<P> On August 3 , 1949 , the BAA absorbed the remainder of the NBL : Syracuse , Anderson , Tri-Cities , Sheboygan , Denver , and Waterloo . In deference to the merger and to avoid possible legal complications , the league name was changed from the BAA to the National Basketball Association in spite of having the same BAA governing body including Podoloff . The new league had seventeen franchises located in a mix of large and small cities , as well as large arenas and smaller gymnasiums and armories . In 1950 , the NBA consolidated to eleven franchises , a process that continued until 1953 -- 54 , when the league reached its smallest size of eight franchises : the New York Knicks , Boston Celtics , Philadelphia Warriors , Minneapolis Lakers , Rochester Royals , Fort Wayne Pistons , Tri-Cities Blackhawks , and Syracuse Nationals , all of which remain in the league today . The process of contraction saw the league 's smaller - city franchises move to larger cities . The Hawks shifted from the Tri-Cities to Milwaukee in 1951 , and then to St. Louis in 1955 . The Rochester Royals moved from Rochester , New York , to Cincinnati in 1957 and the Pistons relocated from Fort Wayne , Indiana , to Detroit in 1957 . </P>
<P> On August 3 , 1949 , the BAA absorbed the remainder of the NBL : Syracuse , Anderson , Tri-Cities , Sheboygan , Denver , and Waterloo . In deference to the merger and to avoid possible legal complications , the league name was changed from the BAA to the National Basketball Association in spite of having the same BAA governing body including Podoloff . The new league had seventeen franchises located in a mix of large and small cities , as well as large arenas and smaller gymnasiums and armories . In 1950 , the NBA consolidated to eleven franchises , a process that continued until 1953 -- 54 , when the league reached its smallest size of eight franchises : the New York Knicks , Boston Celtics , Philadelphia Warriors , Minneapolis Lakers , Rochester Royals , Fort Wayne Pistons , Tri-Cities Blackhawks , and Syracuse Nationals , all of which remain in the league today . The process of contraction saw the league 's smaller - city franchises move to larger cities . The Hawks shifted from the Tri-Cities to Milwaukee in 1951 , and then to St. Louis in 1955 . The Rochester Royals moved from Rochester , New York , to Cincinnati in 1957 and the Pistons relocated from Fort Wayne , Indiana , to Detroit in 1957 . </P>
when did the nba start and how many teams were there
when did the nba start and how many teams were there
August 3 , 1949 seventeen
August 3 , 1949 seventeen