Wikipedia
Eastern Conference (NBA)
The Eastern Conference is one of two conferences that make up the National Basketball Association (NBA), the other being the Western Conference. Both conferences consist of 15 teams organized into three divisions.
| Formerly | Eastern Division |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Sport | Basketball |
| Founded | 1970 |
| No. of teams | 15 |
| Most recent champion(s) | Milwaukee Bucks (2nd title) |
| Most titles | Boston Celtics (17 titles) |
The current divisional alignment was adopted at the start of the 2004–05 season, when the now Charlotte Hornets began play as the NBA's 30th franchise. This necessitated the move of the New Orleans Pelicans from the Eastern Conference's Central Division to the newly created Southwest Division of the Western Conference.
The NBA first started awarding an Eastern Conference championship trophy during the 2000–01 season, renaming it after Hall of Famer Bob Cousy in the 2021–22 season.[1] Also in 2021–22, the league began awarding the Larry Bird Trophy to the Eastern Conference Finals Most Valuable Player, named after Hall of Famer Larry Bird.[2]
Current standings
| Eastern Conference | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
| 1 | Boston Celtics * | 26 | 10 | .722 | – | 36 |
| 2 | Milwaukee Bucks * | 23 | 12 | .657 | 2.5 | 35 |
| 3 | Brooklyn Nets | 23 | 12 | .657 | 2.5 | 35 |
| 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 22 | 14 | .611 | 4.0 | 36 |
| 5 | Philadelphia 76ers | 20 | 14 | .588 | 5.0 | 34 |
| 6 | Indiana Pacers | 19 | 17 | .528 | 7.0 | 36 |
| 7 | Miami Heat * | 18 | 18 | .500 | 8.0 | 36 |
| 8 | New York Knicks | 18 | 18 | .500 | 8.0 | 36 |
| 9 | Atlanta Hawks | 17 | 19 | .472 | 9.0 | 36 |
| 10 | Chicago Bulls | 16 | 19 | .457 | 9.5 | 35 |
| 11 | Toronto Raptors | 16 | 20 | .444 | 10.0 | 36 |
| 12 | Washington Wizards | 16 | 21 | .432 | 10.5 | 37 |
| 13 | Orlando Magic | 13 | 24 | .351 | 13.5 | 37 |
| 14 | Charlotte Hornets | 10 | 26 | .278 | 16.0 | 36 |
| 15 | Detroit Pistons | 9 | 29 | .237 | 18.0 | 38 |
Teams
Former teams
| Team | Location | Year | From | Year | To | Current conference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joined | Left | |||||
| Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers) | Buffalo, New York | 1970 | — | 1978 | Western Conference | Western Conference |
| Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings) | Cincinnati, Ohio | 1970 | Western Division | 1972 | Western Conference | Western Conference |
| Houston Rockets | Houston, Texas | 1972 | Western Conference | 1980 | Western Conference | Western Conference |
| New Orleans Jazz (now the Utah Jazz) | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1974 | — | 1979 | Western Conference | Western Conference |
| New Orleans Hornets (now the New Orleans Pelicans) | New Orleans, Louisiana | 2002 | — | 2004 | Western Conference | Western Conference |
| San Antonio Spurs | San Antonio, Texas | 1976 | ABA | 1980 | Western Conference | Western Conference |
- Notes
- denotes an expansion team.
- denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Team timeline
| Denotes team that currently in the conference | |
| Denotes team that has left the conference |
Eastern Conference champions
| Bold | Winning team of the NBA Finals |
| ^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
List of Eastern Conference teams with the most conference championships
Season results
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| ^ | Denotes team that won the NBA Finals |
| + | Denotes team that won the Conference Finals, but lost the NBA Finals |
| * | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA playoffs |
| × | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA Play-In Tournament |
1970–1980 seasons
| Season | Team (record) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | |
| 1970–71 | NYK* (52–30) | BAL+ (42–40) | PHI* (47–35) | ATL* (36–46) | BOS (44–38) | CIN (33–49) | BUF (22–60) | CLE (15–67) | — | — | — |
| 1971–72 | BOS* (56–26) | BAL* (38–44) | NYK+ (48–34) | ATL* (36–46) | CIN (30–52) | PHI (30–52) | CLE (23–59) | BUF (22–60) | — | — | — |
| 1972–73 | BOS* (68–14) | BAL* (52–30) | NYK^ (57–25) | ATL* (46–36) | HOU (33–49) | CLE (32–50) | BUF (21–61) | PHI (9–73) | — | — | — |
| 1973–74 | BOS^ (56–26) | CAP* (47–35) | NYK* (49–33) | BUF* (42–40) | ATL (35–47) | HOU (32–50) | CLE (29–53) | PHI (25–57) | — | — | — |
| 1974–75 | BOS* (60–22) | WAS+ (60–22) | BUF* (49–33) | HOU* (41–41) | NYK* (40–42) | CLE (40–42) | PHI (34–48) | ATL (31–51) | NOJ (23–59) | — | — |
| 1975–76 | BOS^ (54–28) | CLE* (49–33) | WAS* (48–34) | PHI* (46–36) | BUF* (46–36) | HOU (40–42) | NYK (38–44) | NOJ (38–44) | ATL (29–53) | — | — |
| 1976–77 | PHI+ (50–32) | HOU* (49–33) | WAS* (48–34) | BOS* (44–38) | SAS* (44–38) | CLE* (43–39) | NYK (40–42) | NOJ (35–47) | ATL (31–51) | BUF (30–52) | NYN (22–60) |
| 1977–78 | PHI* (55–27) | SAS* (52–30) | WAS^ (44–38) | CLE* (43–39) | NYK* (43–39) | ATL* (41–41) | NOJ (39–43) | BOS (32–50) | HOU (28–54) | BUF (27–55) | NJN (24–58) |
| 1978–79 | WAS+ (54–28) | SAS* (48–34) | PHI* (47–35) | HOU* (47–35) | ATL* (46–36) | NJN* (37–45) | NYK (31–51) | DET (30–52) | CLE (30–52) | BOS (29–53) | NOJ (26–56) |
| 1979–80 | BOS* (61–21) | ATL* (50–32) | PHI+ (59–23) | HOU* (41–41) | SAS* (41–41) | WAS* (39–43) | NYK (39–43) | IND (37–45) | CLE (37–45) | NJN (34–48) | DET (16–66) |
1980–1990 seasons
| Season | Team (record) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | |
| 1980–81 | BOS^ (62–20) | MIL* (60–22) | PHI* (62–20) | NYK* (50–32) | CHI* (45–37) | IND* (44–38) | WAS (39–43) | ATL (31–51) | CLE (28–54) | NJN (24–58) | DET (21–61) | — | — |
| 1981–82 | BOS* (63–19) | MIL* (55–27) | PHI+ (58–24) | NJN* (44–38) | WAS* (43–39) | ATL* (42–40) | DET (39–43) | IND (35–47) | CHI (34–48) | NYK (33–49) | CLE (15–67) | — | — |
| 1982–83 | PHI^ (65–17) | MIL* (51–31) | BOS* (56–26) | NJN* (49–33) | NYK* (44–38) | ATL* (43–39) | WAS (42–40) | DET (37–45) | CHI (28–54) | CLE (23–59) | IND (20–62) | — | — |
| 1983–84 | BOS^ (62–20) | MIL* (50–32) | PHI* (52–30) | DET* (49–33) | NYK* (47–35) | NJN* (45–37) | ATL* (40–42) | WAS* (35–47) | CLE (28–54) | CHI (27–55) | IND (26–56) | — | — |
