Helena Frye
The first professional basketball league was the National Basketball League (NBL), which was formed in 1898 and disbanded in 1904. The league was centred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and its teams stretched from New York City to Central New Jersey, through the Philadelphia area and down to Wilmington, Delaware. The NBL differed from the college game in that a chicken-wire cage typically surrounded the court, separating players from often hostile fans. The NBA, as we know it today, was formed in 1949 with the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL).
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the first rules of basketball were published | 21 December 1891 |
| Number of players on each team | 9 |
| Ball used | Soccer ball |
| Basket type | Two peach baskets |
| Year metal hoops, nets, backboards and the Spalding ball were introduced | 1906 |
| Year of the first professional league | 1898 |
| Number of teams in the first professional league | 6 |
| First champions of the first professional league | Trenton Nationals |
| Year the first professional league was disbanded | 1904 |
| Year the Eastern Basket Ball League was founded | 1909 |
| Year the Metropolitan Basketball League was founded | 1921 |
| Year the American Basketball League was founded | 1925 |
| Year the NBL was founded | 1935 |
| Year the BAA and NBL merged to form the NBA | 1949 |
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What You'll Learn
The first professional league, the National Basketball League (NBL), was formed in 1898
The first professional basketball league in the world was the National Basketball League (NBL), which was formed in 1898. Centred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the league's teams stretched from New York City to Central New Jersey, through the Philadelphia area, and down to Wilmington, Delaware. The league debuted on December 1, 1898, with a game between the Trenton Nationals and the Hancock Athletic Association at Textile Hall in Philadelphia's Kensington section. The Nationals won the game 21-19, in front of 900 fans.
The first season, 1898-99, featured six teams: the Trenton Nationals, New York Wanderers, Bristol Pile Drivers, Camden Electrics, Pennsylvania Bicycle Club, and Chester, PA. The Trenton Nationals were the first champions, followed by the New York Wanderers, the Bristol Pile Drivers, and the Camden Electrics. The New York Wanderers, in particular, became one of the first great professional basketball clubs. The 1899-1900 season saw Trenton Nationals repeat as champions.
The National Basketball League began the 1900-01 season with seven teams and an expanded schedule of 32 games. The New York Wanderers captured their first league title in 1901-02, in what may have been the most successful year of the National Basketball League in terms of stability. The following season, 1902-03, saw the Camden Electrics finish in first place, although the league disbanded in January 1904, before the completion of the 1903-04 season.
The NBL differed from the college game in that a chicken-wire cage typically surrounded the court, separating players from often hostile fans. The chicken wire was soon replaced with a rope netting, off which the players would bounce. The cage also kept the ball from going out of bounds, thus quickening the pace of play. In these early days, players were also permitted to resume dribbling after halting. Despite the lively action of the game, the NBL and other early leagues were short-lived, mostly due to the frequent movement of players, who sold their services on a per-game basis.
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The NBL disbanded in 1904
The first professional basketball league in the world, the National Basketball League (NBL), was formed in 1898. Six teams took part in the inaugural season, with the Trenton Nationals emerging as the first champions. The New York Wanderers, the Bristol Pile Drivers, and the Camden Electrics were the other teams that competed in the league's early years.
However, the NBL disbanded in 1904, bringing an end to the league's first incarnation. The 1903 offseason was challenging, with only five teams electing to play that year. Notably, New York, Burlington, and Wilmington, all with experienced owners and coaches, did not return. The 1903–1904 season thus began with just five teams: the Camden Electrics, Trenton Potters, Conshohocken, Millville Glass Blowers, and St. Bridget's Biddies. The Trenton Potters dropped out on December 26, 1903, followed by the Camden Electrics on December 31.
The NBL ultimately disbanded on January 4, 1904, amid controversy and legal disputes. Billy Morgenweck, associated with the Camden Electrics, was sued by investors in the aftermath of the league's collapse. The closure of the NBL left a void in professional basketball, with several subsequent leagues vying to fill the gap.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the Eastern Basket Ball League (founded in 1909), the Metropolitan Basketball League (founded in 1921), and the American Basketball League (founded in 1925) emerged as the most prominent competitions. These leagues carried the torch of professional basketball through the early 20th century, providing a platform for the sport's growth and development.
The NBL was eventually revived in 1935, this time as the Midwest Basketball Conference. It changed its name to the NBL in 1937 to broaden its appeal and avoid confusion with the Big Ten Conference, often referred to as the Midwest Conference. This new iteration of the NBL played a pivotal role in the evolution of professional basketball, with several current NBA franchises tracing their roots back to this era.
