10 Oldest NBA franchises EVER

The NBA has been around since 1946, founded initially as the BAA, the Basketball Association of America. Three years later, it absorbed the National Basketball League and renamed itself as the National Basketball Association. Not all the charter members of the league in 1946 survived for long, in fact, only 3 of them still play in the league today.

Here, we rank the oldest teams in the league. Can you guess the 3 founding members?

Houston Rockets, 1967

The Houston Rockets were founded in 1967 by Robert Breitbard and were originally based in San Diego. The team, however, wasn't really successful and low attendances meant they were sold to a Texas group which relocated the team to Houston in 1971. The early years in Houston were nothing to brag about either and it was not until 1979 when George Maloof purchased the team that they started becoming successful. While he died the following year, his son took over and it was during this time that the team reached it's 1st NBA Finals, in which they lost to the Boston Celtics (1981).

The team was then sold to Charlie Thomas in 1982 and it was under his leadership that the team drafted Hakeem Olajuwon, who would go down as the greatest player in Rockets history. They enjoyed early success, reaching the Finals in 1986, only to lose to Boston again. The following years were lean, but Leslie Alexander purchased the team in 1993 and their fortunes flipped. The Rockets won back-to-back titles in 1994 & 95, led by Olajuwon and a solid supporting cast. That was it, however, in terms of success for Houston. Since then, the Rockets have been known for consistent regular-season respectability followed by Playoff underachievement.

The Rockets are under new ownership now after Tillman Fertitta, who purchased the team last year. They look like contenders again this season, but doubts persist regarding how far they'll go in the Playoffs.

Washington Wizards, 1961

The Wizards have traveled quite a bit to get where they are right now. Established in 1961, as the Chicago Packers by David Trager, the team moved to Baltimore shortly after in 1963 and were named the Baltimore Bullets. Then, in 1964, would be longtime owner, Abe Pollin purchased the team. The Bullets were a relative success and even managed to reach an NBA Finals in 1971, but lost to the Bucks. The franchise moved to Washington in 1973 and success did follow.

The Bullets reached 3 NBA Finals in 5 seasons, between 1974 and 1979, winning their only title in 1978. Post-1979, however, their fortunes changed for the worse. From 1982-2013, they made it out of the 1st round twice and made just 10 playoff appearances. It was during this time, in 1997, that they changed the name of the team to the Wizards.

The current incarnation failed miserably at the beginning and despite some good seasons in the mid-2000s, were generally a laughing stock. After Pollin's death, the team was sold to a Washington based private company in 2010. The Wizards have seen an uptick in fortune since, but are still way off in terms of reclaiming the shine of the 70s.

Atlanta Hawks, 1949

The franchise was established in 1946 as the Buffalo Bisons in the NBL by Ben Kerner and Leo Ferris. The team relocated soon and were named the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. The Blackhawks joined the NBA after the merger in 1949. By 1951, they were on the move again, this time to Milwaukee and were named the Hawks. After 4 terrible seasons, Kerner moved the team again, this time to St. Louis. In the first 6 seasons in St. Louis, the Hawks reached 4 NBA Finals, all against the Boston Celtics and won 1 title in 1958.

1961, however, would be the last time the team reached the NBA Finals.

The following years were marred by Playoff disappointments, which would be a running theme for the Hawks to this date. In 1968, Thomas Cousins purchased the team and moved it to Atlanta. While the team reached 2 division Finals in its first two seasons, it would be almost 50 years till they'd reach the Conference Finals. In 1977, the team was sold again, to Ted Turner. The team was as usual good, but never good enough to get it done, something which could also be said about the Hawks under Bruce Levenson who purchased the team in 2004 and sold it in 2015. Under the current ownership of Tony Ressler, the Hawks finally reached the Conference Finals but were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers.

They are, however, currently in full tank mode and success doesn't really seem in sight.

