| Conference | Eastern Conference |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Sport | Basketball |
| First season | 1970–71 season |
| No. of teams | 5 |
| Most recent champion(s) | Boston Celtics (25th title) |
| Most titles | Boston Celtics (25 titles) |
200km
125miles
Raptors
76ers
Knicks
Nets
Celtics
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).
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 25. 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]
| Atlantic Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| z – Boston Celtics | 64 | 18 | .780 | – | 37–4 | 27–14 | 15–2 | 82 |
| x – New York Knicks | 50 | 32 | .610 | 14.0 | 27–14 | 23–18 | 12–5 | 82 |
| x – Philadelphia 76ers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 17.0 | 25–16 | 22–19 | 8–8 | 82 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 32 | 50 | .390 | 32.0 | 20–21 | 12–29 | 5–11 | 82 |
| Toronto Raptors | 25 | 57 | .305 | 39.0 | 14–27 | 11–30 | 1–15 | 82 |
Notes
| 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 |
| 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 (asSan 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 |
| Denotes team that is currently in the division | |
| Denotes team that has left the division |
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]
| ^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
| ^ | Denotes team that has left the division |
| Team | Titles | Season(s) won |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Celtics | 25 | 1971–72, 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, 2023–24 |
| Toronto Raptors | 7 | 2006–07, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 6 | 1976–77, 1977–78, 1982–83, 1989–90, 2000–01, 2020–21 |
| New York Knicks | 5 | 1970–71, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1993–94, 2012–13 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 4 | 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06 |
| Miami Heat^ | 4 | 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00 |
| Orlando Magic^ | 2 | 1994–95, 1995–96 |
| Washington Bullets^ (now Washington Wizards) | 1 | 1978–79 |
| ^ | 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 |
| Season | Team (record) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | |
| |||||||
| 1970–71 | New York* (52–30) | Philadelphia* (47–35) | Boston (44–38) | Buffalo (22–60) | |||
| 1971–72 | Boston* (56–26) | New York+ (48–34) | Philadelphia (30–52) | Buffalo (22–60) | |||
| 1972–73 | Boston* (68–14) | New York^ (57–25) | Buffalo (21–61) | Philadelphia (9–73) | |||
| 1973–74 | Boston^ (56–26) | New York* (49–33) | Buffalo* (42–40) | Philadelphia (25–57) | |||
| 1974–75 | Boston* (60–22) | Buffalo* (49–33) | New York* (40–42) | Philadelphia (34–48) | |||
| 1975–76 | Boston^ (54–28) | Philadelphia* (46–36) | Buffalo* (46–36) | New York (38–44) | |||
| |||||||
| 1976–77 | Philadelphia+ (50–32) | Boston* (44–38) | NY Knicks (40–42) | Buffalo (30–52) | NY Nets (22–60) | ||
| |||||||
| 1977–78 | Philadelphia* (55–27) | New York* (43–39) | Boston (32–50) | Buffalo (27–55) | New Jersey (24–58) | ||
| |||||||
| 1978–79 | Washington+ (54–28) | Philadelphia* (47–35) | New Jersey* (37–45) | New York (31–51) | Boston (29–53) | ||
| 1979–80 | Boston* (61–21) | Philadelphia+ (59–23) | Washington* (39–43) | New York (39–43) | New Jersey (34–48) | ||
| 1980–81 | Boston^ (62–20) | Philadelphia* (62–20) | New York* (50–32) | Washington (39–43) | New Jersey (24–58) | ||
| 1981–82 | Boston* (63–19) | Philadelphia+ (58–24) | New Jersey* (44–38) | Washington* (43–39) | New York (33–49) | ||
| 1982–83 | Philadelphia^ (65–17) | Boston* (56–26) | New Jersey* (49–33) | New York* (44–38) | Washington (42–40) | ||
| 1983–84 | Boston^ (62–20) | Philadelphia* (52–30) | New York* (47–35) | New Jersey* (45–37) | Washington* (35–47) | ||
| 1984–85 | Boston+ (63–19) | Philadelphia* (58–24) | New Jersey* (42–40) | Washington* (40–42) | New York (24–58) | ||
| 1985–86 | Boston^ (67–15) | Philadelphia* (54–28) | Washington* (39–43) | New Jersey* (39–43) | New York (23–59) | ||
| 1986–87 | Boston+ (59–23) | Philadelphia* (45–37) | Washington* (42–40) | New Jersey (24–58) | New York (24–58) | ||
| 1987–88 | Boston* (57–25) | Washington* (38–44) | New York* (38–44) | Philadelphia (36–46) | New Jersey (19–63) | ||
| |||||||
