Oldest NBA Teams: A History of the League's Founding Franchises
Several NBA franchises date back to the league's earliest days in the late 1940s. This guide covers the oldest teams, their origins, and what makes them historically significant.
The oldest NBA teams trace their roots to the 1940s, predating the NBA itself. The league was born from a merger between the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949, and a handful of franchises from those original organizations have survived — through relocations, rebrands, and decades of change — to the present day.
The Path to the Modern NBA
Professional basketball in the United States had multiple competing leagues in the 1940s. The BAA, founded in 1946 by arena owners looking to fill dates, eventually absorbed the more player-talent-rich NBL. The surviving combined entity became the NBA we recognize today. Understanding this history is essential to identifying which teams are truly the oldest.
Oldest NBA Franchises by Origin
| Franchise | Current Name | Founded | Original City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | Atlanta Hawks | 1946 | Buffalo (as Bisons / Tri-Cities / Milwaukee / St. Louis) |
| Boston Celtics | Boston Celtics | 1946 | Boston |
| New York Knicks | New York Knicks | 1946 | New York |
| Golden State Warriors | Golden State Warriors | 1946 | Philadelphia (as Warriors) |
| Sacramento Kings | Sacramento Kings | 1945 | Rochester (as Royals) |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Philadelphia 76ers | 1946 | Syracuse (as Nationals) |
| Detroit Pistons | Detroit Pistons | 1941 | Fort Wayne (as Zollner Pistons) |
Note: The Detroit Pistons have the deepest roots, originating as an industrial-league team in 1941 before joining professional leagues. The franchise is often cited as one of the oldest continuously operating professional basketball teams.
The Boston Celtics: Oldest BAA Survivor
The Celtics have operated continuously from their 1946 founding in the BAA through every subsequent era of the NBA. They are arguably the most storied franchise in terms of sustained success, having accumulated more championship banners than any other team. The Celtics are the benchmark against which NBA franchise longevity is often measured.
Franchise Relocations and Their Impact on History
Many of the oldest franchises did not stay in their original cities. The Hawks moved from Buffalo through the Midwest before settling in Atlanta. The Warriors relocated from Philadelphia to San Francisco and then Oakland before moving to San Francisco again. The Kings made the longest journey — from Rochester to Cincinnati to Kansas City and finally Sacramento.
These relocations complicate how we define “oldest,” since the franchise’s legal and organizational continuity matters more than geography. By franchise continuity, the teams listed above all have valid claims to being among the league’s founding generation.
Why Franchise Age Matters
Old franchises carry the records, retired jersey numbers, and institutional memory of the NBA’s entire history. When a team like the Celtics or Knicks takes the floor, they carry with them the heritage of every player who wore that uniform going back nearly 80 years. For fans of these teams, that history is part of the experience.
Older franchises also tend to have some of the most passionate fanbases in the league — a connection built across generations of families who have supported the same team.
Quick summary: The oldest NBA teams — including the Celtics, Knicks, Warriors, Hawks, Pistons, Kings, and 76ers — date back to the mid-to-late 1940s and predate the NBA’s official founding. Several of these franchises relocated over the decades but have maintained continuous organizational histories that make them the true founding generation of professional basketball.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest NBA team still active?+
The Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, New York Knicks, and Philadelphia 76ers are among the oldest continuously operating franchises, each tracing roots to the late 1940s when the Basketball Association of America (BAA) merged into the NBA.
When was the NBA founded?+
The NBA was officially formed in 1949 when the Basketball Association of America (BAA, founded in 1946) merged with the National Basketball League (NBL). Several current franchises existed before that merger.
Which NBA team has won the most championships?+
The Boston Celtics hold the most NBA championships in league history, with a record that has stood across multiple eras of the sport.