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Formerly | Eastern Division |
---|---|
League | National Basketball Association |
Sport | Basketball |
Founded | 1970 |
No. of teams | 15 |
Most recent champion(s) | Boston Celtics (11th title) |
Most titles | Boston Celtics (11 titles) |
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 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.
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. [1] Also 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. [2]
Eastern Conference | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
1 | Cleveland Cavaliers * | 16 | 1 | .941 | – | 17 |
2 | Boston Celtics * | 13 | 3 | .813 | 2.5 | 16 |
3 | New York Knicks | 9 | 6 | .600 | 6.0 | 15 |
4 | Orlando Magic * | 10 | 7 | .588 | 6.0 | 17 |
5 | Miami Heat | 6 | 7 | .462 | 8.0 | 13 |
6 | Milwaukee Bucks | 7 | 9 | .438 | 8.5 | 16 |
7 | Chicago Bulls | 7 | 10 | .412 | 9.0 | 17 |
8 | Detroit Pistons | 7 | 10 | .412 | 9.0 | 17 |
9 | Atlanta Hawks | 7 | 10 | .412 | 9.0 | 17 |
10 | Charlotte Hornets | 6 | 9 | .400 | 9.0 | 15 |
11 | Indiana Pacers | 6 | 10 | .375 | 9.5 | 16 |
12 | Brooklyn Nets | 6 | 10 | .375 | 9.5 | 16 |
13 | Toronto Raptors | 4 | 12 | .250 | 11.5 | 16 |
14 | Philadelphia 76ers | 3 | 12 | .200 | 12.0 | 15 |
15 | Washington Wizards | 2 | 12 | .143 | 12.5 | 14 |
Notes
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 |
Denotes team that currently in the conference | |
Denotes team that has left the conference |
Bold | Winning team of the NBA Finals |
^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
Team | Championships won | Last |
---|---|---|
Boston Celtics | 11 | 2024 |
Miami Heat | 7 | 2023 |
Chicago Bulls | 6 | 1998 |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 5 | 2018 |
Detroit Pistons | 5 | 2005 |
Philadelphia 76ers | 5 | 2001 |
Baltimore/Washington Bullets/Wizards | 4 | 1979 |
New York Knicks | 4 | 1999 |
New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets | 2 | 2003 |
Orlando Magic | 2 | 2009 |
Indiana Pacers | 1 | 2000 |
Milwaukee Bucks | 1 | 2021 |
Toronto Raptors | 1 | 2019 |
Atlanta Hawks | 0 | N/A |
Charlotte Hornets | 0 | N/A |
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 | |
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) |
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) |
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) |
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) |
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) | CHA (23–42) | WAS (25–47) | CHI (22–43) | NYK (21–45) | DET (20–46) | ATL (20–47) | CLE (19–46) |
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) |
2022–23 | MIL* (58–24) | BOS* (57–25) | PHI* (54–28) | CLE* (51–31) | NYK* (47–35) | BKN* (45–37) | MIA + (44–38) | ATL* (41–41) | TOR× (41–41) | CHI× (40–42) | IND (35–47) | WAS (35–47) | ORL (34–48) | CHA (27–55) | DET (17–65) |
2023–24 | BOS^ (64–18) | NYK* (50–32) | MIL* (49–33) | CLE* (48–34) | ORL* (47–35) | IND* (47–35) | PHI* (47–35) | MIA* (46–36) | CHI× (39–43) | ATL× (36–46) | BKN* (32–50) | TOR (25–57) | CHA (21–61) | WAS (15–67) | DET (14–68) |
The Boston Celtics are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946 as one of the league's original eight teams, the Celtics play their home games at TD Garden, a shared arena with the NHL's Boston Bruins. The Celtics are commonly regarded as the most successful team in NBA history and hold the records for most NBA championships won, with 18, and most recorded wins of any NBA franchise.
Larry Joe Bird is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and executive in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Hick from French Lick" and "Larry Legend", Bird is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He is the only person in NBA history to be named Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Finals MVP, All-Star MVP, Coach of the Year, and Executive of the Year.
Oscar Palmer Robertson, nicknamed "the Big O", is an American former professional basketball player who played for the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Robertson played point guard and was a 12-time All-Star, 11-time member of the All-NBA Team, and one-time winner of the MVP award in 14 seasons. In 1962, he became the first player in NBA history to average a triple-double for a season. In the 1970–71 NBA season, he was a key player on the team that brought the Bucks their first NBA title. His playing career, especially during high school and college, was plagued by racism.
