Significant Dates in Professional Basketball History
| Date | Description |
| 1946-06-06 | Boston Celtics, Chicago Stags, Cleveland Rebels, Detroit Falcons, New York Knicks, Philadelphia Warriors, Pittsburgh Ironmen, Providence Steamrollers, St. Louis Bombers, Toronto Huskies, and Washington Capitols are granted charter BAA franchises |
| 1947-07-01 | 1947 BAA/NBL draft |
| 1947-06-09 | Cleveland Rebels (BAA) folded |
| 1947-07-09 | Detroit Falcons (BAA) folded |
| 1947-07-27 | Pittsburgh Ironmen (BAA) folded |
| 1947-07-27 | Toronto Huskies (BAA) folded |
| 1947-07-27 | Baltimore Bullets joined BAA (from ABL) |
| 1947-08-02 | BAA dispersal draft (for players on Cleveland Rebels, Detroit Falcons, Pittsburgh Ironmen, and Toronto Huskies, all of which folded after 1946-47 season) |
| 1948-05-10 | 1948 BAA draft |
| 1948-05-10 | Fort Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Jets, Minneapolis Lakers, and Rochester Royals joined BAA (from NBL) |
| 1949-03-21 | 1949 BAA draft |
| 1949-08-03 | Indianapolis Jets (BAA) folded |
| 1949-08-03 | Providence Steamrollers (BAA) folded |
| 1949-08-03 | Anderson Packers, Denver Nuggets, Indianapolis Olympians, Sheboygan Redskins, Syracuse Nationals, Tri-City Blackhawks, and Waterloo Hawks joined BAA (from NBL) and new league is renamed the NBA |
| 1950-04-10 | Anderson Packers withdrew from NBA |
| 1950-04-22 | St. Louis Bombers folded |
| 1950-04-24 | Denver Nuggets withdrew from NBA |
| 1950-04-24 | Sheboygan Redskins withdrew from NBA |
| 1950-04-24 | Waterloo Hawks withdrew from NBA |
| 1950-04-25 | 1950 NBA draft |
| 1950-04-25 | NBA dispersal draft draft (Anderson Packers, St. Louis Bombers) |
| prior to 1950-51 season | Tri-City Blackhawks renamed Tri-Cities Blackhawks |
| 1950-09-25 | Chicago Stags folded |
| 1950-10-05 | NBA dispersal draft (Chicago Stags) |
| 1951-01-08 | Washington Capitols folded |
| 1951-01-09 | NBA dispersal draft (Washington Capitols) |
| 1951-04-25 | 1951 NBA draft |
| 1951-09-13 | Tri-Cities Blackhawks moved to Milwaukee and renamed the Hawks |
| 1952-04-26 | 1952 NBA draft |
| 1953-04-23 | Indianapolis Olympians folded |
| 1953-04-24 | 1953 NBA draft |
| 1954-04-24 | 1954 NBA draft |
| 1954-11-26 | Baltimore Bullets folded |
| 1955-04-13 | 1955 NBA draft |
| 1955-05-11 | Milwaukee Hawks moved to St. Louis |
| 1956-04-30 | 1956 NBA draft |
| 1957-02-14 | Fort Wayne Pistons moved to Detroit |
| 1957-03-03 (1957-04-03?) | Rochester Royals moved to Cincinnati |
| 1957-04-17 | 1957 NBA draft |
| 1958-04-22 | 1958 NBA draft |
| 1959-03-31 | 1959 NBA draft |
| 1959-09-16 | Chicago is granted an NBA expansion franchise (Packers) |
| 1960-04-11 | 1960 NBA draft |
| 1960-04-27 | Minneapolis Lakers moved to Los Angeles |
| 1961-03-27 | 1961 NBA draft |
| 1961-04-12 - 1961-05-16 | Expansion draft (Chicago Packers). (A Chicago Tribune article pegs the date as 1961-04-26, and this date is used in the transactions database.) |
| 1962-03-26 | 1962 NBA draft |
| 1962-05-23 | Philadelphia Warriors moved to San Francisco |
| 1962-07-05 | Chicago Packers renamed Zephyrs |
| 1962-12-31 | ABL folded |
| 1963-03-25 | Chicago Zephyrs moved to Baltimore and renamed the Bullets |
| 1963-04-30 | 1963 NBA draft |
| 1963-05-22 | Syracuse Nationals moved to Philadelphia |
