National Basketball Association (NBA)
NBA is a popular North American basketball league, formed on August 3, 1949, when a professional basketball league BAA decided to merge with a rival league NBL. The inaugural season was started with 17 teams, Boston Celtics, Chicago Stags, New York Knickerbockers (now New York Knicks), Philadelphia Warriors (now Golden State Warriors), St Louis Bombers, Washington Capitols, Baltimore Bullets, Fort Wayne Pistons (now Detroit Pistons), Minneapolis Lakers (now Los Angeles Lakers), Rochester Royals (now Sacramento Kings), Anderson Packers, Denver Nuggets, Indianapolis Olympians, Sheboygan Redskins, Syracuse Nationals (now Philadelphia 76ers) Tri-cities Blackhawks ( now Atlanta Hawks) and Waterloo Hawks. The teams competed in 3 division format and Minneapolis Lakers emerged as the winner of the first NBA season.
Prior to the start of second season, six teams were dropped out (Chicago Stags, St Louis Bombers, Anderson Packers, Denver Nuggets, Sheboygan Redskins and Waterloo Hawks) and the league was limited to eleven teams. Remaining 11 Teams were placed in 2 divisions.
Each year less and less teams participated in the league. Washington Capitols were disbanded before the start of 1951 season. Now 10 teams were left in the league.
In 1953, another team Indianapolis Olympians was dropped out.
In 1954, the league reached to its most curtailed form when Baltimore Bullets were left out and only 8 teams remained in the league.
In 1961, Chicago Packers (now Washington Wizards) joined the league, it was the point when the league started to grow and expand.
In 1966, Chicago Bulls entered the league. Next year two more teams San Diego Rockets (now Houston Rockets) and Seattle SuperSonics (now Oklahoma City Thunder) joined the league.
In 1967, the league faced a major problem in the form of a new basketball league, American Basketball Association. NBA not only lost few of its key players but also faced a drop in popularity. Nevertheless, the teams continued to join the league.
In 1968, Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns entered the league.
In 1970, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers and Buffalo Braves (Now Los Angeles Clippers) became the part of the league. For the first time four-division format was used in NBA.
Another team New Orleans Jazz (now Utah Jazz) joined NBA in 1974.
In 1976, the rival league ABA was disbanded and its four teams Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets (now New Jersey Nets) and San Antonio Spurs were forced to join NBA.
Individual popularity of some great players like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird in early 80s and Michael Jordan in late 80s helped NBA to regain its popularity and made the league a dominant force in the world of basketball.
Dallas Mavericks joined NBA in 1980 and the league expanded to 23 teams.
In 1988, Charlotte Hornets (Now New Orleans Hornets) and Miami Heat became a part of the league. Next year two more teams Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic joined the league.
In 1995, Toronto Raptors and Vancouver Grizzlies (Now Memphis Grizzlies) became the member of the league.
In 2004 the league reached to its largest size of 30 teams when a new team Charlotte Bobcats joined the league.
Today, NBA is regarded as the most popular, lucrative and highly competitive league in the world of professional basketball.
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