Atlantic Division (NBA)

Last updated

Atlantic Division
Conference Eastern Conference
League National Basketball Association
Sport Basketball
First season 1970–71 season
No. of teams5
Most recent
champion(s)		 Boston Celtics
(26th title)
Most titles Boston Celtics
(26 titles)
Atlantic Division (NBA)
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Transparent.svg
210km
130miles
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Raptors
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76ers
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Knicks
Black pog.svg
Nets
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Celtics
Atlantic Division Teams Location

The Atlantic Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams, the Boston Celtics, the Brooklyn Nets, the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Toronto Raptors. All teams, except the Raptors, are located on the East Coast of the United States. However, Toronto sports teams have over the years enjoyed rivalries with teams in the Northeastern United States (particularly, Toronto teams also share divisions with Boston and New York teams in Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League).

Contents

The division was created at the start of the 1970–71 season, when the league expanded from 14 to 17 teams with the addition of the Buffalo Braves, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers. The league realigned itself into two conferences, the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference, with two divisions in each conference. The Atlantic Division began with four inaugural members, the Celtics, the Braves, the Knicks and the 76ers. [1] The Celtics, the Knicks and the 76ers all joined from the Eastern Division.

The Celtics have won the most Atlantic Division titles with 26. Ten NBA champions have come from the Atlantic Division. The Celtics have won seven NBA championships while in the Division, [2] while the Knicks, the 76ers and the Raptors have won one championship each. All of them, except the 1972–73 Knicks, were division champions. In the 1983–84 season, all five teams from the division qualified for the playoffs. In the 1982–83 season, all teams in the division had winning percentages above 0.500 (50%).

Since the 2021–22 season, the Atlantic Division champion has received the Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton Trophy, named after Hall of Famer Nathaniel Clifton. [3]

2024–25 standings

Atlantic Division WLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
y – Boston Celtics 6121.744–28‍–‍1333‍–‍814‍–‍282
x – New York Knicks 5131.62210.027‍–‍1424‍–‍1712‍–‍482
Toronto Raptors 3052.36631.018‍–‍2312‍–‍298‍–‍882
Brooklyn Nets 2656.31735.012‍–‍2914‍–‍273‍–‍1382
Philadelphia 76ers 2458.29337.012‍–‍2912‍–‍293‍–‍1382

Notes

Teams

TeamCityYearFrom
Joined
Boston Celtics Boston, Massachusetts 1970 Eastern Division
Brooklyn Nets (2012–present)
New Jersey Nets (1977–2012)
New York Nets (1976–1977)		 Brooklyn, New York
Piscataway/East Rutherford/Newark, New Jersey
Uniondale, New York 		1976 ABA ‡
New York Knicks New York City, New York 1970 Eastern Division
Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1970 Eastern Division
Toronto Raptors Toronto, Ontario 2004 Central Division
Notes

Former teams

TeamCityYearFromYearToCurrent division
JoinedLeft
Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers) Buffalo, New York 1970 —† 1978 Pacific Division
(as San Diego Clippers)		 Pacific Division
Charlotte Hornets Charlotte, North Carolina 1988 —† 1989 Midwest Division Southeast Division
Miami Heat Miami, Florida 1989 Midwest Division 2004 Southeast Division Southeast Division
Orlando Magic Orlando, Florida 1991 Midwest Division 2004 Southeast Division Southeast Division
Washington Wizards (1997–present)
Washington Bullets (1974–1997)		 Washington, D.C. 1978 Central Division 2004 Southeast Division Southeast Division
Notes

Team Timeline

Denotes team that is currently in the division
Denotes team that has left the division
Toronto RaptorsOrlando MagicMiami HeatCharlotte HornetsWashington WizardsBrooklyn NetsPhiladelphia 76ersNew York KnicksBuffalo BravesBoston CelticsAtlantic Division (NBA)

Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton Trophy

Beginning with the 2021–22 season, the Atlantic Division champion has received the Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton Trophy. As with the other division championship trophies, it is named after one of the African American pioneers from NBA history. Nathaniel Clifton was one of the first African American players to sign an NBA contract when he joined the New York Knicks in 1950. The Clifton Trophy consists of a 200-millimetre (7.9 in) crystal ball. [4]