| 1963-08-06 | Syracuse/Philadelphia Nationals renamed 76ers |
| 1964-05-04 | 1964 NBA draft |
| 1965-05-06 | 1965 NBA draft |
| 1966-01-27 | Chicago is granted an NBA expansion franchise (Bulls) |
| 1966-04-30 | NBA expansion draft (Chicago Bulls), day 1 (Eastern Division teams) |
| 1966-05-01 | NBA expansion draft (Chicago Bulls), day 2 (Western Division teams) |
| 1966-05-11 | 1966 NBA draft |
| 1966-12-20 | Seattle is granted an NBA expansion franchise (Sonics) |
| 1967-01-12 | San Diego is granted an NBA expansion franchise (Rockets) |
| 1967-02-02 | Charter ABA franchises are granted to Anaheim (Amigos), Dallas (Chaparrals), Houston (Mavericks), Indiana (Pacers), Kansas City (Denver Rockets), Minnesota (Muskies), New York (New Jersey Americans), New Orleans (Buccaneers), Oakland (Oaks), and Pittsburgh (Pipers) |
| 1967-03-06 | Kentucky is granted an ABA franchise (Colonels) |
| 1967-04-01 | Kansas City ABA franchise awarded to Denver (Rockets) instead |
| 1967-04-02 | 1967 ABA "evaluation" draft |
| 1967-05-01 | NBA expansion draft (San Diego Rockets, Seattle Sonics) |
| 1967-05-03 | 1967 NBA draft |
| 1967-09 | New York Americans (ABA) moved to New Jersey |
| 1968-01-22 | NBA expansion franchises granted to Milwaukee (Bucks) and Phoenix (Suns) |
| 1968-03-09 | 1968 ABA draft |
| 1968-05-03 | St. Louis Hawks moved to Atlanta |
| 1968-04-01 | 1968 NBA draft (round 1) |
| 1968-05-06 | NBA expansion draft (Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns) |
| 1968-05-08 | 1968 NBA draft (rounds 2-21) |
| 1968-05-24 | Minnesota Muskies (ABA) moved to Miami and renamed the Floridians (ABA) |
| 1968-06-28 | Pittsburgh Pipers (ABA) moved to Minnesota |
| 1968-06-24 | Miami Muskies (ABA) renamed Floridians (ABA) |
| 1968-07-15 | New Jersey Americans (ABA) moved to New York and renamed Nets |
| 1968-03-27 | Anaheim Amigos (ABA) moved to Los Angeles and renamed Stars (ABA) |
| 1969-04-07 | 1969 NBA draft (rounds 1-2) |
| 1969-04-15 | 1969 ABA draft |
| 1969-05-07 | 1969 NBA draft (rounds 3-20) |
| 1969-08-21 | Oakland Oaks (ABA) moved to Washington D.C. and renamed the Capitols |
| 1969-08-22 | Minnesota Pipers (ABA) moved to Pittsburgh |
| 1969-04-04 | Houston Mavericks (ABA) moved to Carolina and renamed the Cougars (move was announced 1969-01-18 to be effective at the end of the 1968-69 season (last game was 1969-04-03)) |
| 1970-01-22 | 1970 ABA draft (rounds 1-8) |
| 1970-02-06 | NBA expansion franchises granted to Buffalo (Braves), Cleveland (Cavaliers), and Portland (Trail Blazers) |
| 1970-03-15 | 1970 ABA draft (rounds 9 and later) |
| 1970-03-23 | 1970 NBA draft |
| 1970-05-11 | NBA expansion draft (Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland TrailBlazers) |
| 1970-06-10 | Los Angeles Stars (ABA) moved to Utah |
| 1970-06-25 | Pittsburgh Pipers (ABA) renamed Condors (ABA) |
| prior to 1970-71 season | New Orleans Buccaneers (ABA) renamed Louisiana Buccaneers |
| 1971-07-30 | Washington Capitols (ABA) moved to Virginia and renamed Squires (ABA) |
| prior to 1970-71 season | Dallas Chaparrals (ABA) renamed Texas Chaparrals (ABA) |
| 1970-07-20 - 1970-08-13 | Miami Floridians (ABA) renamed "The Floridians" |
| 1971-01-22 | 1971 ABA draft (rounds 1-3) |
| 1971-01-23 | 1971 ABA draft (completion of third round) |
