Helena Frye
The history of basketball leagues in the US goes back to the late 19th century, with the first professional league, the National Basketball League (NBL), being formed in 1898. The game was invented by James Naismith of the YMCA in 1891, and the first professional league was short-lived, lasting until 1904. The early 20th century saw the emergence of important regional leagues such as the Eastern Basket Ball League, the Metropolitan Basketball League, and the American Basketball League. The Great Depression of the 1930s hurt professional basketball, and a new NBL was organized in 1937, followed by the formation of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in 1946, which later became the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1949. The NBA has grown to become the major professional basketball league in the US, launching the National Basketball Development League (NBDL) in 2001 as a farm system. Several other professional and semi-professional leagues have emerged over the years, including the American Basketball Association (ABA), which has had multiple iterations, with the current one being an American semi-professional men's basketball minor league founded in 1999.
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What You'll Learn
Early basketball leagues
The history of basketball leagues goes back to the late 19th century. On December 21, 1891, James Naismith of the YMCA published the rules for a new game and asked his class to play a match on the Armory Street court, with two teams of nine players each, using a soccer ball and two peach baskets. The peach baskets were closed, and the balls had to be manually retrieved until a small hole was made in the bottom of the peach basket to poke the ball out using a stick. It wasn't until 1906 that metal hoops, nets, and backboards were introduced, along with the adoption of a Spalding ball, similar to the balls used today.
The first professional basketball league, the National Basketball League (NBL), was founded in 1898, with six teams participating: the Trenton Nationals, the New York Wanderers, the Bristol Pile Drivers, and the Camden Electrics. The league was short-lived, however, and it was abandoned in 1904.
In the 1920s and 1930s, several new leagues emerged and gained prominence. These included the Eastern Basket Ball League (founded in 1909), the Metropolitan Basketball League (founded in 1921), and the American Basketball League (founded in 1925). During this time, basketball was affected by the Great Depression, which led to the formation of regional leagues.
The Basketball Association of America (BAA) was established in 1946 under the leadership of Walter A. Brown, who recognized the need for financial stability, a focus on skill over brawling, and the implementation of contracts with a reserve rule to protect teams from player raids by other clubs. In 1949, the BAA merged with the NBL to form the National Basketball Association (NBA), introducing an annual college draft to equalize team strengths.
While the NBA flourished, there were attempts to establish alternative leagues, such as the World Professional Basketball Tournament (1939-1948) and the Professional Basketball League of America (1947-1948). The NBA also faced competition from the American Basketball Association (ABA), which operated from 1967 to 1976 before merging with the NBA, with four ABA teams joining the NBA.
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The National Basketball League (NBL)
The NBL was created by three corporations: General Electric, Firestone, and Goodyear. It was primarily made up of Great Lakes area small-market and corporate teams. The league changed its name to the NBL in 1937 to attract a larger audience and avoid confusion with the Big Ten Conference, often referred to as the Midwest Conference.
The NBL was the first professional basketball league, with six teams taking part in its inaugural season: the Trenton Nationals, New York Wanderers, Bristol Pile Drivers, and Camden Electrics. The Trenton Nationals were the first champions. The league continued to grow in popularity, with games consisting of either four ten-minute quarters or three fifteen-minute periods. Some teams were independent, while others were owned by companies that also provided jobs for their players.
After the 1947–48 season, four teams left the NBL to join the Basketball Association of America (BAA). In 1949, after a three-year battle with the BAA for fans and players, the NBL merged with the BAA to become the National Basketball Association (NBA). Five current NBA teams trace their history back to the NBL: the Atlanta Hawks, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Sacramento Kings.
The NBL made significant contributions to the foundation of the NBA and offered opportunities for African-American players. The NBL also created the Indianapolis Olympians for the 1949–50 season, and this team joined the NBA without playing a single NBL game.
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The Great Depression's impact
The Great Depression of the 1930s had a significant impact on basketball in the United States. The economic downturn affected professional basketball leagues, forcing them to adapt and reorganize. The American Basketball League (ABL), which was the first attempt at creating a major professional basketball league in the country, struggled during this period. The New York Stock Market crash in 1929 took its toll on the ABL, and the league eventually folded during the 1930–31 season.
The ABL's collapse led to the rise of regional leagues, with basketball forced into regional competitions based in the East, Midwest, and other regions. The game also became more accessible to amateur and semi-professional players, with company teams taking on college players after graduation. The college game became the dominant form of basketball in the 1930s, attracting large crowds to doubleheaders at venues like Madison Square Garden.