Division champions

^Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season
SeasonTeamRecordPlayoffs result
1970–71 New York Knicks Lost conference finals
1971–72 Boston Celtics Lost conference finals
1972–73 Boston Celtics^Lost conference finals
1973–74 Boston Celtics Won NBA Finals
1974–75 Boston Celtics^Lost conference finals
1975–76 Boston Celtics Won NBA Finals
1976–77 Philadelphia 76ers Lost NBA Finals
1977–78 Philadelphia 76ers Lost conference finals
1978–79 Washington Bullets^Lost NBA Finals
1979–80 Boston Celtics^Lost conference finals
1980–81 Boston Celtics^Won NBA Finals
1981–82 Boston Celtics^Lost conference finals
1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers^Won NBA Finals
1983–84 Boston Celtics^Won NBA Finals
1984–85 Boston Celtics^Lost NBA Finals
1985–86 Boston Celtics^Won NBA Finals
1986–87 Boston Celtics Lost NBA Finals
1987–88 Boston Celtics Lost conference finals
1988–89 New York Knicks Lost conference semifinals
1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers Lost conference semifinals
1990–91 Boston Celtics Lost conference semifinals
1991–92 Boston Celtics Lost conference semifinals
1992–93 New York Knicks Lost conference finals
1993–94 New York Knicks Lost NBA Finals
1994–95 Orlando Magic Lost NBA Finals
1995–96 Orlando Magic Lost conference finals
1996–97 Miami Heat Lost conference finals
1997–98 Miami Heat Lost First round
1998–99 [a] Miami Heat Lost First round
1999–00 Miami Heat Lost conference semifinals
2000–01 Philadelphia 76ers Lost NBA Finals
2001–02 New Jersey Nets Lost NBA Finals
2002–03 New Jersey Nets Lost NBA Finals
2003–04 New Jersey Nets Lost conference semifinals
2004–05 Boston Celtics Lost First round
2005–06 New Jersey Nets Lost conference semifinals
2006–07 Toronto Raptors Lost First round
2007–08 Boston Celtics^Won NBA Finals
2008–09 Boston Celtics Lost conference semifinals
2009–10 Boston Celtics Lost NBA Finals
2010–11 Boston Celtics Lost conference semifinals
2011–12 [b] Boston Celtics Lost conference finals
2012–13 New York Knicks Lost conference semifinals
2013–14 Toronto Raptors Lost First round
2014–15 Toronto Raptors Lost First round
2015–16 Toronto Raptors Lost conference finals
2016–17 Boston Celtics Lost conference finals
2017–18 Toronto Raptors Lost conference semifinals
2018–19 Toronto Raptors Won NBA Finals
2019–20 Toronto Raptors Lost conference semifinals
2020–21 Philadelphia 76ers Lost conference semifinals
2021–22 Boston Celtics Lost NBA Finals
2022–23 Boston Celtics Lost conference finals
2023–24 Boston Celtics^Won NBA Finals
2024–25 Boston Celtics Lost conference semifinals

Titles by team

^Denotes team that has left the division
TeamTitlesSeason(s) won
Boston Celtics 26 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1991–92, 2004–05, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2016–17, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
Toronto Raptors 7 2006–07, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
Philadelphia 76ers 6 1976–77, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1989–90, 2000–01, 2020–21
New York Knicks 5 1970–71, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2012–13
Brooklyn Nets 4 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06
Miami Heat^4 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00
Orlando Magic^2 1994–95, 1995–96
Washington Bullets^ (now Washington Wizards)1 1978–79

