If NBA teams had geographically correct names.

[slightly biased bias fan]

It has always bugged me that some teams haven't changed their names when they've moved, to suit their new environment, or through the 1980's-1990's teams founded in this period have made up ludicrous names e.g. the Raptors.

Here's a list of corrections which I think is just cathartic for me to do haha but I'd love for the NBA owners to one day correct.

EAST

Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets/Dodgers (if LA is willing to give it up)
New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers
Toronto Huskies

Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers/Cardinals/Flight
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks

Atlanta Phoenix
Charlotte Hornets
Miami Heat
Orlando Magic
Washington Senators

WEST

Dallas Mavericks/? bad name but no other ideas?
Houston Rockets (but bring back the old 1980's logo and jerseys)
Memphis Kings
New Orleans Jazz
San Antonio Spurs

Denver Nuggets
Minneapolis Lakers
Seattle Supersonics (never should have been moved)
Portland Trail Blazers
Utah Pioneers

Golden State Warriors
Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Showtime
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Grizzlies

[Vermont Green]

The ones that bother me the most are that New Orleans should be the Jazz (not Utah), Charlotte should be the Hornets, and Utah should not be the only franchise named after a state and not a city (wait, this applies to Minnesota too I guess).  They should be Salt Lake whatevers and Minnesota should be Minneapolis.

I don't get the Toronto Huskies or why Sacramento would be the Grizzlies but agree the Grizzlies make no sense in Memphis (How about the Memphis Blues as in Blues singers).

You are right that the LA Lakers makes no sense since there isn't a lake anywhere near LA but I don't see that changing.

[Eja117]

There are Grizzlies in Sacramento?

Also...I think the Warriors is a weird name for a San Francisco based team. I think maybe the Hippies would be a lot more accurate.

When I think of Atlanta I think of Coke....but that's free advertising and this league wants to get as far away from that word as possible.

I kinda feel like the Cavs could be the Rock....as in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame there.

[slightly biased bias fan]

There are Grizzlies in Sacramento?

Also...I think the Warriors is a weird name for a San Francisco based team. I think maybe the Hippies would be a lot more accurate.

When I think of Atlanta I think of Coke....but that's free advertising and this league wants to get as far away from that word as possible.

I kinda feel like the Cavs could be the Rock....as in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame there.

California has the grizzly on their flag and Sacramento is the capital, so it makes sense.

Golden State Warriors is a reference to the early gold rush of San Francisco.

I know Coke is connected to Atlanta but the phoenix is right there on their cities flag too, I'm surprised it hasn't been suggested already other that Phoenix the city having the name.

Cleveland Rocks sounds just like that Drew Carey song haha but given Cleveland is the birthplace of Aviation/Wright brothers and Basketball has that flight/dunking aspect to it I tried to make the connection but Cleveland Cardinals is perfect as its their state bird, too bad there is already like 2 other Cardinal sports teams lol

[slightly biased bias fan]

The ones that bother me the most are that New Orleans should be the Jazz (not Utah), Charlotte should be the Hornets, and Utah should not be the only franchise named after a state and not a city (wait, this applies to Minnesota too I guess).  They should be Salt Lake whatevers and Minnesota should be Minneapolis.

I don't get the Toronto Huskies or why Sacramento would be the Grizzlies but agree the Grizzlies make no sense in Memphis (How about the Memphis Blues as in Blues singers).

You are right that the LA Lakers makes no sense since there isn't a lake anywhere near LA but I don't see that changing.

Toronto Huskies were the original basketball team in the area but they disbanded, recently even the Raptors wore a heritage Huskies jersey, also the Husky are a native of Canada I think the only reason they didn't go back to the huskies was that they couldn't design a logo that didn't look similar to Timberwolves

[slightly biased bias fan]

The ones that bother me the most are that New Orleans should be the Jazz (not Utah), Charlotte should be the Hornets, and Utah should not be the only franchise named after a state and not a city (wait, this applies to Minnesota too I guess).  They should be Salt Lake whatevers and Minnesota should be Minneapolis.

I don't get the Toronto Huskies or why Sacramento would be the Grizzlies but agree the Grizzlies make no sense in Memphis (How about the Memphis Blues as in Blues singers).

