| Conference | Eastern Conference |
|---|---|
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Sport | Basketball |
| First season | 1970–71 season |
| No. of teams | 5 |
| Most recent champions | Cleveland Cavaliers (8th title) |
| Most titles | Milwaukee Bucks (13 titles) |
TheCentral Division is one of the three divisions in theEastern Conference of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams, theChicago Bulls, theCleveland Cavaliers, theDetroit Pistons, theIndiana Pacers, and theMilwaukee Bucks. All teams except the Cavaliers are formerMidwest Division teams; thus, the Central Division now largely resembles the Midwest Division in the 1970s.
An earlier five-team Central Division previously existed for the1949–50 season as one of three divisions in the NBA, along with the Western and Eastern divisions. The current Central 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, the Cleveland 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 Central Division began with four inaugural members, theAtlanta Hawks, theBaltimore Bullets, theCincinnati Royals, and the Cavaliers.[1] The Hawks were moved from theWestern Division, while the Bullets and the Royals were moved from theEastern Division.
ThirteenNBA 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 the1977–78 Bullets and the2003–04 Pistons, were division champions. In the2005–06 season, all five teams from the division qualified for the playoffs. Overall, the Bucks have won thirteen 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 in2000, and are the current Eastern Conference champions and played in the2025 NBA Finals.
Since the2021–22 season, the Central Division champion has received theWayne Embry Trophy, named after Hall of FamerWayne Embry who played for the Bucks in the1968–69 NBA season.[2]
| Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Pistons | 14 | 2 | .875 | – | 8–1 | 6–1 | 3–2 | 16 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 11 | 6 | .647 | 3.5 | 7–3 | 4–3 | 6–0 | 17 |
| Chicago Bulls | 9 | 7 | .563 | 5.0 | 6–2 | 3–5 | 1–3 | 16 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 8 | 9 | .471 | 6.5 | 5–5 | 3–4 | 2–3 | 17 |
| Indiana Pacers | 2 | 14 | .125 | 12.0 | 2–5 | 0–9 | 0–3 | 16 |
Notes
| Team | City | Year | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joined | |||
| Chicago Bulls | Chicago, Illinois | 1980 | Midwest Division |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Cleveland, Ohio | 1970 | —† |
| Detroit Pistons | Detroit, Michigan | 1978 | Midwest Division |
| Indiana Pacers | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1979 | Midwest Division |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1980 | Midwest Division |
| Denotes team that currently in the division | |
| Denotes team that has left the division |
Beginning with the2021–22 season, the Central Division champion has received theWayne 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 theMilwaukee Bucks in 1972. The Embry Trophy consists of a 200-millimetre (7.9 in) crystal ball.[3]
| ^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
| ^ | Denotes team that has left the division |
| ^ | Denotes team that won theNBA Finals |
| + | Denotes team that won theConference finals, but lost theNBA Finals |
| * | Denotes team that qualified for theNBA Playoffs |
| × | Denotes team that qualified for theNBA play-in tournament |
| † | Denotes team that did not qualify for the2020 NBA Bubble season restart |
| Season | Team (record) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th | |
| ||||||||
| 1970–71 | Baltimore+ (42–40) | Atlanta* (36–46) | Cincinnati (33–49) | Cleveland (15–67) | ||||
| 1971–72 | Baltimore* (38–44) | Atlanta* (36–46) | Cincinnati (30–52) | Cleveland (23–59) | ||||
| ||||||||
| 1972–73 | Baltimore* (52–30) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Houston (33–49) | Cleveland (32–50) | ||||
| ||||||||
| 1973–74 | Capital* (47–35) | Atlanta (35–47) | Houston (32–50) | Cleveland (29–53) | ||||
| ||||||||
