You've probably typed it into a search bar: who is the first nba team? It seems like a simple question with a one-name answer. But honestly, if you're looking for a single name, you’re going to get three different answers depending on how "expert" the person you're asking is.
The NBA didn't just pop out of thin air. It wasn't like someone woke up and said, "Let's put a hoop in Los Angeles." In fact, when the league started, Los Angeles wasn't even on the radar. Basketball was a cold-weather, Northeast, and Midwest arena-filler meant to keep the lights on when the hockey teams weren't playing.
The November 1, 1946, Paradox
If you're looking at who stepped onto the court first, the answer is the Toronto Huskies. Basically, the first game in the history of the Basketball Association of America (the BAA, which is the NBA's direct ancestor) featured the Huskies hosting the New York Knickerbockers.
The game happened at Maple Leaf Gardens. New York won 68–66. If you want to be a trivia nerd, Ossie Schectman of the Knicks scored the first basket. So, in terms of "who is the first NBA team" to actually play a game, it's the Huskies and the Knicks.
But there’s a catch. The Toronto Huskies folded after just one season. They went 22–38, realized people weren't buying enough tickets, and vanished. They aren't the "first" in terms of longevity; they're more like a historical footnote that happens to hold the record for the first tip-off.
The Founding Eleven
On June 6, 1946, eleven teams were officially part of the charter that started the BAA. Most of these names sound like ghosts now.
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- Boston Celtics
- New York Knickerbockers (Knicks)
- Philadelphia Warriors (now Golden State)
- Providence Steamrollers
- Toronto Huskies
- Washington Capitols
- Chicago Stags
- Cleveland Rebels
- Detroit Falcons
- Pittsburgh Ironmen
- St. Louis Bombers
Out of that original group, only three survived to the present day without folding: the Celtics, the Knicks, and the Warriors. If you search who is the first nba team on Google, these are the heavy hitters that usually pop up in those snippets or Discover feeds because they have the "authority" of 75+ years of history.
The Dynasty Question
Some people argue the Minneapolis Lakers (now in LA) were the first "real" team because they were the first dynasty. They joined in 1948, coming over from a rival league called the NBL. George Mikan, the league's first true superstar, led them to five titles in six years.
Kinda makes you wonder—does "first" mean the one that started it, or the one that made it matter?
The Warriors actually won the very first championship in 1947. They beat the Chicago Stags. So, if your definition of "first" is "first champion," the Philadelphia Warriors take the crown. They eventually moved to San Francisco, then became Golden State. They are arguably the most successful "original" franchise in terms of staying relevant across multiple eras.
Who Is the First NBA Team in Terms of Digital Footprint?
It's funny how history repeats itself in the digital age. When you look at which team ranks highest or appears most frequently in Google Discover, you aren't just looking at wins and losses. You're looking at SEO muscle.
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The Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers absolutely dominate Google's "Discover" feed. Why? Because they have the highest search volume globally. Even though the Lakers weren't a founding 1946 team, Google's algorithms prioritize them because of their massive fan base and connection to icons like LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.
The Vancouver Grizzlies and the Internet
Here is a weird fact: The Vancouver Grizzlies were actually the first NBA team to have an official website. That was back in the mid-90s. While the "Original Three" (Celtics, Knicks, Warriors) were the first to exist, a team that doesn't even exist in its original city anymore was the first to realize the internet was going to be a big deal.
The Grizzlies eventually moved to Memphis, but that piece of digital history stays with the franchise. It’s a reminder that being "first" is often about which specific category you're looking at.
Why the Celtics and Knicks Rank So High
Google tends to reward "E-E-A-T"—Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Because the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks have never moved, never changed their names, and have played in the same markets since 1946, they are the "gold standard" for historical data.
When a journalist writes about the history of the league, they cite the Knicks and Celtics. This creates a massive web of backlinks that tells Google these are the definitive "first" teams.
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The Merger That Changed Everything
In 1949, the BAA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL). This is where the name "National Basketball Association" officially began.
The NBL had teams like the Fort Wayne Pistons (now Detroit), the Rochester Royals (now Sacramento Kings), and the Syracuse Nationals (now Philadelphia 76ers). These teams were actually older than the BAA teams in some cases. The Hawks, for instance, trace their roots back to the Buffalo Bisons in 1946, but they weren't part of the BAA charter.
So, if you’re a history buff, you might argue the Atlanta Hawks or the Sacramento Kings are the "first" because their franchise charters predated the BAA by a few months or even years in different leagues. However, the NBA officially recognizes its birth as 1946 with the BAA.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you're trying to win a bar bet or write a paper on this, remember these three distinct "firsts" to cover your bases:
- The First Game: Toronto Huskies vs. New York Knicks (Nov 1, 1946).
- The First Champion: Philadelphia (Golden State) Warriors (1947).
- The First Continuously Operating Teams: Boston Celtics and New York Knicks (the only two to never move or change names).
Understanding these distinctions helps you navigate the confusing mess of early professional basketball. Most people just want a simple answer, but the reality is a mix of folded franchises, relocated dynasties, and a 1949 merger that basically saved the sport from obscurity.
Check the official NBA Vault or the Basketball-Reference franchise history pages for the specific win-loss records of those defunct 1946 teams like the Pittsburgh Ironmen or the Providence Steamrollers if you want to see just how close the league came to failing in its first three years.
Next time you see a highlight from the Warriors or the Celtics on your phone, remember you’re looking at the survivors of a very risky 1940s business experiment. They didn't just rank first on Google; they outlasted everyone else to tell the story.