Central Division (NBA)
| Conference | Eastern Conference |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Sport | Basketball |
| First season | 1970–71 season |
| No. of teams | 5 |
| Most recent champion(s) | Milwaukee Bucks (13th title) |
| Most titles | Milwaukee Bucks(13 titles) |
TheCentral Divisionis one of the three divisions in theEastern Conferenceof theNational Basketball Association(NBA). The division consists of five teams, theChicago Bulls,theCleveland Cavaliers,theDetroit Pistons,theIndiana Pacers,and theMilwaukee Bucks.All teams except the Cavaliers are formerMidwest Divisionteams; thus, the Central Division now largely resembles the Midwest Division in the 1970s.
The division was created at the start of the1970–71 season,when the league expanded from 14 to 17 teams with the addition of theBuffalo Braves,the Cleveland Cavaliers, and thePortland Trail Blazers.The league realigned itself into two conferences, theWestern Conferenceand the Eastern Conference, with two divisions in each conference. The Central Division began with four inaugural members, theAtlanta Hawks,theBaltimore Bullets,theCincinnati Royals,and the Cavaliers.[1]The Hawks were moved from theWestern Division,while the Bullets and the Royals were moved from theEastern Division.
ThirteenNBA championscame from the Central Division. The Bulls won six championships, the Pistons won three, the Bucks won two, and the Bullets and Cavaliers won one each. All of the teams, except the1977–78Bullets and the2003–04Pistons, were division champions. In the2005–06 season,all five teams from the division qualified for the playoffs. Overall, the Bucks have won twelve Central Division titles, followed by the Bulls and Pistons with nine division titles each. The Central Division has the highest percentage of teams that have won a championship, with four out of the five teams having won an NBA title. The Pacers are the lone exception, although they did advance to the NBA Finals in2000.
The Central Division previously existed for one season, the1949–50 season,as one of three divisions in the NBA, along with the Western and Eastern divisions. The current Central Division that was formed in 1970 is one of three divisions in the Eastern Conference.
Since the2021–22 season,the Central Division champion has received theWayne Embry Trophy,named after Hall of FamerWayne Embry.[2]
2023–24 standings
[edit]| Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y–Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | – | 31–11 | 18–22 | 10–7 | 82 |
| x–Cleveland Cavaliers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 1.0 | 26–15 | 22–19 | 11–5 | 82 |
| x–Indiana Pacers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2.0 | 26–15 | 21–20 | 11–6 | 82 |
| pi–Chicago Bulls | 39 | 43 | .476 | 10.0 | 20–21 | 19–22 | 7–9 | 82 |
| Detroit Pistons | 14 | 68 | .171 | 35.0 | 7–33 | 7–35 | 2–14 | 82 |
Notes
- y– Clinched division
- x– Clinched playoff spot
- pi– Clinched play-in tournament spot
Teams
[edit]| Team | City | Year | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joined | |||
| Chicago Bulls | Chicago, Illinois | 1980 | Midwest Division |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Cleveland, Ohio | 1970 | —† |
| Detroit Pistons | Detroit, Michigan | 1978 | Midwest Division |
| Indiana Pacers | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1979 | Midwest Division |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1980 | Midwest Division |
- Notes
- † denotes anexpansion team.
Former teams
[edit]- Notes
- † denotes anexpansion team.
- ‡ denotes a team thatmergedfrom theAmerican Basketball Association(ABA).
- * The Charlotte NBA franchise was inactive from 2002 to 2004 upon the relocation of the Hornets to New Orleans. A new franchise, initially known as the Bobcats, began play in the 2004–05 season. In 2013, the New Orleans Hornets were renamed the Pelicans, and the following season, the Bobcats were renamed the Hornets, acquiring the history and records of the 1988–2002 Hornets while retroactively designating the Pelicans as an expansion team.
