Western Conference (NBA)
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.
Formerly | Western Division |
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League | National Basketball Association |
Sport | Basketball |
Founded | 1970 |
No. of teams | 15 |
Most recent champion(s) | Denver Nuggets (1st title) |
Most titles | Los Angeles Lakers (17 titles) |
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 (named New Orleans Hornets at the time) from the Eastern Conference's Central Division to the newly created Southwest Division of the Western Conference.
The NBA first started awarding a Western Conference championship trophy during the 2000–01 season, renaming it after Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in the 2021–22 season.[1] Also in 2021–22, the league began awarding the Earvin "Magic" Johnson Trophy to the Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player, named after Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.[2]
2023–24 standings
Western Conference | ||||||
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# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | GP |
1 | Denver Nuggets * | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 2 |
2 | Dallas Mavericks * | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 2 |
3 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 2 | 0 | 1.000 | – | 2 |
4 | New Orleans Pelicans | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 0.5 | 1 |
5 | Los Angeles Lakers * | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1.0 | 2 |
6 | Phoenix Suns | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1.0 | 2 |
7 | Golden State Warriors | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1.0 | 2 |
8 | Sacramento Kings | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1.0 | 2 |
9 | Utah Jazz | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1.0 | 2 |
10 | Los Angeles Clippers | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1.0 | 2 |
11 | San Antonio Spurs | 1 | 1 | .500 | 1.0 | 2 |
12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1.5 | 1 |
13 | Portland Trail Blazers | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2.0 | 2 |
14 | Houston Rockets | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2.0 | 2 |
15 | Memphis Grizzlies | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2.0 | 2 |
Notes
- * – Division leader
Teams
Former teams
Team | Location | Year | From | Year | To | Current conference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joined | Left | |||||
Charlotte Hornets | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1989 | Eastern Conference | 1990 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Chicago Bulls | Chicago, Illinois | 1970 | Western Division | 1980 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Detroit Pistons | Detroit, Michigan | 1970 | Eastern Division | 1978 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Indiana Pacers | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1976 | ABA‡ | 1979 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Miami Heat | Miami, Florida | 1988 | —† | 1989 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Milwaukee Bucks | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1970 | Eastern Division | 1980 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
Orlando Magic | Orlando, Florida | 1990 | Eastern Conference | 1991 | Eastern Conference | Eastern Conference |
- Notes
- † denotes an expansion team.
- ‡ denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Seattle supersonics
Team timeline
Denotes team that currently in the conference | |
Denotes team that has left the conference |
Conference champions
