teams, of which four dropped out before the second season. One team joined from the American Basketball League (ABL) to provide 8 teams for 1947-48 and four NBL teams joined to provide 12 for 1948-49. The records and statistics of the BAA and NBL prior to the merger in 1949 are considered in official NBA history only if a player, coach or team participated in the newly formed NBA after 1949 for one or more seasons.

The NBA generally claims the BAA's history as its own.