Team timeline
[edit]| Denotes team that currently in the division | |
| Denotes team that has left the division |
Wayne Embry Trophy
[edit]Beginning with the2021–22 season,the Central Division champion has received theWayne Embry Trophy.As with the other division championship trophies, it is named after one of the African American pioneers from NBA history.Wayne Embrybecame the NBA's first African American general manager when he was hired by theMilwaukee Bucksin 1972. The Embry Trophy consists of a 200-millimetre (7.9 in) crystal ball.[3]
Division champions
[edit]| ^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
Titles by team
[edit]| ^ | Denotes team that has left the division |
Season results
[edit]| ^ | Denotes team that won theNBA championships |
| + | Denotes team that won theConference finals,but lost theNBA Finals |
| * | Denotes team that qualified for theNBA Playoffs |
| × | Denotes team that qualified for theNBA play-in tournament |
| † | Denotes team that did not qualify for the2020 NBA Bubbleseason restart |
| Season | Team (record) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | |
| ||||||||
| 1970–71 | Baltimore+(42–40) | Atlanta* (36–46) | Cincinnati(33–49) | Cleveland(15–67) | ||||
| 1971–72 | Baltimore* (38–44) | Atlanta* (36–46) | Cincinnati(30–52) | Cleveland(23–59) | ||||
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| 1972–73 | Baltimore* (52–30) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Houston(33–49) | Cleveland(32–50) | ||||
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| 1973–74 | Capital* (47–35) | Atlanta(35–47) | Houston(32–50) | Cleveland(29–53) | ||||
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| 1974–75 | Washington+(60–22) | Houston* (41–41) | Cleveland(40–42) | Atlanta(31–51) | New Orleans(23–59) | |||
| 1975–76 | Cleveland* (49–33) | Washington* (48–34) | Houston(40–42) | New Orleans(38–44) | Atlanta(29–53) | |||
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| 1976–77 | Houston* (49–33) | Washington* (48–34) | San Antonio* (44–38) | Cleveland* (43–39) | New Orleans(35–47) | Atlanta(31–51) | ||
| 1977–78 | San Antonio* (52–30) | Washington^ (44–38) | Cleveland* (43–39) | Atlanta* (41–41) | New Orleans(39–43) | Houston(28–54) | ||
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| 1978–79 | San Antonio* (48–34) | Houston* (47–35) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Detroit(30–52) | Cleveland(30–52) | New Orleans(26–56) | ||
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| 1979–80 | Atlanta* (50–32) | Houston* (41–41) | San Antonio* (41–41) | Indiana(37–45) | Cleveland(37–45) | Detroit(16–66) | ||
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| 1980–81 | Milwaukee* (60–22) | Chicago* (45–37) | Indiana* (44–38) | Atlanta(31–51) | Cleveland(28–54) | Detroit(21–61) | ||
| 1981–82 | Milwaukee* (55–27) | Atlanta* (42–40) | Detroit(39–43) | Indiana(35–47) | Chicago(34–48) | Cleveland(15–67) | ||
| 1982–83 | Milwaukee* (51–31) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Detroit(37–45) | Chicago(28–54) | Cleveland(23–59) | Indiana(20–62) | ||
| 1983–84 | Milwaukee* (50–32) | Detroit* (49–33) | Atlanta* (40–42) | Cleveland(28–54) | Chicago(27–55) | Indiana(26–56) | ||
| 1984–85 | Milwaukee* (59–23) | Detroit* (46–36) | Chicago* (38–44) | Cleveland* (36–46) | Atlanta(34–48) | Indiana(22–60) | ||
| 1985–86 | Milwaukee* (57–25) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Detroit* (46–36) | Chicago* (30–52) | Cleveland(29–53) | Indiana(26–56) | ||
| 1986–87 | Atlanta* (57–25) | Detroit* (52–30) | Milwaukee* (50–32) | Indiana* (41–41) | Chicago* (40–42) | Cleveland(31–51) | ||
| 1987–88 | Detroit+(54–28) | Chicago* (50–32) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Cleveland* (42–40) | Indiana(38–44) | ||
| 1988–89 | Detroit^ (63–19) | Cleveland* (57–25) | Atlanta* (52–30) | Milwaukee* (49–33) | Chicago* (47–35) | Indiana(28–54) | ||
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| 1989–90 | Detroit^ (59–23) | Chicago* (55–27) | Milwaukee* (44–38) | Indiana* (42–40) | Cleveland* (42–40) | Atlanta(41–41) | Orlando(18–64) | |
