Central Division (NBA)
The Central Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams, the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers, and the Milwaukee Bucks. All teams except the Cavaliers are former Midwest Division teams; thus, the Central Division now largely resembles the Midwest Division in the 1970s.
Conference | Eastern Conference |
---|---|
League | National Basketball Association |
Sport | Basketball |
First season | 1970β71 season |
No. of teams | 5 |
Most recent champion(s) | Milwaukee Bucks (13th title) |
Most titles | Milwaukee Bucks (13 titles) |
The division was created at the start of the 1970β71 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 Central Division began with four inaugural members, the Atlanta Hawks, the Baltimore Bullets, the Cincinnati Royals, and the Cavaliers.[1] The Hawks were moved from the Western Division, while the Bullets and the Royals were moved from the Eastern Division.
Thirteen NBA champions came 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 the 1977β78 Bullets and the 2003β04 Pistons, were division champions. In the 2005β06 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 in 2000.
The Central Division previously existed for one season, the 1949β50 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 the 2021β22 season, the Central Division champion has received the Wayne Embry Trophy, named after Hall of Famer Wayne Embry.[2]
2023β24 standings
Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
y β Milwaukee Bucks | 49 | 33 | .598 | β | 31βββ11 | 18βββ22 | 10βββ7 | 82 |
x β Cleveland Cavaliers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 1.0 | 26βββ15 | 22βββ19 | 11βββ5 | 82 |
x β Indiana Pacers | 47 | 35 | .573 | 2.0 | 26βββ15 | 21βββ20 | 11βββ6 | 82 |
pi β Chicago Bulls | 39 | 43 | .476 | 10.0 | 20βββ21 | 19βββ22 | 7βββ9 | 82 |
Detroit Pistons | 14 | 68 | .171 | 35.0 | 7βββ33 | 7βββ35 | 2βββ14 | 82 |
Notes
- y β Clinched division
- x β Clinched playoff spot
- pi β Clinched play-in tournament spot
Teams
Team | City | Year | From |
---|---|---|---|
Joined | |||
Chicago Bulls | Chicago, Illinois | 1980 | Midwest Division |
Cleveland Cavaliers | Cleveland, Ohio | 1970 | ββ |
Detroit Pistons | Detroit, Michigan | 1978 | Midwest Division |
Indiana Pacers | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1979 | Midwest Division |
Milwaukee Bucks | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1980 | Midwest Division |
- Notes
- β denotes an expansion team.
Former teams
- Notes
- β denotes an expansion team.
- β‘ denotes a team that merged from the American 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 2004β05 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 1988β2002 Hornets while retroactively designating the Pelicans as an expansion team.
Team timeline
Denotes team that currently in the division | |
Denotes team that has left the division |

Wayne Embry Trophy
Beginning with the 2021β22 season, the Central Division champion has received the Wayne Embry Trophy. As with the other division championship trophies, it is named after one of the African American pioneers from NBA history. Wayne Embry became the NBA's first African American general manager when he was hired by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972. The Embry Trophy consists of a 200-millimetre (7.9 in) crystal ball.[3]
Division champions
^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
