NBA Basketball Teams List
The NBA is divided into two conferences called the Western Conference and Eastern Conference. Each conference consists of 15 teams and three divisions with five teams per division. The NBA divided the teams into two conferences in 1971, giving the league the basic structure it still has to this day. Listed below are all current NBA teams, first alphabetically and then by division and conference.
List of NBA Teams
Here is a complete list of NBA teams, sorted alphabetically:
- Atlanta Hawks
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- Charlotte Hornets
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Dallas Mavericks
- Denver Nuggets
- Detroit Pistons
- Golden State Warriors
- Houston Rockets
- Indiana Pacers
- LA Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Miami Heat
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- New Orleans Pelicans
- New York Knicks
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Orlando Magic
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Phoenix Suns
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Sacramento Kings
- San Antonio Spurs
- Toronto Raptors
- Utah Jazz
- Washington Wizards
List of Eastern Conference NBA Teams
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
List of Atlantic Division NBA Teams
- Boston Celtics
- Brooklyn Nets
- New York Knicks
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Toronto Raptors
List of Central Division NBA Teams
- Chicago Bulls
- Cleveland Cavaliers
- Detroit Pistons
- Indiana Pacers
- Milwaukee Bucks
List of Southeast Division NBA Teams
- Atlanta Hawks
- Charlotte Hornets
- Miami Heat
- Orlando Magic
- Washington Wizards
List of Western Conference NBA Teams
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
- Golden State Warriors
- LA Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- San Antonio Spurs
List of Northwest Division NBA Teams
- Denver Nuggets
- Minnesota Timberwolves
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Portland Trail Blazers
- Utah Jazz
List of Pacific Division NBA Teams
- Golden State Warriors
- LA Clippers
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Phoenix Suns
- Sacramento Kings
List of Southwest Division NBA Teams
- Dallas Mavericks
- Houston Rockets
- Memphis Grizzlies
- New Orleans Pelicans
- San Antonio Spurs
FAQ
How does the NBA postseason work?
In postseason play, NBA teams play in a four-round elimination bracket that culminates with the NBA Finals. Each round consists of a best-of-seven series, with the winner of each series advancing. Teams play within their conference until an Eastern and Western Conference Champion are decided, and then the conference champions play a best-of-seven series called the NBA Finals to determine the overall NBA Champion.
How many teams play in the NBA?
There are 30 teams that play in the NBA, evenly divided between the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference. They are then broken down into three divisions within each conference: the Northwest, Southwest, and Pacific Divisions in the Western Conference and the Atlantic, Central, and Southeast Divisions in the Eastern Conference.
Which NBA franchise is the oldest?
The oldest franchise in the NBA is the Sacramento Kings, who were established in 1923. After the Kings, the Pistons are the second oldest franchise (1941) and the Boston Celtics are third (1946).