When was the NBA founded?

In 1949, the Basketball Association of America, founded in 1946, merged with the National Basketball League, which was established in 1937. The new league was rebranded the National Basketball Association. By contrast, the NFL celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2019, and the roots of Major League Baseball were planted late in the 19th century. 

How many teams were in the original NBA?

The NBA started with 17 teams. By 1954, the league was down to eight teams because of financial troubles. NBA owners, led by Fred Zollner of the Fort Wayne Pistons, kept the league together, paving the way for it to grow in popularity throughout the 1960s.

Who was the NBA's first major star?

The first superstar in professional basketball was 6-foot-10 center George Mikan. After a standout career at DePaul, Mikan began his pro basketball career with the Chicago American Gears of the NBL in 1946. In 1948, he starred for the Minneapolis Lakers in the BAA, which became part of the NBA the next season. He finished his professional career with the Minneapolis Lakers in 1956. Mikan, who died in 2005, was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959.