Season | Team | Record | Playoffs result |
---|---|---|---|
1970β71 | Baltimore Bullets | 42β40 (.512) | Lost NBA Finals |
1971β72 | Baltimore Bullets | 38β44 (.463) | Lost conference semifinals |
1972β73 | Baltimore Bullets | 52β30 (.634) | Lost conference semifinals |
1973β74 | Capital Bullets | 47β35 (.573) | Lost conference semifinals |
1974β75 | Washington Bullets^ | 60β22 (.732) | Lost NBA Finals |
1975β76 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 49β33 (.598) | Lost conference finals |
1976β77 | Houston Rockets | 49β33 (.598) | Lost conference finals |
1977β78 | San Antonio Spurs | 52β30 (.634) | Lost conference semifinals |
1978β79 | San Antonio Spurs | 48β34 (.585) | Lost conference finals |
1979β80 | Atlanta Hawks | 50β32 (.610) | Lost conference semifinals |
1980β81 | Milwaukee Bucks | 60β22 (.732) | Lost conference semifinals |
1981β82 | Milwaukee Bucks | 55β27 (.671) | Lost conference semifinals |
1982β83 | Milwaukee Bucks | 51β31 (.622) | Lost conference finals |
1983β84 | Milwaukee Bucks | 50β32 (.610) | Lost conference finals |
1984β85 | Milwaukee Bucks | 59β23 (.720) | Lost conference semifinals |
1985β86 | Milwaukee Bucks | 57β25 (.695) | Lost conference finals |
1986β87 | Atlanta Hawks | 57β25 (.695) | Lost conference semifinals |
1987β88 | Detroit Pistons | 54β28 (.659) | Lost NBA Finals |
1988β89 | Detroit Pistons^ | 63β19 (.768) | Won NBA Finals |
1989β90 | Detroit Pistons | 59β23 (.720) | Won NBA Finals |
1990β91 | Chicago Bulls | 61β21 (.744) | Won NBA Finals |
1991β92 | Chicago Bulls^ | 67β15 (.817) | Won NBA Finals |
1992β93 | Chicago Bulls | 57β25 (.695) | Won NBA Finals |
1993β94 | Atlanta Hawks | 57β25 (.695) | Lost conference semifinals |
1994β95 | Indiana Pacers | 52β30 (.634) | Lost conference finals |
1995β96 | Chicago Bulls^ | 72β10 (.878) | Won NBA Finals |
1996β97 | Chicago Bulls^ | 69β13 (.841) | Won NBA Finals |
1997β98 | Chicago Bulls^ | 62β20 (.756) | Won NBA Finals |
1998β99[a] | Indiana Pacers | 33β17 (.660) | Lost conference finals |
1999β00 | Indiana Pacers | 56β26 (.683) | Lost NBA Finals |
2000β01 | Milwaukee Bucks | 52β30 (.634) | Lost conference finals |
2001β02 | Detroit Pistons | 50β32 (.610) | Lost conference semifinals |
2002β03 | Detroit Pistons | 50β32 (.610) | Lost conference finals |
2003β04 | Indiana Pacers^ | 61β21 (.744) | Lost conference finals |
2004β05 | Detroit Pistons | 54β28 (.659) | Lost NBA Finals |
2005β06 | Detroit Pistons^ | 64β18 (.780) | Lost conference finals |
2006β07 | Detroit Pistons | 53β29 (.646) | Lost conference finals |
2007β08 | Detroit Pistons | 59β23 (.720) | Lost conference finals |
2008β09 | Cleveland Cavaliers^ | 66β16 (.805) | Lost conference finals |
2009β10 | Cleveland Cavaliers^ | 61β21 (.744) | Lost conference semifinals |
2010β11 | Chicago Bulls^ | 62β20 (.756) | Lost conference finals |
2011β12[b] | Chicago Bulls^ | 50β16 (.758) | Lost first round |
2012β13 | Indiana Pacers | 49β32 (.605)β | Lost conference finals |
2013β14 | Indiana Pacers | 56β26 (.683) | Lost conference finals |
2014β15 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 53β29 (.646) | Lost NBA Finals |
2015β16 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 57β25 (.695) | Won NBA Finals |
2016β17 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 51β31 (.622) | Lost NBA Finals |
2017β18 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 50β32 (.610) | Lost NBA Finals |
