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. The Eastern Conference comprises the Atlantic, Central, and Southeast Divisions.

Source: Wikipedia

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Eastern Conference (NBA)

The current divisional alignment was adopted at the start of the 2004–05 season, when the now Charlotte Hornets began play as the Bobcats, NBA's 30th franchise. This necessitated the move of the New Orleans Hornets (now 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. 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.

2025–26 standings

Eastern Conference (NBA)

<table><thead><tr><th>Eastern Conference</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>#</td><td>Team</td><td>W</td><td>L</td><td>PCT</td><td>GB</td><td>GP</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>x – Detroit Pistons </td><td>51</td><td>19</td><td>.729</td><td>–</td><td>70</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>ps – Boston Celtics </td><td>47</td><td>24</td><td>.662</td><td>4.5</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>ps – New York Knicks</td><td>47</td><td>25</td><td>.653</td><td>5.0</td><td>72</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>ps – Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>44</td><td>27</td><td>.620</td><td>7.5</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>Toronto Raptors</td><td>39</td><td>31</td><td>.557</td><td>12.0</td><td>70</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>Atlanta Hawks </td><td>39</td><td>32</td><td>.549</td><td>12.5</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>39</td><td>32</td><td>.549</td><td>12.5</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>Orlando Magic</td><td>38</td><td>32</td><td>.543</td><td>13.0</td><td>70</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>38</td><td>33</td><td>.535</td><td>13.5</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>37</td><td>34</td><td>.521</td><td>14.5</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>29</td><td>41</td><td>.414</td><td>22.0</td><td>70</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>28</td><td>42</td><td>.400</td><td>23.0</td><td>70</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>o – Brooklyn Nets</td><td>17</td><td>54</td><td>.239</td><td>34.5</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>o – Washington Wizards</td><td>16</td><td>55</td><td>.225</td><td>35.5</td><td>71</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>o – Indiana Pacers</td><td>15</td><td>56</td><td>.211</td><td>36.5</td><td>71</td></tr></tbody></table>

• c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs • y – Clinched division title • pi – Clinched play-in tournament spot (locked into a play-in spot but not able to clinch a playoff spot directly) • x – Clinched playoff spot • – Division leader

Teams

Eastern Conference (NBA)

<table><thead><tr><th>Team</th><th>Division</th><th>Location</th><th>Year</th><th>From</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Joined</td></tr><tr><td>Atlanta Hawks</td><td>Southeast</td><td>Atlanta, Georgia</td><td>1970–present</td><td>Western Division</td></tr><tr><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>Atlantic</td><td>Boston, Massachusetts</td><td>1970–present</td><td>Eastern Division</td></tr><tr><td>Brooklyn Nets</td><td>Atlantic</td><td>Brooklyn, New York</td><td>1976–present</td><td>ABA‡</td></tr><tr><td>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>Southeast</td><td>Charlotte, North Carolina</td><td>1988–2002; 2004–present</td><td> —†</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>Central</td><td>Chicago, Illinois</td><td>1980–present</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>Central</td><td>Cleveland, Ohio</td><td>1970–present</td><td> —†</td></tr><tr><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>Central</td><td>Detroit, Michigan</td><td>1978–present</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Indiana Pacers</td><td>Central</td><td>Indianapolis, Indiana</td><td>1979–present</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Miami Heat</td><td>Southeast</td><td>Miami, Florida</td><td>1989–present</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>Central</td><td>Milwaukee, Wisconsin</td><td>1980–present</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>New York Knicks</td><td>Atlantic</td><td>New York City, New York</td><td>1970–present</td><td>Eastern Division</td></tr><tr><td>Orlando Magic</td><td>Southeast</td><td>Orlando, Florida</td><td>1989–1990; 1991–present</td><td> —†; Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>Atlantic</td><td>Philadelphia, Pennsylvania</td><td>1970–present</td><td>Eastern Division</td></tr><tr><td>Toronto Raptors</td><td>Atlantic</td><td>Toronto, Ontario</td><td>1995–present</td><td> —†</td></tr><tr><td>Washington Wizards</td><td>Southeast</td><td>Washington, D.C.</td><td>1970–present</td><td>Western Division</td></tr></tbody></table>

Former teams

<table><thead><tr><th>Team</th><th>Location</th><th>Year</th><th>From</th><th>Year</th><th>To</th><th>Current conference</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Joined</td><td>Left</td></tr><tr><td>Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers)</td><td>Buffalo, New York</td><td>1970</td><td> —†</td><td>1978</td><td>Western Conference</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Cincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings)</td><td>Cincinnati, Ohio</td><td>1970</td><td>Western Division</td><td>1972</td><td>Western Conference</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>Houston, Texas</td><td>1972</td><td>Western Conference</td><td>1980</td><td>Western Conference</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>New Orleans Jazz (now the Utah Jazz)</td><td>New Orleans, Louisiana</td><td>1974</td><td> —†</td><td>1979</td><td>Western Conference</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>New Orleans Hornets (now the New Orleans Pelicans)</td><td>New Orleans, Louisiana</td><td>2002</td><td> —†</td><td>2004</td><td>Western Conference</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr><tr><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>San Antonio, Texas</td><td>1976</td><td>ABA‡</td><td>1980</td><td>Western Conference</td><td>Western Conference</td></tr></tbody></table>

• † denotes an expansion team. • ‡ denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).

