NBA Teams

NBA Teams A-Z: List Of The NBA Teams In Alphabetical Order By Team Name

By Aditya Bhattarai / 28 June 2023 04:16 PM

There are thirty teams in NBA that compete as a member of the Eastern and Western Conference under their respective divisions.
Source : facebook

NBA Teams A-Z: NBA Teams In Alphabetical Order By Team Name: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, to Washington Wizards. Here Is the list of NBA Basketball Teams Names.

The NBA is one of the top four premier sports in the world, established as the Basketball Association of America in 1946. When they merged with the rival National Basketball League on August 3, 1949, they renamed it the National Basketball Association.

While there were many teams affiliated with the league since its inception, there are currently 30 teams in NBA that compete against each other in 2023.

They are classified under the Eastern and Western Conference, which is further separated into six divisions. The Atlantic, Central, and Southeast divisions belong to the Eastern while the Pacific, Northwest, and Southwest divisions belong to the Western. 

Below are the NBA teams in alphabetical order introduced briefly with their major achievements highlighted.

Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta Hawks is the only NBA team whose name begins with the alphabet A. Hawks represent the Eastern Conference Southeast Division of the League.

They are the second team after the Kings to face the longest postseason drought in the NBA for 64 seasons. The Hawks had won their first and last NBA finals game against the Boston Celtis in 1958.

NBA team Atlanta Hawks Logo including the previous and alternative versions.
Source : facebook

Hawks have changed their official logo multiple times along with the changing era.

In the 77 years of history, they have recruited four prodigies in the team that have alleviated their name to new heights. Dominique Wilkins, Joe Johnson, Trae Young, and Tree Rollins are the few basketball icons from the team.

Below are some of the major highlights of the NBA team.

  • Atlanta Hawks home stadium is State Farm Arena, with a seating capacity of 16,600 people as of 2023.

  • The Hawks play with the Eastern Conference Southeast Division of the league.

  • They originated from New York as the Buffalo Bisons in 1946 as a member of NBL. Ben Kerner and Leo Ferris founded the team.

  • The Hawks won their first NBA championship in 1958, playing against the Boston Celtics.

  • All-time notable players of the team are Dominique Wilkins, Joe Johnson, Trae Young, and Tree Rollins.

  • The Atlanta Hawks Mascot is Harry The Hawk.

Boston Celtics

Boston Celtics is among the eight original teams in the league founded in 1946. They play with the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division Of the NBA.

The Celtics are the reigning NBA team with 17 championship titles until the 2021-2022 season. They are tied in the top position with the Los Angeles Lakers having equal wins in their name.

Boston Celtics featured Logo with the Leprechaun Mascot on the left and the secondary logo on the right.
Source : facebook

The clover logo of Boston Celtics is based on the Original Celtics team from Massachusetts. Similarly, the current logo with the Leprechaun signifies the Irish population in Boston.

Some major highlights of the team are highlighted in the points below.

  • Boston Celtics belong to the first eight basketball teams in the league since 1946.

  • Celtics Macot “Lucky the Leprechaun” represents the Irish population in Boston.

  • The Clover in the Logo is inspired from the New York Original Celtics basketball team, but they have no connection with the team.

  • Their home stadium is TD Garden from Boston, Massachusetts with a seating capacity of 19,156 people.

  • Celtics Won their first Championship in 1957 and has the highest record of 17 wins as of 2023. 

  • Bill Russel, Larry Bird, and Bob Cousy are the legendary players of the 90s Celtics team, while Paul Pierce, Jayson Tatum, and Jalen Brown are among the new-generation talents.

Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets are an American professional basketball team associated with Eastern Conference Atlantic Division. 

Formerly known as the New York Americans, they were established as a charter franchise of the rival league ABA in 1967. Later, they changed the name to New York Nets in 1968.

The Nets released their first logo on the left in 2012 while the one in the right is the secondary.
Source : twitter

Associated with NBA since 1976, they played from New Jersey for 35 years before moving back to New York as Brooklyn Nets in 2012.

The Nets had to pay $4.8 million to New York Knicks for encroachment in 1977 which made them lose their star player Julius Erving.

After the final name change, the Nets have remained in New York for the past ten years having a fierce rivalry with the Knicks.

Some major points to note about the Brooklyn Nets are as follows.

  • Founded in 1967 to compete in the ABA league. 

  • First NBA season as New York Nets was held in the NBA season 1976-77.

  • Two Championships in The ABA League with none in the NBA.

  • Has No Mascot after the BrooklyKnight retired in 2014.

  • Julius Erving, Jason Kidd, Kevin Durant, and Seth Curry are the Brooklyn nets most notable players of all time.

  • The Brooklyn Nets homeground stadium is Barclays Center which has a seating capacity of 17,732 people.

Charlotte Hornets

The Hornets are an American basketball team competing in the NBA. They are a part of the Eastern Conference Southeast Division.

Established by Geroge Shin in 1988, the Hornets is also connected with the origin of the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA. They were known as the Charlotte Bobcats for ten years since 2004 before changing it back to the original name in 2014. 