The impact of the Great Depression extended beyond the ABL. The National Basketball League (NBL), formed in 1937 from Midwest Industrial League teams, recruited college players and based its rules on the college game. The NBL suffered from the frequent movement of players, who sold their services on a per-game basis, leading to unreliable game quality and financially unstable franchises.
Despite the challenges, basketball managed to survive and even thrive during the Great Depression. By the late 1930s, spectator interest had rebounded, and the inaugural World Professional Basketball Tournament in Chicago in 1939 gave the sport an additional boost. The game's accessibility and popularity, particularly in urban areas, helped it weather the economic crisis.
The Great Depression also impacted the broader sports landscape in America. Participation in sports among working-class men and women initially declined, but interest and participation rebounded later in the decade. Sports like boxing and softball grew in popularity, offering an affordable form of entertainment and a means for young people to escape poverty. The economic conditions also led cities in warm climates to organize post-season bowl games to promote tourism, with events like the Orange Bowl and the Sugar Bowl becoming established fixtures.
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The formation of the NBA
In 1946, Boston Garden owner Walter Brown recognised that vacant ice hockey arenas could be utilised for basketball games. This insight led to the establishment of the Basketball Association of America (BAA) in New York City. The BAA would go on to play a pivotal role in the formation of the NBA.
Around the same time, another notable league was thriving: the National Basketball League (NBL). Founded in 1937, the NBL had a strong presence in the basketball landscape. However, it was the merger of the BAA and the NBL in 1949 that truly cemented the foundation of the NBA.
This merger brought together the best of both leagues, creating a unified organisation that would become the pinnacle of professional basketball in the United States. The NBA built upon the foundations laid by its predecessor leagues, adopting and refining their rules, structures, and traditions.
As the NBA took shape, it continued to evolve and adapt to the changing landscape of basketball. The league expanded, welcoming new franchises and embracing geographical diversity. The introduction of expansion franchises added a new dimension to the league, fostering increased competition and a broader fan base.
Today, the NBA is a global phenomenon, with a rich history and a bright future. It has cultivated legendary players, iconic teams, and unforgettable moments that have captivated fans worldwide. The formation of the NBA was a pivotal moment in the sport's history, shaping the course of basketball and influencing its growth as a worldwide sporting powerhouse.
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The American Basketball Association (ABA)
The ABA was conceived at a time when numerous upstart leagues were challenging established major professional sports leagues in the United States. Basketball was seen as particularly vulnerable to a challenge, as its major league, the NBA, was the youngest of the Big Four major leagues and had only played 21 seasons at that point. The ABA was the second of two leagues established in the 1960s after the American Basketball League and was the most successful rival to the NBA.
The idea for the ABA was first conceived by Dennis Murphy, a marketing executive and sports fan, who wanted to create a football team in Anaheim, California. Murphy talked with Bill Sharman, who had coached in the previous "second basketball league" with the American Basketball League, and together they came up with the name of the league. Murphy and a group of investors in several cities lined up the teams for the league. George Mikan, a former professional basketball player, became the first league commissioner and introduced the idea of a three-point shot, along with a 30-second shot clock.
In 1999, a new league calling itself ABA 2000 was established, co-founded by Dick Tinkham and Joe Newman. This league uses a similar red, white, and blue basketball to the old ABA, but does not feature players of a similar calibre or play in major arenas or on television. The NBA, which owns the ABA trademark, sued Tinkham and Newman, but the lawsuit was unsuccessful, and the new league entered an agreement to license the name for $50,000.
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Frequently asked questions
The first semi-professional basketball league was the American Basketball League (ABL), founded in 1925.
The first professional basketball league was the National Basketball League (NBL), founded in 1898.
The rules of the first professional league differed from those of college basketball. A chicken-wire cage surrounded the court, separating players from 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, quickening the pace of play.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the Eastern Basket Ball League (founded in 1909) and the Metropolitan Basketball League (founded in 1921) were the most important leagues, along with the ABL.
Yes, there have been several attempts to establish women's basketball leagues, including the Women's Professional Basketball Association (WPBA), the Ladies Professional Basketball Association (LPBA), and the Women's American Basketball Association (WABA). However, these leagues often faced financial difficulties and folded shortly after their inception.