| 1984–85 | BOS+ (63–19) | MIL* (59–23) | PHI* (58–24) | DET* (46–36) | NJN* (42–40) | WAS* (40–42) | CHI* (38–44) | CLE* (36–46) | ATL (34–48) | NYK (24–58) | IND (22–60) | — | — |
| 1985–86 | BOS^ (67–15) | MIL* (57–25) | PHI* (54–28) | ATL* (50–32) | DET* (46–36) | WAS* (39–43) | NJN* (39–43) | CHI* (30–52) | CLE (29–53) | IND (26–56) | NYK (23–59) | — | — |
| 1986–87 | BOS+ (59–23) | ATL* (57–25) | DET* (52–30) | MIL* (50–32) | PHI* (45–37) | WAS* (42–40) | IND* (41–41) | CHI* (40–42) | CLE (31–51) | NJN (24–58) | NYK (24–58) | — | — |
| 1987–88 | BOS* (57–25) | DET+ (54–28) | CHI* (50–32) | ATL* (50–32) | MIL* (42–40) | CLE* (42–40) | WAS* (38–44) | NYK* (38–44) | IND (38–44) | PHI (36–46) | NJN (19–63) | — | — |
| 1988–89 | DET^ (63–19) | NYK* (52–30) | CLE* (57–25) | ATL* (52–30) | MIL* (49–33) | CHI* (47–35) | PHI* (46–36) | BOS* (42–40) | WAS (40–42) | IND (28–54) | NJN (26–56) | CHA (20–62) | — |
| 1989–90 | DET^ (59–23) | PHI* (53–29) | CHI* (55–27) | BOS* (52–30) | NYK* (45–37) | MIL* (44–38) | CLE* (42–40) | IND* (42–40) | ATL (41–41) | WAS (31–51) | MIA (18–64) | ORL (18–64) | NJN (17–65) |
1990–2000 seasons
| Season | Team (record) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | |
| 1990–91 | CHI^ (61–21) | BOS* (56–26) | DET* (50–32) | MIL* (48–34) | PHI* (44–38) | ATL* (43–39) | IND* (41–41) | NYK* (39–43) | CLE (33–49) | WAS (30–52) | NJN (26–56) | CHA (26–56) | MIA (24–58) | — | — |
| 1991–92 | CHI^ (67–15) | BOS* (51–31) | CLE* (57–25) | NYK* (51–31) | DET* (48–34) | NJN* (40–42) | IND* (40–42) | MIA* (38–44) | ATL (38–44) | PHI (35–47) | MIL (31–51) | CHA (31–51) | WAS (25–57) | ORL (21–61) | — |
| 1992–93 | NYK* (60–22) | CHI^ (57–25) | CLE* (54–28) | BOS* (48–34) | CHA* (44–38) | NJN* (43–39) | ATL* (43–39) | IND* (41–41) | ORL (41–41) | DET (40–42) | MIA (36–46) | MIL (28–54) | PHI (26–56) | WAS (22–60) | — |
| 1993–94 | ATL* (57–25) | NYK+ (57–25) | CHI* (55–27) | ORL* (50–32) | IND* (47–35) | CLE* (47–35) | NJN* (45–37) | MIA* (42–40) | CHA (41–41) | BOS (32–50) | PHI (25–57) | WAS (24–58) | MIL (20–62) | DET (20–62) | — |
| 1994–95 | ORL+ (57–25) | IND* (52–30) | NYK* (55–27) | CHA* (50–32) | CHI* (47–35) | CLE* (43–39) | ATL* (42–40) | BOS* (35–47) | MIL (34–48) | MIA (32–50) | NJN (30–52) | DET (28–54) | PHI (24–58) | WAS (21–61) | — |
| 1995–96 | CHI^ (72–10) | ORL* (60–22) | IND* (52–30) | CLE* (47–35) | NYK* (47–35) | ATL* (46–36) | DET* (46–36) | MIA* (42–40) | CHA (41–41) | WAS (39–43) | BOS (33–49) | NJN (30–52) | MIL (25–57) | TOR (21–61) | PHI (18–64) |
| 1996–97 | CHI^ (69–13) | MIA* (61–21) | NYK* (57–25) | ATL* (56–26) | DET* (54–28) | CHA* (54–28) | ORL* (45–37) | WAS* (44–38) | CLE (42–40) | IND (39–43) | MIL (33–49) | TOR (30–52) | NJN (26–56) | PHI (22–60) | BOS (15–67) |
| 1997–98 | CHI^ (62–20) | MIA* (55–27) | IND* (58–24) | CHA* (51–31) | ATL* (50–32) | CLE* (47–35) | NYK* (43–39) | NJN* (43–39) | WAS (42–40) | ORL (41–41) | DET (37–45) | BOS (36–46) | MIL (36–46) | PHI (31–51) | TOR (16–66) |