| 1974–75 | Washington+ (60–22) | Houston* (41–41) | Cleveland (40–42) | Atlanta (31–51) | New Orleans (23–59) | |||
| 1975–76 | Cleveland* (49–33) | Washington* (48–34) | Houston (40–42) | New Orleans (38–44) | Atlanta (29–53) | |||
| ||||||||
| 1976–77 | Houston* (49–33) | Washington* (48–34) | San Antonio* (44–38) | Cleveland* (43–39) | New Orleans (35–47) | Atlanta (31–51) | ||
| 1977–78 | San Antonio* (52–30) | Washington^ (44–38) | Cleveland* (43–39) | Atlanta* (41–41) | New Orleans (39–43) | Houston (28–54) | ||
| ||||||||
| 1978–79 | San Antonio* (48–34) | Houston* (47–35) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Detroit (30–52) | Cleveland (30–52) | New Orleans (26–56) | ||
| ||||||||
| 1979–80 | Atlanta* (50–32) | Houston* (41–41) | San Antonio* (41–41) | Indiana (37–45) | Cleveland (37–45) | Detroit (16–66) | ||
| ||||||||
| 1980–81 | Milwaukee* (60–22) | Chicago* (45–37) | Indiana* (44–38) | Atlanta (31–51) | Cleveland (28–54) | Detroit (21–61) | ||
| 1981–82 | Milwaukee* (55–27) | Atlanta* (42–40) | Detroit (39–43) | Indiana (35–47) | Chicago (34–48) | Cleveland (15–67) | ||
| 1982–83 | Milwaukee* (51–31) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Detroit (37–45) | Chicago (28–54) | Cleveland (23–59) | Indiana (20–62) | ||
| 1983–84 | Milwaukee* (50–32) | Detroit* (49–33) | Atlanta* (40–42) | Cleveland (28–54) | Chicago (27–55) | Indiana (26–56) | ||
| 1984–85 | Milwaukee* (59–23) | Detroit* (46–36) | Chicago* (38–44) | Cleveland* (36–46) | Atlanta (34–48) | Indiana (22–60) | ||
| 1985–86 | Milwaukee* (57–25) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Detroit* (46–36) | Chicago* (30–52) | Cleveland (29–53) | Indiana (26–56) | ||
| 1986–87 | Atlanta* (57–25) | Detroit* (52–30) | Milwaukee* (50–32) | Indiana* (41–41) | Chicago* (40–42) | Cleveland (31–51) | ||
| 1987–88 | Detroit+ (54–28) | Chicago* (50–32) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Cleveland* (42–40) | Indiana (38–44) | ||
| 1988–89 | Detroit^ (63–19) | Cleveland* (57–25) | Atlanta* (52–30) | Milwaukee* (49–33) | Chicago* (47–35) | Indiana (28–54) | ||
| ||||||||
| 1989–90 | Detroit^ (59–23) | Chicago* (55–27) | Milwaukee* (44–38) | Indiana* (42–40) | Cleveland* (42–40) | Atlanta (41–41) | Orlando (18–64) | |
| ||||||||
| 1990–91 | Chicago^ (61–21) | Detroit* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (48–34) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Indiana* (41–41) | Cleveland (33–49) | Charlotte (26–56) | |
| 1991–92 | Chicago^ (67–15) | Cleveland* (57–25) | Detroit* (48–34) | Indiana* (40–42) | Atlanta (38–44) | Milwaukee (31–51) | Charlotte (31–51) | |
| 1992–93 | Chicago^ (57–25) | Cleveland* (54–28) | Charlotte* (44–38) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Indiana* (41–41) | Detroit (40–42) | Milwaukee (28–54) | |
| 1993–94 | Atlanta* (57–25) | Chicago* (55–27) | Indiana* (47–35) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Charlotte (41–41) | Milwaukee (20–62) | Detroit (20–62) | |
| 1994–95 | Indiana* (52–30) | Charlotte* (50–32) | Chicago* (47–35) | Cleveland* (43–39) | Atlanta* (42–40) | Milwaukee (34–48) | Detroit (28–54) | |
| ||||||||
| 1995–96 | Chicago^ (72–10) | Indiana* (52–30) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Detroit* (46–36) | Charlotte (41–41) | Milwaukee (25–57) | Toronto (21–61) |
| 1996–97 | Chicago^ (69–13) | Atlanta* (56–26) | Detroit* (54–28) | Charlotte* (54–28) | Cleveland (42–40) | Indiana (39–43) | Milwaukee (33–49) | Toronto (30–52) |
| 1997–98 | Chicago^ (62–20) | Indiana* (58–24) | Charlotte* (51–31) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Detroit (37–45) | Milwaukee (36–46) | Toronto (16–66) |
| 1998–99[a] | Indiana* (33–17) | Atlanta* (31–19) | Detroit* (29–21) | Milwaukee* (28–22) | Charlotte (26–24) | Toronto (23–27) | Cleveland (22–28) | Chicago (13–37) |
| 1999–00 | Indiana+ (56–26) | Charlotte* (49–33) | Toronto* (45–37) | Detroit* (42–40) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Cleveland (32–50) | Atlanta (28–54) | Chicago (17–65) |
