The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America, composed of 30 teams, 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. The hometowns of these 30 teams are located across 22 states and one province. Basketball is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues, and the NBA is the world’s premier men’s professional basketball league.
NBA Teams List
There have been a number of NBA cities that have lost teams over the years. Some of these cities include Cincinnati, Kansas City, Louisville, and Virginia. The NBA teams are divided into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference.
Eastern Conference (NBA)
Eastern conference NBA teams is further divided into three divisions: Atlantic Division, Central Division, Southeast Division.
Atlantic Division
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
Central Division
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
Southeast Division
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
Western Conference (NBA)
Western Conference NBA teams is further divided into three divisions: Northwest Division, Pacific Division, Southwest Division
Northwest Division
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
Pacific Division
- Golden State Warriors
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
Southwest Division
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- San Antonio Spurs
Each team plays a regular-season schedule of 82 games (41 home games and 41 away games) followed by the playoffs if they qualify based on their regular-season record. The playoffs culminate in the NBA Finals, where the champions of the Eastern and Western conferences compete for the championship.
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Oldest and Newest NBA Teams
The Sacramento Kings wear the crown as the oldest NBA franchise. Founded in 1923 as the Rochester Seagrams, the semi-professional team played in New York for over 20 years before joining the National Basketball League in 1945 and NBA in 1948.
The league expanded to 30 with the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004, following the 2002 relocation of the Charlotte Hornets to New Orleans. In 2014, the Bobcats rebranded to and acquired the history of the Charlotte Hornets, with the now New Orleans Pelicans being retroactively recognized as a new franchise founded in 2002.
Who founded the NBA?
The NBA is a 77-year-old organization born from innovation. It was June 1946 in New York City when Boston Garden owner Walter Brown realized that major ice hockey arenas, which were vacant most nights, could be used to host basketball games.
NBA Teams (Fun Facts)
Here are amaing facts about each NBA team:
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division:
- Boston Celtics: The Celtics hold the record for the most NBA Championships, with 17 titles.
- Brooklyn Nets: Originally established as the New Jersey Americans in 1967, the team became the Brooklyn Nets in 2012.
- New York Knicks: One of the two original NBA teams still located in its original city.
- Philadelphia 76ers: The 76ers are named after the year 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia.
- Toronto Raptors: They are the first and only Canadian team to win an NBA Championship, doing so in 2019.
Central Division:
- Chicago Bulls: Michael Jordan led the Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s.
- Cleveland Cavaliers: Won their first NBA Championship in 2016, coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals.
- Detroit Pistons: Known as the “Bad Boys” in the late 1980s for their aggressive style of play.
- Indiana Pacers: Originally an ABA team, they joined the NBA in 1976 after the ABA-NBA merger.
- Milwaukee Bucks: Giannis Antetokounmpo led the team to its first NBA Championship in 50 years in 2021.
Southeast Division:
- Atlanta Hawks: Originally founded in 1946 as the Buffalo Bisons.
- Charlotte Hornets: Initially established in 1988, the original franchise relocated in 2002 but was replaced in Charlotte by a new team in 2004.
- Miami Heat: Won three NBA championships in 2006, 2012, and 2013.
- Orlando Magic: Reached the NBA Finals in their first season with Shaquille O’Neal in 1995.
- Washington Wizards: Known as the Bullets until 1997, they changed their name to the Wizards.
Western Conference
Northwest Division:
- Denver Nuggets: One of the teams to join the NBA in 1976 from the ABA.
- Minnesota Timberwolves: Joined the NBA as an expansion team in 1989.
- Oklahoma City Thunder: Relocated from Seattle in 2008, where they were known as the SuperSonics.
- Portland Trail Blazers: Won their only NBA Championship in 1977.
- Utah Jazz: Originally founded as the New Orleans Jazz in 1974 before moving to Utah in 1979.
Pacific Division:
- Golden State Warriors: Originally the Philadelphia Warriors, they’ve won a total of six NBA championships.
- Los Angeles Clippers: Began as the Buffalo Braves in 1970 before moving to LA in 1984.
- Los Angeles Lakers: Have won 17 NBA Championships, tied for the most in league history with the Boston Celtics.
- Phoenix Suns: The team has the NBA’s highest all-time winning percentage among teams without an NBA Championship.
- Sacramento Kings: The oldest continuously operating professional basketball team in the United States, originally founded in 1923.
Southwest Division:
- Dallas Mavericks: Won their first NBA Championship in 2011.
- Houston Rockets: Won back-to-back NBA Championships in 1994 and 1995.
- Memphis Grizzlies: Originally established as the Vancouver Grizzlies in 1995 before moving to Memphis in 2001.
- New Orleans Pelicans: Formerly the New Orleans Hornets, the team was rebranded as the Pelicans in 2013.
- San Antonio Spurs: Have won five NBA championships and have a record of 22 consecutive playoff appearances from 1998 to 2019.
Conclusion
The NBA is a massive basketball league in the U.S. and Canada, split into two main parts: the Eastern and Western Conferences. Each of these has three groups, or “divisions,” with teams from various cities. The Atlantic Division, with famous teams like the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks, and the Southeast Division shines with the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks. The Northwest Division, home to the Denver Nuggets and the Portland Trail Blazers. The Pacific Division is super cool with the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers and the Southwest Division has the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs.
The NBA consists of 30 teams that compete throughout the season by playing numerous games, all with the aim of securing the most victories to advance to the playoffs. The ultimate aspiration for these teams is to win the NBA Championship. The league caters to a wide array of fans, whether they have an affinity for teams with a storied legacy, such as the Celtics and Lakers, or prefer to support the underdogs. The NBA promises an engaging and thrilling season for all in 2024, making it an event not to be missed.
NBA Basketball Teams By Division List (Updated 2024) – FAQs
Who is the best NBA team right now?
The best NBA team right now, according to recent power rankings, is the Boston Celtics. They are mentioned at the top of multiple 2023-24 NBA Power Rankings, indicating their strong performance in the current season.
Who is number 1 in the NBA teams?
The Boston Celtics enter the final third of the season back in the No. 1 spot, thanks to the league’s overall best record and current longest winning streak — six games and counting.
How many teams play NBA?
The NBA (National Basketball Association) consists of 30 teams, divided into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. Each conference is further divided into three divisions.
What team is Michael Jordan on?
He played fifteen seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) between 1984 and 2003, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. He was integral in popularizing basketball and the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s, becoming a global cultural icon.
Who is the NBA favorite?
Among all the contenders in the NBA this year, the current favorites to win it all in 2024 are the Celtics, with moneyline odds of +255 to take home the title. Keep up with the 2023-24 NBA season on FOX.
Who won the most NBA Finals?
The Celtics and Lakers are tied with the most NBA titles at 17. Here’s a list of teams that have won at least three NBA championships: Los Angeles Lakers (17 titles).