Buffalo Braves

Ernie DiGregorio was named NBA Rookie of the Year in 1973–74 after leading the NBA in assists and free throw percentage.

Bob McAdoo (11) was the NBA MVP in the 1974–75 season after averaging 34.5 points per game and 14.1 rebounds per game.

American professional basketball franchise based in Buffalo, New York.

- Buffalo Braves

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Cleveland Cavaliers

American professional basketball team based in Cleveland.

Cavaliers forward and Akron native LeBron James, who was the first overall pick of the 2003 NBA draft. A perennial NBA All-Star and a four-time NBA MVP winner, he led the team to its first NBA Finals in 2007 and their first championship in 2016.

The Larry O'Brien Trophy won in 2016 on display at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

Scene of the 2017–18 season opener in then Quicken Loans Arena

Former longtime Cavs broadcaster Joe Tait, who won the Curt Gowdy Award in 2010.

Former Cavs All-Star guard and longtime TV analyst Austin Carr

Current mascots Sir C.C. (left) and Moondog (right)

Mid 1990s/early 2000s-era mascot Whammer

The team began play as an expansion team in 1970, along with the Portland Trail Blazers and Buffalo Braves.

Los Angeles Clippers

American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles.

Bob McAdoo (11) was the NBA MVP in the 1974–75 season after averaging 34.5 points and 14.1 rebounds per game.

Ken Norman, the Clippers' scoring leader in 1988–89, was a key part of the team's nucleus during the late 1980s and early 1990s

Doc Rivers became head coach during the 2013 off-season.

The Clippers hosting the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the 2015 NBA playoffs first-round series

The franchise was founded as the Buffalo Braves in 1970 as an expansion team.

Atlantic Division (NBA)

One of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association .

The division was created at the start of the 1970–71 season, when the league expanded from 14 to 17 teams with the addition of the Buffalo Braves, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers.

Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

Multipurpose indoor arena in downtown Buffalo, New York.

Aerial view of the venue (center) in October 2007. 2 years before demolition

The venue being demolished in April 2009

The French Connection of the Buffalo Sabres

The Who dedicated their December 1979 performance at the venue to those who perished as part of The Who concert disaster the day prior

Frank Zappa at the venue in October 1980 during the recording of Buffalo

Opened on October 14, 1940, it was home to the Canisius Golden Griffins (NCAA), the Buffalo Bisons (AHL), the Buffalo Bisons (NBL), the Buffalo Braves (NBA), the Buffalo Sabres (NHL), the Toronto-Buffalo Royals (WTT), the Buffalo Stallions (MSL), the Buffalo Bandits (MILL), the Buffalo Blizzard (NPSL) and the Buffalo Stampede (RHI).

1970–71 NBA season

The 25th season of the National Basketball Association.

Three new teams made their debut: the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Buffalo Braves.

Maple Leaf Gardens

Historic building located at the northwest corner of Carlton Street and Church Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Maple Leaf Gardens roof under construction, pictured in 1931.

Ceremonies for the opening of Maple Leaf Gardens, prior to a game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Chicago Black Hawks.

A war bonds rally held at the Gardens during World War II.

A hockey game between the Maple Leafs and the Black Hawks, c. 1960.

Ring introductions for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship match between champion Dory Funk, Jr. and challenger Johnny Valentine, February 11, 1973.

In 1982, the arena replaced its old centre-hung scoreboard with a newer model.

Game 1 of the 1994 First Round between the Maple Leafs and the Chicago Blackhawks at the Gardens after the Leafs scored a goal.

The Raptors at the Gardens in February 1997

Early plans to redevelop the arena were abandoned when it was discovered the seating was supporting the exterior walls of the building.

In 2004, the building was acquired by the Loblaw Companies. The company eventually converted the lower levels of the arena into a shopping centre.

A red dot on the ground floor of the building marks the original location of centre ice.

The ice rink for Toronto Metropolitan University is located on the third level of the building.

The indoor rowing event held at Mattamy Athletic Centre for the 2017 Invictus Games.

The entrance to Maple Leaf Gardens in 2020.

The NBA's Buffalo Braves played a total of 16 regular season games at Maple Leaf Gardens from 1971 to 1975.

Portland Trail Blazers

American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon.

Sidney Wicks, who played in four NBA All-Star Games while with the Trail Blazers, won the 1971–72 NBA Rookie of the Year Award after averaging 24.5 points per game and 11.5 rebounds per game.

In his first season as the Trail Blazers head coach, Jack Ramsay led the team to their first playoff berth and eventually the championship. Bill Walton was the NBA Finals MVP.

Clyde Drexler played in Portland from 1983 to 1995.

After being drafted by the Trail Blazers several years prior, Arvydas Sabonis made his NBA debut during the 1995–96 season.

Brandon Roy was chosen as the NBA Rookie of the Year after the 2006–07 season.

LaMarcus Aldridge played the first nine years of his pro career in Portland.

Damian Lillard is a six-time NBA All-Star (2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) and was the unanimous choice for the NBA Rookie of the Year following the 2012–13 season.

CJ McCollum, drafted 10th overall in 2013, formed a formidable back-court duo with Lillard.

Microsoft co-founder and Vulcan Inc. chairman Paul Allen owned the Trail Blazers from 1988 until his death in 2018.

The team's headquarters and practice facility are in Tualatin, Oregon.

Along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers), the Trail Blazers entered the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team, under coach Rolland Todd.

Buffalo Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York.

A statue of the French Connection line stands outside KeyBank Center. Consisting of Gilbert Perreault, Rick Martin, and Rene Robert, they played together from 1972 to 1979.

The Sabres playing a game during the 1998–99 season. The Sabres were later crowned the Eastern Conference champions following the 1999 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Lindy Ruff was awarded the Jack Adams Award in 2006. He was the second Sabres coach to win the award.

Thomas Vanek was re-signed in 2007 after the Edmonton Oilers offered him a seven-year offer sheet.

In 2008 the Sabres hosted the Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium in the inaugural Winter Classic.

Mikael Tellqvist was acquired by the Sabres on March 4, 2009. He was their backup goaltender for the remainder of the 2008–09 season.

On February 18, 2011, the sale of the Sabres franchise to Terrence Pegula was finalized.

Jason Pominville was named the 13th Sabres team captain before the start of the 2011–12 season.

The Sabres selected Jack Eichel with the second overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Phil Housley during the 2017–18 season. Housley was named the Sabres' head coach the preceding off-season. He would be fired following the 2018–19 season.

Recording 552 regular-season points and 39 playoff points, Rene Robert is the sixth-highest all-time regular-season points leader, and the fifth-highest all-time playoff points leader with the Sabres.

In addition to the Sabres' debut, the Buffalo Bills officially joined the National Football League, and the National Basketball Association's Buffalo Braves also began to play, sharing Memorial Auditorium with the Sabres.

Expansion team

New team in a sports league, usually from a city that has not hosted a team in that league before, formed with the intention of satisfying the demand for a local team from a population in a new area.

All Cities in the US and Canada with at least one team in the MLB, MLS, NBA, NFL or NHL, 2021

1970: Cleveland Cavaliers; Buffalo Braves (later San Diego Clippers, now Los Angeles Clippers); Portland Trail Blazers

Dolph Schayes

American professional basketball player and coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He briefly coached with the Buffalo Braves.