Did you know that the NBA was founded to fill the seats in hockey arenas or that the Miami Heat could be called the Miami Sun Tans? Why is Philadelphia’s team called the Sixers, and what is a Knickerbocker? This is how every NBA team got their name. There are only two NBA franchises that have existed since 1946 and never changed their address or their nickname. The first is the Boston Celtics, born on June 6, 1946, as one of the eleven teams in the newly established Basketball Association of America. The BAA formation only came true because of Walter Brown, the owner of the Boston Garden. Brown realized that the Garden’s ice hockey arena sat empty on many nights and that it could be profitable to host basketball games. Why did Walter Brown decide to call his team the Celtics?
The Origin of Team Names
Walter Brown’s staff proposed many different nicknames such as Olympians, Whirlwind, and even Unicorns. However, Brown didn’t like any of those names. Instead, he decided to call his team Celtics, drawing inspiration from the New York Celtics, a basketball team that dominated in the 1920s with a 90% win ratio. Even though his advisers warned him about having an Irish name, Brown was adamant, and the name stuck forever.
Key Takeaways:
- The Boston Celtics got their name from the New York Celtics, a dominant basketball team in the 1920s.
- Walter Brown chose the name Celtics despite warnings about having an Irish name.
The other original NBA organization that never relocated and never changed its nickname was also formed on June 6, 1946. Like Walter Brown, who owned the Boston Garden, Ned Irish was the owner of the Madison Square Garden and was also interested in packing his arena when there wasn’t any hockey. Just like Brown, Irish also gathered the members of his staff to cast their vote on a team name. The name drawn out was the Knickerbockers, named after the original Dutch settlers of the area that later became New York. Why did the Knickerbockers get shortened to Knicks?
History of NBA Franchises
The Knickerbockers became the moniker of New Yorkers in general. Immediately in their inaugural season, the Knickerbockers got shortened to Knicks, even though the official long version remains to this day. For many decades, despite some horrible seasons, the Knicks were the most valuable NBA franchise. Since 2022, that title belongs to the Warriors, another original team from 1946.
Key Takeaways:
- The Knickerbockers were named after the original Dutch settlers in New York.
- The Knicks were one of the most valuable NBA franchises for many decades.
The Warriors were founded in Philadelphia by Peter Tyrrell, who also owned the Philadelphia Rockets of the American Hockey League. Tyrrell then hired Eddie Gottlieb as coach and general manager. Since 1917, Gottlieb was Philadelphia’s “Mr. Basketball,” a longtime promoter and team owner. Gottlieb’s first team was named the Philadelphia Warriors. After going bankrupt in 1929, he decided to resurrect the name in 1962 when the franchise relocated to California, becoming the San Francisco Warriors. They used that name until 1971 when they moved to Oakland, finally becoming the Golden State Warriors. Why did the franchise move from Philadelphia to California?
More Details on NBA Team Names
The Warriors’ division arch-rival, the Lakers, were founded in Minneapolis in 1948, and their name was chosen because Minnesota was known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” The Lakers won five titles in Minneapolis and decided to keep the name when they relocated to Los Angeles in 1960 due to its rich championship history.
Concluding Thoughts:
These stories behind how NBA team names came to be are fascinating and showcase the diverse origins and inspirations that have shaped the league’s history. Each name carries a unique story that reflects the team’s identity and resonates with fans around the world.
For more interesting facts about NBA team names, consider checking out this article on team names and this Reddit thread on creative team names.