| 1971-03-29 | 1971 NBA draft |
| 1971-06-23 | San Diego Rockets moved to Houston |
| summer 1971 | San Francisco Warriors renamed Golden State Warriors |
| summer 1971 | Texas Chaparrals (ABA) renamed Dallas Chaparrals |
| 1971-08-31 | Louisiana Buccaneers (ABA) moved to Memphis and renamed Pros (ABA) |
| 1972-03-02 | 1972 ABA draft (rounds 1-5) |
| 1972-04-10 | 1972 NBA draft |
| 1972-04-12 | 1972 ABA draft (rounds 6 and later) |
| 1972-05-14 (1972-03-14?) | Cincinnati Royals moved to Kansas City-Omaha and renamed Kings |
| 1972-06-13 | The Floridians (ABA) folded |
| 1972-06-13 | Pittsburgh Pipers (ABA) folded |
| 1972-06-13 | ABA dispersal draft (Floridians, Pipers) |
| 1972-06-13 | Memphis Pros (ABA) renamed Tams (ABA) |
| 1972-07-28 | San Diego is granted an ABA expansion franchise (Conquistadors) |
| 1972-08-10 | ABA expansion draft (San Diego Conquistadors) |
| 1973-01-15 | 1973 ABA special circumstances draft |
| 1973-02-16 | Baltimore Bullets moved to Washington D.C. |
| 1973-04-24 | 1973 NBA draft |
| 1973-04-25 | 1973 ABA undergraduate draft |
| 1973-08-09 (1973-04-09?) | Dallas Chaparrals (ABA) moved to San Antonio and renamed Spurs (ABA) |
| 1974-03-07 | New Orleans is granted an NBA expansion franchise (Jazz) |
| 1974-04-17 | 1974 ABA draft (preceded by a draft of NBA players) |
| 1974-04-20 | Capital Bullets renamed Washington Bullets |
| 1974-05-20 | NBA expansion draft (New Orleans Jazz) |
| 1974-05-28 | 1974 NBA draft |
| 1974-06-07 | New Orleans expansion franchise named Jazz |
| 1974-07-17 | Carolina Cougars (ABA) moved to St. Louis and renamed Spirits of St. Louis (ABA) |
| 1974-07-24 | Memphis Tams (ABA) renamed Sounds (ABA) |
| 1974-08-07 | Denver Rockets (ABA) renamed Nuggets (ABA) |
| 1975-05-29 | 1975 NBA draft |
| 1975-06-16 | 1975 ABA draft |
| June 1975 | San Diego Conquistadors (ABA) renamed Sails (date of 1975-06-01 is used in the transaction database). Date was 1975-07-28 according to article in Boston Globe. |
| 1975-08-27 | Memphis Sounds (ABA) moved to Baltimore and renamed Claws |
| 1975-09-04 | ABA "Equalization Draft" to stock Claws with additional players |
| 1975-10-20 | Baltimore Claws (ABA) folded |
| 1975-10-21 | ABA dispersal draft (Baltimore Claws) |
| 1975-11-12 | San Diego Sails (ABA) folded |
| 1975-11-12 | ABA dispersal draft (San Diego Sails) |
| 1975-12-02 | Utah Stars (ABA) folded |
| 1975-12-30 | NBA special draft of ABA players playing as undergraduates who had never been eligible for an NBA draft |
| 1976-05-10 | Virginia Squires (ABA) folded |
| 1976-05-19 | Sprits of St. Louis (ABA) moved to Utah and renamed Rockies (but never played) |
| 1976-06-08 | 1976 NBA draft |
| 1976-06-17 | ABA/NBA merger is announced |
| 1976-08-05 | Kentucky Colonels (ABA) folded |
| 1976-08-05 | Utah Rockies (Spirits of St. Louis) (ABA) folded |
| 1976-08-05 | ABA dispersal draft (Kentucky Colonels and Spirits of St. Louis) |
| 1976-08-05 | ABA/NBA merger (Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, New York Nets, and San Antonio Spurs enter from the ABA). Date is also commonly given as 1976-06-17, however this was the date of the announcement of the merger and there were still a lot of details that were yet to be finalized at that point. |
| 1977-06-10 | 1977 NBA draft |