| 1998–99 | MIA* (33–17) | IND* (33–17) | ORL* (33–17) | ATL* (31–19) | DET* (29–21) | PHI* (28–22) | MIL* (28–22) | NYK+ (27–23) | CHA (26–24) | TOR (23–27) | CLE (22–28) | BOS (19–31) | WAS (18–32) | NJN (16–34) | CHI (13–37) |
| 1999–00 | IND+ (56–26) | MIA* (52–30) | NYK* (50–32) | CHA* (49–33) | PHI* (49–33) | TOR* (45–37) | DET* (42–40) | MIL* (42–40) | ORL (41–41) | BOS (35–47) | CLE (32–50) | NJN (31–51) | WAS (29–53) | ATL (28–54) | CHI (17–65) |
2000–2010 seasons
| Season | Team (record) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | |
| 2000–01 | PHI+ (56–26) | MIL* (52–30) | MIA* (50–32) | NYK* (48–34) | TOR* (47–35) | CHA* (46–36) | ORL* (43–39) | IND* (41–41) | BOS (36–46) | DET (32–50) | CLE (30–52) | NJN (26–56) | ATL (25–57) | WAS (19–63) | CHI (15–67) |
| 2001–02 | NJN+ (52–30) | DET* (50–32) | BOS* (49–33) | CHA* (44–38) | ORL* (44–38) | PHI* (43–39) | TOR* (42–40) | IND* (42–40) | MIL (41–41) | WAS (37–45) | MIA (36–46) | ATL (33–49) | NYK (30–52) | CLE (29–53) | CHI (21–61) |
| 2002–03 | DET* (50–32) | NJN+ (49–33) | IND* (48–34) | PHI* (48–34) | NO* (47–35) | BOS* (44–38) | MIL* (42–40) | ORL* (42–40) | NYK (37–45) | WAS (37–45) | ATL (35–47) | CHI (30–52) | MIA (25–57) | TOR (24–58) | CLE (17–65) |
| 2003–04 | IND* (61–21) | NJN* (47–35) | DET^ (54–28) | MIA* (42–40) | NO* (41–41) | MIL* (41–41) | NYK* (39–43) | BOS* (36–46) | CLE (35–47) | TOR (33–49) | PHI (33–49) | ATL (28–54) | WAS (25–57) | CHI (23–59) | ORL (21–61) |
| 2004–05 | MIA* (59–23) | DET+ (54–28) | BOS* (45–37) | CHI* (47–35) | WAS* (45–37) | IND* (44–38) | PHI* (43–39) | NJN* (42–40) | CLE (42–40) | ORL (36–46) | NYK (33–49) | TOR (33–49) | MIL (30–52) | CHA (18–64) | ATL (13–69) |
| 2005–06 | DET* (64–18) | MIA^ (52–30) | NJN* (49–33) | CLE* (50–32) | WAS* (42–40) | IND* (41–41) | CHI* (41–41) | MIL* (40–42) | PHI (38–44) | ORL (36–46) | BOS (33–49) | TOR (27–55) | CHA (26–56) | ATL (26–56) | NYK (23–59) |
| 2006–07 | DET* (53–29) | CLE+ (50–32) | TOR* (47–35) | MIA* (44–38) | CHI* (49–33) | NJN* (41–41) | WAS* (41–41) | ORL* (40–42) | PHI (35–47) | IND (35–47) | NYK (33–49) | CHA (33–49) | ATL (30–52) | MIL (28–54) | BOS (24–58) |
| 2007–08 | BOS^ (66–16) | DET* (59–23) | ORL* (52–30) | CLE* (45–37) | WAS* (43–39) | TOR* (41–41) | PHI* (40–42) | ATL* (37–45) | IND (36–46) | NJN (34–48) | CHI (33–49) | CHA (32–50) | MIL (26–56) | NYK (23–59) | MIA (15–67) |
| 2008–09 | CLE* (66–16) | BOS* (62–20) | ORL+ (59–23) | ATL* (47–35) | MIA* (43–39) | PHI* (41–41) | CHI* (41–41) | DET* (39–43) | IND (36–46) | CHA (35–47) | NJN (34–48) | MIL (34–48) | TOR (33–49) | NYK (32–50) | WAS (19–63) |
| 2009–10 | CLE* (61–21) | ORL* (59–23) | ATL* (53–29) | BOS+ (50–32) | MIA* (47–35) | MIL* (46–36) | CHA* (44–38) | CHI* (41–41) | TOR (40–42) | IND (32–50) | NYK (29–53) | DET (27–55) | PHI (27–55) | WAS (26–56) | NJN (12–70) |
2010–2020 seasons
| Season | Team (record) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | |
| 2010–11 | CHI* (62–20) | MIA+ (58–24) | BOS* (56–26) | ORL* (52–30) | ATL* (44–38) | NYK* (42–40) | PHI* (41–41) | IND* (37–45) | MIL (35–47) | CHA (34–48) | DET (30–52) | NJN (24–58) | WAS (23–59) | TOR (22–60) | CLE (19–63) |