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| 1990–91 | Chicago^ (61–21) | Detroit* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (48–34) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Indiana* (41–41) | Cleveland(33–49) | Charlotte(26–56) | |
| 1991–92 | Chicago^ (67–15) | Cleveland* (57–25) | Detroit* (48–34) | Indiana* (40–42) | Atlanta(38–44) | Milwaukee(31–51) | Charlotte(31–51) | |
| 1992–93 | Chicago^ (57–25) | Cleveland* (54–28) | Charlotte* (44–38) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Indiana* (41–41) | Detroit(40–42) | Milwaukee(28–54) | |
| 1993–94 | Atlanta* (57–25) | Chicago* (55–27) | Indiana* (47–35) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Charlotte(41–41) | Milwaukee(20–62) | Detroit(20–62) | |
| 1994–95 | Indiana* (52–30) | Charlotte* (50–32) | Chicago* (47–35) | Cleveland* (43–39) | Atlanta* (42–40) | Milwaukee(34–48) | Detroit(28–54) | |
| ||||||||
| 1995–96 | Chicago^ (72–10) | Indiana* (52–30) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Detroit* (46–36) | Charlotte(41–41) | Milwaukee(25–57) | Toronto(21–61) |
| 1996–97 | Chicago^ (69–13) | Atlanta* (56–26) | Detroit* (54–28) | Charlotte* (54–28) | Cleveland(42–40) | Indiana(39–43) | Milwaukee(33–49) | Toronto(30–52) |
| 1997–98 | Chicago^ (62–20) | Indiana* (58–24) | Charlotte* (51–31) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Detroit(37–45) | Milwaukee(36–46) | Toronto(16–66) |
| 1998–99[a] | Indiana* (33–17) | Atlanta* (31–19) | Detroit* (29–21) | Milwaukee* (28–22) | Charlotte(26–24) | Toronto(23–27) | Cleveland(22–28) | Chicago(13–37) |
| 1999–00 | Indiana+(56–26) | Charlotte* (49–33) | Toronto* (45–37) | Detroit* (42–40) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Cleveland(32–50) | Atlanta(28–54) | Chicago(17–65) |
| 2000–01 | Milwaukee* (52–30) | Toronto* (47–35) | Charlotte* (46–36) | Indiana* (41–41) | Detroit(32–50) | Cleveland(30–52) | Atlanta(25–57) | Chicago(15–67) |
| 2001–02 | Detroit* (50-32) | Charlotte* (44–38) | Toronto* (42–40) | Indiana* (42-40) | Milwaukee(41–41) | Atlanta(33–49) | Cleveland(29–53) | Chicago(21–61) |
| ||||||||
| 2002–03 | Detroit* (50–32) | Indiana* (48–34) | New Orleans* (47–35) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Atlanta(35–47) | Chicago(30–52) | Toronto(24–58) | Cleveland(17–65) |
| 2003–04 | Indiana* (61–21) | Detroit^ (54–28) | New Orleans* (41–41) | Milwaukee* (41–41) | Cleveland(35–47) | Toronto(33–49) | Atlanta(28–54) | Chicago(23–59) |
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| 2004–05 | Detroit+(54–28) | Chicago* (47–35) | Indiana* (44–38) | Cleveland(42–40) | Milwaukee(30–52) | |||
| 2005–06 | Detroit* (64–18) | Cleveland* (50–32) | Indiana* (41–41) | Chicago* (41–41) | Milwaukee* (40–42) | |||
| 2006–07 | Detroit* (53–29) | Cleveland+(50–32) | Chicago* (49–33) | Indiana(35–47) | Milwaukee(28–54) | |||
| 2007–08 | Detroit* (59–23) | Cleveland* (45–37) | Indiana(36–46) | Chicago(33–49) | Milwaukee(26–56) | |||
| 2008–09 | Cleveland* (66–16) | Chicago* (41–41) | Detroit* (39–43) | Indiana(36–46) | Milwaukee(34–48) | |||
| 2009–10 | Cleveland* (61–21) | Milwaukee* (46–36) | Chicago* (41–41) | Indiana(32–50) | Detroit(27–55) | |||
| 2010–11 | Chicago* (62–20) | Indiana* (37–45) | Milwaukee(35–47) | Detroit(30–52) | Cleveland(19–63) | |||
| 2011–12[b] | Chicago* (50–16) | Indiana* (42–24) | Milwaukee(31–35) | Detroit(25–41) | Cleveland(21–45) | |||
| 2012–13 | Indiana* (49–32) | Chicago* (45–37) | Milwaukee* (38–44) | Detroit(29–53) | Cleveland(24–58) | |||
| 2013–14 | Indiana* (56–26) | Chicago* (48–34) | Cleveland(33–49) | Detroit(29–53) | Milwaukee(15–67) | |||
| 2014–15 | Cleveland+(53–29) | Chicago* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (41–41) | Indiana(38–44) | Detroit(32–50) | |||
| 2015–16 | Cleveland^ (57–25) | Indiana* (45–37) | Detroit* (44–38) | Chicago(42–40) | Milwaukee(33–49) | |||
| 2016–17 | Cleveland+(51–31) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Indiana* (42–40) | Chicago* (41–41) | Detroit(37–45) | |||
| 2017–18 | Cleveland+(50–32) | Indiana* (48–34) | Milwaukee* (44–38) | Detroit(39–43) | Chicago(27–55) | |||
| 2018–19 | Milwaukee* (60–22) | Indiana* (48–34) | Detroit* (41–41) | Chicago(22–60) | Cleveland(19–63) | |||