Season results

^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
†Denotes team that did not qualify for the 2020 NBA Bubble season restart
SeasonTeam (record)
1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th
1970–71 New York* (52–30) Philadelphia* (47–35) Boston (44–38) Buffalo (22–60)
1971–72 Boston* (56–26) New York + (48–34) Philadelphia (30–52) Buffalo (22–60)
1972–73 Boston* (68–14) New York^ (57–25) Buffalo (21–61) Philadelphia (9–73)
1973–74 Boston^ (56–26) New York* (49–33) Buffalo* (42–40) Philadelphia (25–57)
1974–75 Boston* (60–22) Buffalo* (49–33) New York* (40–42) Philadelphia (34–48)
1975–76 Boston^ (54–28) Philadelphia* (46–36) Buffalo* (46–36) New York (38–44)
1976–77 Philadelphia + (50–32) Boston* (44–38) NY Knicks (40–42) Buffalo (30–52) NY Nets (22–60)
1977–78 Philadelphia* (55–27) New York* (43–39) Boston (32–50) Buffalo (27–55) New Jersey (24–58)
1978–79 Washington + (54–28) Philadelphia* (47–35) New Jersey* (37–45) New York (31–51) Boston (29–53)
1979–80 Boston* (61–21) Philadelphia + (59–23) Washington* (39–43) New York (39–43) New Jersey (34–48)
1980–81 Boston^ (62–20) Philadelphia* (62–20) New York* (50–32) Washington (39–43) New Jersey (24–58)
1981–82 Boston* (63–19) Philadelphia + (58–24) New Jersey* (44–38) Washington* (43–39) New York (33–49)
1982–83 Philadelphia^ (65–17) Boston* (56–26) New Jersey* (49–33) New York* (44–38) Washington (42–40)
1983–84 Boston^ (62–20) Philadelphia* (52–30) New York* (47–35) New Jersey* (45–37) Washington* (35–47)
1984–85 Boston + (63–19) Philadelphia* (58–24) New Jersey* (42–40) Washington* (40–42) New York (24–58)
1985–86 Boston^ (67–15) Philadelphia* (54–28) Washington* (39–43) New Jersey* (39–43) New York (23–59)
1986–87 Boston + (59–23) Philadelphia* (45–37) Washington* (42–40) New Jersey (24–58) New York (24–58)
1987–88 Boston* (57–25) Washington* (38–44) New York* (38–44) Philadelphia (36–46) New Jersey (19–63)
1988–89 New York* (52–30) Philadelphia* (46–36) Boston* (42–40) Washington (40–42) New Jersey (26–56) Charlotte (20–62)
1989–90 Philadelphia* (53–29) Boston* (52–30) New York* (45–37) Washington (31–51) Miami (18–64) New Jersey (17–65)
1990–91 Boston* (56–26) Philadelphia* (44–38) New York* (39–43) Washington (30–52) New Jersey (26–56) Miami (24–58)
1991–92 Boston* (51–31) New York* (51–31) New Jersey* (40–42) Miami* (38–44) Philadelphia (35–47) Washington (25–57) Orlando (21–61)
1992–93 New York* (60–22) Boston* (48–34) New Jersey* (43–39) Orlando (41–41) Miami (36–46) Philadelphia (26–56) Washington (22–60)
1993–94 New York + (57–25) Orlando* (50–32) New Jersey* (45–37) Miami* (42–40) Boston (32–50) Philadelphia (25–57) Washington (24–58)
1994–95 Orlando + (57–25) New York* (55–27) Boston* (35–47) Miami (32–50) New Jersey (30–52) Philadelphia (24–58) Washington (21–61)
1995–96 Orlando* (60–22) New York* (47–35) Miami* (42–40) Washington (39–43) Boston (33–49) New Jersey (30–52) Philadelphia (18–64)
1996–97 Miami* (61–21) New York* (57–25) Orlando* (45–37) Washington* (44–38) New Jersey (26–56) Philadelphia (22–60) Boston (15–67)
1997–98 Miami* (55–27) New York* (43–39) New Jersey* (43–39) Washington (42–40) Orlando (41–41) Boston (36–46) Philadelphia (31–51)
1998–99 [a] Miami* (33–17) Orlando* (33–17) Philadelphia* (28–22) New York + (27–23) Boston (19–31) Washington (18–32) New Jersey (16–34)
1999–00 Miami* (52–30) New York* (50–32) Philadelphia* (49–33) Orlando (41–41) Boston (35–47) New Jersey (31–51) Washington (29–53)
2000–01 Philadelphia + (56–26) Miami* (50–32) New York* (48–34) Orlando* (43–39) Boston (36–46) New Jersey (26–56) Washington (19–63)
2001–02 New Jersey + (52–30) Boston* (49–33) Orlando* (44–38) Philadelphia* (43–39) Washington (37–45) Miami (36–46) New York (30–52)
