Texas, our Texas, the football state, and the place where only the best athletes stand out among that many stars. Given their football tradition, there are some people that - surprisingly - don't know how many NBA teams are in Texas.
Make no mistake, the Lone Star State loves basketball as much as it loves football or baseball, perhaps even more in some towns. That comes from the tradition and culture of three winning NBA franchises with strong fanbases.
Unlike several states, Texas has seen its multiple NBA franchises establish, grow, and develop there. Some relocated after a failed start elsewhere but they'll now be there forever. In the following paragraphs, you'll find out how many NBA teams are in Texas.
Current NBA teams in Texas:
San Antonio Spurs
Founded: 1967
Former Names: Dallas Chaparrals (1967-70, 1971-73), Texas Chaparrals (1970-71), San Antonio Gunslingers (1973), San Antonio Spurs (1973-Present)
Arena: AT&T Center
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Hall of Famers: 10 (8 players, 2 coaches)
Championships: 5 (1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2014)
The San Antonio Spurs have always been tied to the great state of Texas. They were born in Dallas before moving to San Antonio, where they struggled early on and later became one of the most respected franchises in all professional sports.
The Spurs have set the standard for winning teams around the NBA. They've won at least 50 games in 18 straight seasons and own an NBA-record 22 consecutive playoff berths. It doesn't get better than that.
Houston Rockets
Founded: 1967
Former Names: San Diego Rockets (1967-71), Houston Rockets (1971-Present)
Arena: Toyota Center
Location: Houston, Texas
Hall of Famers: 14 (12 players, 2 coaches)
Championships: 2 (1994, 1995)
The Houston Rockets are the only team in Texas that was born outside of the state. The owners struggled to make a buck during their days at San Diego so a group of investors took the team to Space City in the early-'70s.
The Rockets are the most popular franchise in the state and even though they've had plenty of ups and downs throughout their history, it's only a matter of time before James Harden leads them to their 3rd NBA championship.
Dallas Mavericks
Founded: 1980
Former Names: Dallas Mavericks
Arena: American Airlines Center
Location: Dallas, Texas
Hall of Famers: 7 (5 players, 2 coaches)
Championships: 1 (2011)
The Dallas Mavericks are the most recently established franchise in the state. They've built a strong culture and diehard fanbase right away and Dirk Nowitzki helped the team sell out tickets during his prime years.
The Mavericks won their lone NBA title in 2011 and have struggled with inconsistency ever since. However, they've put together the most promising young duo in the league with Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis so the future is bright for them.
