Atlantic Division (NBA)

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.

Atlantic Division
ConferenceEastern Conference
LeagueNational Basketball Association
SportBasketball
Inaugural season1970–71 season
No. of teams5
Most recent
champion(s)		Boston Celtics
(24th title)
Most titlesBoston Celtics
(24 titles)

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 24. Nine NBA champions have come from the Atlantic Division. The Celtics have won seventeen championships,[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]

2023–24 standings
Main article: 2023–24 NBA season
Atlantic DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
Boston Celtics201.000–1–01–01–02
Toronto Raptors11.5001.01–00–10–02
New York Knicks11.5001.00–11–00–12
Brooklyn Nets02.0002.00–10–10–02
Philadelphia 76ers01.0001.50–00–10–01

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

Former teams
Team City Year From Year To Current division
Joined Left
Buffalo Braves (1970–1978, now Los Angeles Clippers) Buffalo, New York 1970 —† 1978 Pacific Division
(as San Diego Clippers)		 Pacific Division
Charlotte Hornets (1988–2002; 2004–present, formerly Charlotte Bobcats) Charlotte, North Carolina 1988 —† 1989 Midwest Division Southeast Division
Miami Heat Miami 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.
Landover, Maryland		 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 Celtics

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
Season Team Record Playoffs result
1970–71 New York Knicks 52–30 (.634) Lost conference finals
1971–72 Boston Celtics 56–26 (.683) Lost conference finals
1972–73 Boston Celtics^ 68–14 (.829) Lost conference finals
1973–74 Boston Celtics 56–26 (.683) Won NBA Finals
1974–75 Boston Celtics^ 60–22 (.732) Lost conference finals
1975–76 Boston Celtics 54–28 (.659) Won NBA Finals
1976–77 Philadelphia 76ers 50–32 (.610) Lost NBA Finals
1977–78 Philadelphia 76ers 55–27 (.671) Lost conference finals
1978–79 Washington Bullets^ 54–28 (.659) Lost NBA Finals
1979–80 Boston Celtics^ 61–21 (.744) Lost conference finals
1980–81 Boston Celtics^ 62–20 (.756) Won NBA Finals
1981–82 Boston Celtics^ 63–19 (.768) Lost conference finals
1982–83 Philadelphia 76ers^ 65–17 (.793) Won NBA Finals
1983–84 Boston Celtics^ 62–20 (.756) Won NBA Finals
1984–85 Boston Celtics^ 63–19 (.768) Lost NBA Finals
1985–86 Boston Celtics^ 67–15 (.817) Won NBA Finals
1986–87 Boston Celtics 59–23 (.720) Lost NBA Finals
1987–88 Boston Celtics 57–25 (.695) Lost conference finals
1988–89 New York Knicks 52–30 (.634) Lost conference semifinals
1989–90 Philadelphia 76ers 53–29 (.646) Lost conference semifinals
1990–91 Boston Celtics 56–26 (.683) Lost conference semifinals
1991–92 Boston Celtics 51–31 (.622) Lost conference semifinals
1992–93 New York Knicks 60–22 (.732) Lost conference finals
1993–94 New York Knicks 57–25 (.695) Lost NBA Finals
1994–95 Orlando Magic 57–25 (.695) Lost NBA Finals
1995–96 Orlando Magic 60–22 (.732) Lost conference finals
1996–97 Miami Heat 61–21 (.744) Lost conference finals
1997–98 Miami Heat 55–27 (.671) Lost First round
1998–99[a] Miami Heat 33–17 (.660) Lost First round
1999–00 Miami Heat 52–30 (.634) Lost conference semifinals
2000–01 Philadelphia 76ers 56–26 (.683) Lost NBA Finals
2001–02 New Jersey Nets 52–30 (.634) Lost NBA Finals
2002–03 New Jersey Nets 49–33 (.598) Lost NBA Finals
2003–04 New Jersey Nets 47–35 (.573) Lost conference semifinals
2004–05 Boston Celtics 45–37 (.549) Lost First round
2005–06 New Jersey Nets 49–33 (.598) Lost conference semifinals
2006–07 Toronto Raptors 47–35 (.573) Lost First round
2007–08 Boston Celtics^ 66–16 (.805) Won NBA Finals
2008–09 Boston Celtics 62–20 (.756) Lost conference semifinals
2009–10 Boston Celtics 50–32 (.610) Lost NBA Finals
2010–11 Boston Celtics 56–26 (.683) Lost conference semifinals
2011–12[b] Boston Celtics 39–27 (.591) Lost conference finals
2012–13 New York Knicks 54–28 (.659) Lost conference semifinals
2013–14 Toronto Raptors 48–34 (.585) Lost First round
2014–15 Toronto Raptors 49–33 (.598) Lost First round
2015–16 Toronto Raptors 56–26 (.683) Lost conference finals
2016–17 Boston Celtics 53–29 (.646) Lost conference finals
2017–18 Toronto Raptors 59–23 (.720) Lost conference semifinals
2018–19 Toronto Raptors 58–24 (.707) Won NBA Finals
2019–20 Toronto Raptors 53–19 (.736) Lost conference semifinals
2020–21 Philadelphia 76ers 49–23 (.681) Lost conference semifinals
2021–22 Boston Celtics 51–31 (.622) Lost NBA Finals
2022–23 Boston Celtics 57–25 (.695) Lost conference finals