2018β19 | Milwaukee Bucks^ | 60β22 (.732) | Lost conference finals |
2019β20 | Milwaukee Bucks^ | 56β17 (.767) | Lost conference semifinals |
2020β21 | Milwaukee Bucks | 46β26 (.639) | Won NBA Finals |
2021β22 | Milwaukee Bucks | 51β31 (.622) | Lost conference semifinals |
2022β23 | Milwaukee Bucks^ | 58β24 (.707) | Lost first round |
2023β24 | Milwaukee Bucks | 49β33 (.598) | Lost first round |
Titles by team
^ | Denotes team that has left the division |
Team | Titles | Season(s) won |
---|---|---|
Milwaukee Bucks | 13 | 1980β81, 1981β82, 1982β83, 1983β84, 1984β85, 1985β86, 2000β01, 2018β19, 2019β20, 2020β21, 2021β22, 2022β23, 2023β24 |
Detroit Pistons | 9 | 1987β88, 1988β89, 1989β90, 2001β02, 2002β03, 2004β05, 2005β06, 2006β07, 2007β08 |
Chicago Bulls | 8 | 1990β91, 1991β92, 1992β93, 1995β96, 1996β97, 1997β98, 2010β11, 2011β12 |
Cleveland Cavaliers | 7 | 1975β76, 2008β09, 2009β10, 2014β15, 2015β16, 2016β17, 2017β18 |
Indiana Pacers | 6 | 1994β95, 1998β99, 1999β00, 2003β04, 2012β13, 2013β14 |
Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets^ (now Washington Wizards) | 5 | 1970β71, 1971β72, 1972β73, 1973β74, 1974β75 |
Atlanta Hawks^ | 3 | 1979β80, 1986β87, 1993β94 |
San Antonio Spurs^ | 2 | 1977β78, 1978β79 |
Houston Rockets^ | 1 | 1976β77 |
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 |
Γ | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA play-in tournament |
β | Denotes team that did not qualify for the 2020 NBA Bubble season restart |
Season | Team (record) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | |
| ||||||||
1970β71 | Baltimore+ (42β40) | Atlanta* (36β46) | Cincinnati (33β49) | Cleveland (15β67) | ||||
1971β72 | Baltimore* (38β44) | Atlanta* (36β46) | Cincinnati (30β52) | Cleveland (23β59) | ||||
| ||||||||
1972β73 | Baltimore* (52β30) | Atlanta* (46β36) | Houston (33β49) | Cleveland (32β50) | ||||
| ||||||||
1973β74 | Capital* (47β35) | Atlanta (35β47) | Houston (32β50) | Cleveland (29β53) | ||||
| ||||||||
1974β75 | Washington+ (60β22) | Houston* (41β41) | Cleveland (40β42) | Atlanta (31β51) | New Orleans (23β59) | |||
1975β76 | Cleveland* (49β33) | Washington* (48β34) | Houston (40β42) | New Orleans (38β44) | Atlanta (29β53) | |||
| ||||||||
1976β77 | Houston* (49β33) | Washington* (48β34) | San Antonio* (44β38) | Cleveland* (43β39) | New Orleans (35β47) | Atlanta (31β51) | ||
1977β78 | San Antonio* (52β30) | Washington^ (44β38) | Cleveland* (43β39) | Atlanta* (41β41) | New Orleans (39β43) | Houston (28β54) | ||
| ||||||||
1978β79 | San Antonio* (48β34) | Houston* (47β35) | Atlanta* (46β36) | Detroit (30β52) | Cleveland (30β52) | New Orleans (26β56) | ||
| ||||||||
1979β80 | Atlanta* (50β32) | Houston* (41β41) | San Antonio* (41β41) | Indiana (37β45) | Cleveland (37β45) | Detroit (16β66) | ||
| ||||||||
1980β81 | Milwaukee* (60β22) | Chicago* (45β37) | Indiana* (44β38) | Atlanta (31β51) | Cleveland (28β54) | Detroit (21β61) | ||
1981β82 | Milwaukee* (55β27) | Atlanta* (42β40) | Detroit (39β43) | Indiana (35β47) | Chicago (34β48) | Cleveland (15β67) | ||
1982β83 | Milwaukee* (51β31) | Atlanta* (43β39) | Detroit (37β45) | Chicago (28β54) | Cleveland (23β59) | Indiana (20β62) | ||
1983β84 | Milwaukee* (50β32) | Detroit* (49β33) | Atlanta* (40β42) | Cleveland (28β54) | Chicago (27β55) | Indiana (26β56) | ||
1984β85 | Milwaukee* (59β23) | Detroit* (46β36) | Chicago* (38β44) | Cleveland* (36β46) | Atlanta (34β48) | Indiana (22β60) | ||
