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.
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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 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.
2021–22 standings
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
- z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
- c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
- y – Clinched division title
- x – Clinched playoff spot
- pi – Clinched play-in tournament spot
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
- 9: Boston Celtics
- 6: Chicago Bulls
- 6: Miami Heat
- 5: Cleveland Cavaliers
- 5: Detroit Pistons
- 5: Philadelphia 76ers
- 4: Baltimore/Washington Bullets
- 4: New York Knicks
- 2: New Jersey Nets
- 2: Orlando Magic
- 1: Indiana Pacers
- 1: Milwaukee Bucks
- 1: Toronto Raptors
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) |
WAS (25–47) |
CHA (23–42) |
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
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