Western Conference (NBA)

The Western Conference is one of two conferences that make up the National Basketball Association (NBA), the other being the Eastern Conference. Both conferences consist of 15 teams organized into three divisions. The Western Conference comprises the Northwest, Pacific, and Southwest Divisions.

Source: Wikipedia

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Western Conference (NBA)

The current divisional alignment was adopted at the start of the 2004–05 season, when the now Charlotte Hornets (then known as the Charlotte Bobcats) began play as the NBA's 30th franchise. This necessitated the move of the New Orleans Pelicans (named New Orleans Hornets at the time) from the Eastern Conference's Central Division to the newly created Southwest Division of the Western Conference.

The NBA first started awarding a Western Conference championship trophy during the 2000–01 season, renaming it after Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in the 2021–22 season. Also in 2021–22, the league began awarding the Earvin "Magic" Johnson Trophy to the Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player, named after Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.

2025–26 standings

Western Conference (NBA)

<table><thead><tr><th>Western 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>y – Oklahoma City Thunder </td><td>60</td><td>16</td><td>.789</td><td>–</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>y – San Antonio Spurs </td><td>57</td><td>18</td><td>.760</td><td>2.5</td><td>75</td></tr><tr><td>3</td><td>y – Los Angeles Lakers </td><td>50</td><td>26</td><td>.658</td><td>10.0</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>x – Denver Nuggets</td><td>48</td><td>28</td><td>.632</td><td>12.0</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>5</td><td>ps – Minnesota Timberwolves</td><td>46</td><td>29</td><td>.613</td><td>13.5</td><td>75</td></tr><tr><td>6</td><td>ps – Houston Rockets</td><td>46</td><td>29</td><td>.613</td><td>13.5</td><td>75</td></tr><tr><td>7</td><td>ps – Phoenix Suns</td><td>42</td><td>34</td><td>.553</td><td>18.0</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>8</td><td>pi – Los Angeles Clippers</td><td>39</td><td>37</td><td>.513</td><td>21.0</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>9</td><td>pi – Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>39</td><td>38</td><td>.506</td><td>21.5</td><td>77</td></tr><tr><td>10</td><td>pi – Golden State Warriors</td><td>36</td><td>39</td><td>.480</td><td>23.5</td><td>75</td></tr><tr><td>11</td><td>o – Memphis Grizzlies</td><td>25</td><td>50</td><td>.333</td><td>34.5</td><td>75</td></tr><tr><td>12</td><td>o – New Orleans Pelicans</td><td>25</td><td>51</td><td>.329</td><td>35.0</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>13</td><td>o – Dallas Mavericks</td><td>24</td><td>52</td><td>.316</td><td>36.0</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>14</td><td>o – Utah Jazz</td><td>21</td><td>55</td><td>.276</td><td>39.0</td><td>76</td></tr><tr><td>15</td><td>o – Sacramento Kings</td><td>19</td><td>57</td><td>.250</td><td>41.0</td><td>76</td></tr></tbody></table>

• z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire 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

Western 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>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>Southwest</td><td>Dallas, Texas</td><td>1980–present</td><td>—†</td></tr><tr><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>Northwest</td><td>Denver, Colorado</td><td>1976–present</td><td>ABA‡</td></tr><tr><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>Pacific</td><td>San Francisco, California</td><td>1970–present</td><td>Western Division</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>Southwest</td><td>Houston, Texas</td><td>1970–present</td><td>Western Division</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Clippers</td><td>Pacific</td><td>Los Angeles, California</td><td>1978–present</td><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>Pacific</td><td>Los Angeles, California</td><td>1970–present</td><td>Western Division</td></tr><tr><td>Memphis Grizzlies</td><td>Southwest</td><td>Memphis, Tennessee</td><td>1995–present</td><td>—†</td></tr><tr><td>Minnesota Timberwolves</td><td>Northwest</td><td>Minneapolis, Minnesota</td><td>1989–present</td><td>—†</td></tr><tr><td>New Orleans Pelicans</td><td>Southwest</td><td>New Orleans, Louisiana</td><td>2004–present</td><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Oklahoma City Thunder</td><td>Northwest</td><td>Oklahoma City, Oklahoma</td><td>1970–present</td><td>Western Division</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>Pacific</td><td>Phoenix, Arizona</td><td>1970–present</td><td>Western Division</td></tr><tr><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>Northwest</td><td>Portland, Oregon</td><td>1970–present</td><td>—†</td></tr><tr><td>Sacramento Kings</td><td>Pacific</td><td>Sacramento, California</td><td>1972–present</td><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>Southwest</td><td>San Antonio, Texas</td><td>1980–present</td><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Utah Jazz</td><td>Northwest</td><td>Salt Lake City, Utah</td><td>1979–present</td><td>Eastern Conference</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>Charlotte Hornets</td><td>Charlotte, North Carolina</td><td>1989</td><td>Eastern Conference</td><td>1990</td><td>Eastern Conference</td><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Chicago Bulls</td><td>Chicago, Illinois</td><td>1970</td><td>Western Division</td><td>1980</td><td>Eastern Conference</td><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Detroit Pistons</td><td>Detroit, Michigan</td><td>1970</td><td>Eastern Division</td><td>1978</td><td>Eastern Conference</td><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Indiana Pacers</td><td>Indianapolis, Indiana</td><td>1976</td><td>ABA‡</td><td>1979</td><td>Eastern Conference</td><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Miami Heat</td><td>Miami, Florida</td><td>1988</td><td>—†</td><td>1989</td><td>Eastern Conference</td><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>Milwaukee, Wisconsin</td><td>1970</td><td>Eastern Division</td><td>1980</td><td>Eastern Conference</td><td>Eastern Conference</td></tr><tr><td>Orlando Magic</td><td>Orlando, Florida</td><td>1990</td><td>Eastern Conference</td><td>1991</td><td>Eastern Conference</td><td>Eastern 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 is 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

