The Western Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, and organized in three divisions of five teams each.
Since 2006, the three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their record, with all remaining non-division winners seeded 5 through 8. This leaves open the possibility that a #2 or #3 seed could be a non-division winner. Home-court advantage in a playoff series is decided by record, not by seeding, so if a #4 and #5 team met in a playoff series in which the #5 team had the better record, the #5 team would have home-court advantage.
The reasoning behind this seeding arrangement is because a non-division winner could have a better record than the winners of the two divisions other than the one that produced the non-division winner in question. If the three division winners were seeded 1 through 3 for the playoffs in order of their record, and all non-division winners seeded 4 through 8, it would be possible for the two leading teams of the conference to meet in the Conference Semifinals. This actually happened in the 2006 NBA Playoffs when the two best teams in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, both from the Southwest Division, faced one another in the Western Conference Semifinals while the 3rd seed, the Northwest Division-leading Denver Nuggets, had fewer wins than the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th seeds. The NBA proposed and approved of the current format to ensure that the best two teams of a conference can meet no earlier than the NBA Conference Finals.
The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoffs rounds, and The NBA Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference champion in the NBA Finals to determine the champion. All playoff series are best-of-seven.
The current divisional alignment was adopted at the start of the 04–05 season, when the Charlotte Bobcats began play as the NBA's 30th franchise. This necessitated the move of the New Orleans Hornets from the Eastern Conference's Central Division to the newly-created Southwest Division of the Western Conference.
Teams[]
Team | Division | City | Year | From |
---|---|---|---|---|
Joined | ||||
Dallas Mavericks | Southwest | Dallas, Texas | 1980–present | — |
Denver Nuggets | Northwest | Denver, Colorado | 1976–present |
ABC |
Golden State Warriors (1971–present)
San Francisco Warriors (1962–1971) |
Pacific |
Oakland, California San Francisco, California |
1962–present | Eastern Division |
Houston Rockets (1971–present)
San Diego Rockets (1967–1971) |
Southwest |
Houston, Texas San Diego, California |
1967–1973, 1980–present | — |
Los Angeles Clippers (1984–present)
San Diego Clippers (1978–1984) |
Pacific |
Los Angeles, California San Diego, California |
1978–present | — |
Los Angeles Lakers (1960–present)
Minneapolis Lakers (1948–1960) |
Pacific | Los Angeles, California | 1948–1949, 1950–present | — |
Memphis Grizzlies (2001–present)
Vancouver Grizzlies (1995–2001) |
Southwest |
Memphis, Tennasse Vancouver, British Columbia |
1995–present | — |
Minnesota Timberwolves | Northwest | Minneapolis, Minnesota | 1989–present | — |
New Orleans Pelicans (2013-present) New Orleans Hornets (2002–2005, 2007–2013) New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets (2005–2007)[a] Charlotte Hornets (1988–2002) |
Southwest |
New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana New Orleans, Louisiana and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Charlotte, North Carolina |
1989–1990 2004–present | Eastern Conference |
Oklahoma City Thunder (2008–present)
Seattle SuperSonics (1967–2008) |
Northwest |
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Seattle, Washington |
1967–present | — |
Phoenix Suns | Pacific | Phoenix, Arizona | 1968–present | — |
Portland Trail Blazers | Northwest | Portland, Oregon | 1970–present | — |
Sacramento Kings (1985–present)
Kansas City Kings (1975–1985) Kansas City-Omaha Kings (1972–1975) Cincinnati Royals (1957–1972) Rochester Royals (1945–1957) |