1985β86 | Milwaukee* (57β25) | Atlanta* (50β32) | Detroit* (46β36) | Chicago* (30β52) | Cleveland (29β53) | Indiana (26β56) | ||
1986β87 | Atlanta* (57β25) | Detroit* (52β30) | Milwaukee* (50β32) | Indiana* (41β41) | Chicago* (40β42) | Cleveland (31β51) | ||
1987β88 | Detroit+ (54β28) | Chicago* (50β32) | Atlanta* (50β32) | Milwaukee* (42β40) | Cleveland* (42β40) | Indiana (38β44) | ||
1988β89 | Detroit^ (63β19) | Cleveland* (57β25) | Atlanta* (52β30) | Milwaukee* (49β33) | Chicago* (47β35) | Indiana (28β54) | ||
| ||||||||
1989β90 | Detroit^ (59β23) | Chicago* (55β27) | Milwaukee* (44β38) | Indiana* (42β40) | Cleveland* (42β40) | Atlanta (41β41) | Orlando (18β64) | |
| ||||||||
1990β91 | Chicago^ (61β21) | Detroit* (50β32) | Milwaukee* (48β34) | Atlanta* (43β39) | Indiana* (41β41) | Cleveland (33β49) | Charlotte (26β56) | |
1991β92 | Chicago^ (67β15) | Cleveland* (57β25) | Detroit* (48β34) | Indiana* (40β42) | Atlanta (38β44) | Milwaukee (31β51) | Charlotte (31β51) | |
1992β93 | Chicago^ (57β25) | Cleveland* (54β28) | Charlotte* (44β38) | Atlanta* (43β39) | Indiana* (41β41) | Detroit (40β42) | Milwaukee (28β54) | |
1993β94 | Atlanta* (57β25) | Chicago* (55β27) | Indiana* (47β35) | Cleveland* (47β35) | Charlotte (41β41) | Milwaukee (20β62) | Detroit (20β62) | |
1994β95 | Indiana* (52β30) | Charlotte* (50β32) | Chicago* (47β35) | Cleveland* (43β39) | Atlanta* (42β40) | Milwaukee (34β48) | Detroit (28β54) | |
| ||||||||
1995β96 | Chicago^ (72β10) | Indiana* (52β30) | Cleveland* (47β35) | Atlanta* (46β36) | Detroit* (46β36) | Charlotte (41β41) | Milwaukee (25β57) | Toronto (21β61) |
1996β97 | Chicago^ (69β13) | Atlanta* (56β26) | Detroit* (54β28) | Charlotte* (54β28) | Cleveland (42β40) | Indiana (39β43) | Milwaukee (33β49) | Toronto (30β52) |
1997β98 | Chicago^ (62β20) | Indiana* (58β24) | Charlotte* (51β31) | Atlanta* (50β32) | Cleveland* (47β35) | Detroit (37β45) | Milwaukee (36β46) | Toronto (16β66) |
1998β99[a] | Indiana* (33β17) | Atlanta* (31β19) | Detroit* (29β21) | Milwaukee* (28β22) | Charlotte (26β24) | Toronto (23β27) | Cleveland (22β28) | Chicago (13β37) |
1999β00 | Indiana+ (56β26) | Charlotte* (49β33) | Toronto* (45β37) | Detroit* (42β40) | Milwaukee* (42β40) | Cleveland (32β50) | Atlanta (28β54) | Chicago (17β65) |
2000β01 | Milwaukee* (52β30) | Toronto* (47β35) | Charlotte* (46β36) | Indiana* (41β41) | Detroit (32β50) | Cleveland (30β52) | Atlanta (25β57) | Chicago (15β67) |
2001β02 | Detroit* (50-32) | Charlotte* (44β38) | Toronto* (42β40) | Indiana* (42-40) | Milwaukee (41β41) | Atlanta (33β49) | Cleveland (29β53) | Chicago (21β61) |
| ||||||||
2002β03 | Detroit* (50β32) | Indiana* (48β34) | New Orleans* (47β35) | Milwaukee* (42β40) | Atlanta (35β47) | Chicago (30β52) | Toronto (24β58) | Cleveland (17β65) |
2003β04 | Indiana* (61β21) | Detroit^ (54β28) | New Orleans* (41β41) | Milwaukee* (41β41) | Cleveland (35β47) | Toronto (33β49) | Atlanta (28β54) | Chicago (23β59) |
| ||||||||
2004β05 | Detroit+ (54β28) | Chicago* (47β35) | Indiana* (44β38) | Cleveland (42β40) | Milwaukee (30β52) | |||
2005β06 | Detroit* (64β18) | Cleveland* (50β32) | Indiana* (41β41) | Chicago* (41β41) | Milwaukee* (40β42) | |||
2006β07 | Detroit* (53β29) | Cleveland+ (50β32) | Chicago* (49β33) | Indiana (35β47) | Milwaukee (28β54) | |||
2007β08 | Detroit* (59β23) | Cleveland* (45β37) | Indiana (36β46) | Chicago (33β49) | Milwaukee (26β56) | |||
