List of relocated NBA teams


The National Basketball Association is a professional men's basketball league, consisting of 30 teams in North America—29 in the United States and one in Canada. The NBA was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946, as the Basketball Association of America. It adopted the name National Basketball Association at the start of the 1949–50 season when it absorbed the National Basketball League. The NBA is an active member of USA Basketball, which is recognized by the International Basketball Federation as the national governing body for basketball in the country. The league is considered to be one of the four major professional sports leagues of North America.

Relocated teams

The list contains current franchises in the NBA. It does not include name changes.
FirstFirst year in original city
LastLast year in original city
Win%Winning percentage
PANBA Playoffs appearances
CChampionship titles
^City later received a new franchise
*Later relocated again

Permanent relocations

TeamFirstLastRelocated toSeasonsWin%PACMain reasonRef
Tri-Cities Blackhawks19491951Milwaukee Hawks*2.40910Small city
Milwaukee Hawks^19511955St. Louis Hawks*4.32400
Fort Wayne Pistons19481957Detroit Pistons9.50680Small city
Rochester Royals19481957Cincinnati Royals*9.57671Lack of profitability
Minneapolis Lakers^19481960Los Angeles Lakers12.545115Poor attendance
Philadelphia Warriors^19461962San Francisco Warriors16.506122Sold to San Francisco owner
Chicago Zephyrs^19611963Baltimore Bullets*2.26900
Syracuse Nationals19491963Philadelphia 76ers14.569141
St. Louis Hawks19551968Atlanta Hawks13.550121Sold to Atlanta owners
New Jersey Americans19671968New York Nets*100Overbooked play location
San Diego Rockets^19671971Houston Rockets4.36310
Cincinnati Royals19571972Kansas City–Omaha Kings*15.46770
Baltimore Bullets19631973Capital Bullets10.49370
Kansas City–Omaha Kings19721975Kansas City Kings*3.45910Moved all games to Kansas City
New York Nets19681977New Jersey Nets*810NBA-ABA Merger, poor attendance
Buffalo Braves19701978San Diego Clippers*8.39530
New Orleans Jazz^19741979Utah Jazz5.39300Lack of profitability
San Diego Clippers19781984Los Angeles Clippers6.37800
Kansas City Kings19751985Sacramento Kings10.46540Low attendance
Vancouver Grizzlies19952001Memphis Grizzlies6.22000
Charlotte Hornets^19882002New Orleans Hornets14.48570
Seattle SuperSonics19672008Oklahoma City Thunder41.524221
New Jersey Nets19772012Brooklyn Nets35---

Temporary relocations

TeamFirstLastRelocated toSeasonsWin%PACMain reasonRef
New Orleans Hornets20022005Oklahoma City 3.51220
Toronto Raptors19952020Tampa 25--1