Former NBA star and Hall of Famer Michael Jordan is the current owner of the Charlotte-based team. He purchased the majority of voting rights shares of the company in 2010, becoming the controlling interest of the team. 

The Hornets are mainly know by these four logos in the NBA, including their time as Bobcats.
Source : facebook

After the recruitment of Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning in the early 90s, the team rose to prominence. Furthermore, they continued their fame after recruiting Glen Rice as the center.

Following are some key points about the NBA team Charlotte Hornets.

  • The Hornets were established by George Shin as an expansion team in 1988.

  • Their home stadium is Spectrum Center with a seating capacity of 19,077 people.

  • The Hornets were also known as Charlotte Bobcats from 2004 to 2014. 

  • Charlotte Hornets is owned by Hall Of Famer Michael Jordan since 2010. 

  • The notable players include LaMelo Ball, Glen Rice, Kemba Walker, Larry Johnson, and Alonzo Mourning.

  • The Charlotte Hornets have yet to win an NBA championship in the 34 years of history.

  • Their Mascot is Hugo The Hornet.

Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls are an NBA basketball team competing in the Eastern Conference Central Division. The Bulls have been playing regularly in the league since 1966.

The Chicago-based team plays its home games at the United Center which can hold a total of 20,917 fans in the arena.

The logo of Chicago Bulls has been the same ever since their foundation in 1966.
Source : facebook

Chicago Bulls became famous in the 1990s after the team led by Hall of Famers Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Coach Phil Jackson won six NBA championships.

They are the only team in NBA to win three consecutive championships twice without losing a single NBA Finals series in the league’s history.

The Bulls also set a record of winning 72 games in the 1995-96 season making it the first team to ever win more than 70 games in a single season.

Following are a few key factors to know about the NBA team from Chicago, North Carolina.

  • Established in January 16, 1996. 

  • Plays home games at United Center from West-Side Chicago which has 20,917 seats.

  • First team to record 72 wins in NBA history.

  • Won three-peat NBA championships twice in the years between 1991-1998.

  • Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Derrick Rose and Zach LaVine are the iconic players of the team.

  • Benny The Bull is the Mascot of the Team since 1969.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are an Eastern Conference Central Division team competing in NBA since 1970. Cavaliers rank in the 6th position in alphabetical order.

Situated in Cleveland, Ohio, the team was first purchased by Ted Stepien in 1980 from the original owner Nick Mileti before it was bought by George and Gordon Gund in 1983.

The current owner Dan Gilbert bought the shares of Gordon in March 2005, along with the others, and became a majority shareholder of the team.

On the left is the primary logo of the Cavaliers as of 2022 while the other two on the right represents its former symbols.
Source : facebook

Starting from 2014, Lebron James led the Cavaliers to four consecutive NBA finals while obtaining their first ever NBA championship title in 2016. In addition to that, the Cavs have won five conference titles and seven division titles in the NBA.

Apart from James, the most iconic players of the Cavaliers are Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Kevin Love, Larry Nance, and Ricky Rubio.

Following are some of the major highlights about the NBA team Cleveland Cavaliers.

  • Established in 1970 under the ownership of Nick Mileti.

  • As of 2023, Dan Gilbert owns Cavaliers as a major shareholder while Gary Gilbert and Usher Raymond are minor shareholders.

  • Cavs has won one NBA championship against Golden State Warriors in 2016.

  • Lebron James, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Kevin Love and Larry Nance are among the legendary players of the team.

  • The Cavs has won five Eastern Conference titles and seven Central Division titles in NBA.

  • Their home stadium Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse has a seating capacity of 19,432 people.

  • Moondog and Sir CC are the current mascots of Cleveland Cavaliers while Whammer is the former one.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks are a Southwest Division team playing in the Western Conference of the NBA. The Mavericks are also known by Mavs in short.

Founded in 1980, the Mavericks were a annual playoff team throughout the starting decade under the lead of Rolando Blackman and Mark Aguirre.

The horse in the logo is a remarkable symbols of the Mavericks. It also represents freedom and courage.
Source : facebook

While they faced setbacks in the nineties, their fortunate years started after acquiring Dirk Nowitzki in 1998. Under his lead, the team won their first NBA championship in 2011 along with two Divisional and Conference titles each.

Following his departure in 2019, the team built the momentum in conference and division level games under the efforts of new generation star Luka Doncic.

Their stadium for home games is American Airlines Center which is also the center for NHL team Dallas Stars. It has a capacity of 19,200 people.

The Mavs are currently owned by American Billionaire Mark Cuban who purchased it from the Ross Perrot’s group in Januray 14, 2000.

Some major highlights on the Dallas-based NBA team are as follows.

  • Established in 1980 under the joint partnership of Don Carter and Norm Sonju. 

  • Mark Cuban is the current owner of the Mavs since January 14, 2000. 

  • Won their first and only NBA championship in 2011 under the efforts of Dirk Nowitzki.

  • Along with Nowitzki, few of the best players in the Mavs history includes Rolando Blackman, Mark Aguire, Jason Kidd, and the current star Luca Doncic.

