NBA Expansion Teams
The NBA has expanded repeatedly throughout its history as the league
has entered new markets across the United States and Canada. Expansion
teams have experienced very different levels of early success, with
some reaching the playoffs almost immediately while others required
several seasons to become competitive.
The table below lists each expansion franchise, its record during its
first NBA season, the first season in which it finished at or above
.500, its first playoff season and the expansion fee paid to enter the
league.
| Team |
First Season |
First .500+ Season |
First Playoffs |
Expansion Fee |
| Chicago Packers |
1961-62 (18-62) |
-- |
1964-65 |
N/A |
| Chicago Bulls |
1966-67 (33-48) |
1970-71 (51-31) |
1966-67 |
$1,250,000 |
| San Diego Rockets |
1967-68 (15-67) |
1974-75 (41-41) |
1968-69 |
$1,750,000 |
| Seattle SuperSonics |
1967-68 (23-59) |
1971-72 (47-35) |
1974-75 |
$1,750,000 |
| Milwaukee Bucks |
1968-69 (27-55) |
1969-70 (56-26) |
1969-70 |
$2,000,000 |
| Phoenix Suns |
1968-69 (16-66) |
1970-71 (48-34) |
1969-70 |
$2,000,000 |
| Buffalo Braves |
1970-71 (22-60) |
1973-74 (42-40) |
1973-74 |
$3,700,000 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers |
1970-71 (15-67) |
1975-76 (49-33) |
1975-76 |
$3,700,000 |
| Portland Trail Blazers |
1970-71 (29-53) |
1976-77 (49-33) |
1976-77 |
$3,700,000 |
| New Orleans Jazz |
1974-75 (23-59) |
1983-84 (45-37) |
1983-84 |
$6,150,000 |
| Dallas Mavericks |
1980-81 (15-67) |
1983-84 (43-39) |
1983-84 |
$12,000,000 |
| Charlotte Hornets |
1988-89 (20-62) |
1992-93 (44-38) |
1992-93 |
$32,500,000 |
| Miami Heat |
1988-89 (15-67) |
1993-94 (42-40) |
1991-92 |
$32,500,000 |
| Orlando Magic |
1989-90 (18-64) |
1992-93 (41-41) |
1993-94 |
$32,500,000 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves |
1989-90 (22-60) |
1997-98 (45-37) |
1996-97 |
$32,500,000 |
| Toronto Raptors |
1995-96 (21-61) |
1999-00 (45-37) |
1999-00 |
$125,000,000 |
| Vancouver Grizzlies |
1995-96 (15-67) |
2003-04 (50-32) |
2003-04 |
$125,000,000 |
| Charlotte Bobcats |
2004-05 (18-64) |
2009-10 (44-38) |
2009-10 |
$400,000,000 |
Expansion Fee Growth
The cost of entering the NBA increased dramatically as the league
grew. Chicago entered for $1.25 million in 1966, while the expansion
fees for Toronto and Vancouver reached $125 million in 1995.
Charlotte's 2004 expansion franchise carried a $400 million fee.
Expansion fees shown above are the figures listed in NBAHoopsOnline's
historical expansion records.
Understanding the Table
First Season: The franchise's first NBA season and
its regular-season win-loss record.
First .500+ Season: The first season the franchise
finished with a winning percentage of .500 or better.
First Playoffs: The first season in which the
franchise qualified for the NBA postseason.
Expansion Fee: The price associated with the
franchise entering the NBA as listed in the original NBAHoopsOnline
data.
Historical franchise names are retained because the table records the
identity under which each team entered the NBA.