Philadelphia 76ers, 1949

The Sixers were established in 1946 by Daniel Biasone as the Syracuse Nationals and were part of the NBL. They joined the NBA as part of the merger in 1949 and enjoyed immediate success. The Nationals made it to 3 NBA Finals in 6 seasons and won the title in 1955 over the Pistons. The following years, however, didn't deliver a whole lot and the team was purchased by Irv Kosloff, who moved the team to Philly in 1963 and named it the 76ers. By 1967, they won the championship again, led by Wilt Chamberlain. Wilt would, however, leave the following year and it began a downward spiral till the mid-70s'. Kosloff then sold the team to Fitz Dixon Jr in 1976, which led to the team's revival.

In the next 6 seasons, the Sixers reached 3 NBA Finals but lost all of them. It was during this time that Harold Katz brought the team and they acquired Moses Malone, who'd help them get over the hump and win the 1982 title. The Sixers would however never reach those heights again. Katz sold the team in 1996 after a forgettable season to Ed Snider. His tenure as owner was largely mediocre apart from one Finals appearance in 2001 and he sold the team to current owner Joshua Harris in 2011. Harris trusted the process, ensuring the worst 3 year stretch in franchise history which finally seems to have reaped its benefits with Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. There is hope that the duo can lead Philly to the promised land once again.

Detroit Pistons, 1948

The Pistons were established in 1941 by Fred Zollner, as the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons and played in the NBL. In 1948, they became the Fort Wayne Pistons and joined the BAA and a year later, joined the NBA as part of the merger. The Fort Wayne version had some success and even made back-to-back Finals appearances in 55 and 56, but lost on both occasions. A year later, Zollner moved the team to Detroit, believing Fort Wayne to be too small to support an NBA team.

The team underwhelmed in Detroit to start off. From 1957-1984, they managed to get out of the 1st round just thrice. Ownership changed hands during this time, with Bill Davidson purchasing the team in 1974. The Pistons finally returned to relevance in 1985 and were a legitimate contender soon. They made 3 Finals appearances in a row from 1988-90 and won back-to-back titles in 89 and 90. They sunk back into mediocrity soon, however, but the team's fortunes changed in the new millennium. Detroit reached 6 consecutive Conference Finals from 2002-08 and twice made it to the NBA Finals in 04 & 05, winning their 3rd title in 2004 over the Los Angeles Lakers.

That incredible run has been followed by disappointments galore. The team has never gotten out of the 1st round since and are mired in mediocrity even now, despite the new ownership of Tom Gores.

Sacramento Kings, 1948

The Kings entered the NBL in 1946 as the Rochester Royals, owned by Les Harrison. The team joined the BAA in 1948 and became a part of the NBA after the merger the following year. The Royals enjoyed immediate success, winning the title in 1951, but this would be the only championship in franchise history. The Royals relocated to Cincinnati in 1957 and Harrison sold the team the following year to Thomas Woods. Despite the presence of Oscar Robertson the team never came close to winning again and were on the move in 1971, this time to Kansas City where they were given the nickname, the Kings.

The team split home games in Kansas and Omaha but ditched the latter in 1975. A largely forgettable stay in Kansas ended when the team was sold to Gregg Lukenbill who relocated the team to Sacramento. There really isn't much to say about the current Kings that hasn't been said. They've largely been a dumpster fire, except for a brief period of success in the early 2000s. The team has had numerous coaches and owners who have failed to deliver. Jim Thomas purchased the team in 1992, only to sell it 7 years later to the Maloof Family.

They are currently owned by Vivek Ranadive who took over in 2013 and might be the worst owner in the league. I think it's safe to say the Kings aren't gonna be successful for a long time.

Los Angeles Lakers, 1948

The Lakers franchise was established in 1947 when Ben Berger and Morris Chaflen purchased the Detroit Gems in the NBL. A year later, they joined the BAA and won the title, starting a dynastic run into the NBA. With the formation of the NBA in 1949, the Lakers won 4 of the first 5 NBA championships. The team slumped in a few years, however, and Berger sold the team to Bob Short who oversaw the move to Los Angeles in 1960.

