How Many NBA Teams In California?

How Many NBA Basketball Teams Are In California In 2023?

There are numerous NBA teams in California that have their own respective fan base and story. This article will look into the number of basketball teams present in the state of California, as well as provide a short summary for each. If you want a quick answer – there are 4 teams. Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers,  Golden State Warriors, and Sacramento Kings.

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1. Los Angeles Lakers

Established in 1947
Play in Crypto.com Arena
Team colors: Purple, Gold, Black

The Lakers, an NBA team hailing from Los Angeles, California, were originally established in 1947 as the Minneapolis Lakers of the National Basketball League. This was in reference to Minnesota’s “Land of 10,000 Lakes” nickname. The Lakers were one of the first franchises to join the NBA after its formation in 1949 and have kept their spot within the league ever since.

The Lakers are one of the NBA’s most successful and beloved teams, boasting 16 championships – the second-highest total in league history – as well as a record 31 appearances in the NBA Finals.

The Lakers have had numerous moments and games that are remembered fondly throughout their history. One of the most remarkable was Jerry West’s 42-point performance in Game 7 of 1970 NBA Finals, which resulted in a win over the Knicks. An additional event that is still talked about today is when Magic Johnson took over for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar due to an injury during Game 6 of the 1980 NBA Finals, ultimately leading to a title victory against the 76ers.

2. Los Angeles Clippers

Established in 1970
Play in Crypto.com Arena
Team colors: Royal Blue, Red, Black, Silver, White

The Los Angeles Clippers first formed as the Buffalo Braves in 1970 when they were one of the NBA expansion teams. Paul Snyder, their original owner, named them after the buffalo braves that roamed through western plains. The team was based in Buffalo, New York for eight years before relocating to San Diego and becoming the San Diego Clippers in 1978.

In 1984, the Clippers relocated to Los Angeles, California and rebranded as the Los Angeles Clippers. Unfortunately, they experienced difficulty during the 1980s and 1990s, rarely making it to post-season play. 

In 2006, the Clippers experienced a breakthrough season, making the playoffs after more than 10 years. Elton Brand and Corey Maggette were at the helm of this success and they managed to make it to the second round of playoffs prior to being eliminated by the Phoenix Suns.

Steve Ballmer, who bought the Clippers in 2011, has been pivotal in transforming them into a competitive team. In 2014 they even made it to the Western Conference Finals.

3. Golden State Warriors

Established in 1946
Play in Chase Center
Team colors: Royal Blue, Yellow

The Warriors, a professional basketball team based in San Francisco, California, first began in 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors when they became a member of the Basketball Association of America (BAA). This organization later combined with the National Basketball League (NBL) to create the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949.

The team had a triumphant opening in the BAA, clinching the title during their first season. Joe Fulks was at the head of this successful team; he was also top scorer in the league that year. They won three more titles as they advanced to NBA, coming throughout the 1950s and ’60s. 

In 1962, the Warriors relocated to San Francisco and took on the new name the San Francisco Warriors. Unfortunately, they experienced difficulty in the 1970s and 1980s, rarely making it into playoffs. Despite these troubles, they still had a few talented players on their team during that time period; Rick Barry was especially noteworthy as he was their leading scorer and one of the most accomplished players in the league.

The Warriors had a resurgence in the 1990s, making it to the playoffs four years in a row from 1991-1994. Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin were at the helm of this period dubbed as “Run TMC”. In 1992, they made it all the way to Western Conference Finals only to be defeated by Phoenix Suns.

In the 2010s, the Warriors established themselves as one of the best teams in the history of the NBA. Through the stellar leadership of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, they won three championships in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Moreover, they set a record for most regular season wins in a single season (2015) and were also the first team to win an NBA championship after being behind 3-1 in Finals.

4. Sacramento Kings

Established in 1923
Play in Golden 1 Center
Team colors: Purple, Slate Gray, Black

Originally established in 1923 as the Rochester Seagrams of the National Basketball League (NBL), the Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball franchise based in Sacramento, California. The NBL merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1949 to become what is now known as the National Basketball Association (NBA).

In 1957, the Cincinnati Royals were formed when the team relocated to Ohio from somewhere else. Over their initial nine years in the NBA, they made it to the playoffs every season. Eventually, in 1972, they moved again and rebranded as the Kansas City-Omaha Kings. Unfortunately, this new iteration of the team had difficulty advancing beyond the regular season for many years.

In 1985, the Kansas City-Omaha Kings relocated to Sacramento, California and rebranded as the Sacramento Kings. Initially struggling in their new home, they experienced a resurgence during the late 90s and early 2000s. From 1998 to 2006, they made it to the playoffs for eight consecutive years, including a run all the way to the Western Conference Finals in 2002.

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