The Miami Heat arrived in the NBA as an expansion franchise in 1988, and from the start, their name captured the city’s identity. Chosen...

The Houston Rockets weren’t born in Texas — they started life in San Diego in 1967. The name “Rockets” was chosen because San Diego was...

The Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the NBA’s newest identities but carry a name deeply tied to their state’s character. When the...

The Indiana Pacers joined the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1967, and their name came from a public contest overseen by...

When Boston’s new basketball franchise was founded in 1946, owner Walter Brown chose to call them the Celtics. The name honoured the...

The Golden State Warriors are one of the NBA’s most famous franchises, but their roots go back to the other side of the country. Founded...

Few names in sports go back further into American history than the New York Knicks. Officially the Knickerbockers, the name comes from...

When the NBA awarded Minneapolis a new franchise in 1989, the city held a public contest to choose the name. Two finalists emerged: the...

Few teams in American sport carry a name so tightly bound to the nation’s founding as the Philadelphia 76ers. Officially shortened to...

Few team names feel as naturally tied to their city as the Chicago Bulls. When the franchise was founded in 1966, owner Dick Klein wanted...

The Los Angeles Clippers began life far from Hollywood. Founded as the Buffalo Braves in 1970, they played in upstate New York before...