Origins of NBA Franchises: Pt. 2 Quiz

Answer: Chicago Bulls

The Bulls joined the NBA in 1966. The name was chosen by a group of investors led by Dick Klein.

Answer: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Philadelphia Warriors played in the Basketball Association of America beginning in 1946. They were named after an earlier incarnation of the Philadelphis Warriors, that played in the American Basketball League. That team folded in 1928. The team moved to the Bay Area in 1962.

Answer: No

The Hornets began their NBA tenure in Charlotte before moving to New Orleans in 2002. The name came from a quote by a British general in the Revolutionary War. After being stopped near Charlotte, he said the people fought, "like a nest of hornets". The team was originally called the Spirit but fans revolted, forcing a second contest.

Answer: Miami Heat

The Miami Heat began play in 1988. The name Heat was selected in a contest. The other top vote-getters were Flamingos and Waves.

Answer: Minnesota Timberwolves

The Timberwolves joined the NBA in 1989. The owners wanted them to be Minnesota's team, so after a fan contest narrowed the choices to Timberwolves and Polars, 842 different city councils cast votes deciding on Timberwolves.

Answer: Chicago, Illinois

The Wizards began play as the Chicago Packers in 1961. When the franchise moved to Baltimore in 1963, the name was changed to Bullets, in honor of an earlier Baltimore Bullets team that folded in 1955. That team practiced near a WWII munitions factory, hence the name Bullets. They were renamed the Wizards because of the negative conotation of 'Bullets'.

Answer: No

The Cavaliers have only played in the NBA. The name Cavaliers came from a 'name the team' contest run by the 'Cleveland Plain Dealer'. The fan's top five choices were Cavaliers, Jays, Foresters, Towers, and Presidents.

Answer: Syracuse Nationals

The National Basketball League's Syracuse Nationals began play in 1946, and joined the NBA three years later. When the team moved to Philly in 1963 the name 76ers was chosen in a fan contest. It comes from the "Spirit of 76".

Answer: Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks joined the NBA in 1980. The name was chosen in a contest run by WBAP radio. The top three fan choices were Mavericks, Wranglers, and Express. A committee made the final choice.

Answer: Yes

Owner Bill Ringsby owned Rocket Truck Lines, so he called the team the Denver Rockets when they joined the ABA in 1967. When it became apparent that the ABA and NBA were going to merge, the name was changed to Nuggets because the NBA already had a team called the Rockets in Houston.

Answer: American Basketball Association

The ABA's Indiana Pacers got their name because there was a harness racing track, where pacers ran right across the street from their original arena. The owner also said that the team was going to 'set the pace' in the ABA. The Pacers joined the NBA when the two leagues merged.

Answer: True

The Rochester Royals began play in the National Basketball League in 1946. In 1948 they joined the Basketball Association of America. The team joined the NBA in 1949. When the franchise moved from Cincinatti to Kansas City-Omaha in 1972, the name was changed to Kings because there was already a Kansas City Royals baseball team. The team moved to Sacramento in 1985.

Answer: Dallas Chapparrals

The Spurs franchise began play as the Dallas Chapparrals in the ABA in 1967. When the team moved to San Antonio in 1973, the name Spurs was picked by fans in a contest. The Spurs joined the NBA in 1976.

Answer: New Orleans Jazz

The Jazz moved from New Orleans to Utah in 1979. The name Jazz was picked to reflect New Orleans' musical heritage.

Answer: 30

Expansion has brought the NBA to 30 teams in the 2004-05 season.