2002–03 New Jersey + (49–33) Philadelphia* (48–34) Boston* (44–38) Orlando* (42–40) Washington (37–45) New York (37–45) Miami (25–57)
2003–04 New Jersey* (47–35) Miami* (42–40) New York* (39–43) Boston* (36–46) Philadelphia (33–49) Washington (25–57) Orlando (21–61)
2004–05 Boston* (45–37) Philadelphia* (43–39) New Jersey* (42–40) Toronto (33–49) New York (33–49)
2005–06 New Jersey* (49–33) Philadelphia (38–44) Boston (33–49) Toronto (27–55) New York (23–59)
2006–07 Toronto* (47–35) New Jersey* (41–41) Philadelphia (35–47) New York (33–49) Boston (24–58)
2007–08 Boston^ (66–16) Toronto* (41–41) Philadelphia* (40–42) New Jersey (34–48) New York (23–59)
2008–09 Boston* (62–20) Philadelphia* (41–41) New Jersey (34–48) Toronto (33–49) New York (32–50)
2009–10 Boston + (50–32) Toronto (40–42) New York (29–53) Philadelphia (27–55) New Jersey (12–70)
2010–11 Boston* (56–26) New York* (42–40) Philadelphia* (41–41) New Jersey (24–58) Toronto (22–60)
2011–12 [b] Boston* (39–27) New York* (36–30) Philadelphia* (35–31) Toronto (23–43) New Jersey (22–44)
2012–13 New York* (54–28) Brooklyn* (49–33) Boston* (41–40) Philadelphia (34–48) Toronto (34–48)
2013–14 Toronto* (48–34) Brooklyn* (44–38) New York (37–45) Boston (25–57) Philadelphia (19–63)
2014–15 Toronto* (49–33) Boston* (40–42) Brooklyn* (38–44) Philadelphia (18–64) New York (17–65)
2015–16 Toronto* (56–26) Boston* (48–34) New York (32–50) Brooklyn (21–61) Philadelphia (10–72)
2016–17 Boston* (53–29) Toronto* (51–31) New York (31–51) Philadelphia (28–54) Brooklyn (20–62)
2017–18 Toronto* (59–23) Boston* (55–27) Philadelphia* (52–30) New York (29–53) Brooklyn (28–54)
2018–19 Toronto^ (58–24) Philadelphia* (51–31) Boston* (49–33) Brooklyn* (42–40) New York (17–65)
2019–20 Toronto* (53–19) Boston* (48–24) Philadelphia* (43–30) Brooklyn* (35–37) New York† (21–45)
2020–21 Philadelphia* (49–23) Brooklyn* (48–24) New York* (41–31) Boston* (36–36) Toronto (27–45)
2021–22 Boston + (51–31) Philadelphia* (51–31) Toronto* (48–34) Brooklyn* (44–38) New York (37–45)
2022–23 Boston* (57–25) Philadelphia* (54–28) New York* (47–35) Brooklyn* (45–37) Toronto× (41–41)
2023–24 Boston^ (64–18) New York* (50–32) Philadelphia* (47–35) Brooklyn (32–50) Toronto (25–57)
2024–25 Boston* (61–21) New York* (51–31) Toronto (30–52) Brooklyn (26–56) Philadelphia (24–58)

Rivalries

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks

Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers

New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets

See also

Notes

References

Specific

  1. ↑ "1970–71 Season Overview: Kareem Rules the League". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Best Current Boston Celtics Players". May 12, 2022.
  3. ↑ "NBA unveils new trophies for division winners named after 6 NBA legends". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 11, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ Conway, Tyler (April 11, 2022). "NBA Unveils Division Winner Trophies Named After Black Pioneers from League History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ Donovan, John (February 4, 1999). "Let the semi-season begin: Expect injuries, intensity and a new champion in '99". CNN Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  6. ↑ Jenkins, Lee (December 5, 2011). "'tis The Season". CNN Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Archived from the original on December 10, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  7. ↑ "NBA cancels game between Celtics and Pacers after Boston Marathon blasts | the Point Forward - SI.com". Archived from the original on April 19, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.

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