Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association
230km 143miles
Clippers
Warriors
Suns
Kings
Lakers
Pacific Division Teams Location
ThePacific Division is one of the three divisions in theWestern Conference of theNational Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams: theGolden State Warriors , theLos Angeles Clippers , theLos Angeles Lakers , thePhoenix Suns and theSacramento Kings . All teams, except the Suns, are based inCalifornia . Along with theAmerican League West of Major League Baseball, they are one of two North American major league divisions with no animal themed nicknames.
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: the Western Conference and theEastern Conference , with two divisions each in each conference. The Pacific Division began with five inaugural members: theLakers , the Blazers, theSan Diego Rockets , theSan Francisco Warriors and theSeattle SuperSonics .[ 1] The Lakers, the Rockets, the Warriors and the SuperSonics all joined from theWestern Division .
The Lakers have won the most Pacific Division titles with 25. The Phoenix Suns have the second most titles with eight. 19NBA champions have come from the Pacific Division. The Lakers have won 12 championships, the Warriors won 5, and the Blazers and Sonics won one championship each. All of them, except the1976–77 Blazers, the2001–02 Lakers and the2021–22 Warriors, were division champions. In the1991–92 season , six teams from the division qualified for the playoffs. In the1977–78 season , all teams in the division had winning percentages above 0.500 (50%). The most recent division champions are the Los Angeles Lakers.
Since the2021–22 season , the Pacific Division champion has received theChuck Cooper Trophy , named after Hall of FamerChuck Cooper .[ 2]
Notes
y – Clinched division titlepi – Clinched play-in tournament spot (locked into a play-in spot but not able to clinch a playoff spot directly)ps – Clinched postseason (at least a play-in spot but can still clinch a playoff spot directly)o – Eliminated from postseason contentionNotes Denotes team currently in the division Denotes team that has left the division
Chuck Cooper Trophy [ edit ] Beginning with the2021–22 season , the Pacific Division champion has received theChuck Cooper Trophy . As with the other division championship trophies, it is named after one of the many African American pioneers from NBA history.Chuck Cooper became the first African-American to be drafted by an NBA team when theBoston Celtics selected him with the first pick in the second round of the1950 draft . The Cooper 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
Team Titles Season(s) won Los Angeles Lakers 25 1970–71 ,1971–72 ,1972–73 ,1973–74 ,1976–77 ,1979–80 ,1981–82 ,1982–83 ,1983–84 ,1984–85 ,1985–86 ,1986–87 ,1987–88 ,1988–89 ,1989–90 ,1999–00 ,2000–01 ,2003–04 ,2007–08 ,2008–09 ,2009–10 ,2010–11 ,2011–12 ,2019–20 ,2024–25 Phoenix Suns 8 1980–81 ,1992–93 ,1994–95 ,2004–05 ,2005–06 ,2006–07 ,2020–21 ,2021–22 Golden State Warriors 7 1974–75 ,1975–76 ,2014–15 ,2015–16 ,2016–17 ,2017–18 ,2018–19 Seattle SuperSonics ^(nowOklahoma City Thunder ) 5 1978–79 ,1993–94 ,1995–96 ,1996–97 ,1997–98 Portland Trail Blazers ^4 1977–78 ,1990–91 ,1991–92 ,1998–99 Sacramento Kings 3 2001–02 ,2002–03 ,2022–23 Los Angeles Clippers 3 2012–13 ,2013–14 ,2023–24
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors
Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors
a 1 2 Because of alockout , 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 alockout , the season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened 66-game regular season schedule.[ 5] General Specific ^ "1970–71 Season Overview: Kareem Rules the League" .NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived fromthe original on November 19, 2010. RetrievedDecember 11, 2020 .^ "NBA unveils new trophies for division winners named after 6 NBA legends" .NBA.com . Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. April 11, 2022. RetrievedJanuary 28, 2023 .^ Conway, Tyler (April 11, 2022)."NBA Unveils Division Winner Trophies Named After Black Pioneers from League History" .Bleacher Report . RetrievedJanuary 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 fromthe original on June 19, 2001. RetrievedMay 31, 2011 . ^ Jenkins, Lee (December 5, 2011)." 'tis The Season" .CNN Sports Illustrated . Time Warner Company. Archived fromthe original on December 10, 2011. RetrievedApril 30, 2012 .
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA championships Rivalries Culture and lore
Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Rivalries Culture and lore
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Franchise Arenas Personnel G League affiliate Retired numbers Rivalries Culture and lore
Founded in1923 FormerlytheRochester Seagrams (1923–1942),Rochester Eber Seagrams (1942–1943),Rochester Pros (1943–1945),Rochester Royals (1945–1957),Cincinnati Royals (1957–1972); played inKansas City-Omaha (1972–1975),Kansas City (1975–1985) Based inSacramento, California Franchise Arenas Administration G League affiliate Retired numbers NBA championships Rivalries Culture and lore