| 2000–01 | Milwaukee* (52–30) | Toronto* (47–35) | Charlotte* (46–36) | Indiana* (41–41) | Detroit (32–50) | Cleveland (30–52) | Atlanta (25–57) | Chicago (15–67) |
| 2001–02 | Detroit* (50–32) | Charlotte* (44–38) | Toronto* (42–40) | Indiana* (42–40) | Milwaukee (41–41) | Atlanta (33–49) | Cleveland (29–53) | Chicago (21–61) |
| ||||||||
| 2002–03 | Detroit* (50–32) | Indiana* (48–34) | New Orleans* (47–35) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Atlanta (35–47) | Chicago (30–52) | Toronto (24–58) | Cleveland (17–65) |
| 2003–04 | Indiana* (61–21) | Detroit^ (54–28) | New Orleans* (41–41) | Milwaukee* (41–41) | Cleveland (35–47) | Toronto (33–49) | Atlanta (28–54) | Chicago (23–59) |
| ||||||||
| 2004–05 | Detroit+ (54–28) | Chicago* (47–35) | Indiana* (44–38) | Cleveland (42–40) | Milwaukee (30–52) | |||
| 2005–06 | Detroit* (64–18) | Cleveland* (50–32) | Indiana* (41–41) | Chicago* (41–41) | Milwaukee* (40–42) | |||
| 2006–07 | Detroit* (53–29) | Cleveland+ (50–32) | Chicago* (49–33) | Indiana (35–47) | Milwaukee (28–54) | |||
| 2007–08 | Detroit* (59–23) | Cleveland* (45–37) | Indiana (36–46) | Chicago (33–49) | Milwaukee (26–56) | |||
| 2008–09 | Cleveland* (66–16) | Chicago* (41–41) | Detroit* (39–43) | Indiana (36–46) | Milwaukee (34–48) | |||
| 2009–10 | Cleveland* (61–21) | Milwaukee* (46–36) | Chicago* (41–41) | Indiana (32–50) | Detroit (27–55) | |||
| 2010–11 | Chicago* (62–20) | Indiana* (37–45) | Milwaukee (35–47) | Detroit (30–52) | Cleveland (19–63) | |||
| 2011–12[b] | Chicago* (50–16) | Indiana* (42–24) | Milwaukee (31–35) | Detroit (25–41) | Cleveland (21–45) | |||
| 2012–13 | Indiana* (49–32) | Chicago* (45–37) | Milwaukee* (38–44) | Detroit (29–53) | Cleveland (24–58) | |||
| 2013–14 | Indiana* (56–26) | Chicago* (48–34) | Cleveland (33–49) | Detroit (29–53) | Milwaukee (15–67) | |||
| 2014–15 | Cleveland+ (53–29) | Chicago* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (41–41) | Indiana (38–44) | Detroit (32–50) | |||
| 2015–16 | Cleveland^ (57–25) | Indiana* (45–37) | Detroit* (44–38) | Chicago (42–40) | Milwaukee (33–49) | |||
| 2016–17 | Cleveland+ (51–31) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Indiana* (42–40) | Chicago* (41–41) | Detroit (37–45) | |||
| 2017–18 | Cleveland+ (50–32) | Indiana* (48–34) | Milwaukee* (44–38) | Detroit (39–43) | Chicago (27–55) | |||
| 2018–19 | Milwaukee* (60–22) | Indiana* (48–34) | Detroit* (41–41) | Chicago (22–60) | Cleveland (19–63) | |||
| 2019–20 | Milwaukee* (56–17) | Indiana* (45–28) | Chicago† (22–43) | Detroit† (20–46) | Cleveland† (19–46) | |||
| 2020–21 | Milwaukee^ (46–26) | Indiana× (34–38) | Chicago (31–41) | Cleveland (22–50) | Detroit (20–52) | |||
| 2021–22 | Milwaukee* (51–31) | Chicago* (46–36) | Cleveland× (44–38) | Indiana (25–57) | Detroit (23–59) | |||
| 2022–23 | Milwaukee* (58–24) | Cleveland* (51–31) | Chicago× (40–42) | Indiana (35–47) | Detroit (17–65) | |||
| 2023–24 | Milwaukee* (49–33) | Cleveland* (48–34) | Indiana* (47–35) | Chicago× (39–43) | Detroit (14–68) | |||
| 2024–25 | Cleveland* (64–18) | Indiana+ (50–32) | Milwaukee* (48–34) | Detroit* (44–38) | Chicago× (39–43) | |||
Before the1949–50 season, theBAA merged with theNBL and was renamedNBA. 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, theChicago Stags, theFort Wayne Pistons, theMinneapolis Lakers, theRochester Royals and theSt. Louis Bombers. All five teams joined from theWestern Division. TheMinneapolis Lakers won the Central Division title. The division was disbanded before the1950–51 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 theNBA championships |
| * | Denotes team that qualified for theNBA Playoffs |
| Season | Team (record) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | ||
| ||||||
| 1949–50 | Minneapolis^ (51–17) | Rochester* (51–17) | Fort Wayne* (40–28) | Chicago* (40–28) | St. Louis (26–42) | |
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Specific
General
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| Western Conference |
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