The belt on the move

13 franchises that changed cities

The belt follows the franchise, not the city. Here's every NBA franchise that held it in more than one home, and where it did better.

Los Angeles Lakers

Held it longest in Los Angeles, CA

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days	Share
Minneapolis, MNMinneapolis Lakers	1948–1960	59	1,086
Los Angeles, CALos Angeles Lakers	1961–2025	183	2,482

Held it longest in San Francisco, CA

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days	Share
Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia Warriors	1946–1962	68	671
San Francisco, CAGolden State Warriors, San Francisco Warriors	1962–2026	98	1,112

Held it longest in Philadelphia, PA

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days	Share
Syracuse, NYSyracuse Nationals	1950–1963	62	462
Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia 76ers	1964–2026	140	1,016

Held it longest in St. Louis, MO

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days
Moline, ILTri-Cities Blackhawks	1950–1951	4	30
Milwaukee, WIMilwaukee Hawks	1951–1955	14	266
St. Louis, MOSt. Louis Hawks	1955–1968	66	445
Atlanta, GAAtlanta Hawks	1969–2026	93	394

Held it longest in Sacramento, CA

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days
Rochester, NYRochester Royals	1949–1957	33	354
Cincinnati, OHCincinnati Royals	1958–1972	54	232
Kansas City, MOKansas City Kings, Kansas City-Omaha Kings	1972–1982	25	111
Sacramento, CASacramento Kings	1986–2026	43	363

Held it longest in Detroit, MI

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days	Share
Fort Wayne, INFort Wayne Pistons	1949–1957	37	160
Detroit, MIDetroit Pistons	1957–2026	112	780

Held it longest in Seattle, WA

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days	Share
Seattle, WASeattle SuperSonics	1967–2007	64	496
Oklahoma City, OKOklahoma City Thunder	2009–2026	32	318

Held it longest in Washington, DC

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days
Chicago, ILChicago Packers, Chicago Zephyrs	1962–1963	3	7
Baltimore, MDBaltimore Bullets	1963–1973	37	379
Landover, MDCapital Bullets	1973–1974	2	6
Washington, DCWashington Bullets, Washington Wizards	1974–2021	63	408

Held it longest in Houston, TX

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days	Share
San Diego, CASan Diego Rockets	1968–1969	2	7
Houston, TXHouston Rockets	1972–2026	105	742

Held it longest in Los Angeles, CA

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days
Buffalo, NYBuffalo Braves	1972–1977	14	58
San Diego, CASan Diego Clippers	1978–1982	8	211
Los Angeles, CALos Angeles Clippers	1987–2025	43	403

Held it longest in Salt Lake City, UT

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days	Share
New Orleans, LANew Orleans Jazz	1975–1979	6	38
Salt Lake City, UTUtah Jazz	1979–2025	76	447

Held it longest in Newark, NJ

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days	Share
Newark, NJNew Jersey Nets	1977–2011	41	378
Brooklyn, NYBrooklyn Nets	2014–2025	16	61

Held it longest in New Orleans, LA

City	With the belt	Reigns	Days	Share
New Orleans, LANew Orleans Hornets, New Orleans Pelicans	2002–2024	21	100
Oklahoma City, OKNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets	2007–2007	1	4