Team timeline

<table><thead><tr><th></th><th>Denotes team that currently in the conference</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Denotes team that has left the conference</td></tr></tbody></table>

Conference champions

Eastern Conference (NBA)

<table><thead><tr><th>Bold</th><th>Winning team of the NBA Finals</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>^</td><td>Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season</td></tr></tbody></table>

<table><thead><tr><th>Season</th><th>Team</th><th>Record</th><th>Finals result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1970–71</td><td>Baltimore Bullets</td><td>42–40</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 0–4</td></tr><tr><td>1971–72</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>48–34</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>1972–73</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>57–25</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>1973–74</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>56–26</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–3</td></tr><tr><td>1974–75</td><td>Washington Bullets</td><td>60–22^</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 0–4</td></tr><tr><td>1975–76</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>54–28</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1976–77</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>50–32</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1977–78</td><td>Washington Bullets</td><td>44–38</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–3</td></tr><tr><td>1978–79</td><td>Washington Bullets</td><td>54–28^</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>1979–80</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>59–23</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1980–81</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>62–20^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1981–82</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>58–24</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1982–83</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>65–17^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–0</td></tr><tr><td>1983–84</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>62–20^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–3</td></tr><tr><td>1984–85</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>63–19^</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1985–86</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>67–15^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1986–87</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>59–23</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1987–88</td><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>54–28</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 3–4</td></tr><tr><td>1988–89</td><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>63–19^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–0</td></tr><tr><td>1989–90</td><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>59–23</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>1990–91</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>61–21</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>1991–92</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>67–15^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1992–93</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>57–25</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1993–94</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>57–25</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 3–4</td></tr><tr><td>1994–95</td><td>Orlando Magic</td><td>57–25</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 0–4</td></tr><tr><td>1995–96</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>72–10^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1996–97</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>69–13^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1997–98</td><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>62–20^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1998–99</td><td>New York Knicks</td><td>27–23</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>1999–2000</td><td>Indiana Pacers</td><td>56–26</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>2000–01</td><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>56–26</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>2001–02</td><td>New Jersey Nets</td><td>52–30</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 0–4</td></tr><tr><td>2002–03</td><td>New Jersey Nets</td><td>49–33</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>2003–04</td><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>54–28</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>2004–05</td><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>54–28</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 3–4</td></tr><tr><td>2005–06</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>52–30</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>2006–07</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>50–32</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 0–4</td></tr><tr><td>2007–08</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>66–16^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>2008–09</td><td>Orlando Magic</td><td>59–23</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>2009–10</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>50–32</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 3–4</td></tr><tr><td>2010–11</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>58–24</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>46–20</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>2012–13</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>66–16^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–3</td></tr><tr><td>2013–14</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>54–28</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>2014–15</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>53–29</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>2015–16</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>57–25</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–3</td></tr><tr><td>2016–17</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>51–31</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>2017–18</td><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>50–32</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 0–4</td></tr><tr><td>2018–19</td><td>Toronto Raptors</td><td>58–24</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>2019–20</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>44–29</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>2020–21</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>46–26</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>2021–22</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>51–31</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>2022–23</td><td>Miami Heat</td><td>44–38</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>64–18^</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>Indiana Pacers</td><td>50–32</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 3–4</td></tr></tbody></table>

Conference championships by team

Eastern Conference (NBA)

<table><thead><tr><th>Team</th><th>Championships won</th><th>Last</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Boston Celtics</td><td>11</td><td>2024</td></tr><tr><td>Miami Heat</td><td>7</td><td>2023</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>6</td><td>1998</td></tr><tr><td>Cleveland Cavaliers</td><td>5</td><td>2018</td></tr><tr><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>5</td><td>2005</td></tr><tr><td>Philadelphia 76ers</td><td>5</td><td>2001</td></tr><tr><td>Baltimore/Washington Bullets/Wizards</td><td>4</td><td>1979</td></tr><tr><td>New York Knicks</td><td>4</td><td>1999</td></tr><tr><td>Indiana Pacers</td><td>2</td><td>2025</td></tr><tr><td>New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets</td><td>2</td><td>2003</td></tr><tr><td>Orlando Magic</td><td>2</td><td>2009</td></tr><tr><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>1</td><td>2021</td></tr><tr><td>Toronto Raptors</td><td>1</td><td>2019</td></tr><tr><td>Atlanta Hawks</td><td>0</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>0</td><td>N/A</td></tr></tbody></table>

Season results

Eastern Conference (NBA)

<table><thead><tr><th>Legend</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>^</td><td>Denotes team that won the NBA Finals</td></tr><tr><td>+</td><td>Denotes team that won the Conference Finals, but lost the NBA Finals</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Denotes team that qualified for the NBA playoffs</td></tr><tr><td>×</td><td>Denotes team that qualified for the NBA play-in tournament</td></tr></tbody></table>