  • The Dallas Mavericks mascot are MavsMan and Champ.

  • Mavs has won two Western Conference titles and four Southeast Division titles.

Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets is a member of the Western Conference Northwest Division of the NBA. The Nuggets was established as a franchise of ABA in 1967.

Initially known as the Denver Rockets, they changed their name to Nuggets in 1974, citing the similarities with Houston Rockets in the NBA.

Before the ABA league merged with NBA, the Nuggets had won two divisional titles. The following years after the merger, they won nine titles under the Western Conference Northwest division in the NBA.

The left picture is the current logo of the Denver Nuggets while the one the right is the former.
Source : facebook

The Nuggets logo represents two main themes, including their former mascot Maxie the Miner. Meanwhile, the current Super Mascot Rocky and the mountain peaks in the former logo are related to the club's motherland State and landscape.

While the nuggets rose to fame with Alex English and Kiki Vandeweghe in the early eighties, the next era witnessed many talents within the team.

Following are some significant highlights of the Denver-based NBA team.

  • Established in 1967 as a franchise of the American Basketball Association.

  • They changed their name from Denver Rockets to Denver Nuggets in 1974.

  • Their home stadium is Ball Arena, previously known as Pepsi Center from Denver, with a seating capacity of 18,000 people.

  • Idol players from the team are Alex English, Dikembe Mutombo, Carmelo Anthony, and Nikola Jokic.

  • Team mascots are Maxie the Miner and SuperMascot Rocky the Mountain Lion.

Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons are an NBA team from the Eastern Conference Central Division of the League. Fred Zollner founded the Pistons as a work team in 1937.

They turned professional after joining NBL in 1941 and had a glorious start by winning two championships in 1944 and 1945. 

Formerly known as Fort Wayne Pistons, they moved to Detroit in 1957 and changed the name to Detroit Pistons.

The big picture on the left is the current official logo if the Pistons while the other 3 are from their jerseys.
Source : facebook

The Pistons have won three NBA championships with two back-to-back wins in 1989 and 1990, while the last one was in 2004.

Their star players in the long history of eight decades include Isaiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Dennis Rodman, and Grant Hill. The team earned the nickname Bad Boys Pistons in the eighties for their defensive play.

The following are some key points associated with the Detroit-based NBA team.

  • Fort Wayne piston manufacturer Fred Zollner formed the team in 1937.

  • Pistons associated with both NBL and BAA before the two leagues merged into the NBA.

  • The Detroit Pistons play their home games at Little Caesars Arena which has 20,332 seats. 
  • They have won three NBA championships and two NBL championships.

  • The Bad Boys Pistons earned 11 division titles in all time.

  • Iconic players are Isiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman, Rick Mahorn, and Bill Laimbeer.

  • The Pistons mascot is the Mighty Mighty Hooper since 1996.

Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors are the only NBA team starting with the alphabet G. They are also the only team that does not have a state in their name.

Golden State Warriors Logo highlighted by Steph Curry after an All-Star game. On the right side are the GSW Town and their old logo.
Source : facebook

After winning the recent NBA championship in 2022, the Warriors have the third-highest number of titles with seven wins, compared to the Celtics and Lakers having 17 wins each.

With the efforts of champions Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Kevin Durant, the Warriors have won four titles in the past decade.

In the early era, Hall of farmers Paul Arizin, Tom Gola, and Neil Johnston helped the team achieve their first two championship titles.

Below are some notable things to know about the Golden State Warriors from San Francisco, California.

  • Established in 1946 as the Philadephia Warriors playing for the BAA.

  • They play with the Western Conference Pacific Division of the NBA.

  • Home games are held at Chase Center with a seating capacity of 18,064 people.

  • The Warriors are the third team with the most NBA championships after 2022.

  • They also have seven conference titles and 12 division titles as of 2023.

  •  Wilt Chamberlain and Stephen Curry of the Warriors are MVPs of the NBA for winning three MVP awards in finals.

  • The Warriors does not have a mascot ever since their former mascot Thunder retired in 2007.

Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets are a Western Conference Southwest Division team competing in the NBA. The Rockets have won two NBA Championships since their formation in 1967.

They were initially based in San Diego and only moved to Houston after four years in 1971. The team won the two NBA finals under the lead of star players Hakeem Olajuwon and Ralph Sampson. The duo was famous as the “Twin Towers” signifying their tall height.

Picture of the Houston Rockets new logo embedded in the jersey was shared on their official Facebook account.
Source : facebook

Following are some quick highlights about the Houston-based NBA team.

  • Established as San Diego Rockets in 1967 and became Houston Rockets in 1971.

  • They won two consecutive NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.

  • The Rockets obtained four Conference titles until 1995 and have yet to win another. 

  • On the other hand, they have won eight division titles as of 2023.

  • The iconic players of the team are Hakeem Olajuwon, Ralph Sampson, Tracy McGrady, and Yao Ming.

  • The Houston Rockets home game is conducted at the Toyota Center, with a capacity of 18,104 seats.

