Timeline of the National Basketball Association
The following is a timeline of the expansion and evolution of franchises in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The league was formed as the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1946 and took its current name in 1949. The histories of NBA franchises that were also members of the American Basketball League (ABL), National Basketball League (NBL), National Pro Basketball League (NPBL), and American Basketball Association (ABA) are also included. NBA timeline History of organizational changes The following is a history of the organizational changes in the NBA, including contractions, expansions, relocations, and divisional realignment since the founding of the BAA in 1946. BAA years (1946–1949) 1946: Founding of the BAA The Basketball Association of America is formed with 11 teams, and divided into East and West divisions. Four of these teams fold after the season. 1947 The BAA plays with eight teams, with the Baltimore Bullets joining the league from the ABL. 1948 Four teams from the NBL, the Fort Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Jets, Minneapolis Lakers and the Rochester Royals, join the BAA. Both the Jets and the Providence Steamrollers fold after the season. BAA–NBL merger (1949–1966) 1949: BAA–NBL merger The ten surviving BAA teams merge with the six