Bold | Winning team of the NBA Finals |
^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
Western Conference championships by team
^Note: Milwaukee joined the Eastern Conference during the 1980–81 season.
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 |
Season | Team (record) | ||||||||||||||
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1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th | |
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1970–71 | Milwaukee^ (66–16) | Los Angeles* (48–34) | Chicago* (51–31) | San Francisco* (41–41) | Phoenix (48–34) | Detroit (45–37) | San Diego (40–42) | Seattle (38–44) | Portland (29–53) | ||||||
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1971–72 | Los Angeles^ (69–13) | Milwaukee* (63–19) | Chicago* (57–25) | Golden State* (51–31) | Phoenix (49–33) | Seattle (47–35) | Houston (34–48) | Detroit (26–56) | Portland (18–64) | ||||||
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1972–73 | Milwaukee* (60–22) | Los Angeles+ (60–22) | Chicago* (51–31) | Golden State* (47–35) | Detroit (40–42) | Phoenix (38–44) | Kansas City -Omaha (36–46) | Seattle (26–56) | Portland (21–61) | ||||||
1973–74 | Milwaukee+ (59–23) | Los Angeles* (47–35) | Chicago* (54–28) | Detroit* (52–30) | Golden State (44–38) | Seattle (36–46) | Kansas City -Omaha (33–49) | Phoenix (30–52) | Portland (27–55) | ||||||
1974–75 | Golden State^ (48–34) | Chicago* (47–35) | Kansas City -Omaha* (44–38) | Seattle* (43–39) | Detroit* (40–42) | Portland (38–44) | Milwaukee (38–44) | Phoenix (32–50) | Los Angeles (30–52) | ||||||
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1975–76 | Golden State* (59–23) | Milwaukee* (38–44) | Seattle* (43–39) | Phoenix+ (42–40) | Detroit* (36–46) | Los Angeles (40–42) | Portland (37–45) | Kansas City (31–51) | Chicago (24–58) | ||||||
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1976–77 | Los Angeles* (53–29) | Denver* (50–32) | Portland^ (49–33) | Golden State* (46–36) | Detroit* (44–38) | Chicago* (44–38) | Seattle (40–42) | Kansas City (40–42) | Indiana (36–46) | Phoenix (34–48) | Milwaukee (30–52) | ||||
1977–78 | Portland* (58-24) | Denver* (50–32) | Phoenix* (49–33) | Seattle+ (46–36) | Los Angeles* (44–38) | Milwaukee* (44–38) | Golden State (40–42) | Chicago (40–42) | Detroit (36–46) | Kansas City (34–48) | Indiana (30–52) | ||||
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1978–79 | Seattle^ (52–30) | Kansas City* (48–34) | Phoenix* (50–32) | Denver* (47–35) | Los Angeles* (47–35) | Portland* (45–37) | San Diego (43–39) | Milwaukee (38–44) | Golden State (38–44) | Indiana (38–44) | Chicago (31–51) | ||||
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1979–80 | Los Angeles^ (60–22) | Milwaukee* (49–33) | Seattle* (56–26) | Phoenix* (55–27) | Kansas City* (47–35) | Portland* (38–44) | San Diego (35–47) | Denver (30–52) | Chicago (30–52) | Golden State (24–58) | Utah (24–58) | ||||
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1980–81 | Phoenix* (57–25) | San Antonio* (52–30) | Los Angeles* (54–28) | Portland* (45–37) | Kansas City* (40–42) | Houston+ (40–42) | Golden State (39–43) | Denver (37–45) | San Diego (36–46) | Seattle (34–48) | Utah (28–54) | Dallas (15–67) | |||
1981–82 | Los Angeles^ (57–25) | San Antonio* (48–34) | Seattle* (52–30) | Denver* (46–36) | Phoenix* (46–36) | Houston* (46–36) | Golden State (45–37) | Portland (42–40) | Kansas City (30–52) | Dallas (28–54) | Utah (25–57) | San Diego (17–65) | |||
1982–83 | Los Angeles+ (58–24) | San Antonio* (53–29) | Phoenix* (53–29) | Seattle* (48–34) | Portland* (46–36) | Denver* (46–37) | Kansas City (46–37) | Dallas (38–44) | Golden State (30–52) | Utah (30–52) | San Diego (25–57) | Houston (14–68) | |||