  • Their mascot is “Clutch” the bear since 1995.

Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers are an Eastern Conference Central Division team competing in the NBA. The Pacers were initially formed as a member of the ABA league in 1967.

They became an official member of the NBA after its merger with the ABA league in 1976. The Pacers had won three championships as an ABA team, but they have yet to obtain the title in the NBA.

On the other hand, they have obtained the Eastern Conference title once in 2000 and have a total of nine Division titles with six of them in the NBA.

The two pictures of on the top are the current versions of Pacers Logo while the previous version shows a tall hand holding the yellow basketball.
Source : facebook

Six Hall Of Fame players have played with the Pacers while multiple Hall of Fame Coaches has led the team in the league despite not winning a championship in its long history.

Following are some quick points about the Indianapolis-based NBA team.

  • The Pacers were established in 1967.

  • Their home games occur at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse arena with a capacity of 17,274 seats.

  • Bobby Leonard, Jack Ramsay, and Larry Brown are the Hall Of Famer Coaches of the Pacers.

  • Reggie Miller, Danny Granger, Jermaine O’Neal, Paul George and Rick Smits are some of the iconic players of the team.

  • They have won one conference title and sic division titles in the NBA.

  • Their official mascot is Boomer the Panther since 1991 while the secondary mascot Bowser retired in 2009.

LA Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers are a Western Conference Pacific Division team competing in the NBA. The Clippers were initially founded in 1970 as Buffalo Braves.

They moved to San Diego in 1978 after a conflict in Buffalo. Later, they shifted to Los Angeles in 1984 and settled there.

New version of LA Clippers logo on the top has replaced the older version on the bottom picture.
Source : facebook

Although they have yet to win an NBA championship, the clippers have won two division titles during their 53 years of history.

Coming from the same state, the Clippers are often compared to the winning champions LA Lakers as the opposite of one another since they have yet to win a single championship.

Following are some quick points to highlight the things about the Los Angeles-based NBA team.

  • Established in 1970 as an expansion team in the NBA.

  • The Clippers play their home games at the Crypto.Com arena, formerly the Staples center. They have a capacity of 10,071 people.

  • They are the oldest team in the franchise to never have reached the NBA finals.

  • Blake Grifin, Bill Fitch, Eric Bledsoe, Danny Manning and Kawhi Leonard are some iconic players from the team.

  • Their mascot is Chuck The Condor is based on the rare species of bird called California Condor.

LA Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers are members of the Western Conference Pacific division of the NBA. The Lakers were established in Minneapolis as an NBL team in 1947.

After joining the NBA league in 1948, they started winning championship titles in the following season. They have won a total of seventeen championships ever since their establishment and ties with Boston Celtics in the most number of titles on their name. 

Los Angeles Lakers official logo brandished the two colors namely purple and Golden as the symbol of glory.
Source : facebook

Following the purchase of the team by Jerry Buss, the team entered a golden era after drafting Magic Johnson in 1979. Combining the Hall Of Famer point guard and Center Kareem-Abdul Jabbar, the Lakers had won five NBA finals in the eighties.

Later came the era of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant whose legendary skills and gameplay made the LA Lakers the most popular basketball team in the world.

Currently, the team is maintaining its glory with the champion NBA star Lebron James.

Following are some major highlights about the Los Angeles-based NBA team.

  • Established in 1947 as a member of the NBL, the Lakers moved to NBA in 1948.

  • The LA Lakers have won 17 NBA championships as of 2023.

  • They have also won 19 Conference and 33 division titles since their inception in 1947.

  • Starting with the Geroge Mikan in 1947, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal, and Lebron James are the legendary players of the team.

  • They are also associated with the NBA G-League team South Bay Lakers.

  • The Los Angeles Lakers are among the four NBA teams that never had an official mascot. Meanwhile, some unofficial candidates include Dancing Larry and Slam Duck.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies compete in the Western Conference Southwest Division member of the NBA. The Grizzlies were formed as an expansion of NBA to Canada.

They were initially based in Vancouver during their establishment in 1995, and their name Grizzlies is based on the bears of British Columbia.

The new Grizzlies design on the left was made official in 2018 while they previously had the one from the top right corner until 2005.
Source : facebook

After moving to Memphis in 2001, they were known as Grizz amongst the local citizens. The Grizz are from the later generations of the NBA, having yet to win a single championship as of 2023. Meanwhile they have recently achieved their first division title in 2022.

Following are some of the major highlights about the team from Memphis, Tennessee.

  • Formed as Vancouver Grizzlies in 1995 and later relocated to Memphis in 2001.

  • Home games are played at FedExForum arena at Memphis. It can house 17,794 people at once.

  • Paul Gasol led the initial era of success while Ja Morant is the new generation talent leading in 2023.

  • More iconic players from the team include Ziare Williams, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

  • Their official mascot has been Grizz since 1995, starting with their time in Vancouver.

  • The Grizz have yet to win an NBA championship or a conference title, while they have won the division title in 2022

Miami Heat

The Milwaukee Bucks were established in 1968 as an expansion team for the NBA. The Bucks play as a member of Eastern Conference Central Divsion in NBA.

