How many NBA teams are there and what is the history of them?

The 50 greatest players in NBA history

How many NBA teams are there totally? If we look at the past 50 years, the NBA teams and/or franchises have had a rich history, starting with their origin and leading on to relocation and name changes.

Here is a history** of all the NBA teams, in alphabetic order, with a keen emphasis on their performance various avatars and performances in the league.

1. Atlanta Hawks

• Atlanta Hawks: 1968-69 to present; 3560 games, 28 playoff appearances

• St. Louis Hawks: 1955-68; 1005 games, 12 playoff appearances, 1 championship

• Milwaukee Hawks: 1951-55; 281 games

• Tri-Cities Blackhawks: 1949-51; 132 games, 1 playoff appearance

2. Boston Celtics

1946-1947 to present – 5151 games; 50 playoff appearances, 17 championships

3. Brooklyn Nets

• New Jersey Nets (NBA): 1977-78 to 2011-12; 2822 games, 16 playoff appearances

• New York Nets (NBA): 1976-77, 82 games,

• New York Nets (ABA): 1968-76, 666 games, 7 playoff appearances, 2 ABA championships

• New Jersey Americans (ABA): 1967-68, 78 games

4. Charlotte Bobcats

2004-2005 to present; 640 games played. 1 play off appearance

5. Chicago Bulls

1966-1967 to present; 3723 games played, 31 playoff appearances, 6 NBA championships

6. Cleavland Cavliers

1970-71 to present; 3396 games played, 18 playoff appearances with no championship

7. Dallas Maverics

1980-1981 to present; 2576 games played, 18 playoff appearances, 1 NBA championship

8. Denver Nuggets

• Denver Nuggets (NBA): 1976-77 to present; 2904 games, 23 playoff appearances

• Denver Nuggets (ABA): 1974-76; 168 games, 2 playoff appearances

• Denver Rockets (ABA): 1967-74; 576 games, 7 playoff appearances

9. Detroit Pistons

• Detroit Pistons: 1957-58 to present; 4421 games, 32 playoff appearances, 3 NBA championships

• Ft. Wayne Pistons: 1948-57; 619 games, 8 playoff appearances

10. Golden State Warriors

• Golden State Warriors: 1971-72 to present; 3314 games, 11 playoff appearances, 1 NBA championship

• San Francisco Warriors: 1962-71; 729 games, 5 playoff appearances

• Philadelphia Warriors: 1946-62; 1103 games, 12 playoff appearances, 2 NBA championships

11. Houston Rockets

• Houston Rockets: 1971-72 to present; 3314 games, 25 playoff appearances, 2 NBA championships

• San Diego Rockets: 1967-71; 328 games, 1 playoff appearance

12. Indiana Pacers

• Indiana Pacers (NBA): 1976-77 to present; 2904 games, 20 playoff appearances

• Indiana Pacers (ABA): 1967-76; 744 games, 9 playoff appearances, 3 ABA championships

13. L.A. Clippers

• L.A. Clippers: 1984-85 to present; 2248 games, 5 playoff appearances

• San Diego Clippers: 1978-84; 492 games

• Buffalo Braves: 1970-78; 656 games, 3 playoff appearances

14. L.A. Lakers

• L.A. Lakers: 1960-61 to present; 4202 games, 48 playoff appearances, 11 NBA championships

• Minneapolis Lakers: 1948-60; 839 games, 11 playoff appearances, 5 NBA championships

15. Memphis Grizzlies

• Memphis Grizzlies: 2001-02 to present; 866 games played, 5 playoff appearances

• Vancouver Grizzlies: 1995-2001; 460 games played

16. Miami Heat

1988-1989 to present; 1920 games played, 16 playoff appearances, 2 NBA championships

17. Milwaukee Bucks

1968-1969 to present; 3560 games played, 26 playoff appearances, 1 NBA championship won

18. Minnesota Timberwolves

1989-1990 to present; 1838 games played, 8 playoff appearances with no championship

19. New Orleans Hornets*

• New Orleans Hornets: 2002-05 & 2007-08 to present; 640 games, 5 playoff appearances

• New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets: 2005-07; 164 games

• Charlotte Hornets: 1988-2002; 1116 games, 7 playoff appearances

20. New York Knicks

1946-1947 to present; 5147 games played, 41 playoff appearances, 2 NBA championships

21. Oklahoma City Thunder

• Oklahoma City Thunder: 2008-20009 to present; 312 games, 3 playoff appearances

• Seattle Super Sonics: 1967-2008; 3330 games, 22 playoff appearances, 1 NBA championship

22. Orlando Magic

1989-1990 to present; 1838 games played. 14 playoff appearances. No championships won.

23. Philadelphia 76ers

• Philadelphia 76ers: 1963-64 to present; 3963 games, 33 playoff appearances, 2 NBA championships

• Syracuse Nationals: 1949-63; 1013 games, 14 playoff appearances, 1NBA championship

24. Phoenix Suns

1968-1969 to present; 3560 games played, 29 playoff appearances, no championships won

25. Portland Trail Blazers

1970-1971 to present; 3396 games played, 29 playoff appearances, 1 NBA championship

26. Sacramento Kings

• Sacramento Kings: 1985-86 to present; 2166 games, 10 playoff appearances

• Kansas City Kings: 1975-85; 820 games, 4 playoff appearances

• Kansas City-Omaha Kings: 1972-75; 246 games, 1 playoff appearance

• Cincinnati Royals: 1957-72; 1189 games, 7 playoff appearances

• Rochester Royals: 1948-57; 620 games, 7 playoff appearances, 1 NBA championship

27. San Antonio Spurs

• San Antonio Spurs (NBA): 1976-77 to present; 2904 games, 32 playoff appearances, 4 NBA championships

• San Antonio Spurs (ABA): 1973-76; 252 games, 3 playoff appearances

• Texas Chaparrals (ABA): 1970-71; 84 games, 1 playoff appearance

• Dallas Chaparrals (ABA): 1967-70 & 1971-73; 408 games, 4 playoff appearances

28. Toronto Raptors

1995 – 1996 to present; 1346 games played, 5 playoff appearances, 0 championships won

29. Utah Jazz

• Utah Jazz: 1979-80 to present; 2658 games, 25 playoff appearances

• New Orleans Jazz: 1974-79; 410 games

30. Washington Wizards

• Washington Wizards: 1997-98 to present; 1182 games, 4 playoff appearances

• Washington Bullets: 1974-97; 1886 games, 13 playoff appearances, 1 NBA championship

• Capital Bullets: 1973-74; 82 games, 1 playoff appearance

• Baltimore Bullets: 1963-73; 813 games, 7 playoff appearances

• Chicago Zephyrs: 1962-63; 80 games

• Chicago Packers: 1961-62; 80 games

* New Orleans Hornets’ name is now changed to New Orleans Pelicians, as of 2013 – 2014 season

**All the data provided is up to the 2011 – 2012 season