Western 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>Playoffs result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1970–71</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks^</td><td>66–16</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–0</td></tr><tr><td>1971–72</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers^</td><td>69–13</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>1972–73</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>60–22</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>1973–74</td><td>Milwaukee Bucks^</td><td>59–23</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 3–4</td></tr><tr><td>1974–75</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>59–23</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–0</td></tr><tr><td>1975–76</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>52–30</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1976–77</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>49–33</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1977–78</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics</td><td>46–36</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 3–4</td></tr><tr><td>1978–79</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics</td><td>52–30</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>1979–80</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>60–22</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1980–81</td><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>40–42</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1981–82</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>57–25</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1982–83</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>58–24</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 0–4</td></tr><tr><td>1983–84</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>54–28</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 3–4</td></tr><tr><td>1984–85</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>62–20</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1985–86</td><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>51–31</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1986–87</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers^</td><td>65–17</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>1987–88</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers^</td><td>62–20</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–3</td></tr><tr><td>1988–89</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>57–25</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 0–4</td></tr><tr><td>1989–90</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>59–23</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>1990–91</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>58–24</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>1991–92</td><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>57–25</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1992–93</td><td>Phoenix Suns^</td><td>62–20</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1993–94</td><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>58–24</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–3</td></tr><tr><td>1994–95</td><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>47–35</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–0</td></tr><tr><td>1995–96</td><td>Seattle SuperSonics</td><td>64–18</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1996–97</td><td>Utah Jazz</td><td>64–18</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1997–98</td><td>Utah Jazz^</td><td>62–20</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>1998–99</td><td>San Antonio Spurs^</td><td>37–13</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>1999–00</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers^</td><td>67–15</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>2000–01</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>56–26</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>2001–02</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>58–24</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–0</td></tr><tr><td>2002–03</td><td>San Antonio Spurs^</td><td>60–22</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>2003–04</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>56–26</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>2004–05</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>59–23</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–3</td></tr><tr><td>2005–06</td><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>60–22</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>2006–07</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>58–24</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–0</td></tr><tr><td>2007–08</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>57–25</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>2008–09</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>65–17</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>2009–10</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>57–25</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–3</td></tr><tr><td>2010–11</td><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>57–25</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12</td><td>Oklahoma City Thunder</td><td>47–19</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>2012–13</td><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>58–24</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 3–4</td></tr><tr><td>2013–14</td><td>San Antonio Spurs^</td><td>62–20</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>2014–15</td><td>Golden State Warriors^</td><td>67–15</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>2015–16</td><td>Golden State Warriors^</td><td>73–9</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 3–4</td></tr><tr><td>2016–17</td><td>Golden State Warriors^</td><td>67–15</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>2017–18</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>58–24</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–0</td></tr><tr><td>2018–19</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>57–25</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>2019–20</td><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>52–19</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>2020–21</td><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>51–21</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 2–4</td></tr><tr><td>2021–22</td><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>53–29</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–2</td></tr><tr><td>2022–23</td><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>53–29</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–1</td></tr><tr><td>2023–24</td><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>50–32</td><td>Lost NBA Finals 1–4</td></tr><tr><td>2024–25</td><td>Oklahoma City Thunder^</td><td>68–14</td><td>Won NBA Finals 4–3</td></tr></tbody></table>

Conference championships by team

Western Conference (NBA)

<table><thead><tr><th>Team</th><th>Championships won</th><th>Last</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Los Angeles Lakers</td><td>19</td><td>2020</td></tr><tr><td>Golden State Warriors</td><td>7</td><td>2022</td></tr><tr><td>San Antonio Spurs</td><td>6</td><td>2014</td></tr><tr><td>Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder</td><td>5</td><td>2025</td></tr><tr><td>Houston Rockets</td><td>4</td><td>1995</td></tr><tr><td>Phoenix Suns</td><td>3</td><td>2021</td></tr><tr><td>Portland Trail Blazers</td><td>3</td><td>1992</td></tr><tr><td>Dallas Mavericks</td><td>3</td><td>2024</td></tr><tr><td>Milwaukee Bucks</td><td>2</td><td>1974^</td></tr><tr><td>Utah Jazz</td><td>2</td><td>1998</td></tr><tr><td>Denver Nuggets</td><td>1</td><td>2023</td></tr><tr><td>Memphis Grizzlies</td><td>0</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Minnesota Timberwolves</td><td>0</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>New Orleans Pelicans</td><td>0</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Los Angeles Clippers</td><td>0</td><td>N/A</td></tr><tr><td>Sacramento Kings</td><td>0</td><td>N/A</td></tr></tbody></table>

^Note: Milwaukee joined the Eastern Conference during the 1980–81 season.

Season results

Western 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>