The current Miami Heat logo is in darker shade of orange rather than the precious one with bright colors.
Source : facebook

Bucks are the winner of two NBA championships from 1971 and 2021. Including that, they have won three conference titles and seventeen division titles as of 2023.

Their team has been led by basketball legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sydney Moncrief and Giannis Antetokounmpo to achieve a successful name in the league.

The Milwaukee based NBA team conducts their home games at Fiserv Forum in Wisconsion, which can house 17,385 people in it.

Following are some major points about the Milwaukee based NBA team.

  • Formed by a group of investors in 1968. 

  • Current owners are Aaron Rodgers, Wes Edens, Marc Lasry, Jamie Dinan and Michael D. Fascitelli.

  • Bucks has won two championships, three conference titles and 17 division titles.

  • Only team to win the championship in both eastern and western conference.

  • Home stadium is Fiserv Forum from Milawukee, Wisconsin.

  • Jason Kidd, Scott Skiles, Don Nelson and Mike Budenholzer are among the top head coaches of the Bucks.

  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gainnis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are the iconic players of the team.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks were established in 1968 as an expansion team for the NBA. The Bucks play as a member of Eastern Conference Central Divsion in NBA.

Bucks new logo is the one on the left since April 13, 2015. The upper right picture of the secondary while the lower one is the previous version.
Source : facebook

Bucks are the winner of two NBA championships from 1971 and 2021. Including that, they have won three conference titles and seventeen division titles as of 2023.

Their team has been led by basketball legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Sydney Moncrief and Giannis Antetokounmpo to achieve a successful name in the league.

The Milwaukee based NBA team conducts their home games at Fiserv Forum in Wisconsion, which can house 17,385 people in it.

Following are some major points about the Milwaukee based NBA team.

  • Formed by a group of investors in 1968. 

  • Current owners are Aaron Rodgers, Wes Edens, Marc Lasry, Jamie Dinan and Michael D. Fascitelli.

  • Bucks has won two championships, three conference titles and 17 division titles.

  • Only team to win the championship in both eastern and western conference.

  • Home stadium is Fiserv Forum from Milawukee, Wisconsin.

  • Jason Kidd, Scott Skiles, Don Nelson and Mike Budenholzer are among the top head coaches of the Bucks.

  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Gainnis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton are the iconic players of the team.

  • Their official mascot if Bango the Buck since 1977.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves are a member of Western Conference Northwest Division in the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolved was founded by Glen Taylor in 1989.

The Minnesota Timberwolves changed their logo to the one in the left in 2017 before their 30th anniversary.
Source : facebook

Timberwolves have made much progress as an expansion team in the nineties era. Meanwhile, they have yet to win a NBA championship on reach the finals during their 33 years of history.

Players like Kevin Garnett had won multiple MVP awards while in leading the team to the conference finals and helped them win their first division title in 2004. After Garnett, the mantle was taken by Kevin Love followed by Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns.

Likewise, they have been conducting thier home games at the Target Center since 1990, which has a seating capacity of 18,798 people. 

Some quick point to note about the Minnesota based team are as follows.

  • Established as an expansion team in 1889, owned by Glen Taylor.

  • The Timberwolves has yet to win an NBA championship as of 2023.

  • Kevin Garnett, Kevin Love, Karl-Anthony Towns are players with a notable contributions to the team.

  • They have won one Division title under the lead of Kevin Garnett in 2004.

  • WNBA team Minnesota Lynx is a sister company of the Timberwolves.

  • The Minnesota Timberwolves official mascot is Crunch the Wolf, since 2003.

  • Their home base Target center also hosts the WNBA team Minnesota Lynx.

New Orleans Pelicans

The New Orleans Pelicans are among the newly formed NBA teams established in 2002. The Pelicans play with the Western Conference Southwest Division of the NBA.

Formerly known as New Orleans Hornets, the Pelicans changed the name in 2013 after NBA considered them as an official expansion team rather than a shadow of the Charlotte Hornets.

New Orleans Pelicans unveiled their new logo after the announcement of name change from the Hornets in 2013.
Source : facebook

The Pelicans began shining after drafting Chris Paul as their first pick in 2005 NBA draft, and their dedication to recover after hurricane Katrina. Chris helped the team obtain their first ever division title while leading them into the Conference Semifinals in 2008.

Pelicans play their home games at Smoothie King Center which has 16,867 seats, known to be the lowest among all the NBA teams’ homeground.

Below are some major highlights about the New Orleans based NBA team.

  • Established in 2002, the Pelicans were originally called New Orleans Hornets.

  • They have yet to win an NBA championship in the past 20 years since their formation.

  • Chris Paul is the player that helped the team see better days.

  •  Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are the current NBA stars from the Pelicans.

  • Pierre the Pelican is the official mascot of the team since 2013.

  • They conduct their home games at the Smoothie King Center.

  • They are branched off from the Charlotte Hornets but are recognized as an individual expansion team by NBA.

