League | National Basketball Association |
---|---|
Sport | Basketball |
Formerly | Eastern Division |
Founded | 1970 |
Teams | |
No. of teams | 15 |
Championships | |
Most recent champion(s) | Milwaukee Bucks (1st title) |
Most titles | Boston Celtics (9 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.
Starting with the 2021–22 season, the Eastern Conference champions would receive the Bob Cousy Trophy, named after Hall of Famer Bob Cousy, while the Eastern Conference Finals most valuable player would receive the Larry Bird Trophy, named after Hall of Famer Larry Bird.[1]
Main article: 2021–22 NBA season |
Eastern Conference | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
1 | c – Miami Heat * | 53 | 29 | .646 | – | 82 |
2 | y – Boston Celtics * | 51 | 31 | .622 | 2.0 | 82 |
3 | y – Milwaukee Bucks * | 51 | 31 | .622 | 2.0 | 82 |
4 | x – Philadelphia 76ers | 51 | 31 | .622 | 2.0 | 82 |
5 | x – Toronto Raptors | 48 | 34 | .585 | 5.0 | 82 |
6 | x – Chicago Bulls | 46 | 36 | .561 | 7.0 | 82 |
7 | x − Brooklyn Nets | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9.0 | 82 |
8 | pi − Cleveland Cavaliers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 9.0 | 82 |
9 | x − Atlanta Hawks | 43 | 39 | .524 | 10.0 | 82 |
10 | pi − Charlotte Hornets | 43 | 39 | .524 | 10.0 | 82 |
11 | New York Knicks | 37 | 45 | .451 | 16.0 | 82 |
12 | Washington Wizards | 35 | 47 | .427 | 18.0 | 82 |
13 | Indiana Pacers | 25 | 57 | .305 | 28.0 | 82 |
14 | Detroit Pistons | 23 | 59 | .280 | 30.0 | 82 |
15 | Orlando Magic | 22 | 60 | .268 | 31.0 | 82 |
Notes
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) |
WAS (25–47) |
CHA (23–42) |
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) |