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was an American professional basketball coach and executive. He served as a head coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA), most notably with the Boston Celtics. Auerbach was also the head coach of the Washington Capitols and Tri-Cities Blackhawks. As a coach, Auerbach set NBA records with 938 wins and nine championships. After his coaching retirement in 1966, he served as president and front office executive of the Celtics until his death. As general manager and team president of the Celtics, he won an additional seven NBA titles for a total of 16 in a span of 29 years, the most of any individual in NBA history, making him one of the most successful team officials in the history of North American professional sports.
Robert Joseph Cousy is an American former professional basketball player. He played point guard for the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1963, and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals during the 1969–70 season. A 13-time NBA All-Star and 1957 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), Cousy was a core piece during the early half of the Celtics dynasty winning six NBA championships during his 13-year tenure with the Celtics. Nicknamed "The Houdini of the Hardwood", Cousy was the NBA assists leader for eight consecutive seasons, introducing a new blend of ball-handling and passing skills to the NBA. He is regarded as the first great point guard of the NBA, and was the first to reach the 4,000, 5,000, and 6,000 career assists milestones.
The NBA conference finals are the Eastern and Western Conference championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a major professional basketball league in North America. The NBA was founded in 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA). The NBA adopted its current name at the start of the 1949–50 season when the BAA merged with the National Basketball League (NBL). The league currently consists of 30 teams, of which 29 are located in the United States and 1 in Canada. Each team plays 82 games in the regular season. After the regular season, eight teams from each of the league's two conferences qualify for the playoffs. At the end of the playoffs, the top two teams play each other in the conference finals, to determine the conference champions from each side, who then proceed to play in the NBA Finals. Trophies were given to each conference winner starting in 2001. In 2022, the league started naming an NBA Conference Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for each conference.
Mark Anthony Aguirre is a Mexican-American former basketball player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Aguirre was chosen as the first overall pick of the 1981 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks after playing three years at DePaul University. Aguirre played in the NBA from 1981 until 1994 and won two championships with the Detroit Pistons after being traded to Detroit from Dallas in exchange for Adrian Dantley. Aguirre was a three-time All-Star for Dallas. Aguirre was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016.
Sidney Alvin Moncrief is an American former professional basketball player. As an NCAA college basketball player from 1975 to 1979, Moncrief played for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks, leading them to the 1978 Final Four and a win in the NCAA Consolation Game versus #6 Notre Dame. Nicknamed Sid the Squid, Sir Sid, and El Sid, Moncrief went on to play 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association, including ten seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks. He was a five-time NBA All-Star and won the first two NBA Defensive Player of the Year awards in 1983 and 1984. He was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
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.
The Central Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams, the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers, and the Milwaukee Bucks. All teams except the Cavaliers are former Midwest Division teams; thus, the Central Division now largely resembles the Midwest Division in the 1970s.
The Southeast Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams: the Atlanta Hawks, the Charlotte Hornets, the Miami Heat, the Orlando Magic and the Washington Wizards.
This is a comprehensive list of the accomplishments and records of the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are an American professional basketball team currently playing in the National Basketball Association.
Indiana State Sycamores basketball is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2011.
The 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1978, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship game on March 26, 1979, at the Special Events Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Michigan State Spartans won their first NCAA national championship with a 75–64 victory over the Indiana State Sycamores.
The 2009–10 Southeastern Conference men's basketball season began with practices on October 17, 2009, and ended with the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament on March 11–14, 2010 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
The Western Conference is one of two conferences that make up the National Basketball Association (NBA), the other being the Eastern Conference. Both conferences consist of 15 teams organized into three divisions.
The Celtics–Knicks rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks. The Celtics and Knicks are two of only three remaining charter franchises from the Basketball Association of America, which began operations in 1946.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) annually honors the most valuable players (MVPs) of both of its conference finals. Presented since the 2022 playoffs, the awards are decided by a panel of media members, who cast votes after the conclusion of the conference finals. The person with the highest number of votes in each conference wins the award. The Larry Bird Trophy is awarded to the MVP from the Eastern Conference and the Earvin "Magic" Johnson Trophy for the Western Conference. Their namesakes, Hall of Fame players Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, both made their NBA debuts in 1979, and their bi-coastal rivalry in the 1980s helped revive and popularize the league. The inaugural recipients were Jayson Tatum, and Stephen Curry.
To complete the postseason collection, the NBA updated its conference championship trophies, first created in 2001, and renamed them after Hall of Famers Bob Cousy (for the East) and Oscar Robertson (for the West)