New York Knicks

The New York Knicks are an Eastern Conference Atlantic Division member playing in the NBA. The Knicks are one of the twelve original teams of the NBA.

Based in the New York City borough of Manhattan, they play their home games at Madison Square Garden. It is one of the oldest centers, with a housing capacity of 19,812 audiences.

The Logo of New York Knicks has always been the same ever since its formation in 1946.
Source : facebook

The team was established by Ned Irish in 1946 as the New York Knickerbockers. They were the founding members of the BAA which became the NBA after merging with the NBL in 1949.

They rose to glory in the early seventies under the leadership of head coach Red Holzman. Under his guidance, the team won two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973.

Following are some major points to know about the New York-based NBA team.

  • Established in 1946 as a part of the original twelve teams of the NBA.
  • The Knicks have always played their home games at Madison Square Garden.
  • They have won two NBA championships and four Eastern Conference titles.
  • While they have yet to win another NBA finals since 1974, they have won eight divisional titles as of 2023.
  • Notable players connected with the Knicks are Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley, Carmelo Anthony, and John Starks.
  • Head Coach Red Holzman is credited for the golden days of the New York Knicks.
  • They never had a mascot in the long 76 years of history, playing for the NBA.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder compete in the NBA under the Western Conference Northeast Division. Thunder is an NBA expansion team established in 1967.

Oklahoma City Thunder logo was developed in 2008 after the Seattle supersonics renamed the team.
Source : facebook

The team is originally from Seattle, known as the Seattle SuperSonics until they moved to Oklahoma in 2008. 

The Thunder had won one NBA championship in 1979 and have yet to win another final as of 2023. Meanwhile, they have obtained four conference titles and 11 divisional titles in their 56 years of history.

Below are some facts that highlight the main things about the NBA team based in Oklahoma City.

  • Established as Seattle SuperSonics in 1967.

  • The Thunder won an NBA championship under the leadership of head coach Lenny Wilkins in 1979.

  • They have won four conference titles and 11 divisional titles as of 2023.

  • Spencer Haywood, Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, and Kevin Durant are some of the iconic players from the Thunder.

  • The Thunder plays their home games at Paycom Center, which has an 18,203 seating capacity.

  • Rumble the Bison has been the mascot of Oklahoma City Thunders since February 17, 2009.

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic have been competing in the NBA since their formation in 1989. The Magic is a member of the Eastern Conference Southeast Division.

The Magic have been based in Orlando since their inception, and they play their home games at the Amway center.

The Orlando Magic updated their logo to the one in the left in 2011. The picture on the right was the previous logo until 2011.
Source : facebook

After drafting the legendary center Shaquille O’Neal in the 1992 NBA draft and obtaining guard Penny Hardaway in the following season, their team advanced by leaps and bounds in the following seasons.

While the Magic have yet to win an NBA championship, they won four titles in the eastern conference and eight in the southeast division starting with the O’Neal and Hardaway era.

Following are some notable highlights of the NBA team Orlando Magic.

  • Established as an NBA expansion team in 1989.

  • Shaquille O’Neal, Penny Hardaway, Dwight Howard, and Tracy Mcgrady are among the iconic players of the team.

  • They have yet to win an NBA championship, but they have obtained four conference and eight division titles as of 2023.

  • They play their home games at Amway Center, which has 18,846 seats.

  • The Magic in their name refers to the magical kingdom of Disney in Florida.

  • Their official mascot has been Stuff the Magic Dragon since their inception in 1989.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Philadelphia 76ers are among the oldest eight teams playing in the NBA. The Sixers compete in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division of the league.

The former Syracuse Nationals team was based in Syracuse, New York, playing for the NBL and later continued with the NBA. The team was renamed after they relocated to Philadelphia in 1963.

On the left is the primary logo of the Philadelphia 76ers while the left two are secondary.
Source : facebook

The 76ers had won three NBA championships, with the first trophy in 1955 as the Nationals and the other two in 1967 and 1983 as the Sixers.

Their home games occur at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, which boasts a capacity of 21,000 people.

The following points include some main points about the oldest team in the franchise.

  • Established as the Syracuse Nationals in 1946, playing at the NBL.

  • Renamed as Philadelphia 76ers in 1963 after relocating.

  • The 76ers have won three NBA championships, five conference titles, and 12 divisional titles as of 2023.

  • The 76ers' home stadium is Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

  • Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, Charles Barkley, and Allen Iverson are some of the iconic players from the team.

  • Their official mascot is Franklin the Dog since February 10, 2015. The former mascots before him were Big shot and Hip Hop.

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns compete in the Western Conference Pacific Division of the NBA. The Suns were established in 1968 as an NBA expansion team.

In the Pacific division, the Suns are the only team coming from Arixona while the others are from California.

The Phoenix Suns primary logo is on the left while the other two on right are the secondary representations of the team.
Source : facebook

The Suns have reached the NBA finals three times in their 46 years of history, but they have yet to win the championship as of 2023. Meanwhile, they have won three Western conference titles and eight Pacific division titles.

