The answer to the headline question has often proven unclear, complex and inconsistent.
The Seattle Sonics will be the eighth NBA franchise to replace a previous team from the same city.
That’s where the similarities with most of the previous seven end. Sonics 2.0 will retain the nickname, colors, and team history from the franchise which played here from 1967-2008. Such was the agreement with the city when the carpetbaggers, er, last owners of Sonics 1.0 moved the team to Oklahoma City.
No such agreement existed when the original teams from Minneapolis, Charlotte and New Orleans left for new destinations – although in one case, that’s now changed.
New Orleans, LA
Original Team: Jazz (1974-79)
Replacement Team: Hornets, renamed Pelicans in 2013 (2002-Present)
The short history of the NBA’s first foray into the Bayou is remembered for one player, “Pistol” Pete Maravich. “Pistol” Pete, who first wowed Louisiana crowds in college at LSU, used his flashy style to lead the league in scoring (31.1 PPG) in 1976-77. Yet in five New Orleans seasons before relocating to Salt Lake City, the Jazz never had more wins than losses.
The franchise was too rushed to change its nickname, moving to Utah mere months before the start of the 1979-80 season. But in the four-plus decades since? “The logic was that by keeping its nickname, the franchise could maintain the integrity of its records section,” wrote Brad Rock in a 2012 Deseret News column. “Still, it was awkward from Day One. There’s never a Mardi Gras parade in this town. I’m not even sure I’ve seen a trombone.”
The Big Easy got its replacement team when the Charlotte Hornets moved there in 2002. Even though Charlotte didn’t fight to retain the nickname, the Hornets were rebranded “Pelicans” – Louisiana’s state bird – 11 years later.
How’s this for confusing: both the Jazz and Pelicans have retired the number seven jersey in honor of Maravich.
Oddly enough, the new New Orleans team unwittingly played a role in the Sonics move to OKC. After Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana in 2005, Oklahoma City served as the Hornets’ foster home for two seasons. The fans’ embrace of New Orleans’ team convinced league fathers that OKC would be OK for a team of their own. The renamed Thunder arrived one year later from Seattle, as the state’s first and only major league franchise.
Charlotte, NC
Original Team: Hornets (1988-2002)
New Team: Bobcats, renamed Hornets in 2014 (2004-Present)
The Pelicans feature prominently in this city’s story, too, because they began life as the Charlotte Hornets. No Hornets player was ever as famous as their one-time part owner, Michael Jordan. One reason majority owner George Shinn moved the team was – see if this sounds familiar, fans of Sonics 1.0 – an arena in Charlotte without enough luxury boxes.
The other reason the franchise failed in basketball-mad North Carolina was public anger at Shinn himself. “Stupid decisions,” he told the Charlotte Observer, like admitted affairs by a self-professed Christian, a sexual assault trial (he was acquitted), and his demand, voted down, for a new, 100% taxpayer funded arena.
When Shinn pulled up stakes, the city threatened legal action and *presto*, the NBA authorized a new expansion franchise.
How’s this for confusing: a year after the former Charlotte Hornets, now in New Orleans, changed their name to Pelicans, the replacement Charlotte NBA team, the expansion Bobcats, changed their name to Hornets. The uniforms, colors and mascot were updated to reflect what Hornets 1.0 had used.
Not only that, the team history, which had moved with the original Hornets to Louisiana, was transferred to Hornets 2.0 – but only the Hornets history while they played in North Carolina. The NBA announced that the Pelicans would retroactively be considered an expansion team – which they absolutely weren’t!
Minneapolis, MN
Original Team: Lakers (1947-60)
New Team: Timberwolves (1989-Present)
If you’ve wondered why Los Angeles’ first NBA entry is nicknamed “Lakers,” it’s because the franchise originated in Minnesota, “Land of 10,000 Lakes.” The Minnesota team even predates the 1949 merger of two pro leagues to form the NBA.
Minneapolis won five NBA titles between 1949-54, largely because they had a large advantage. A LARGE advantage. His name was George Mikan, 6-10, 245 pounds, in an era when players with those dimensions were all but unheard of. To try and counter his dominance, the league created the goaltending rule, widened the foul lane, and experimented with raising the basket from 10 to 12 feet.
The Minneapolis StarTribune explained that the 1960 move to L.A. was regarded locally mostly with resignation.
“The Lakers left Minneapolis because the team wasn’t profitable – partly because they had no consistent home court. The move was seen in Minnesota as logical, if unfortunate.”
NBA basketball returned in 1989 in the form of the expansion Timberwolves . Of course, the Lakers name was still in use, so that wasn’t an option. “The Lakers kept the name in part because of a request from the NBA. The league felt the Lakers name had historical significance as the NBA’s first dynasty.”
The year-by-year history of the Twin Cities’ first team was packed up as well, and today can be found only on the official website of the L.A. Lakers. Minnesota’s first basketball superstar has his bio alongside L.A. greats like West, Kareem, and Shaq, too. (A statue of George Mikan does stand outside the ‘Wolves home, the Target Center.)
NBA Sometimes, Not Always, Better The Second Time Around
While their stories aren’t as tangled, four other cities have received a second bite at the NBA apple:
- Milwaukee: Hawks left for St. Louis in 1955; Bucks arrived via expansion in 1968.
- Philadelphia: Warriors left for San Francisco in 1962; Syracuse Nationals arrived as renamed 76ers in 1963.
- Chicago: Zephers left to become Baltimore Bullets in 1963; Bulls arrived via expansion in 1966.
- San Diego: Rockets left for Houston in 1971; Buffalo Braves arrived as renamed Clippers in 1978, but then moved up coast to L.A. in 1984.
Discover more from Rain City Rebound
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.