| 2019–20 | Milwaukee* (56–17) | Indiana* (45–28) | Chicago† (22–43) | Detroit† (20–46) | Cleveland† (19–46) | |||
| 2020–21 | Milwaukee^ (46–26) | Indiana× (34–38) | Chicago(31–41) | Cleveland(22–50) | Detroit(20–52) | |||
| 2021–22 | Milwaukee* (51–31) | Chicago* (46–36) | Cleveland× (44–38) | Indiana(25–57) | Detroit(23–59) | |||
| 2022–23 | Milwaukee* (58–24) | Cleveland* (51–31) | Chicago× (40–42) | Indiana(35–47) | Detroit(17–65) | |||
| 2023–24 | Milwaukee* (49–33) | Cleveland* (48–34) | Indiana* (47–35) | Chicago× (39–43) | Detroit(14–68) | |||
Rivalries
[edit]Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons
[edit]Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
[edit]1949–50 season
[edit] | It has been suggested that this section besplitout into another article titledCentral Division (NBA, 1949–1950).(Discuss)(February 2021) |
Before the1949–50 season,theBAAmerged with theNBLand was renamedNBA.The number of teams competed increased from 12 teams to 17 teams and the league realigned itself to three divisions, creating the Central Division. The division consisted of five teams, theChicago Stags,theFort Wayne Pistons,theMinneapolis Lakers,theRochester Royalsand theSt. Louis Bombers.All five teams joined from theWestern Division.TheMinneapolis Lakerswon the Central Division title. The division was disbanded before the1950–51 season,after six teams folded and the league realigned itself back into two divisions. The Stags and the Bombers folded, while the other three teams returned to the Western Division.
| ^ | Denotes team that won theNBA championships |
| * | Denotes team that qualified for theNBA Playoffs |
| Season | Team (record) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | ||
| ||||||
| 1949–50 | Minneapolis^ (51–17) | Rochester* (51–17) | Fort Wayne* (40–28) | Chicago* (40–28) | St. Louis(26–42) | |
| ||||||
Notes
[edit]- a 12Because of alockout,the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened 50-game regular season schedule.[4]
- b 12Because of alockout,the season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened 66-game regular season schedule.[5]
- †In the aftermath of theBoston 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.[6]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- General
- "NBA & ABA League Index".Basketball-Reference.com.
- Specific
- ^"1970–71 Season Overview: Kareem Rules the League".NBA.com.Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived fromthe originalon November 19, 2010.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
- ^"NBA unveils new trophies for division winners named after 6 NBA legends".NBA.com.Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 11, 2022.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
- ^Conway, Tyler (April 11, 2022)."NBA Unveils Division Winner Trophies Named After Black Pioneers from League History".Bleacher Report.RetrievedJanuary 28,2023.
- ^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 fromthe originalon June 22, 2011.RetrievedMay 20,2012.
- ^Jenkins, Lee (December 5, 2011)."'tis The Season ".CNN Sports Illustrated.Time Warner Company.RetrievedApril 30,2012.
- ^"NBA cancels game between Celtics and Pacers after Boston Marathon blasts | the Point Forward - SI.com".Archived fromthe originalon April 19, 2013.RetrievedApril 17,2013.
External links
[edit]| Eastern Conference |
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| Western Conference |
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| Annual events | |||||||
| History |
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| People | |||||||
| Awards and honors | |||||||
| Others | |||||||
Categories:
- Eastern Conference (NBA)
- NBA divisions
- Sports in the Eastern United States
- Sports in the Midwestern United States
- Atlanta Hawks
- Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973)
- Capital Bullets
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Cincinnati Royals
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Houston Rockets
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- New Orleans Hornets
- New Orleans Jazz (NBA team)
- Orlando Magic
- San Antonio Spurs
- Toronto Raptors
- Washington Bullets
- 1970 establishments in the United States