| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1935 (as MBC) 1937 (as NBL) |
| First season | 1935–36 |
| Ceased | August 3, 1949 (merged with BAA) |
| No. of teams | 38 |
| Country | United States |
| Last champion(s) | Anderson Packers (1st title) |
| Most titles | Akron Firestone Non–Skids Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons Oshkosh All-Stars (2 each) |
The National Basketball League (NBL) was a professional basketball league in the United States. Established in 1935 as the Midwest Basketball Conference, it changed its name to the NBL in 1937. After the 1948–49 season, its twelfth, it merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA) to create the National Basketball Association (NBA). Five current NBA teams trace their history back to the NBL: the Atlanta Hawks, the Detroit Pistons, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Sacramento Kings.