The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the most popular basketball league in the world with teams based throughout the United States, Canada, and internationally. While many cities are home to NBA teams, there is one major city that does not have an NBA team – the biggest city in the United States without an NBA team is San Antonio, Texas.
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States with a population of over 1.5 million people. It has a rich basketball culture, with a large and passionate fan base, and has been home to two previous NBA teams. The San Antonio Spurs were the first NBA team to be based in San Antonio, founded in 1967 as an original member of the American Basketball Association. The Spurs joined the NBA in 1976 and have been one of the most successful teams in the league, winning five NBA championships since their move to the NBA.
The other NBA team to call San Antonio home was the San Antonio Gunslingers, who were part of the short-lived United States Basketball League from 1983-1985. The Gunslingers were the first professional basketball team in San Antonio and featured the likes of former NBA players Calvin Natt, Tom LaGarde, and Andre Goode. Despite the Gunslingers being moderately successful, the team folded after two seasons.
San Antonio has not had an NBA team since the Gunslingers left in 1985, and while there has been speculation that the city could be in line for a new NBA franchise, as of 2021 there are no concrete plans for a team in the near future. The lack of an NBA team in the city has been a source of frustration for San Antonio basketball fans, particularly with the success enjoyed by the Spurs since their move to the NBA.
San Antonio’s lack of an NBA team has become an even bigger issue in recent years, as other large cities such as Seattle and Las Vegas have been awarded expansion franchises. While the city has shown continued interest in returning to the top of the basketball world with an NBA team, it appears that the city will have to wait a little while longer to get its wish.
Exploring The Largest US Cities Without A NBA Team
When it comes to professional sports, few things are more iconic than the National Basketball Association (NBA). But did you know that some of the biggest cities in the United States are without a professional basketball team?
The NBA currently consists of 30 teams, but not all of the largest cities in the United States have one. The largest city to not have an NBA team is Austin, Texas, with a population of over 931,830. Other large cities without an NBA team include Charlotte, North Carolina (859,035), Virginia Beach, Virginia (452,745), and Jacksonville, Florida (892,062).
So why don’t these cities have a NBA team? The answer is complex. Generally, the lack of an NBA team in these cities is due to a combination of factors, including the size of the city, the local economy, the availability of an appropriate venue, and the amount of local interest in the sport. For example, in many of these cities, there are already established professional sports teams in other leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Football League (NFL).
It’s also worth noting that the NBA is not the only professional basketball league in the United States. There are also several regional and minor leagues, such as the American Basketball Association (ABA), the International Basketball League (IBL), and the National Basketball League (NBL).
The table below provides a breakdown of the largest cities in the United States that do not have an NBA team.
| City | State | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | Texas | 931,830 |
| Charlotte, NC | North Carolina | 859,035 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | Virginia | 452,745 |
| Jacksonville, FL | Florida | 892,062 |
So while Austin, Charlotte, Virginia Beach, and Jacksonville may not have an NBA team, there are still plenty of professional basketball leagues and teams for local fans to enjoy. From the ABA to the IBL, there are plenty of opportunities to experience competitive professional basketball without the NBA.
Examining The Factors Behind No NBA Team In The Biggest Cities
The NBA remains one of the most popular professional sports leagues in the world, but not every major city in the US has a team. New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Philadelphia are all cities known for having NBA teams, but what is the biggest city to not have a NBA team?
The answer to this question is San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio is currently the seventh-largest city in the United States, with a population of 1.5 million people as of 2019. While it isn’t the largest city in the US, it’s the biggest city to not have a NBA team. That’s because the San Antonio Spurs, which plays in the NBA, is based in the nearby town of San Antonio.
So why doesn’t San Antonio have its own team? There are several factors. First, the NBA requires that a city have a population of at least 1 million people in order to be considered for a team. San Antonio’s population is just shy of that mark, which makes it ineligible to have a team. Second, the NBA prefers to have teams in larger markets, which means that cities with smaller populations like San Antonio are often overlooked.
Additionally, the cost of owning a NBA team is quite high, and cities like San Antonio may not have the resources to support a team. Finally, there’s the issue of competition. San Antonio is home to two other professional sports teams, the San Antonio Spurs of the NBA and the San Antonio Stars of the WNBA. Both franchises have a long history in San Antonio, and it’s possible that the NBA is simply unwilling to add another team to the market.
In conclusion, there are a number of factors that have kept San Antonio from having its own NBA team. From population size to the cost of ownership, there are a variety of reasons why San Antonio and other large cities don’t have their own NBA teams. While it may be disappointing not to have a hometown team, San Antonio does have two professional sports teams, as well as a thriving college sports scene, so there is no shortage of cheering going on in the city.
The largest city without an NBA team is Los Angeles, California.
No, Los Angeles, California does not have an NBA team.
Los Angeles does not have an NBA team because the two NBA teams that were in the city, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, moved to other cities.
The second largest city without an NBA team is Houston, Texas.
Los Angeles has many professional sports teams, such as the Los Angeles Angels (MLB), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Los Angeles Kings (NHL), Los Angeles Chargers (NFL), and Los Angeles Rams (NFL).
Yes, some other cities have two NBA teams, such as New York City, Chicago, and Toronto.
The closest NBA team to Los Angeles is the Phoenix Suns, which is located about 300 miles away.
Yes, there are numerous other cities without an NBA team, such as San Antonio, Texas; Sacramento, California; and Rochester, New York.
The longest running NBA team is the Boston Celtics, which was founded in 1946.
Yes, some other major cities without an NBA team include Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Las Vegas, Nevada.