This list covers 20 basketball teams, arranged alphabetically from “Raptors” to “Renaissance (Rens).” You’ll find NBA franchises, college programs, G League affiliates, and top European and international clubs. Some names belong to championship-winning powerhouses, while others represent small towns that punch above their weight. Fans use lists like this to compare teams, explore new leagues, or settle a debate about who’s who in the basketball world.

Basketball teams are organized groups of players who compete together under a shared name, city, or league, representing a specific place or institution. Many carry decades of history, like the Rochester Royals, a founding-era NBA club that later became the Sacramento Kings. Others, like the New York Renaissance, hold a special place in the sport for breaking barriers long before today’s leagues existed.

Below you’ll find the table with Team, Country, City, League, and Description.

Team: shows the official name of each basketball team, helping you quickly identify and compare them by name.

Country: tells you where the team is based, useful if you’re tracking basketball’s reach across different nations.

City: points to the specific city each team calls home, giving you a sense of its local roots and fan base.

League: identifies the competition each team plays in, so you can see how it fits into the wider basketball landscape.

Description: gives you background on the team’s history, achievements, and what makes it stand out, helping you understand its significance at a glance.

Basketball Teams

TeamCountryCityLeague
RaptorsCanadaTorontoNBA
RocketsUSAHoustonNBA
Raptors 905CanadaMississaugaNBA G League
Rio Grande Valley VipersUSAEdinburgNBA G League
Rutgers Scarlet KnightsUSAPiscatawayNCAA
Richmond SpidersUSARichmondNCAA
Rice OwlsUSAHoustonNCAA
Radford HighlandersUSARadfordNCAA
Robert Morris ColonialsUSAMoon TownshipNCAA
Real Madrid BaloncestoSpainMadridLiga ACB / EuroLeague
Real Betis BaloncestoSpainSevilleLEB Oro
Reyer VeneziaItalyVeniceLega Basket Serie A
Rytas VilniusLithuaniaVilniusLithuanian Basketball League (LKL)
Ratiopharm UlmGermanyUlmBasketball Bundesliga
Rasta VechtaGermanyVechtaBasketball Bundesliga
Rilski SportistBulgariaSamokovNational Basketball League (Bulgaria)
Regatas CorrientesArgentinaCorrientesLiga Nacional de Básquet
Rain or Shine Elasto PaintersPhilippinesManilaPhilippine Basketball Association (PBA)
Rochester RoyalsUSARochesterNBA (historical)
Renaissance (Rens)USANew YorkIndependent / American Basketball League (historical)

Descriptions

Raptors
The Toronto Raptors are the NBA’s only Canadian franchise, founded in 1995. They won their first championship in 2019, led by Kawhi Leonard, becoming a national sensation known as “We The North.”
Rockets
The Houston Rockets joined the NBA in 1967 and won back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995 behind Hakeem Olajuwon. The team later became known for pioneering analytics-driven, three-point-heavy offense.
Raptors 905
Raptors 905 is the developmental affiliate of the Toronto Raptors, based just outside the city. Founded in 2015, it has served as a proving ground for players and coaches moving up to the NBA.
Rio Grande Valley Vipers
The Rio Grande Valley Vipers, affiliated with the Houston Rockets, play in South Texas. They’ve captured multiple G League championships and are known for developing undrafted talent into NBA contributors.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball represents Rutgers University in the Big Ten Conference. The men’s program made deep NCAA Tournament runs in the 1970s, while the women’s team has been a perennial tournament participant.
Richmond Spiders
The Richmond Spiders compete in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The men’s team famously pulled off a run to the Sweet 16 as a No. 12 seed in 2011, becoming a classic March Madness underdog story.
Rice Owls
The Rice Owls represent Rice University in the American Athletic Conference. Their men’s team won the 1970 National Invitation Tournament, and the program has a long history in Texas collegiate basketball.
Radford Highlanders
The Radford Highlanders play in the Big South Conference. The program earned an NCAA Tournament berth in 2018 after winning the conference tournament, giving the small Virginia school national exposure.
Robert Morris Colonials
The Robert Morris Colonials compete in the Horizon League near Pittsburgh. Known for scrappy, defense-first basketball, the program has made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances as a mid-major contender.
Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid’s basketball section is one of Europe’s most decorated clubs, boasting numerous EuroLeague and Spanish league titles. It shares its identity with the famous football club and has a rich, century-long history.
Real Betis Baloncesto
Real Betis Baloncesto is the basketball arm of the Seville-based sports club best known for football. The team competes in Spain’s second-tier LEB Oro league, building a local following in Andalusia.
Reyer Venezia
Reyer Venezia is one of Italy’s oldest basketball clubs, founded in 1872. Based in Venice, the club has won multiple Italian championships and regularly competes in European club competitions.
Rytas Vilnius
Rytas Vilnius is a storied Lithuanian club and multiple-time national champion. Based in the capital city, it has a passionate fan base and a long rivalry with Žalgiris Kaunas.
Ratiopharm Ulm
Ratiopharm Ulm is a German professional club named for its pharmaceutical sponsor. Known for developing young talent, several of its players have gone on to NBA and EuroLeague careers.
Rasta Vechta
Rasta Vechta represents a small town in Lower Saxony yet punches above its weight in Germany’s top basketball division, known for passionate crowds and a modern arena that boosts attendance figures.
Rilski Sportist
Rilski Sportist is a Bulgarian club based in the mountain town of Samokov. It has claimed multiple domestic championships and remains one of the country’s most successful basketball organizations.
Regatas Corrientes
Regatas Corrientes is a dominant force in Argentine basketball, having won numerous national league titles and a South American club championship, drawing fervent support from its northeastern Argentine home city.
Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Rain or Shine is a PBA franchise known for its aggressive, uptempo style. Sponsored by a paint company, the team has captured several PBA championships since entering the league in 2009.
Rochester Royals
The Rochester Royals were a founding-era NBA franchise that won the 1951 championship. The team later relocated and evolved into today’s Sacramento Kings, carrying that lineage across multiple cities.
Renaissance (Rens)
The New York Renaissance, nicknamed the “Rens,” was a groundbreaking all-Black professional team of the early 20th century, celebrated for its dominance and lasting influence on basketball’s integration.
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