Formerly | Eastern Division |
---|---|
League | National Basketball Association |
Sport | Basketball |
Founded | 1970 |
No. of teams | 15 |
Most recent champion(s) | Boston Celtics (10th title) |
Most titles | Boston Celtics (10 titles) |
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.
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]
Main article: 2022–23 NBA season |
Eastern Conference | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
1 | Boston Celtics * | 36 | 15 | .706 | – | 51 |
2 | Milwaukee Bucks * | 34 | 17 | .667 | 2.0 | 51 |
3 | Philadelphia 76ers | 32 | 17 | .653 | 3.0 | 49 |
4 | Brooklyn Nets | 31 | 19 | .620 | 4.5 | 50 |
5 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 31 | 22 | .585 | 6.0 | 53 |
6 | Miami Heat * | 29 | 23 | .558 | 7.5 | 52 |
7 | New York Knicks | 27 | 25 | .519 | 9.5 | 52 |
8 | Atlanta Hawks | 25 | 26 | .490 | 11.0 | 51 |
9 | Washington Wizards | 24 | 26 | .480 | 11.5 | 50 |
10 | Indiana Pacers | 24 | 28 | .462 | 12.5 | 52 |
11 | Chicago Bulls | 23 | 27 | .460 | 12.5 | 50 |
12 | Toronto Raptors | 23 | 29 | .442 | 13.5 | 52 |
13 | Orlando Magic | 20 | 31 | .392 | 16.0 | 51 |
14 | Charlotte Hornets | 15 | 37 | .288 | 21.5 | 52 |
15 | Detroit Pistons | 13 | 39 | .250 | 23.5 | 52 |
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 |
Denotes team that currently in the conference | |
Denotes team that has left the conference |
See also: NBA Conference Finals § Conference |
Bold | Winning team of the NBA Finals |
^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
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 |
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) |
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) |
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) |
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) |
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) |
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) |