Pacific |
Sacramento, California Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri and Omaha, Nebraska Cincinnati, Ohio Rochester, New York |
1948–1949, 1950–1963, 1972–present | — |
San Antonio Spurs | Southwest | San Antonio, Texas | 1980–present | Eastern Conference |
Utah Jazz | Northwest | Salt Lake City, Utah | 1979–present | Eastern Conference |
Former teams[]
Team | City | Year | From | Year | To | Current conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joined | Left | |||||
Anderson Packers | Anderson, Indiana | 1949 | — | 1950 | defunct | defunct |
Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949–1951)
Milwaukee Hawks (1955–1955) St. Louis Hawks (1955–1968) Atlanta Hawks (1968–present) |
Molline, Illonoise Milwaukee, Wisconsin St. Louis, Missouri Atlanta, Georgia |
1949 | — | 1970 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Baltimore Bullets | Baltimore, Maryland | 1947 | — | 1948 | Eastern Division | defunct |
Chicago Bulls | Chicago, Illinois | 1966 | — | 1980 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Chicago Packers (1961–1962)
Chicago Zephyrs (1962–1963) Baltimore Bulletts (1962–1973) |
Chicago, Illonois Baltimore, Maryland |
1961 | — | 1966 | Eastern Division |
Eastern Conferrence (as Washington Wizards) |
Chicago Stags | Chicago, Illinois | 1946 | — | 1949 | Central Division | defunct |
Cleveland Rebels | Cleveland, Ohio | 1946 | — | 1947 | defunct | defunct |
Denver Nuggets | Denver, Colorado | 1949 | — | 1950 | defunct | defunct |
Detroit Falcons | Detroit, Michigan | 1946 | — | 1947 | defunct | defunct |
Fort Wayne Pistons (1948–1957)
Detroit Pistons (1957–present) |
Fort Wayne, Indiana Detroit, Michigan |
1948 | Eastern Division | 1957 |
Central Division Eastern Division |
Eastern Conference |
Indiana Pacers | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1976 |
ABC |
1979 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Indianapolis Jets | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1948 | — | 1949 | defunct | defunct |
Indianapolis Olympians | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1949 | — | 1953 | defunct | defunct |
Miami Heat | Miami, Florida | 1988 | — | 1989 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Milwaukee Bucks | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1970 | Eastern Conference | 1980 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Orlando Magic | Orlando, Florida | 1990 | Eastern Conference | 1991 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Pittsburgh Ironmen |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 1946 | — | 1947 | defunct | defunct |
Sheboygan Red Skins | Sheboygan, Wisconsin | 1949 | — | 1950 | defunct | defunct |
St. Louis Bombers | St. Louis, Missouri | 1946 | — | 1949 | Central Division | defunct |
Washington Capitols | Washington, D.C. | 1947 | — | 1948 | Eastern Division | defunct |
Waterloo Hawks | Waterloo, Iowa | 1949 | — | 1950 | defunct | defunct |
Conference Champions[]
Bold | Winning team of the BAA Finals or NBA Finals |
^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
Season | Team | Record | Playoffs result |
---|---|---|---|
1946–47 | Chicago Stags | 39–22 (.639) | Lost BAA Finals 1-4 |
1947–48 | Baltimore Bullets | 28–20 (.583) | Won BAA Finals 4-2 |
1948–49 | Minneapolis Lakers | 44–16 (.733) | Won BAA Finals 4-2 |
1949–50 | Minneapolis Lakers | 51–17 (.750) | Won NBA Finals 4-2 |
1950–51 | Rochester Royals | 41–27 (.603) | Won NBA Finals 4-3 |
1951–52 | Minneapolis Lakers | 40–26 (.606) | Won NBA Finals 4-3 |
1952–53 | Minneapolis Lakers | 48–22 (.686) | Won NBA Finals 4-1 |
1953–54 | Minneapolis Lakers | 46–26 (.639) | Won NBA Finals 4-3 |
1954–55 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 43–29 (.597) | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
1955–56 | Fort Wayne Pistons | 37–35 (.514) | Lost NBA Finals 1-4 |
1956–57 | St. Louis Hawks | 34–38 | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
