The NBA consists of 30 teams that are divided into 6 divisions to promote competitive balance within the league. But what exactly are these divisions, and how did they come about? In this article, we’ll go over the history behind the NBA’s six divisions as well as a brief explanation of each one.
Western Conference – Northwest, Pacific and Southwest
NBA Northwest Division
The NBA’s Northwest Division, part of the Western Conference, includes five NBA teams:
Formed in the 2004-05 season, it’s known for its geographical expanse. The division has seen varied champions, with the Denver Nuggets and the Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics leading with six titles each. The Utah Jazz follows with five titles, and the Portland Trail Blazers have won twice. The Minnesota Timberwolves have yet to secure a division title.
This division stands out for its competitive nature, often featuring teams with strong playoff performances.
NBA Pacific Division
The NBA’s Pacific Division, part of the Western Conference, was established in the 1970-71 season. It comprises five teams:
The Los Angeles Lakers have dominated the division with 24 titles, while the Phoenix Suns follow with eight.
The division has produced 19 NBA champions, led by the Lakers with 12 championships. The Golden State Warriors have won five.
Notably, in the 1991-92 season, six teams from this division qualified for the playoffs, and in 1977-78, all teams had winning percentages above 50%. The Sacramento Kings are the most recent division champions.
Since the 2021-22 season, the division champion receives the Chuck Cooper Trophy.
NBA Southwest Division
The NBA’s Southwest Division, a part of the Western Conference, was established in the 2004-05 season. It includes five teams:
Located in the South Central United States, the division is known for its competitive teams.
The San Antonio Spurs have been particularly dominant, winning nine division titles. The Houston Rockets have secured four titles, the Dallas Mavericks have three, the Memphis Grizzlies have two, and the New Orleans Pelicans have won once.
The division has produced 4 NBA champions: the Spurs (2005, 2007, 2014) and the Mavericks (2011). Notably, in the 2007-08 and 2014-15 seasons, all teams in the division had winning percentages above 50%, with the 2014-15 season seeing all its teams making the playoffs.
The Memphis Grizzlies are the most recent division champions. Since the 2021-22 season, the division champion receives the Willis Reed Trophy.
Eastern Conference – Atlantic, Central and Southeast
NBA Atlantic Division
The NBA’s Atlantic Division, part of the Eastern Conference, was established in the 1970-71 season. It includes five teams:
Most of these teams are located on the East Coast of the United States, except for the Toronto Raptors.
The Boston Celtics have been the most successful in the division, winning 24 titles.
The division has produced 20 NBA champions, with the Celtics leading with seventeen championships. The Knicks, 76ers, and Raptors have each won one championship. Notably, in the 1983-84 season, all five teams from the division qualified for the playoffs, and in the 1982-83 season, all teams had winning percentages above 50%.
Since the 2021-22 season, the division champion receives the Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton Trophy.
NBA Central Division
The NBA’s Central Division, part of the Eastern Conference, includes five teams:
This division has a rich history of competition and success.
The Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks lead with nine division titles each, followed closely by the Chicago Bulls with eight. The Cleveland Cavaliers have secured seven titles, and the Indiana Pacers have six.
The division has also seen contributions from teams like the Washington Bullets and the Atlanta Hawks in its earlier years.
Known for its intense rivalries within its NBA teams and high-level basketball, the Central Division remains a key part of the NBA landscape.
NBA Southeast Division
The NBA’s Southeast Division, part of the Eastern Conference, was established in the 2004-05 season. It comprises five teams:
The Miami Heat have been the most successful in this division, winning 12 titles.
The Orlando Magic follows with four titles, the Atlanta Hawks have two, and the Washington Wizards have won once.
The Heat’s dominance is highlighted by their four consecutive division titles from 2011 to 2014. They also won 3 NBA championships (2006, 2012, and 2013) after clinching the division title.
The division has seen a strong presence from Florida’s teams, with Miami and Orlando winning ten straight division championships from 2004 to 2014.
The Southeast Division is known for its competitive nature and has contributed significantly to the NBA playoffs landscape.
Since the 2021-22 season, the division champion receives the Earl Lloyd Trophy.
History Behind the Divisions
The history of divisions in the NBA can be traced back to 1967 when the league was first divided into two conferences, East and West.
These two conferences were then further divided into four divisions: Atlantic, Central, Midwest, and Pacific. This divisional structure remained largely unchanged until 1970 when the Mid-Atlantic Division was added and changed its name to the Southeast NBA Division in 1974.
In 2004, the NBA adopted a new divisional structure consisting of six divisions — Northwest, Pacific, Southwest, Central, Atlantic, and Southeast — that remain in use today.
This divisional structure helps create parity among teams by ensuring that they compete against opponents who are at similar levels of talent and ability. It also allows for exciting rivalries between teams within each division as well as inter-division matchups throughout the season.
Winning a Division
When a team wins their Division, they are rewarded with an NBA divisional banner and immortalized in the history books. Although most teams choose not to hang the banner, it serves as a testament to a strong regular season performance and potential playoff berth.
Before the 2015-16 season, winning a Division was guaranteed to earn a top 4 seed in the Conference Playoffs, regardless of overall record or standing. This rule has since been abolished; however, its effects were relatively minor.
Did the NBA get rid of Divisions?
Despite the rule changes discussed above, there is still some misunderstanding that Division winners are guaranteed a top-four seed and home-court advantage. Although this was once true, it is no longer the case. Since the 2015-16 season, Divisions primarily exist for scheduling purposes only, with any added benefits being minimal at best. Nevertheless, winning a Division is still an impressive feat and serves as an indication of strong regular season performance.
