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Formerly | Eastern Division |
---|---|
League | National Basketball Association |
Sport | Basketball |
Founded | 1970 |
No. of teams | 15 |
Most recent champion(s) | Miami Heat (7th title) |
Most titles | Boston Celtics (10 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 | z – Boston Celtics * | 64 | 18 | .780 | – | 82 |
2 | x – New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 14.0 | 82 |
3 | y – Milwaukee Bucks * | 49 | 33 | .598 | 15.0 | 82 |
4 | x – Cleveland Cavaliers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 16.0 | 82 |
5 | y – Orlando Magic * | 47 | 35 | .573 | 17.0 | 82 |
6 | x – Indiana Pacers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 17.0 | 82 |
7 | x – Philadelphia 76ers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 17.0 | 82 |
8 | x – Miami Heat | 46 | 36 | .561 | 18.0 | 82 |
9 | pi – Chicago Bulls | 39 | 43 | .476 | 25.0 | 82 |
10 | pi – Atlanta Hawks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 28.0 | 82 |
11 | Brooklyn Nets | 32 | 50 | .390 | 32.0 | 82 |
12 | Toronto Raptors | 25 | 57 | .305 | 39.0 | 82 |
13 | Charlotte Hornets | 21 | 61 | .256 | 43.0 | 82 |
14 | Washington Wizards | 15 | 67 | .183 | 49.0 | 82 |
15 | Detroit Pistons | 14 | 68 | .171 | 50.0 | 82 |
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 | 10 | 2022 |
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) |
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.
The Indiana Pacers are an American professional basketball team based in Indianapolis. The Pacers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference.
William Charles Fitch was an American professional basketball coach in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He developed multiple teams into playoff contenders and won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 1981. Before entering the professional ranks, he coached college basketball at the University of Minnesota, Bowling Green State University, the University of North Dakota, and his alma mater, Coe College. Fitch's teams twice qualified for the NCAA tournament. He won the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. Christopher Gerhman Protrayed him in Winning Time.
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 grand 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 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, they named them the Bob Cousy Trophy for the Eastern Conference and the Oscar Robertson Trophy for the Western Conference. Also that year, the league started naming an NBA conference finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for each conference.
The 1983–84 NBA season was the 38th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 for the second time since 1969 in the NBA Finals.
The 1982–83 NBA season was the 37th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Philadelphia 76ers winning the NBA Championship, sweeping the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals.
The 1980–81 NBA season was the 35th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Houston Rockets 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals. As of 2023, this was the last time an NBA season had ended before Memorial Day.
The 1979–80 NBA season was the 34th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Los Angeles Lakers winning the NBA Championship, beating the Philadelphia 76ers 4 games to 2 in the NBA Finals, and is notable for being the year in which the three-point field goal was adopted.
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.
The Pacific Division is one of the three divisions in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams: the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings. All teams, except the Suns, are based in California. Along with the American League West of Major League Baseball, they are one of two North American major league divisions with no animal themed nicknames.
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.
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 NBA conference finals Most Valuable Player award (MVP) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given since the 2022 NBA playoffs to the top performing players in the NBA conference finals. The award is 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 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 from the Eastern Conference, and Stephen Curry from the Western Conference.
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)