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The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was founded in 1946
The game of basketball was first played on December 21, 1891, when James Naismith of the YMCA published rules for a new game, asking his class to play a match on the Armory Street court. The first professional league, the National Basketball League (NBL), was formed in 1898. However, the NBL and other early leagues were short-lived, largely due to the frequent movement of players, who sold their services on a per-game basis, resulting in unreliable game quality and financially unstable franchises. The league was disbanded in 1904.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the Eastern Basket Ball League, Metropolitan Basketball League, and American Basketball League were the most prominent leagues. Another iteration of the NBL was formed in 1935, and in 1946, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was founded by owners of major ice hockey arenas in the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and Canada. The formation of the BAA was guided by Walter A. Brown, president of the Boston Garden, who believed that professional basketball would only succeed with sufficient financial support, a focus on skill over brawling, and the implementation of contracts with a reserve rule to protect teams from player raids by other clubs.
On November 1, 1946, the Toronto Huskies hosted the New York Knickerbockers at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in what the NBA now considers the first game in its history. The BAA and the 1935 NBL merged in 1949 to form the National Basketball Association (NBA), with the NBA adopting the BAA's history and statistics as its own. The NBA considers June 6, 1946, the date of the BAA's founding, as the date of its own founding.
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The BAA and NBL merged in 1949 to form the NBA
The history of basketball leagues dates back to 1891 when James Naismith of the YMCA published rules for a new game, marking the beginning of the sport. The first professional league, the National Basketball League (NBL), was founded in 1898, and the game evolved with the introduction of metal hoops, nets, and backboards in 1906.
Over time, various leagues emerged and disbanded, with the Eastern Basket Ball League, Metropolitan Basketball League, and American Basketball League becoming prominent in the 1920s and 1930s. The focus now shifts to the significant merger that took place in 1949, uniting the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) to form the iconic National Basketball Association (NBA).
The BAA and NBL had a three-year rivalry, battling for players and fans, before deciding to merge on August 3, 1949. This decision was finalized during a meeting at the BAA offices in New York's Empire State Building, marking a pivotal moment in the sport's history. The newly formed NBA comprised 17 franchises, a mix of large and small cities, and a combination of arenas, gymnasiums, and armories.
The NBA adopted the BAA's history as its own, considering the 1949 merger as an expansion rather than a fresh start. This meant that the NBA traced its roots back to the BAA's founding in 1946. However, the NBL's records and statistics were not carried over to the same extent, with only certain circumstances being considered in the official NBA history.
The merger brought together teams with rich histories, such as the Minneapolis Lakers (now the Los Angeles Lakers), the Rochester Royals (now the Sacramento Kings), and the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons (now the Detroit Pistons). The NBA, as it stands today, is a result of this merger, which united competing leagues and laid the foundation for the sport's incredible growth and global appeal.
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The NBA expanded to Canada in 1995
The first professional basketball league was founded in 1898. Six teams took part in the National Basketball League, and the first champions were the Trenton Nationals, followed by the New York Wanderers, the Bristol Pile Drivers, and the Camden Electrics. The league was abandoned in 1904.
In 1946, the National Basketball Association (NBA) was created through the merger of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL). The NBA expanded to Canada in 1995 with the addition of two new teams: the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors. The Grizzlies were owned by Vancouver sports magnate Arthur Griffiths, with former Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Brian Winters hired as the franchise's first head coach. Their first pick was former first-round pick Greg Anthony from the New York Knicks. The Raptors were formed and owned by a group headed by Toronto businessman John Bitove, with Brendan Malone hired as the franchise's first head coach. Their first pick was three-time NBA champion B.J. Armstrong from the Chicago Bulls. The Raptors and Grizzlies were the first NBA teams based in Canada since the 1946–47 season Toronto Huskies.
The Toronto Raptors played their first two seasons at the SkyDome, now the Rogers Centre, before moving into their shared home with the Maple Leafs, the Air Canada Centre. The Grizzlies played at General Motors Place (now known as Rogers Arena) and were sold and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, in 2001 after experiencing financial difficulty and poor play throughout their six seasons in Vancouver. The franchise is now known as the Memphis Grizzlies.
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Frequently asked questions
The first-ever basketball league, the National Basketball League (NBL), was formed in 1898.
The NBA was formed in 1949 when the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball League (NBL) merged. The NBA considers its founding date to be June 6, 1946, which was when the BAA was founded.
The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) was created by the NBA in 1996.
In 1995, the NBA expanded to Canada with the addition of the Vancouver Grizzlies and the Toronto Raptors.