They conduct their home games at the Footprint Center which can entertain 17,071 people during a basketball match.

Here are a few things to note about the NBA team from Phoenix, Arizona.

  • Established as an NBA expansion team in 1968.

  • The Suns did not win a single NBA championship while reaching the finals three times.

  • Their home stadium is the Footprint Center. 

  • They have won the Conference titles three times and obtained the division titles eight times as of 2023.

  • Charles Barkley, Steve Nash, Devin Booker, and John Hornacek are some of the legendary players from the Suns.

  • Their official mascot is “Go The Suns Gorilla” since 1980. They adopted the mascot after loving the performance of a fan in the gorilla suit.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are an NBA team competing from the Western Conference Northwest division. The Blazers joined the league as an expansion team in 1970.

Based in Portland, Oregon, the Blazers conduct their home games at the Moda Center which has a seating capacity of 19,393 audiences for basketball.

The Blazers have changed their logo in 2017 after 13 years since the previous logo was announced in 2004.
Source : facebook

The Blazers have advanced to the NBA finals three times and won the championship once in 1977. In addition, they have entered 37 playoffs during the 52 season playing in the NBA ranking third in the total playoffs below the Lakers and Spurs.

Similarly, they won three conference finals and six division titles as of 2023. Led by star players like Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler, Chauncey Billups, and Nate McMillan, the team had won 24 consecutive playoffs.

Some of the major things about the Portland Trail Blazers are as follows.

  • Established in 1970 as an NBA expansion team from Portland.

  • Their home stadium is Moda Center from Portland.

  • The Blazers won one NBA championship in 1977 and reached three NBA finals.

  • They also won three Western Conference titles and four six Northwest division titles.

  • Some iconic players are Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler, Chauncey Billups, and Nate McMillan.

  • Blaze the Trail Cat has been their official mascot since 2002 after Big foot retired in 1989.

Sacramento Kings

Sacramento Kings is an NBA team competing in the Western Conference of the Pacific Division. The Kings are the oldest basketball team in the league, playing since 1923.

Starting as the Rochester Seagrams in 1923, the team changed their names to Rochester Royals in 1945, Cincinnati Royals in 1957, Kansas City-Omaha Kings in 1972, Kansas City Kings in 1975, and finally, Sacramento Kings in 1985.

On the left is the Kings official primary logo updated in 2016 while the two on the right are secondary.
Source : facebook

The Kings have won two championships in their hundred years of history. Their first win was with NBL in 1946, while their second was in the NBA finals in 1951.

They are facing the longest active postseason drought in the four major North American sports, with sixteen consecutive losing seasons in NBA history.

Here are a few important things to note about the oldest basketball team in the league.

  • Established in 1923 as a semi-professional team, turning pro in 1945.

  • The Kings have won two championships and five division titles as of 2023.

  • The Kings have the highest postseason drought after losing 16 consecutive seasons in NBA. They have not won a championship in the past 72 years.

  • Their home stadium is Golden 1 Center which can house 17,608 basketball fans.

  • Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, and Mitch Richmond are a few iconic players from the team.

  • NBA stars such as Oscar Robertson, Nate Archibald, Ricky Berry, and Lionel Simmons have contributed to the team's growth.

  • Their mascot is Slamson the Lion since the 1997-98 NBA season.

San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are an NBA team from the Western Conference Southwest Division. The Spurs have won five NBA championships ranking fourth among the teams.

The Spurs announced the new logo on the left in 2017. They removed the boundary from the previous design on the top right corner.
Source : facebook

They were initially known as the Dallas Chaparrals, created as the initial team to compete in the ABA. Later, they changed the name to San Antonio Spurs after moving from Dallas in 1973.

They have the best winning percentage among all the NBA teams in operation, with 18 consecutive 50-win seasons as of 2023. Additionally, they hold the record with 22 consecutive appearances in the playoff, ranking as the highest among any NBA teams.

The Spurs are among the most popular teams in the league, winning 22 titles at the divisional level and six at the conference level. They play their home games at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, which can house 18,418 basketball fans.

Their growth began with the Shooting guard George Gervin in 1978, followed by David Robinson and Tim Duncan in the later years.

Here is a quick highlight of the San Antonio-based NBA team.

  • Established in 1967 as Dallas Chaparrals and moved to San Antonio in 1973.

  • The Spurs have won five NBA championships and have the best winning percentage in NBA as of 2023.

  • Their home stadium is AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas.

  • They have won 22 consecutive playoffs and divisional titles as of 2023. They also have six conference titles.

  • George Gervin, David Robinson, Tony Parker, and Tim Duncan are the iconic players of the team.

  • The Coyote has been their official mascot since 1989. He was also inducted into the hall of fame in 2007.

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors are the only Canadian professional basketball team playing in the NBA. The Raptors compete in the Eastern Conference Atlantic Division.

Their home stadium is Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It has an audience capacity of 19,800 basketball fans.

The logo of Toronto Raptors on the left was made official in 2015. The previous version is on the top right while the current secondary one is below it.
Source : facebook

Founded as an NBA expansion to Canada in 1995, the Raptors are the only remaining team outside of America after the Grizzlies moved to Memphis. 