Titles by team
^ Denotes team that has left the division
Team Titles Season(s) won
Boston Celtics241971–72, 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
Toronto Raptors72006–07, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
Philadelphia 76ers61976–77, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1989–90, 2000–01, 2020–21
New York Knicks51970–71, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2012–13
Brooklyn Nets42001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06
Miami Heat^41996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00
Orlando Magic^21994–95, 1995–96
Washington Bullets^ (now Washington Wizards)11978–79

Season results
^ Denotes team that won the NBA championships
+ 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
1970–71New York* (52–30)Philadelphia* (47–35)Boston (44–38)Buffalo (22–60)
1971–72Boston* (56–26)New York+ (48–34)Philadelphia (30–52)Buffalo (22–60)
1972–73Boston* (68–14)New York^ (57–25)Buffalo (21–61)Philadelphia (9–73)
1973–74Boston^ (56–26)New York* (49–33)Buffalo* (42–40)Philadelphia (25–57)
1974–75Boston* (60–22)Buffalo* (49–33)New York* (40–42)Philadelphia (34–48)
1975–76Boston^ (54–28)Philadelphia* (46–36)Buffalo* (46–36)New York (38–44)
1976–77Philadelphia+ (50–32)Boston* (44–38)NY Knicks (40–42)Buffalo (30–52)NY Nets (22–60)
1977–78Philadelphia* (55–27)New York* (43–39)Boston (32–50)Buffalo (27–55)New Jersey (24–58)
1978–79Washington+ (54–28)Philadelphia* (47–35)New Jersey* (37–45)New York (31–51)Boston (29–53)
1979–80Boston* (61–21)Philadelphia+ (59–23)Washington* (39–43)New York (39–43)New Jersey (34–48)
1980–81Boston^ (62–20)Philadelphia* (62–20)New York* (50–32)Washington (39–43)New Jersey (24–58)
1981–82Boston* (63–19)Philadelphia+ (58–24)New Jersey* (44–38)Washington* (43–39)New York (33–49)
1982–83Philadelphia^ (65–17)Boston* (56–26)New Jersey* (49–33)New York* (44–38)Washington (42–40)
1983–84Boston^ (62–20)Philadelphia* (52–30)New York* (47–35)New Jersey* (45–37)Washington* (35–47)
1984–85Boston+ (63–19)Philadelphia* (58–24)New Jersey* (42–40)Washington* (40–42)New York (24–58)
1985–86Boston^ (67–15)Philadelphia* (54–28)Washington* (39–43)New Jersey* (39–43)New York (23–59)
1986–87Boston+ (59–23)Philadelphia* (45–37)Washington* (42–40)New Jersey (24–58)New York (24–58)
1987–88Boston* (57–25)Washington* (38–44)New York* (38–44)Philadelphia (36–46)New Jersey (19–63)
1988–89New York* (52–30)Philadelphia* (46–36)Boston* (42–40)Washington (40–42)New Jersey (26–56)Charlotte (20–62)
1989–90Philadelphia* (53–29)Boston* (52–30)New York* (45–37)Washington (31–51)Miami (18–64)New Jersey (17–65)
1990–91Boston* (56–26)Philadelphia* (44–38)New York* (39–43)Washington (30–52)New Jersey (26–56)Miami (24–58)
1991–92Boston* (51–31)New York* (51–31)New Jersey* (40–42)Miami* (38–44)Philadelphia (35–47)Washington (25–57)Orlando (21–61)
1992–93New York* (60–22)Boston* (48–34)New Jersey* (43–39)Orlando (41–41)Miami (36–46)Philadelphia (26–56)Washington (22–60)
1993–94New York+ (57–25)Orlando* (50–32)New Jersey* (45–37)Miami* (42–40)Boston (32–50)Philadelphia (25–57)Washington (24–58)
1994–95Orlando+ (57–25)New York* (55–27)Boston* (35–47)Miami (32–50)New Jersey (30–52)Philadelphia (24–58)Washington (21–61)
1995–96Orlando* (60–22)New York* (47–35)Miami* (42–40)Washington (39–43)Boston (33–49)New Jersey (30–52)Philadelphia (18–64)
1996–97Miami* (61–21)New York* (57–25)Orlando* (45–37)Washington* (44–38)New Jersey (26–56)Philadelphia (22–60)Boston (15–67)
1997–98Miami* (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)
