2002, Memphis Houn'Dawgs 2004-2004, Mississippi Stingers 2004-2004, Nashville Rhythm 2004-2004, New Jersey SkyCats 2004-2004, Ontario Warriors 2004-2004, Orange County Buzz 2004-2004, Pennsylvania Pit Bulls 2004-2004, Philadelphia Fusion 2002-2002, Phoenix Eclipse 2004-2004, Portland Reign 2000-2002, San Diego Wildfire 2002-2002, Southern California Surf 2004-2004, St. Louis Flight 2005-2006, Tacoma Navigators 2000-2001, Tampa Bay ThunderDawgs 2004-2004, Tijuano Diablos 2004-2004, Utah Snowbears 2004-2004, Visalia Dawgs
See also Football Team Names, Baseball Team Names, and Hockey Team Names. See also Major Professional Teams Sorted by Locale and Major ProfessionalTeams Sorted by Nickame.