The NBA is comprised of two conferences of 15 teams (Eastern and Western). Each conference contains three divisions of five squads, primarily for scheduling and travel efficiency.
The Eastern Conference features the Atlantic, Central and Southeast Divisions, while the Western Conference consists of the Northwest, Pacific and Southwest Divisions.
The league’s last division realignment occurred when it expanded to 30 teams in 2004, adding the then-Charlotte Bobcats.
NBA Divisions Sorted by Eastern and Western Conferences
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
First up, the Atlantic Division includes the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors. The Celtics’ league-best 18 NBA championships are more than four entire divisions.
Central Division
Along the United States’ Midwest region is the Central Division, formed by the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers and Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls have enjoyed the most success of this group, with franchise legend Michael Jordan leading them to all six of their titles in the 1990s.
Southeast Division
Moving south, the five teams in the Southeast Division are the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards. The Heat are the only team with more than one championship, with all three coming since 2006.
Western Conference
Northwest Division
Heading north, the Northwest Division encompasses the Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers and Utah Jazz. This quintet has struggled to keep pace, with no team possessing more than one championship.
Pacific Division
On the West Coast, the Pacific Division is occupied by the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings. The Lakers lead the way with 17 titles, followed by the Warriors with seven. Like Boston, the Lakers have outperformed four divisions.
Southwest Division
Lastly, the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans and San Antonio Spurs constitute the Southwest Division. The Spurs have been the cream of the crop in this cluster, amassing five championships.
How Many Divisions Does the NBA Have?
In total, between the NBA’s two conferences, there are six divisions.
Which NBA Division Has the Most Championships?
As for the NBA’s most accomplished division, that is a close call, with the Pacific Division narrowly edging out the Atlantic Division 25 championships to 24. This largely stems from the Lakers and Celtics’ well-documented battle for the distinction of the league’s most prestigious franchise.
Conversely, the Northwest Division has an NBA-worst three titles, with the Thunder, Nuggets and Blazers holding one apiece.