| 1977-07-26 | New York Nets moved to New Jersey |
| 1978-06-09 | 1978 NBA draft |
| 1978-07-28 | Buffalo Braves moved to San Diego and renamed the Clippers |
| 1979-06-08 | New Orleans Jazz moved to Utah |
| 1979-06-25 | 1979 NBA draft |
| 1980-03-06 | Dallas is granted an NBA expansion franchise (Mavericks) |
| 1980-05-28 | NBA expansion draft (Dallas Mavericks) |
| 1980-06-10 | 1980 NBA draft |
| 1981-06-09 | 1981 NBA draft |
| 1982-06-29 | 1982 NBA draft |
| 1983-06-28 | 1983 NBA draft |
| 1984-05-15 | San Diego Clippers moved to Los Angeles |
| 1984-06-19 | 1984 NBA draft |
| 1985-04-16 | Kansas City Kings moved to Sacramento |
| 1985-06-18 | 1985 NBA draft |
| 1986-06-17 | 1986 NBA draft |
| 1987-04-22 | Charlotte (Hornets), Miami (Heat), Minnesota (Timberwolves), and Orlando (Magic) are granted NBA expansion franchises |
| 1987-06-22 | 1987 NBA draft |
| 1988-05-23 | NBA expansion draft (Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat) |
| 1988-06-28 | 1988 NBA draft |
| 1989-06-15 | NBA expansion draft (Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic) |
| 1989-06-27 | 1989 NBA draft |
| 1990-06-27 | 1990 NBA draft |
| 1991-06-26 | 1991 NBA draft |
| 1992-06-24 | 1992 NBA draft |
| 1993-06-30 | 1993 NBA draft |
| 1993-09-30 | Toronto is granted an NBA expansion franchise (Raptors) |
| 1994-04-27 | Vancouver is granted an NBA expansion franchise (Grizzlies) |
| 1994-06-29 | 1994 NBA draft |
| 1995-06-24 | NBA expansion draft (Toronto Raptors, Vancouver Grizzlies) |
| 1995-06-28 | 1995 NBA draft |
| 1996-06-26 | 1996 NBA draft |
| 1997-06-25 | 1997 NBA draft |
| prior to 1997-98 season | Washington Bullets renamed the Wizards (date 1997-07-01 used in database) |
| 1998-06-24 | 1998 NBA draft |
| 1998-06-30 | NBA commences a lockout until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached |
| 1999-01-07 | The NBA Board of Governors vote unanimously to ratify a collective bargaining agreement with the players' union, ending the lockout |
| 1999-06-30 | 1999 NBA draft |
| 2000-06-28 | 2000 NBA draft |
| 2001-06-27 | 2001 NBA draft |
| 2001-07-03 | Vancouver Grizzlies move to Memphis is approved by NBA Board of Governors |
| 2002-05-10 | Charlotte Hornets move to New Orleans is approved by NBA Board of Governors |
| 2002-06-26 | 2002 NBA draft |
| 2003-01-10 | Charlotte is granted an NBA expansion franchise (Bobcats) |
| 2003-06-26 | 2003 NBA draft |
| 2004-06-24 | 2004 NBA draft |
| 2005-06-28 | 2005 NBA draft |
| 2006-06-27 | 2006 NBA draft |
| 2007-06-28 | 2007 NBA draft |
| 2008-04-18 | Seattle Sonics move to Oklahoma City is approved by NBA Board of Governors (move still pending outcome of littigation regarding the last 2 years of their lease with the Key Arena in Seattle) |
| 2008-06-28 | 2008 NBA draft |
| 2008-07-02 | Seattle Sonics moved to Oklahoma City |
| 2008-09-03 | Oklahoma City Sonics renamed Thunder |
| 2009-06-25 | 2009 NBA draft |
| 2010-06-25 | 2010 NBA draft |
| 2011-06-23 | 2011 NBA draft |
| 2012-04-30 | New Jersey Nets moved to Brooklyn |
| 2012-06-28 | 2012 NBA draft |
| 2013-06-27 | 2013 NBA draft |
| 2014-05-19 | Charlotte Bobcats renamed Hornets |
| 2014-06-26 | 2014 NBA draft |
| 2015-06-25 | 2015 NBA draft |
| 2016-06-23 | 2016 NBA draft |
| 2017-06-22 | 2017 NBA draft |
| 2018-06-21 | 2018 NBA draft |