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    by admin in Basketball History | Comments Off on NBA Teams that don’t Exist anymore

    National Basketball Association keeps on evolving and changing. Over the years, many teams entered the league, some of them are still around today while others don’t exist anymore . Precisely, a total of 15 teams have fallen by the wayside since the start of the league in 1946. Let’s take a look at each of the NBA team that has been inactive or defunct now.

    Anderson Packers

    Anderson Packers was founded in 1946. They played three seasons in National Basketball League before joining NBA in 1949. In NBA, Packers played merely one season and folded in the mid of 1950.

    Denver Nuggets

    The Original Denver Nuggets was one of the five teams that played in NBL and then moved to the NBA after NBL-BAA merger. Like every new team, they struggled immensely in their first NBL season (1948-49) and finished with 18-44 record. In NBA, they started off even worse, winning 11 games before eventually being disbanded.

    Indianapolis Jets

    In 1937, Jets began to play under the name of Indianapolis Kautskys. After playing seven seasons in NBL, they joined Basketball Association of America in 1948 but with a new nickname Indianapolis Jets. They were said to be on the verge of bankruptcy so, they were  folded even prior to the unification of BAA and NBL.

    Sheboygan Red Skins

    Red Skins were formed in 1938. It was one of strongest teams in NBL that reached the NBL finals four times in 11 seasons in NBL (though they could not won a single championship) They entered NBA in 1949 but stayed for only one season. They left NBA to join National Professional Basketball League but League dissolved soon after and Red Skins continued to play as an independent team.

    Waterloo Hawks

    Waterloo Hawks played three seasons overall, 1948-49 with NBL, 1949-50 with NBA and the last season with NPBL.

    Chicago Stags

    Founded in 1946, Chicago Stags achieved considerable success wherever they played. Their overall record for the four seasons (both in BAA and NBA) was 145-92 with a winning percentage of 61.2 approximately.

    Baltimore Bullets

    Baltimore Bullets was the last NBA franchise to disband and also the one that played most seasons in NBA among all defunct franchises. Established in 1944, Bullets played three seasons in ABL, two seasons in BAA and six seasons in NBA (folded during 1954-55 season).

    Cleveland Rebels

    Cleveland Rebels were founded in 1946 as a member of BAA but they lasted only one season.

    Detroit Falcons

    Detroit Falcons was one of those teams that folded prior to the formation of NBA. They played one BAA season in 1946-47.

    Indianapolis Olympians

    Indianapolis Olympians was formed in 1949 and it was the only NBA team owned by the players themselves. One other reason to remember them is the longest game in NBA history where they defeated Rochester Royals in six overtimes (game was played on January 6, 1951).

    Pittsburgh Ironmen

    The Pennsylvanian-based team appeared in the first season of BAA and ended up with15-45 win loss record, the season worst and disbanded shortly after the season.

    Providence Steamrollers

    Steamrollers were the part of Basketball Association of America. After playing three dismal seasons in BAA, they ceased operations in 1949.

    St. Louis Bombers

    Founded in 1946, Bombers were one of the eleven original BAA teams. They joined NBA in 1949 and were folded after the conclusion of 1949-50 season.

    Toronto Huskies

    Huskies hold the distinction of being one of those teams that played the first game of BAA or NBA history. They lasted only one season and folded at the end of 1946-47 season.

    Washington Capitols

    Washington Capitols were one of the most successful teams in BAA history. Since their commencement in 1946, they won 115 games and lost only53. Their best season was the inaugural season when they won 49 games with a win percentage of 81. In 1949, the moved to NBA and folded even before playing two full seasons.




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