1957–58 | St. Louis Hawks | 41–31 | Won NBA Finals 4-2 |
1958–59 | Minneapolis Lakers | 49–23 | Lost NBA Finals 0-4 |
1959–60 | St. Louis Hawks | 41–31 | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
1960–61 | St. Louis Hawks | 51–28 | Lost NBA Finals 1-4 |
1961–62 | Los Angeles Lakers | 54–26 | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
1962–63 | Los Angeles Lakers | 53–27 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1963–64 | San Francisco Warriors | 48–32 | Lost NBA Finals 1-4 |
1964–65 | Los Angeles Lakers | 49–31 | Lost NBA Finals 1-4 |
1965–66 | Los Angeles Lakers | 45–35 | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
1966–67 | San Francisco Warriors | 44–37 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1967–68 | Los Angeles Lakers | 52–30 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1968–69 | Los Angeles Lakers | 55–27 | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
1969–70 | Los Angeles Lakers | 46–36 | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
1970–71 | Milwaukee Bucks | 66–16 | Won NBA Finals 4-0 |
1971–72 | Los Angeles Lakers | 69–13 | Won NBA Finals 4-1 |
1972–73 | Los Angeles Lakers | 60–22 | Lost NBA Finals 1-4 |
1973–74 | Milwaukee Bucks | 59–23 | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
1974–75 | Golden State Warriors | 59–23 | Won NBA Finals 4-0 |
1975–76 | Phoenix Suns | 52–30 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1976–77 | Portland Trail Blazers | 49–33 | Won NBA Finals 4-2 |
1977–78 | Seattle SuperSonics | 46–36 | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
1978–79 | Seattle SuperSonics | 52–30 | Won NBA Finals 4-1 |
1979–80 | Los Angeles Lakers | 52–30 | Won NBA Finals 4-2 |
1980–81 | Houston Rockets | 40–42 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1981–82 | Los Angeles Lakers | 57–25 | Won NBA Finals 4-2 |
1982–83 | Los Angeles Lakers | 58–24 | Lost NBA Finals 0-4 |
1983–84 | Los Angeles Lakers | 54–28 | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
1984–85 | Los Angeles Lakers | 62–20 | Won NBA Finals 4-2 |
1985–86 | Houston Rockets | 51–31 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1986–87 | Los Angeles Lakers | 65–17 | Won NBA Finals 4-2 |
1987–88 | Los Angeles Lakers | 62–20 | Won NBA Finals 4-3 |
1988–89 | Los Angeles Lakers | 57–25 | Lost NBA Finals 0-4 |
1989–90 | Portland Trail Blazers | 59–23 | Lost NBA Finals 1-4 |
1990–91 | Los Angeles Lakers | 58–24 | Lost NBA Finals 1-4 |
1991–92 | Portland Trail Blazers | 57–25 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1992–93 | Phoenix Suns | 62–20 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1993–94 | Houston Rockets | 58–24 | Won NBA Finals 4-3 |
1994–95 | Houston Rockets | 47–35 | Won NBA Finals 4-0 |
1995–96 | Seattle SuperSonics | 64–18 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1996–97 | Utah Jazz | 64–18 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1997–98 | Utah Jazz | 62–20 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
1998–99 | San Antonio Spurs | 37–13 | Won NBA Finals 4-1 |
1999–00 | Los Angeles Lakers | 67–15 | Won NBA Finals 4-2 |
2000–01 | Los Angeles Lakers | 56–26 | Won NBA Finals 4-1 |
2001–02 | Los Angeles Lakers | 58–24 | Won NBA Finals 4-0 |
2002–03 | San Antonio Spurs | 60–22 | Won NBA Finals 4-2 |
2003–04 | Los Angeles Lakers | 56–26 | Lost NBA Finals 1-4 |
2004–05 | San Antonio Spurs | 59–23 | Won NBA Finals 4-3 |
2005–06 | Dallas Mavericks | 60–22 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
2006–07 | San Antonio Spurs | 58–24 | Won NBA Finals 4-0 |
2007–08 | Los Angeles Lakers | 57–25 | Lost NBA Finals 2-4 |
2008–09 | Los Angeles Lakers | 65–17 | Won NBA Finals 4-1 |
2009–10 | Los Angeles Lakers | 57–25 | Won NBA Finals 4-3 |
2010–11 | Dallas Mavericks | 57–25 | Won NBA Finals 4-2 |
2011–12 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 47–19 | Lost NBA Finals 1-4 |
2012–13 | San Antonio Spurs | 58–24 | Lost NBA Finals 3-4 |
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