You are right that the LA Lakers makes no sense since there isn't a lake anywhere near LA but I don't see that changing.

I also 100% agree with you on naming teams after their state like Minnesota and Utah. You'd think there would be a rule against it, as it could prevent an expansion team entering that state.

[jambr380]

The ones that bother me the most are that New Orleans should be the Jazz (not Utah), Charlotte should be the Hornets, and Utah should not be the only franchise named after a state and not a city (wait, this applies to Minnesota too I guess).  They should be Salt Lake whatevers and Minnesota should be Minneapolis.

I don't get the Toronto Huskies or why Sacramento would be the Grizzlies but agree the Grizzlies make no sense in Memphis (How about the Memphis Blues as in Blues singers).

You are right that the LA Lakers makes no sense since there isn't a lake anywhere near LA but I don't see that changing.

Wait, what? Charlotte is the Hornets (no longer the Bobcats).

Lakers, Jazz, and Grizzlies are the outliers and the Wizards should have just stayed the Bullets.

[csfansince60s]

The ones that bother me the most are that New Orleans should be the Jazz (not Utah), Charlotte should be the Hornets, and Utah should not be the only franchise named after a state and not a city (wait, this applies to Minnesota too I guess).  They should be Salt Lake whatevers and Minnesota should be Minneapolis.

I don't get the Toronto Huskies or why Sacramento would be the Grizzlies but agree the Grizzlies make no sense in Memphis (How about the Memphis Blues as in Blues singers).

You are right that the LA Lakers makes no sense since there isn't a lake anywhere near LA but I don't see that changing.

I also 100% agree with you on naming teams after their state like Minnesota and Utah. You'd think there would be a rule against it, as it could prevent an expansion team entering that state.

How about a whole region being frowned on too.

I liked Boston Patriots way more than New England. There are a lot of teams in a lot of sports named after states.

[Denis998]

Brooklyn Neits. (Neit is No in russian)

[BDeCosta26]

It's always really bothered me that Washington changed their name from the Bullets to the Wizards. It's even worse now that they brought the Bullets jerseys back.

So the Bullets change their name for a really stupid, PC reason, while the other Washington sports team just gives the finger to Political Correctness and soldiers on with a nickname that is really offensive to a whole entire ethnic group. Stupid. Should be the Washington Bullets and Wasington Warriors in football.

[slightly biased bias fan]

It's always really bothered me that Washington changed their name from the Bullets to the Wizards. It's even worse now that they brought the Bullets jerseys back.

So the Bullets change their name for a really stupid, PC reason, while the other Washington sports team just gives the finger to Political Correctness and soldiers on with a nickname that is really offensive to a whole entire ethnic group. Stupid. Should be the Washington Bullets and Wasington Warriors in football.

I understand where you're coming from but the Bullets got their name from when they were in Baltimore not Washington. The name should be the Capitols as they were the original Washington NBA franchise from the 40's coached by Auerbach but the name was pinched by the NHL team in the 1970's.

[slightly biased bias fan]

Brooklyn Neits. (Neit is No in russian)

Haha



That's a tommy point for you sir

[freshinthehouse]

Golden State Warriors is a reference to the early gold rush of San Francisco.

I hate (love) to nit pick, but the Warriors name goes back to when the team was in Philadelphia, so it has nothing to do with the gold rush. 

[slightly biased bias fan]

Golden State Warriors is a reference to the early gold rush of San Francisco.

I hate (love) to nit pick, but the Warriors name goes back to when the team was in Philadelphia, so it has nothing to do with the gold rush.

I was referring to the moniker of Golden State not the Warriors, but its good to know someone else cares/knows their NBA history haha

[freshinthehouse]

Utah should not be the only franchise named after a state and not a city (wait, this applies to Minnesota too I guess).  They should be Salt Lake whatevers and Minnesota should be Minneapolis.

The Golden State Warriors should also be on that list.  And I guess technically the Knicks. 

Minnesota does it with their sports teams since they are the twin cities (Minneapolis/St. Paul) and they don't want to alienate one city by naming the team after the other.