1983–84 | Los Angeles+ (54–28) | Utah* (45–37) | Portland* (48–34) | Dallas* (43–39) | Seattle* (42–40) | Phoenix* (41–41) | Denver* (38–44) | Kansas City* (38–44) | Golden State (37–45) | San Antonio (37–45) | San Diego (30–52) | Houston (29–53) | |||
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1984–85 | L.A. Lakers^ (62–20) | Denver* (52–30) | Houston* (48–34) | Dallas* (44–38) | Portland* (42–40) | Utah* (41–41) | San Antonio* (41–41) | Phoenix* (36–46) | Kansas City (31–51) | Seattle (31–51) | L.A. Clippers (31–51) | Golden State (22–60) | |||
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1985–86 | L.A. Lakers* (62–20) | Houston+ (51–31) | Denver* (47–35) | Dallas* (44–38) | Utah* (42–40) | Portland* (40–42) | Sacramento* (37–45) | San Antonio* (35–47) | Phoenix (32–50) | L.A. Clippers (32–50) | Seattle (31–51) | Golden State (30–52) | |||
1986–87 | L.A. Lakers^ (65–17) | Dallas* (55–27) | Portland* (49–33) | Utah* (44–38) | Golden State* (42–40) | Houston* (42–40) | Seattle* (39–43) | Denver* (37–45) | Phoenix (36–46) | Sacramento (29–53) | San Antonio (28–54) | L.A. Clippers (12–70) | |||
1987–88 | L.A. Lakers^ (62–20) | Denver* (54–28) | Dallas* (53–29) | Portland* (53–29) | Utah* (47–35) | Houston* (46–36) | Seattle* (44–38) | San Antonio* (31–51) | Phoenix (28–54) | Sacramento (24–58) | Golden State (20–62) | L.A. Clippers (17–65) | |||
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1988–89 | L.A. Lakers+ (57–25) | Utah* (51–31) | Phoenix* (55–27) | Seattle* (47–35) | Houston* (45–37) | Denver* (44–38) | Golden State* (43–39) | Portland* (39–43) | Dallas (38–44) | Sacramento (27–55) | L.A. Clippers (21–61) | San Antonio (21–61) | Miami (15–67) | ||
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1989–90 | L.A. Lakers* (63–19) | San Antonio* (56–26) | Portland+ (59–23) | Utah* (55–27) | Phoenix* (54–28) | Dallas* (47–35) | Denver* (43–39) | Houston* (41–41) | Seattle (41–41) | Golden State (37–45) | L.A. Clippers (30–52) | Sacramento (23–59) | Minnesota (22–60) | Charlotte (19–63) | |
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1990–91 | Portland* (63–19) | San Antonio* (55–27) | L.A. Lakers+ (58–24) | Phoenix* (55–27) | Utah* (54–28) | Houston* (52–30) | Golden State* (44–38) | Seattle* (41–41) | Orlando (31–51) | L.A. Clippers (32–51) | Minnesota (29–53) | Dallas (28–54) | Sacramento (25–57) | Denver (20–62) | |
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1991–92 | Portland+ (57–25) | Utah* (55–27) | Golden State* (55–27) | Phoenix* (53–29) | San Antonio* (47–35) | Seattle* (47–35) | L.A. Clippers* (45–37) | L.A. Lakers* (43–39) | Houston (42–40) | Sacramento (29–53) | Denver (24–58) | Dallas (22–60) | Minnesota (15–67) | ||
1992–93 | Phoenix+ (62–20) | Houston* (55–27) | Seattle* (55–27) | Portland* (51–31) | San Antonio* (49–33) | Utah* (47–35) | L.A. Clippers* (41–41) | L.A. Lakers* (39–43) | Denver (36–46) | Golden State (34–48) | Sacramento (25–57) | Minnesota (19–63) | Dallas (11–71) | ||
1993–94 | Seattle* (63–19) | Houston^ (58–24) | Phoenix* (56–26) | San Antonio* (55–27) | Utah* (53–39) | Golden State* (50–32) | Portland* (47–35) | Denver* (42–40) | L.A. Lakers (33–49) | Sacramento (28–54) | L.A. Clippers (27–55) | Minnesota (20–62) | Dallas (13–69) | ||
1994–95 | San Antonio* (62–20) | Phoenix* (59–23) | Utah* (60–22) | Seattle* (57–25) | L.A. Lakers* (48–34) | Houston^ (47–35) | Portland* (44–38) | Denver* (41–41) | Sacramento (39–43) | Dallas (36–46) | Golden State (26–56) | Minnesota (21–61) | L.A. Clippers (17–65) | ||
