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, theCleveland Cavaliers and thePortland Trail Blazers. The league realigned itself into two conferences, theWestern 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 theEastern Division.
The Celtics have won the most Atlantic Division titles with 26. TenNBA champions have come from the Atlantic Division. The Celtics have won seven NBA championships while in the Division,[2] while the Knicks, the 76ers and the Raptors have won one championship each. All of them, except the1972–73 Knicks, were division champions. In the1983–84 season, all five teams from the division qualified for the playoffs. In the1982–83 season, all teams in the division had winning percentages above 0.500 (50%).
Since the2021–22 season, the Atlantic Division champion has received theNat "Sweetwater" Clifton Trophy, named after Hall of FamerNathaniel Clifton.[3]
Beginning with the2021–22 season, the Atlantic Division champion has received theNat "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 theNew York Knicks in 1950. The Clifton Trophy consists of a 200-millimetre (7.9 in) crystal ball.[4]
a 12 Because of alockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened 50-game regular season schedule.[5]
b 12 Because of alockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened 66-game regular season schedule.[6]
†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.[7]
^Jenkins, Lee (December 5, 2011)."'tis The Season".CNN Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Archived fromthe original on December 10, 2011. RetrievedApril 30, 2012.