Kawhi Leonard led the team to win their first NBA championship in 2019 following the conference title in the same year. Additionally, they have won seven Atlantic division titles, with three consecutive wins from 2014-2016.

Following are some main points to note about the only Canadian NBA team.

  • Established in 1995 as an NBA expansion to Canada. 

  • They won their first NBA championship under the lead of small forward Kawhi Leonard in 2019.

  • They have also won one conference and seven division titles as of 2023.

  • The team president is Masai Ujiri, and their head coach is Nick Nurse.

  • Vince Carter, Chris Bosh, and Kyle Lowery are notable players from the team, along with Kawhi.

  • Their official mascot is The Raptor representing the red velociraptor.

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz is an NBA team competing in the Western Conference Northwest Division. The Jazz was formed as an NBA expansion team in 1974.

Starting as a New Orleans team, the Jazz in its name is a tribute to the history of the Jazz genre in New Orleans. They moved to Salt Lake City in Utah five years after their formation.

The Jazz plays their home games in the Vivint Arena of Salt Lake City in Utah.

The current logo of NBA team Utah Jazz was updated in 2015.
Source : facebook

In the early years, Pete Maravich was the star player from the Jazz while John Stockton and Karl Malone combo made many records in the NBA after 1984.

Although the Jazz reached the finals twice in 1997 and 1998, they have yet to win a single NBA championship as of 2023. In the meantime, they hold eleven division and two conference titles in their 42 years of NBA history.

Some notable things to know about the Utah-based NBA team are as follows.

  • Established in 1974 as New Orleans Jazz and moved to Utah in 1979.

  • The Jazz in their name is a tribute to the origin of the genre in New Orleans.

  • Utah Jazz has yet to win the NBA championship, but they have reached the finals twice as of 2023.

  • They were eligible for 20 consecutive playoffs starting in 1984.

  • The Jazz has 12 division titles and two Western conference victories.

  • Pete Mavarich, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Rudy Gobert, and Donovan Mitchell are some notable players front the Jazz.

  • Their official mascot has been Jazz Bear since November 4, 2004.

Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards are an NBA team in the Eastern Conference Southeast division. The Wizards have been competing in the NBA from various states since 1961.

The Wizards started as a Chicago-based team, relocated twice, and have changed their name five times during the 61 years of history in the NBA. They are currently settled in Washinton D.C.

The current official logo of the Wizards was unveiled in 2015. The other two on the right are the secondary versions of the Jazz.
Source : facebook

Their home stadium is Capital One Arena which has a seating capacity of 20,356 basketball fans.

Wes Unseld is the only player who has won MVP and the finals MVP award from the Wizards. The Wizards won their first-ever NBA championship with his lead in 1978. 

They had obtained four conference titles during his era and seven divisional titles until 1979. After that, they did not enter the playoffs for 38 years and ended the drought in 2017.

Following are some notable points about the NBA team from America's capital city Washington.

  • Established in 1961 as an NBA expansion team in Chicago and moved to Washington in 1973.

  • The Washington Wizards play their home game at the Capital One Arena.

  • They have reached the NBA finals four times and won their first championship in 1978.

  • They have won four titles in Eastern Conference and eight in the Southeast Division.

  • Wes Unseld is the team's sole player to win both MVP and Finals MVP. 

  • Some notable players from the Wizards are John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Kyle Kuzma.

  • The Wizards' mascot has been G-Wiz since 1997.

NBA Teams In Alphabetical Order By Team Name

The thirty NBA teams in alphabetical order by team name are listed below. The updated list contains the nicknames and common short names recorded by the locals. 

  • 76ers (Philadelphia 76ers)

  • Bucks (Milwaukee Bucks)

  • Bulls (Chicago Bulls)

  • Cavs or Cavaliers (Cleveland Cavaliers)

  • Celtics (Boston Celtics)

  • Clippers (LA Clippers)

  • Grizzlies (Memphis Grizzlies)

  • Hawks (Atlanta Hawks)

  • Heat (Miami Heat)

  • Hornets (Chicago Hornets)

  • Jazz (Utah Jazz)

  • Kings (Sacramento Kings)

  • Knicks (New York Knicks)

  • Lakers (LA Lakers)

  • Magic (Orlandio Magic)

  • Mavs or Mavericks (Dallas Mavericks)

  • Nets (Brooklyn Nets)

  • Nuggets (Denver Nuggets)

  • Pacers (Indiana Pacers)

  • Pelicans (New Orleans Pelicans)

  • Pistons (Detroit Pistons)

  • Raptors (Toronto Raptors)

  • Rockets (Houston Rockets)

  • Spurs (San Antonio Spurs)

  • Suns (Phoenix Suns)

  • Thunder (Oklahoma City Thunder)

  • Timberwolves (Minnesota Timberwolves)

  • Trail Blazers (Portland Trail Blazers)

  • Warriors (Golden State Warriors)

  • Wizards (Washington Wizards)

Related post of NBA Teams