| 2011–12 | CHI* (50–16) | MIA^ (46–20) | IND* (42–24) | ATL* (40–26) | BOS* (39–27) | ORL* (37–29) | NYK* (36–30) | PHI* (35–31) | MIL (31–35) | DET (25–41) | TOR (23–43) | NJN (22–44) | CLE (21–45) | WAS (20–46) | CHA (7–59) |
| 2012–13 | MIA^ (66–16) | NYK* (54–28) | IND* (49–32) | BKN* (49–33) | CHI* (45–37) | ATL* (44–38) | BOS* (41–40) | MIL* (38–44) | PHI (34–48) | TOR (34–48) | DET (29–53) | WAS (29–53) | CLE (24–58) | CHA (21–61) | ORL (20–62) |
| 2013–14 | IND* (56–26) | MIA+ (54–28) | TOR* (48–34) | CHI* (48–34) | WAS* (44–38) | BKN* (44–38) | CHA* (43–39) | ATL* (38–44) | NYK (37–45) | CLE (33–49) | DET (29–53) | BOS (25–57) | ORL (23–59) | PHI (19–63) | MIL (15–67) |
| 2014–15 | ATL* (60–22) | CLE+ (53–29) | CHI* (50–32) | TOR* (49–33) | WAS* (46–36) | MIL* (41–41) | BOS* (40–42) | BKN* (38–44) | IND (38–44) | MIA (37–45) | CHA (33–49) | DET (32–50) | ORL (25–57) | PHI (18–64) | NYK (17–65) |
| 2015–16 | CLE^ (57–25) | TOR* (56–26) | MIA* (48–34) | ATL* (48–34) | BOS* (48–34) | CHA* (48–34) | IND* (45–37) | DET* (44–38) | CHI (42–40) | WAS (41–41) | ORL (35–47) | MIL (33–49) | NYK (32–50) | BKN (21–61) | PHI (10–72) |
| 2016–17 | BOS* (53–29) | CLE+ (51–31) | TOR* (51–31) | WAS* (49–33) | ATL* (43–39) | MIL* (42–40) | IND* (42–40) | CHI* (41–41) | MIA (41–41) | DET (37–45) | CHA (36–46) | NYK (31–51) | ORL (29–53) | PHI (28–54) | BKN (20–62) |
| 2017–18 | TOR* (59–23) | BOS* (55–27) | PHI* (52–30) | CLE+ (50–32) | IND* (48–34) | MIA* (44–38) | MIL* (44–38) | WAS* (43–39) | DET (39–43) | CHA (36–46) | NYK (29–53) | BKN (28–54) | CHI (27–55) | ORL (25–57) | ATL (24–58) |
| 2018–19 | MIL* (60–22) | TOR^ (58–24) | PHI* (51–31) | BOS* (49–33) | IND* (48–34) | BKN* (42–40) | ORL* (42–40) | DET* (41–41) | CHA (39–43) | MIA (39–43) | WAS (32–50) | ATL (29–53) | CHI (22–60) | CLE (19–63) | NYK (15–65) |
| 2019–20 | MIL* (56–17) | TOR* (53–19) | BOS* (48–24) | IND* (45–28) | MIA+ (44–29) | PHI* (43–30) | BKN* (35–37) | ORL* (33–40) | CHA (23–42) | WAS (25–47) | CHI (22–43) | NYK (21–45) | DET (20–46) | ATL (20–47) | CLE (19–46) |
2020–2030 seasons
| Season | Team (record) | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | |
| 2020–21 | PHI* (49–23) | BKN* (48–24) | MIL^ (46–26) | NYK* (41–31) | ATL* (41–31) | MIA* (40–32) | BOS* (36–36) | WAS* (34–38) | IND× (34–38) | CHA× (33–39) | CHI (31–41) | TOR (27–45) | CLE (22–50) | ORL (21–51) | DET (20–52) |
| 2021–22 | MIA* (53–29) | BOS+ (51–31) | MIL* (51–31) | PHI* (51–31) | TOR* (48–34) | CHI* (46–36) | BKN* (44–38) | CLE× (44–38) | ATL* (43–39) | CHA× (43–39) | NYK (37–45) | WAS (35–47) | IND (25–57) | DET (23–59) | ORL (22–60) |
References
- ^ "NBA redesigns Finals trophy, adds awards named after Magic Johnson, Larry Bird". The Washington Post. May 12, 2022.
To complete the postseason collection, the NBA updated its conference championship trophies, first created in 2001, and renamed them after Hall of Famers Bob Cousy (for the East) and Oscar Robertson (for the West)
- ^ Powell, Shaun (May 12, 2022). "NBA introduces new lineup of postseason hardware". NBA.com. Retrieved May 12, 2022.