In 1968-69 – for the second consecutive season – the National Basketball Association expanded by two franchises … and would add three more the following year. The eight-team league that entered the 1960’s would more than double in size by the close of that turbulent decade.
[NOTE: The rapid expansion was driven by two factors – the established league wished to gain a foothold in certain markets before the rival ABA could do so. But primarily, the “peddling” of franchises was becoming a new and much-needed stream of revenue for the established teams who were still “skating on thin ice” financially.