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Relocated NBA teams

  • Toronto RaptorsOn the 3rd of November 1995, the Toronto Raptors played their first official game against the New Jersey Nets at SkyDome.
  • Houston RocketsThe San Diego Rockets debuted in the 1967, 68 season with a roster built from an expansion draft and college picks. Robert Breitbard paid $1.75 million to…
  • Philadelphia 76ersIn 1946, Italian immigrant Danny Biasone established the Syracuse Nationals of the National Basketball League for $5,000.
  • Memphis GrizzliesThe Vancouver Grizzlies began play in 1995 as part of the NBA's expansion into Canada. They played their home games at General Motors Place for six seasons…
  • Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma CityOn the 18th of July 2006, Howard Schultz sold the Seattle SuperSonics to an investment group led by Clay Bennett for $350 million.
  • Detroit PistonsFred Zollner owned the Zollner Corporation, a foundry that manufactured pistons primarily for car truck and locomotive engines in Fort Wayne Indiana.
  • New Orleans PelicansThe New Orleans Hornets opened their inaugural season in New Orleans on the 30th of October 2002. This game marked the return of professional basketball to…
  • Oklahoma City ThunderOn the 4th of July 2016, Kevin Durant announced he was joining the Golden State Warriors. This decision followed a complex legal battle that began in 2008…
  • Utah JazzOn the 7th of June 1974, the National Basketball Association admitted a new franchise called the New Orleans Jazz. The team's first owner was an ownership…
  • Sacramento KingsThe Rochester Seagrams began as a semi-professional basketball team in 1923, sponsored by the Canadian distiller Seagram.
  • Los Angeles ClippersThe franchise began in Western New York as the Buffalo Braves, one of three NBA expansion franchises that began play in the 1970, 71 season.
  • Washington WizardsThe Chicago Packers began play in 1961 as the National Basketball Association's first expansion team. Abe Saperstein founded the organization to counter his…
  • Golden State WarriorsIn 1946, a basketball team named the Philadelphia Warriors became one of the eight charter members of the Basketball Association of America. Peter A.
  • Los Angeles LakersThe Detroit Gems finished last in the 1946, 47 season with only four wins and forty-four losses. Ben Berger and Morris Chalfen purchased the franchise for…
  • Atlanta HawksThe franchise began as the Buffalo Bisons in 1946, playing their first game on November 8 of that year against the Syracuse Nationals.
  • Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the New Orleans HornetsHurricane Katrina devastated the city of New Orleans on the 29th of August 2005. The storm caused extensive damage to the New Orleans Arena where the team…
  • Seattle SuperSonicsOn the 20th of December 1966, Los Angeles businessmen Sam Schulman and Eugene V. Klein received an NBA franchise for Seattle.
  • Buffalo BravesThe Buffalo Memorial Auditorium echoed with the squeak of sneakers on the 12th of October 1970. It was opening night for a new basketball team called the…
  • Vancouver GrizzliesIn February 1993, Arthur Griffiths announced his hope to bring an NBA franchise to Vancouver. He owned the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League…