The early years of the LA era were bittersweet and involved another ownership change as Jack Cooke purchased the team in 1965. The Lakers lost a ridiculous 7 NBA Finals in 10 years, 6 of them to Boston. They finally won a title in 1972, only to lose in the Finals again in 73. The team entered a bit of a lull after that and Cooke sold the team to Jerry Buss in 1979, just before the return of the glory days. From 79 to 91, the Lakers reached 9 NBA Finals and won 5 of them. The 90s Lakers, however, underachieved but rebounded quickly winning 3 titles in a row from 2000-02. After losing NBA Finals in 04 and 08, they won back to back titles in 09 & 10.

That would be it in terms of success. It's all gone downhill since Buss passed away in 2013 and while the Lakers finally seem to be on track now, it'll be a few years before they reclaim past glories.

Golden State Warriors, 1946

Established in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors, the franchise was a founding member of the BAA and was owned by Pete Tyrell. They were the 1st BAA champs, but it wasn't exactly a sign of things to come. When they became a part of the NBA, they were wildly inconsistent. Eddie Gottlieb purchased the team in 1952 and they won the title in 1956, but he sold the team soon after to Franklin Mieuli who relocated it to San Francisco.

In their short spell as the San Franciso Warriors, the team reached 2 NBA Finals but lost both. They changed the name to Golden State in 1971 and were crowned champs again in 1975. What followed, however, was one of the most disastrous runs in NBA history. From 1975-2012, the Warriors only made 8 playoff appearances and never even reached a Conference Final. Players, coaches, owners came and went but they remained terrible. Jim Fitzgerald purchased the team in 1986, only to sell it 9 years later to Chris Cohen.

Nothing seemed to work until Joe Lacob purchased the team in 2010 and we all know what's happened next. The greatest 3-year stretch in NBA history and 2 titles. The end doesn't exactly seem in sight for this dynasty and they might go down as the greatest team ever.

New York Knicks, 1946

The New York Knicks were formed in 1946 by Ned Irish as a part of the BAA. They had some success in their early years in the NBA, reaching 3 Finals in a row from 51-53, but they ended up losing all of them. Disappointing seasons followed and it wasn't until 1970 that they got back to the Finals. From 1970-73, the Knicks reached 3 NBA Finals and won the title in 1970 and 73, which would end up being the last title they've won.

After 2 decades of mediocrity, the Knicks returned to the Finals in 1994, only to lose to the Rockets. They then had, one of the most magical Playoff runs in history, becoming the first 8 seed to reach the Finals in 1999. They, unfortunately, ended up losing again and unbeknownst to Knicks fans, this would be it in terms of success. In 1999, James Dolan took over and he has overseen a disastrous spell lasting almost 2 decades now.

The Knicks have won 1 playoff series in the 21st century and have become an absolute joke. There does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel with Porzingis around, but you wouldn't put it past Dolan to mess this up as well.

Boston Celtics, 1946

Founded in 1946 as a part of the BAA by Walter Brown, the Celtics have gone on to become the most successful franchise in the league. After a disappointing start to their tenure in the NBA, the Celtics rose to dominance in the late 50s. Their immortal run from 1956-1969, when they won 11 titles in 13 seasons, including 8 in a row, from 1959-66 will never be matched. After a short dip in the early 70s, they bounced back to win titles in 1974 & 76.

Boston would be back on top soon enough, winning championships in 1981, 84 & 86 and reaching the Finals in 1985 & 87. It was after this, that the franchise would endure its barren spell. They only reached the Conference Finals twice in the following 20 years. The Celtics would finally break through in 2008 to win their 17th NBA title.

They reached the Finals again in 2010 but lost to the Lakers. They underwent a short rebuild thereafter and are now poised to be the dominant team in the Eastern Conference for years to come.