1999–00Miami* (52–30)New York* (50–32)Philadelphia* (49–33)Orlando (41–41)Boston (35–47)New Jersey (31–51)Washington (29–53)
2000–01Philadelphia+ (56–26)Miami* (50–32)New York* (48–34)Orlando* (43–39)Boston (36–46)New Jersey (26–56)Washington (19–63)
2001–02New Jersey+ (52–30)Boston* (49–33)Orlando* (44–38)Philadelphia* (43–39)Washington (37–45)Miami (36–46)New York (30–52)
2002–03New Jersey+ (49–33)Philadelphia* (48–34)Boston* (44–38)Orlando* (42–40)Washington (37–45)New York (37–45)Miami (25–57)
2003–04New Jersey* (47–35)Miami* (42–40)New York* (39–43)Boston* (36–46)Philadelphia (33–49)Washington (25–57)Orlando (21–61)
2004–05Boston* (45–37)Philadelphia* (43–39)New Jersey* (42–40)Toronto (33–49)New York (33–49)
2005–06New Jersey* (49–33)Philadelphia (38–44)Boston (33–49)Toronto (27–55)New York (23–59)
2006–07Toronto* (47–35)New Jersey* (41–41)Philadelphia (35–47)New York (33–49)Boston (24–58)
2007–08Boston^ (66–16)Toronto* (41–41)Philadelphia* (40–42)New Jersey (34–48)New York (23–59)
2008–09Boston* (62–20)Philadelphia* (41–41)New Jersey (34–48)Toronto (33–49)New York (32–50)
2009–10Boston+ (50–32)Toronto (40–42)New York (29–53)Philadelphia (27–55)New Jersey (12–70)
2010–11Boston* (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)
2012–13New York* (54–28)Brooklyn* (49–33)Boston* (41–40)Philadelphia (34–48)Toronto (34–48)
2013–14Toronto* (48–34)Brooklyn* (44–38)New York (37–45)Boston (25–57)Philadelphia (19–63)
2014–15Toronto* (49–33)Boston* (40–42)Brooklyn* (38–44)Philadelphia (18–64)New York (17–65)
2015–16Toronto* (56–26)Boston* (48–34)New York (32–50)Brooklyn (21–61)Philadelphia (10–72)
2016–17Boston* (53–29)Toronto* (51–31)New York (31–51)Philadelphia (28–54)Brooklyn (20–62)
2017–18Toronto* (59–23)Boston* (55–27)Philadelphia* (52–30)New York (29–53)Brooklyn (28–54)
2018–19Toronto^ (58–24)Philadelphia* (51–31)Boston* (49–33)Brooklyn* (42–40)New York (17–65)
2019–20Toronto* (53–19)Boston* (48–24)Philadelphia* (43–30)Brooklyn* (35–37)New York† (21–45)
2020–21Philadelphia* (49–23)Brooklyn* (48–24)New York* (41–31)Boston* (36–36)Toronto (27–45)
2021–22Boston+ (51–31)Philadelphia* (51–31)Toronto* (48–34)Brooklyn* (44–38)New York (37–45)
2022–23Boston* (57–25)Philadelphia* (54–28)New York* (47–35)Brooklyn* (45–37)Toronto× (41–41)

Rivalries
Main article: National Basketball Association rivalries § Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
Main article: Celtics–Knicks rivalry

Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers
Main article: 76ers–Celtics rivalry

New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets
Main article: Knicks–Nets rivalry

Toronto Raptors vs. Brooklyn Nets
Main article: Nets-Raptors rivalry

Notes
  • a 1 2 Because of a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened 50-game regular season schedule.[5]
  • b 1 2 Because of a lockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened 66-game regular season schedule.[6]
  • †In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, the NBA canceled the April 16 game scheduled in Boston between the Celtics and the Pacers; the game was not rescheduled because it would have had no impact on either team's playoff seedings.[7]

See also

References
General
  • "NBA & ABA League Index". Basketball-Reference.com.
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. "NBA Unveils Division Winner Trophies Named After Black Pioneers from League History". Bleacher Report. April 11, 2022. 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. 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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