| 1988–89 | New York* (52–30) | Philadelphia* (46–36) | Boston* (42–40) | Washington (40–42) | New Jersey (26–56) | Charlotte (20–62) | |
| |||||||
| 1989–90 | Philadelphia* (53–29) | Boston* (52–30) | New York* (45–37) | Washington (31–51) | Miami (18–64) | New Jersey (17–65) | |
| 1990–91 | Boston* (56–26) | Philadelphia* (44–38) | New York* (39–43) | Washington (30–52) | New Jersey (26–56) | Miami (24–58) | |
| |||||||
| 1991–92 | Boston* (51–31) | New York* (51–31) | New Jersey* (40–42) | Miami* (38–44) | Philadelphia (35–47) | Washington (25–57) | Orlando (21–61) |
| 1992–93 | New York* (60–22) | Boston* (48–34) | New Jersey* (43–39) | Orlando (41–41) | Miami (36–46) | Philadelphia (26–56) | Washington (22–60) |
| 1993–94 | New York+ (57–25) | Orlando* (50–32) | New Jersey* (45–37) | Miami* (42–40) | Boston (32–50) | Philadelphia (25–57) | Washington (24–58) |
| 1994–95 | Orlando+ (57–25) | New York* (55–27) | Boston* (35–47) | Miami (32–50) | New Jersey (30–52) | Philadelphia (24–58) | Washington (21–61) |
| 1995–96 | Orlando* (60–22) | New York* (47–35) | Miami* (42–40) | Washington (39–43) | Boston (33–49) | New Jersey (30–52) | Philadelphia (18–64) |
| 1996–97 | Miami* (61–21) | New York* (57–25) | Orlando* (45–37) | Washington* (44–38) | New Jersey (26–56) | Philadelphia (22–60) | Boston (15–67) |
| |||||||
| 1997–98 | Miami* (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) |
| 1999–00 | Miami* (52–30) | New York* (50–32) | Philadelphia* (49–33) | Orlando (41–41) | Boston (35–47) | New Jersey (31–51) | Washington (29–53) |
| 2000–01 | Philadelphia+ (56–26) | Miami* (50–32) | New York* (48–34) | Orlando* (43–39) | Boston (36–46) | New Jersey (26–56) | Washington (19–63) |
| 2001–02 | New Jersey+ (52–30) | Boston* (49–33) | Orlando* (44–38) | Philadelphia* (43–39) | Washington (37–45) | Miami (36–46) | New York (30–52) |
| 2002–03 | New Jersey+ (49–33) | Philadelphia* (48–34) | Boston* (44–38) | Orlando* (42–40) | Washington (37–45) | New York (37–45) | Miami (25–57) |
| 2003–04 | New Jersey* (47–35) | Miami* (42–40) | New York* (39–43) | Boston* (36–46) | Philadelphia (33–49) | Washington (25–57) | Orlando (21–61) |
| |||||||
| 2004–05 | Boston* (45–37) | Philadelphia* (43–39) | New Jersey* (42–40) | Toronto (33–49) | New York (33–49) | ||
| 2005–06 | New Jersey* (49–33) | Philadelphia (38–44) | Boston (33–49) | Toronto (27–55) | New York (23–59) | ||
| 2006–07 | Toronto* (47–35) | New Jersey* (41–41) | Philadelphia (35–47) | New York (33–49) | Boston (24–58) | ||
| 2007–08 | Boston^ (66–16) | Toronto* (41–41) | Philadelphia* (40–42) | New Jersey (34–48) | New York (23–59) | ||
| 2008–09 | Boston* (62–20) | Philadelphia* (41–41) | New Jersey (34–48) | Toronto (33–49) | New York (32–50) | ||
| 2009–10 | Boston+ (50–32) | Toronto (40–42) | New York (29–53) | Philadelphia (27–55) | New Jersey (12–70) | ||
| 2010–11 | Boston* (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) | ||
| |||||||
| 2012–13 | New York* (54–28) | Brooklyn* (49–33) | Boston* (41–40) | Philadelphia (34–48) | Toronto (34–48) | ||
| 2013–14 | Toronto* (48–34) | Brooklyn* (44–38) | New York (37–45) | Boston (25–57) | Philadelphia (19–63) | ||
| 2014–15 | Toronto* (49–33) | Boston* (40–42) | Brooklyn* (38–44) | Philadelphia (18–64) | New York (17–65) | ||
| 2015–16 | Toronto* (56–26) | Boston* (48–34) | New York (32–50) | Brooklyn (21–61) | Philadelphia (10–72) | ||
| 2016–17 | Boston* (53–29) | Toronto* (51–31) | New York (31–51) | Philadelphia (28–54) | Brooklyn (20–62) | ||
| 2017–18 | Toronto* (59–23) | Boston* (55–27) | Philadelphia* (52–30) | New York (29–53) | Brooklyn (28–54) | ||
| 2018–19 | Toronto^ (58–24) | Philadelphia* (51–31) | Boston* (49–33) | Brooklyn* (42–40) | New York (17–65) | ||
| 2019–20 | Toronto* (53–19) | Boston* (48–24) | Philadelphia* (43–30) | Brooklyn* (35–37) | New York† (21–45) | ||
| 2020–21 | Philadelphia* (49–23) | Brooklyn* (48–24) | New York* (41–31) | Boston* (36–36) | Toronto (27–45) | ||
| 2021–22 | Boston+ (51–31) | Philadelphia* (51–31) | Toronto* (48–34) | Brooklyn* (44–38) | New York (37–45) | ||
| 2022–23 | Boston* (57–25) | Philadelphia* (54–28) | New York* (47–35) | Brooklyn* (45–37) | Toronto× (41–41) | ||
| 2023–24 | Boston^ (64–18) | New York* (50–32) | Philadelphia* (47–35) | Brooklyn (32–50) | Toronto (25–57) | ||
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