The NBA has exactly 30 teams—29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. That number has shifted more times than most fans realize, with franchises that folded, moved, or merged over the league’s nearly eight-decade history.

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Current NBA teams: 30 · Teams in the United States: 29 · Team in Canada: 1 (Toronto Raptors) · League founded: 1946

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether Seattle or Las Vegas gets the next slot
  • Timeline for approving expansion to 32 teams
3Timeline signal
  • Last expansion (Charlotte Bobcats): November 4, 2004 (CBS Sports)
  • 20 years and counting without a new team (CBS Sports)
4What’s next

The table below summarizes key NBA structural data across its history.

Key NBA team count data
Metric Value
Total Teams 30
US Teams 29
Canadian Team Toronto Raptors
Standard Roster 15 players
League Start 1946

Are there 30 or 32 NBA teams?

The NBA currently operates with exactly 30 teams—no more, no less. This number has held steady since November 2004, when the Charlotte Bobcats played their first game and became the league’s most recent expansion franchise. Despite ongoing speculation about growth, no official expansion to 32 teams has been approved as of 2024.

Current team count

  • Exactly 30 active franchises
  • Last expansion added: Charlotte Bobcats (2004)
  • Zero confirmed additions since

Breakdown by conference

The league splits evenly—or nearly so—between its two conferences. Fifteen teams play in the Eastern Conference, while the Western Conference also fields 15 teams, creating a symmetrical 30-team structure that governs playoff seeding and regular-season scheduling.

Expansion history

The NBA’s journey to 30 teams spans nearly six decades. It launched in 1946 with just 11 franchises under the Basketball Association of America banner, which merged with the National Basketball League the following year to form what we now call the NBA. The league absorbed teams, absorbed leagues, and expanded systematically from that humble start.

The NBA has maintained 30 teams for 20 years as of November 2024, marking the longest stable period in the league’s expansion history.

— CBS Sports expansion analysis

Editor’s note

The league’s expansion appetite has grown more pronounced since 2020, with Seattle and Las Vegas widely cited as the frontrunners for new franchises.

The implication: the NBA’s pattern of consolidation into stable, profitable franchises required decades of televised revenue growth and strategic expansion that replaced failing markets with proven ones.

What NBA team no longer exists?

Several NBA franchises have vanished entirely or merged into other organizations over the league’s history. Many of these defunct teams disappeared during the league’s formative years, when financial instability was common and franchise survival was far from guaranteed.

List of defunct NBA teams

  • Pittsburgh Ironmen (1946–1947) — folded after one season
  • Toronto Huskies (1946–1947) — folded after the inaugural year
  • Indianapolis Jets (1945–1949) — dissolved in the NBL-BAA merger era
  • Sheboygan Red Skins (1946–1948) — folded after financial struggles
  • Denver Nuggets (original) (1948–1950) — the original Nuggets folded; the modern franchise traces different roots

Notable mergers and relocations

Beyond outright dissolution, several teams relocated and rebranded, effectively becoming new franchises in new cities.

  • The Vancouver Grizzlies, added in 1995, moved to Memphis in 2001 and became the Memphis Grizzlies.
  • The New Orleans Hornets, which joined in 2002, rebranded as the Pelicans in 2013.

The pattern: relocations reshaped the geographic footprint of the league without changing the total team count, demonstrating how franchise mobility has long served as an alternative to outright expansion or contraction.

The catch

Most defunct teams disappeared before the NBA’s television boom made franchises genuinely profitable—a stark contrast to modern ownership groups that pay billions for expansion slots.

How many players on an NBA team?

Each NBA team carries a standard active roster of 15 players during the regular season. However, the total roster can expand to 18 when including two-way contract players, who split time between the NBA team and its G League affiliate.

Active roster size

  • 15 players on the standard NBA roster
  • Up to 18 when two-way contract slots are filled
  • Two-way contracts do not count against the salary cap in the same way

Total roster including two-way

Two-way contracts, introduced in the 2017-18 collective bargaining agreement, allow teams to develop younger players with limited financial commitment while giving those players a path to NBA minutes.

  • Two-way players split time between NBA and G League
  • Expanded roster limits benefit younger players seeking NBA exposure

The implication: if a 32-team expansion materializes, the NBA Players Association has indicated it would favor additional roster spots, potentially adding roughly 36 slots including two-way contracts, according to ESPN reporting.

The National Basketball Players Association does not have a formal say in the decision to add new teams, though the union would favor expansion due to additional roster spots.

— ESPN

What this means: roster limits directly affect player employment opportunities and salary bargaining power. Expansion teams mean more jobs—a consideration that shapes union support for growth proposals.