2008β09 | Cleveland* (66β16) | Chicago* (41β41) | Detroit* (39β43) | Indiana (36β46) | Milwaukee (34β48) | |||
2009β10 | Cleveland* (61β21) | Milwaukee* (46β36) | Chicago* (41β41) | Indiana (32β50) | Detroit (27β55) | |||
2010β11 | Chicago* (62β20) | Indiana* (37β45) | Milwaukee (35β47) | Detroit (30β52) | Cleveland (19β63) | |||
2011β12[b] | Chicago* (50β16) | Indiana* (42β24) | Milwaukee (31β35) | Detroit (25β41) | Cleveland (21β45) | |||
2012β13 | Indiana* (49β32) | Chicago* (45β37) | Milwaukee* (38β44) | Detroit (29β53) | Cleveland (24β58) | |||
2013β14 | Indiana* (56β26) | Chicago* (48β34) | Cleveland (33β49) | Detroit (29β53) | Milwaukee (15β67) | |||
2014β15 | Cleveland+ (53β29) | Chicago* (50β32) | Milwaukee* (41β41) | Indiana (38β44) | Detroit (32β50) | |||
2015β16 | Cleveland^ (57β25) | Indiana* (45β37) | Detroit* (44β38) | Chicago (42β40) | Milwaukee (33β49) | |||
2016β17 | Cleveland+ (51β31) | Milwaukee* (42β40) | Indiana* (42β40) | Chicago* (41β41) | Detroit (37β45) | |||
2017β18 | Cleveland+ (50β32) | Indiana* (48β34) | Milwaukee* (44β38) | Detroit (39β43) | Chicago (27β55) | |||
2018β19 | Milwaukee* (60β22) | Indiana* (48β34) | Detroit* (41β41) | Chicago (22β60) | Cleveland (19β63) | |||
2019β20 | Milwaukee* (56β17) | Indiana* (45β28) | Chicagoβ (22β43) | Detroitβ (20β46) | Clevelandβ (19β46) | |||
2020β21 | Milwaukee^ (46β26) | IndianaΓ (34β38) | Chicago (31β41) | Cleveland (22β50) | Detroit (20β52) | |||
2021β22 | Milwaukee* (51β31) | Chicago* (46β36) | ClevelandΓ (44β38) | Indiana (25β57) | Detroit (23β59) | |||
2022β23 | Milwaukee* (58β24) | Cleveland* (51β31) | ChicagoΓ (40β42) | Indiana (35β47) | Detroit (17β65) | |||
2023β24 | Milwaukee* (49β33) | Cleveland* (48β34) | Indiana* (47β35) | ChicagoΓ (39β43) | Detroit (14β68) |
Rivalries
Chicago Bulls vs. Detroit Pistons
Chicago Bulls vs. Cleveland Cavaliers
1949β50 season
Before the 1949β50 season, the BAA merged with the NBL and was renamed NBA. 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, the Chicago Stags, the Fort Wayne Pistons, the Minneapolis Lakers, the Rochester Royals and the St. Louis Bombers. All five teams joined from the Western Division. The Minneapolis Lakers won the Central Division title. The division was disbanded before the 1950β51 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 the NBA championships |
* | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA Playoffs |
Season | Team (record) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | ||
| ||||||
1949β50 | Minneapolis^ (51β17) | Rochester* (51β17) | Fort Wayne* (40β28) | Chicago* (40β28) | St. Louis (26β42) | |
|
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.[4]
- 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.[5]
- β 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.[6]
See also
References
- General
- "NBA & ABA League Index". Basketball-Reference.com.
- Specific
- "1970β71 Season Overview: Kareem Rules the League". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
- "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.
- "NBA Unveils Division Winner Trophies Named After Black Pioneers from League History". Bleacher Report. April 11, 2022. Retrieved January 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 from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
- Jenkins, Lee (December 5, 2011). "'tis The Season". CNN Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
- "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 17, 2013.