In recent times, the NBA has made moves to increase the number of competing teams to 32. Seattle, Las Vegas and Mexico City are cities rumored to have new teams joining the NBA.
Until then, let’s look back at the youngest and oldest teams in the NBA.
The team has the youngest age in the NBA
The New Orleans Pelicans are the youngest team in the NBA. This team was founded in 2002 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Initially, this team was called the Hornets, but has since changed to the Pelicans since 2013.
During its 22 years of existence, the New Orleans Pelicans have not always had their headquarters in the city of New Orleans. They had to move to Oklahoma City for the 2005/06 and 2006/07 seasons because of the consequences of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city of New Orleans.
NBA LEAGUE PASS: Sign up now to watch every game (FREE 7-day trial)
The team with the longest history in the NBA
Not teams with a great track record like the Los Angeles Lakers or Boston Celtics, the Sacramento Kings are the team with the longest history in the NBA.
Founded in 1923 as the Rochester Seagrams, this team was headquartered in New York before joining the NBA in 1948. Since that time, they have moved their headquarters many times, including Rochester Seagrams, Rochester Pros, Rochester Royals, Cincinnati Royals, KC-Omaha Kings, Kansas City Kings and officially adopted the Sacramento Kings name in 1985.
| Domain | Team | Founded year | Join the NBA |
| Winter | Boston Celtics | 1946 | 1946 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 1967 | 1976 | |
| New York Knicks | 1946 | 1946 | |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1946 | 1949 | |
| Toronto Raptors | 1995 | 1995 | |
| Chicago Bulls | 1966 | 1966 | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1970 | 1970 | |
| Detroit Pistons | 1941 | 1948 | |
| Indiana Pacers | 1967 | 1976 | |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1968 | 1968 | |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1946 | 1949 | |
| Charlotte Hornets | 1988 | 1988 | |
| Miami Heat | 1988 | 1988 | |
| Orlando Magic | 1989 | 1989 | |
| Washington Wizards | 1961 | 1961 | |
| West | Denver Nuggets | 1967 | 1976 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 1989 | 1989 | |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 1967 | 1967 | |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1970 | 1970 | |
| Utah Jazz | 1974 | 1974 | |
| Golden State Warriors | 1946 | 1946 | |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 1970 | 1970 | |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 1947 | 1948 | |
| Phoenix Suns | 1968 | 1968 | |
| Sacramento Kings | 1923 | 1948 | |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1980 | 1980 | |
| Houston Rockets | 1967 | 1967 | |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 1995 | 1995 | |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 2002 | 2002 | |
| San Antonio Spurs | 1967 | 1976 |
SEE MORE: What is the NBA’s minimum 65-game rule? How does it affect personal titles?