Why can’t you wear 6 in the NBA?

Contrary to popular belief, the NBA does not technically ban the number 6 outright. Rather, jersey number traditions have historically linked certain digits to specific positions, and the league has never formally restricted 6—the way it restricts other numbers for more explicit reasons.

Jersey number rules

  • Numbers 0, 00, 1-99 are technically allowed
  • No formal position-based restrictions exist today
  • Six has been worn by players like LeBron James in recent years

Position-based traditions

In earlier NBA eras, certain numbers were associated with specific positions—guards typically wore lower numbers, while centers and forwards took higher ones. As jersey customization became more expressive, these associations faded. The number 6, once rare, has gained visibility with players like LeBron James wearing it during his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers and his tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The upshot

The NBA’s number rules reflect evolving cultural norms more than strict logic. What was once considered unconventional—wearing any number at any position—is now entirely normalized.

Is the number 69 illegal in the NBA?

Yes—69 is explicitly prohibited under the NBA’s uniform policy. The league bans numbers deemed vulgar, offensive, or inappropriate for family viewing, and 69 has been the most famous casualty of that rule.

League policy on numbers

  • NBA uniform rules prohibit vulgar or offensive numbers
  • 69 is specifically banned due to its sexual connotation
  • Dennis Rodman was denied 69 during his career

Reasons for restrictions

The NBA operates a family-friendly brand that depends on broad fan engagement, merchandise sales, and television appeal.

  • Jersey numbers appear on merchandise, broadcasts, and digital media across global markets
  • Certain numbers carry different connotations in different cultures
  • The league avoids numbers that could alienate any segment of its audience

The implication: even stars with sufficient market power to negotiate almost anything else cannot wear 69. The policy reflects the NBA’s balancing act between player expression and brand protection.

Editor’s note

The number 69 restriction stands in contrast to the league’s otherwise permissive approach to jersey customization, illustrating how branding considerations sometimes override individual player preference.

Related reading: Washington Wizards vs San Antonio Spurs · Portland Trail Blazers vs Golden State Warriors

Additional sources

youtube.com, houseofstrauss.com, si.com

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Frequently asked questions

How many NBA teams make the playoffs?

The NBA playoffs feature 16 teams total—eight from each conference. Seeding is determined by regular-season record within each conference, with the top seed receiving home-court advantage through the first round.

How many NBA games are there?

Each NBA team plays 82 regular-season games per year: 52 within their conference and 30 against the other conference. The league has explored reducing this schedule in collective bargaining negotiations, citing player load management concerns.

How many WNBA teams are there?

The WNBA operates with 12 teams as of 2024. The women’s league has added franchises more selectively than the NBA, with the most recent addition being the Las Vegas Aces (formerly Salt Lake City) in 2018.

Why is number 23 retired by Miami?

Miami Heat retired number 23 in honor of Michael Jordan, even though Jordan never played for the franchise. The Heat joined several other teams in this gesture, acknowledging Jordan’s impact on the league and basketball culture broadly.

Who is the richest NBA owner?

As of 2024, Tilman Fertitta of the Houston Rockets has been cited as the wealthiest NBA owner, with a net worth estimated above $5 billion. However, ownership valuations fluctuate with franchise sale prices and broader market conditions.

How much are NBA waterboys paid?

NBA waterboy salaries reportedly range from $60,000 to $90,000 per year, depending on the team and market. These positions include benefits and access to team facilities, though they require significant time commitment during the season.

What is the NBA team list alphabetical?

The 30 NBA teams alphabetically are: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans Pelicans, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder, Orlando Magic, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards.

Confirmed facts

  • 30 NBA teams currently active
  • 29 based in the United States, 1 in Canada
  • No expansion to 32 teams has been formally approved
  • Charlotte Bobcats added in 2004 as most recent expansion
  • Standard roster: 15 players per team

Unresolved questions

  • Which city receives the next expansion franchise
  • Exact timeline for expansion vote
  • Whether the 32-team format includes new revenue sharing structures

For the league’s 30 franchises, the status quo is stable but not static. Expansion talks have intensified, with Seattle and Las Vegas as the leading candidates for new teams. The path forward requires a supermajority of existing owners to approve—23 of 30—and the financial stakes have grown enormous since the last expansion in 2004. Fans in markets without representation will keep watching, waiting, and hoping their city gets called next.

Bottom line: The NBA has exactly 30 teams, not 32. Prospective owners and investors in expansion markets face a real opportunity with uncertain timelines. Players gain more roster spots when expansion happens. Fans in unrepresented cities continue waiting for their shot at a franchise.