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1995–96 | Seattle+ (64–18) | San Antonio* (59–23) | Utah* (55–27) | L.A. Lakers* (53–29) | Houston* (48–34) | Portland* (44–38) | Phoenix* (41–41) | Sacramento* (39–43) | Golden State (36–46) | Denver (35–47) | L.A. Clippers (29–53) | Minnesota (26–56) | Dallas (26–56) | Vancouver (15–67) | |
1996–97 | Utah+ (64–18) | Seattle* (57–25) | Houston* (57–25) | L.A. Lakers* (56–26) | Portland* (49–33) | Minnesota* (40–42) | Phoenix* (40–42) | L.A. Clippers* (36–46) | Sacramento (34–48) | Golden State (30–52) | Dallas (24–58) | Denver (21–61) | San Antonio (20–62) | Vancouver (14–68) | |
1997–98 | Utah+ (62–20) | Seattle* (61–21) | L.A. Lakers* (61–21) | Phoenix* (56–26) | San Antonio* (56–26) | Portland* (46–36) | Minnesota* (45–37) | Houston* (41–41) | Sacramento (27–55) | Dallas (20–62) | Vancouver (19–63) | Golden State (19–63) | L.A. Clippers (17–65) | Denver (11–71) | |
1998–99 | San Antonio^ (37–13) | Utah* (37–13) | Portland* (35–15) | L.A. Lakers* (31–19) | Houston* (31–19) | Phoenix* (27–23) | Sacramento* (27–23) | Minnesota* (25–25) | Seattle (25–25) | Golden State (21–29) | Dallas (19–31) | Denver (14–36) | L.A. Clippers (9–41) | Vancouver (8–42) | |
1999–00 | L.A. Lakers^ (67–15) | Utah* (55–27) | Portland* (59–23) | San Antonio* (53–29) | Phoenix* (53–29) | Minnesota* (50–32) | Seattle* (45–37) | Sacramento* (44–38) | Dallas (40–42) | Denver (35–47) | Houston (34–48) | Vancouver (22–60) | Golden State (19–63) | L.A. Clippers (15–67) | |
2000–01 | San Antonio* (58–24) | L.A. Lakers^ (56–26) | Sacramento* (55–27) | Utah* (53–29) | Dallas* (53–29) | Phoenix* (53–29) | Portland* (50–32) | Minnesota* (47–35) | Houston (45–37) | Seattle (44–38) | Denver (40–42) | L.A. Clippers (31–51) | Vancouver (23–59) | Golden State (17–65) | |
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2001–02 | SAC* (61–21) | SAS* (58–24) | LAL^ (56–26) | DAL* (53–29) | MIN* (53–29) | POR* (53–29) | SEA* (50–32) | UTA* (47–35) | LAC (45–37) | PHX (44–38) | HOU (40–42) | DEN (31–51) | MEM (23–59) | GSW (17–65) | |
2002–03 | SAS^ (60–22) | SAC* (59–23) | DAL* (60–22) | MIN* (51–31) | LAL* (50–32) | POR* (50–32) | UTA* (47–35) | PHX* (44–38) | HOU (43–39) | SEA (40–42) | GSW (38–44) | MEM (28–54) | LAC (27–55) | DEN (17–65) | |
2003–04 | MIN* (58–24) | LAL+ (56–26) | SAS* (57–25) | SAC* (55–27) | DAL* (52–30) | MEM* (50–32) | HOU* (45–37) | DEN* (43–39) | UTA (42–40) | POR (41–41) | GSW (37–45) | SEA (37–45) | PHX (29–53) | LAC (28–54) | |
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2004–05 | PHX* (62–20) | SAS^ (59–23) | SEA* (52–30) | DAL* (58–24) | HOU* (51–31) | SAC* (50–32) | DEN* (49–33) | MEM* (45–37) | MIN (44–38) | LAC (37–45) | LAL (34–48) | GSW (34–48) | POR (27–55) | UTA (26–56) | NOR (18–64) |
2005–06 | SAS* (63–19) | PHX* (54–28) | DEN* (44–38) | DAL+ (60–22) | MEM* (49–33) | LAC* (47–35) | LAL* (45–37) | SAC* (44–38) | UTA (41–41) | NO/ OKC[a] (38–44) | SEA (35–47) | HOU (34–48) | GSW (34–48) | MIN (33–49) | POR (21–61) |
2006–07 | DAL* (67–15) | PHX* (61–21) | SAS^ (58–24) | UTA* (58–24) | HOU* (52–30) | DEN* (45–37) | LAL* (42–40) | GSW* (42–40) | LAC (40–42) | NO/ OKC[a] (39–43) | SAC (33–49) | POR (32–50) | MIN (32–50) | SEA (31–51) | MEM (22–60) |
2007–08 | LAL+ (57–25) | NOH* (56–26) | SAS* (56–26) | UTA* (54–28) | HOU* (55–27) | PHX* (55–27) | DAL* (51–31) | DEN* (50–32) | GSW (48–34) | POR (41–41) | SAC (38–44) | LAC (23–59) | MEM (22–60) | MIN (22–60) | SEA (20–62) |
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2008–09 | LAL^ (65–17) | DEN* (54–28) | SAS* (54–28) | POR* (54–28) | HOU* (53–29) | DAL* (50–32) | NOH* (49–33) | UTA* (48–34) | PHX (46–36) | GSW (29–53) | MIN (24–58) | MEM (24–58) | OKC (23–59) | LAC (19–63) | SAC (17–65) |
2009–10 | LAL^ (57–25) | DAL* (55–27) | PHX* (54–28) | DEN* (53–29) | UTA* (53–29) | POR* (50–32) | SAS* (50–32) | OKC* (50–32) | HOU (42–40) | MEM (40–42) | NOH (37–45) | LAC (29–53) | GSW (26–56) | SAC (25–57) | MIN (15–67) |
