NBA Timeline Visualization
An interactive timeline of NBA and professional basketball teams from their founding to the present day.
How to use this visualization:
- Teams are sorted by founding date, with the oldest at the top
- Blue bars represent active teams, amber bars show disbanded teams
- Hover over a team to see detailed information
- Click on a team to select it and keep the information visible
- Black markers indicate name or location changes
- Red markers show when a team joined the NBA (if different from founding)
1931
1936
1941
1946
1951
1956
1961
1966
1971
1976
1981
1986
1991
1996
2001
2006
2011
2016
2021
2026
Indianapolis Jets
Sheboygan Red Skins
Detroit Pistons
Baltimore Bullets
Sacramento Kings
Atlanta Hawks
Boston Celtics
Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Lakers
New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers
Anderson Packers
Chicago Stags
Cleveland Rebels
Detroit Falcons
Pittsburgh Ironmen
Providence Steamrollers
St. Louis Bombers
Toronto Huskies
Washington Capitols
Denver Nuggets (original)
Waterloo Hawks
Indianapolis Olympians
Washington Wizards
Chicago Bulls
Brooklyn Nets
Denver Nuggets
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Oklahoma City Thunder
San Antonio Spurs
Milwaukee Bucks
Phoenix Suns
Cleveland Cavaliers
Los Angeles Clippers
Portland Trail Blazers
Utah Jazz
Dallas Mavericks
Miami Heat
New Orleans Pelicans
Minnesota Timberwolves
Orlando Magic
Memphis Grizzlies
Toronto Raptors
Charlotte Hornets
Active Teams
Disbanded Teams
Name/Location Changes
NBA Entry