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.
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
Notes 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 Team Division Location Year From Joined Atlanta Hawks Southeast Atlanta, Georgia –present Western Division Boston Celtics Atlantic Boston, Massachusetts –present Eastern Division Brooklyn Nets Atlantic Brooklyn, New York –present ABA Charlotte Hornets Southeast Charlotte, North Carolina –; –present — Chicago Bulls Central Chicago, Illinois –present Western Conference Cleveland Cavaliers Central Cleveland, Ohio –present — Detroit Pistons Central Detroit, Michigan –present Western Conference Indiana Pacers Central Indianapolis, Indiana –present Western Conference Miami Heat Southeast Miami, Florida –present Western Conference Milwaukee Bucks Central Milwaukee, Wisconsin –present Western Conference New York Knicks Atlantic New York City, New York –present Eastern Division Orlando Magic Southeast Orlando, Florida –; –present —; Western Conference Philadelphia 76ers Atlantic Philadelphia, Pennsylvania –present Eastern Division Toronto Raptors Atlantic Toronto, Ontario –present — Washington Wizards Southeast Washington, D.C. –present Western Division
Former teams Team Location Year From Year To Current conference Joined LeftBuffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers)Buffalo, New York —Western ConferenceWestern ConferenceCincinnati Royals (now the Sacramento Kings)Cincinnati, OhioWestern DivisionWestern ConferenceWestern ConferenceHouston RocketsHouston, TexasWestern ConferenceWestern ConferenceWestern ConferenceNew Orleans Jazz (now the Utah Jazz)New Orleans, Louisiana —Western ConferenceWestern ConferenceNew Orleans Hornets (now the New Orleans Pelicans)New Orleans, Louisiana —Western ConferenceWestern ConferenceSan Antonio SpursSan Antonio, TexasABAWestern ConferenceWestern Conference
Notes denotes an expansion team. denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Team timeline Denotes team that is currently in the conference Denotes team that has left the conference
Conference champions
BoldWinning team of the NBA Finals ^ Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season Season Team Record Finals result Baltimore Bullets 42–40 Lost NBA Finals 0–4 New York Knicks 48–34 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 New York Knicks 57–25 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Boston Celtics 56–26 Won NBA Finals 4–3 Washington Bullets 60–22^ Lost NBA Finals 0–4 Boston Celtics 54–28 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Philadelphia 76ers 50–32 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Washington Bullets 44–38 Won NBA Finals 4–3 Washington Bullets 54–28^ Lost NBA Finals 1–4 Philadelphia 76ers 59–23 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Boston Celtics 62–20^ Won NBA Finals 4–2 Philadelphia 76ers 58–24 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Philadelphia 76ers 65–17^ Won NBA Finals 4–0 Boston Celtics 62–20^ Won NBA Finals 4–3 Boston Celtics 63–19^ Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Boston Celtics 67–15^ Won NBA Finals 4–2 Boston Celtics 59–23 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Detroit Pistons 54–28 Lost NBA Finals 3–4 Detroit Pistons 63–19^ Won NBA Finals 4–0 Detroit Pistons 59–23 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Chicago Bulls 61–21 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Chicago Bulls 67–15^ Won NBA Finals 4–2 Chicago Bulls 57–25 Won NBA Finals 4–2 New York Knicks 57–25 Lost NBA Finals 3–4 Orlando Magic 57–25 Lost NBA Finals 0–4 Chicago Bulls 72–10^ Won NBA Finals 4–2 Chicago Bulls 69–13^ Won NBA Finals 4–2 Chicago Bulls 62–20^ Won NBA Finals 4–2 New York Knicks 27–23 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 Indiana Pacers 56–26 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Philadelphia 76ers 56–26 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 New Jersey Nets 52–30 Lost NBA Finals 0–4 New Jersey Nets 49–33 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Detroit Pistons 54–28 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Detroit Pistons 54–28 Lost NBA Finals 3–4 Miami Heat 52–30 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Cleveland Cavaliers 50–32 Lost NBA Finals 0–4 Boston Celtics66–16^ Won NBA Finals 4–2 Orlando Magic 59–23 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 Boston Celtics 50–32 Lost NBA Finals 3–4 Miami Heat 58–24 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Miami Heat 46–20 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Miami Heat 66–16^ Won NBA Finals 4–3 Miami Heat 54–28 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 Cleveland Cavaliers 53–29 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Cleveland Cavaliers 57–25 Won NBA Finals 4–3 Cleveland Cavaliers 51–31 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 Cleveland Cavaliers 50–32 Lost NBA Finals 0–4 Toronto Raptors 58–24 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Miami Heat 44–29 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Milwaukee Bucks 46–26 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Boston Celtics 51–31 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Miami Heat 44–38 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 Boston Celtics 64–18^ Won NBA Finals 4–1 Indiana Pacers 50–32 Lost NBA Finals 3–4 New York Knicks 53–29 Won NBA Finals 4–1
Conference championships by team
Team Championships won Last Boston Celtics 11 2024 Miami Heat 7 2023 Chicago Bulls 6 1998 Cleveland Cavaliers 5 2018 Detroit Pistons 5 2005 New York Knicks 5 2026 Philadelphia 76ers 5 2001 Baltimore/Washington Bullets/Wizards 4 1979 Indiana Pacers 2 2025 New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets 2 2003 Orlando Magic 2 2009 Milwaukee Bucks 1 2021 Toronto Raptors 1 2019 Atlanta Hawks 0 N/A Charlotte Hornets 0 N/A
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
Season Team (record) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th NYK*(52–30) BAL+(42–40) PHI*(47–35) ATL*(36–46) BOS(44–38) CIN(33–49) BUF(22–60) CLE(15–67) BOS*(56–26) BAL*(38–44) NYK+(48–34) ATL*(36–46) CIN(30–52) PHI(30–52) CLE(23–59) BUF(22–60) BOS*(68–14) BAL*(52–30) NYK^(57–25) ATL*(46–36) HOU(33–49) CLE(32–50) BUF(21–61) PHI(9–73) BOS^(56–26) CAP*(47–35) NYK*(49–33) BUF*(42–40) ATL(35–47) HOU(32–50) CLE(29–53) PHI(25–57) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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 14th 15th 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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)