2010–11 | SAS* (61–21) | LAL* (57–25) | DAL^ (57–25) | OKC* (55–27) | DEN* (50–32) | POR* (48–34) | NOH* (46–36) | MEM* (46–36) | HOU (43–39) | PHX (40–42) | UTA (39–43) | GSW (36–46) | LAC (32–50) | SAC (24–58) | MIN (17–65) |
2011–12 | SAS* (50–16) | OKC+ (47–19) | LAL* (41–25) | MEM* (41–25) | LAC* (40–26) | DEN* (38–28) | DAL* (36–30) | UTA* (36–30) | HOU (34–32) | PHX (33–33) | POR (28–38) | MIN (26–40) | GSW (23–43) | SAC (22–44) | NOH (21–45) |
2012–13 | OKC* (60–22) | SAS+ (58–24) | DEN* (57–25) | LAC* (56–26) | MEM* (56–26) | GSW* (47–35) | LAL* (45–37) | HOU* (45–37) | UTA (43–39) | DAL (41–41) | POR (33–49) | MIN (31–51) | SAC (28–54) | NOH (27–55) | PHX (25–57) |
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2013–14 | SAS^ (62–20) | OKC* (59–23) | LAC* (57–25) | HOU* (54–28) | POR* (54–28) | GSW* (51–31) | MEM* (50–32) | DAL* (49–33) | PHX (48–34) | MIN (40–42) | DEN (36–46) | NOP (34–48) | SAC (28–54) | LAL (27–55) | UTA (25–57) |
2014–15 | GSW^ (67–15) | HOU* (56–26) | LAC* (56–26) | POR* (51–31) | MEM* (55–27) | SAS* (55–27) | DAL* (50–32) | NOP* (45–37) | OKC (45–37) | PHX (39–43) | UTA (38–44) | DEN (30–52) | SAC (29–53) | LAL (21–61) | MIN (16–66) |
2015–16 | GSW+ (73–9) | SAS* (67–15) | OKC* (55–27) | LAC* (53–29) | POR* (44–38) | DAL* (42–40) | MEM* (42–40) | HOU* (41–41) | UTA (40–42) | SAC (33–49) | DEN (33–49) | NOP (30–52) | MIN (29–53) | PHX (23–59) | LAL (17–65) |
2016–17 | GSW^ (67–15) | SAS* (61–21) | HOU* (55–27) | LAC* (51–31) | UTA* (51–31) | OKC* (47–35) | MEM* (43–39) | POR* (41–41) | DEN (40–42) | NOP (34–48) | DAL (33–49) | SAC (32–50) | MIN (31–51) | LAL (26–56) | PHX (24–58) |
2017–18 | HOU* (65–17) | GSW^ (58–24) | POR* (49–33) | OKC* (48–34) | UTA* (48–34) | NOP* (48–34) | SAS* (47–35) | MIN* (47–35) | DEN (46–36) | LAC (42–40) | LAL (35–47) | SAC (27–55) | DAL (24–58) | MEM (22–60) | PHX (21–61) |
2018–19 | GSW+ (57–25) | DEN* (54–28) | POR* (53–29) | HOU* (53–29) | UTA* (50–32) | OKC* (49–33) | SAS* (48–34) | LAC* (48–34) | SAC (39–43) | LAL (37–45) | MIN (36–46) | MEM (33–49) | NOP (33–49) | DAL (33–49) | PHX (19–63) |
2019–20 | LAL^ (52–19) | LAC* (49–23) | DEN* (46–27) | HOU* (44–28) | OKC* (44–28) | UTA* (44–28) | DAL* (43–32) | POR* (35–39) | MEM× (34–39) | PHX (34–39) | SAS (32–39) | SAC (31–41) | NOP (30–42) | MIN (19–45) | GSW (15–50) |
2020–21 | UTA* (52–20) | PHX+ (51–21) | DEN* (47–25) | LAC* (47–25) | DAL* (42–30) | POR* (42–30) | LAL* (42–30) | GSW× (39–33) | MEM* (38–34) | SAS× (33–39) | NOP (31–41) | SAC (31–41) | MIN (23–49) | OKC (22–50) | HOU (17–55) |
2021–22 | PHX* (64–18) | MEM* (56–26) | GSW^ (53–29) | DAL* (52–30) | UTA* (49–33) | DEN* (48–34) | MIN* (46–36) | LAC× (42–40) | NOP* (36–46) | SAS× (34–48) | LAL (33–49) | SAC (30–52) | POR (27–55) | OKC (24–58) | HOU (20–62) |
2022–23 | DEN^ (53–29) | MEM* (51–31) | SAC* (48–34) | PHX* (45–37) | LAC* (44–38) | GSW* (44–38) | LAL* (43–39) | MIN* (42–40) | NOP× (42–40) | OKC× (40–42) | DAL (38–44) | UTA (37–45) | POR (33–49) | HOU (22–60) | SAS (22–60) |
Notes
- a 1 2 3 The New Orleans Hornets temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City due to the effect of Hurricane Katrina. The majority of home games were played in Oklahoma City, while a few remained in New Orleans.
References
- "NBA redesigns Finals trophy, adds awards named after Magic Johnson, Larry Bird". The Washington Post. May 12, 2022.
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)
- Powell, Shaun (May 12, 2022). "NBA introduces new lineup of postseason hardware". NBA.com. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
- NBA Season Recap |NBA.com