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Pacific Division (NBA)

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Not to be confused with Pacific Division (NHL).

Pacific Division
ConferenceWestern Conference
LeagueNational Basketball Association
SportBasketball
First season1970–71 season
No. of teams5
Most recent
champion(s)		Los Angeles Clippers (3rd title)
Most titlesLos Angeles Lakers
(24 titles)
Map
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300km
200miles
Warriors
Suns
Kings
.
Clippers/Lakers
Pacific Division Teams Location

The Pacific Division is one of the three divisions in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams: the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings. All teams, except the Suns, are based in California. Along with the American 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 the 1970–71 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 each in each conference. The Pacific Division began with five inaugural members: the Lakers, the Blazers, the San Diego Rockets, the San Francisco Warriors and the Seattle SuperSonics.[1] The Lakers, the Rockets, the Warriors and the SuperSonics all joined from the Western Division.

The Lakers have won the most Pacific Division titles with 24. The Phoenix Suns have the second most titles with eight. 19 NBA 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 the 1976–77 Blazers, the 2001–02 Lakers and the 2021–22 Warriors, were division champions. In the 1991–92 season, six teams from the division qualified for the playoffs. In the 1977–78 season, all teams in the division had winning percentages above 0.500 (50%). The most recent division champions are the Los Angeles Clippers.

Since the 2021–22 season, the Pacific Division champion has received the Chuck Cooper Trophy, named after Hall of Famer Chuck Cooper.[2]

2024–25 standings

[edit]
Main article: 2024–25 NBA season
Pacific DivisionWLPCTGBHomeRoadDivGP
Phoenix Suns81.889–5‍–‍03‍–‍13–19
Golden State Warriors72.7781.02‍–‍15‍–‍10–19
Los Angeles Lakers54.5563.04‍–‍01‍–‍42–19
Los Angeles Clippers54.5563.02‍–‍43‍–‍02–29
Sacramento Kings54.5563.02‍–‍23‍–‍20–29

Teams

[edit]
Team City Joined
Year From Arena
Golden State Warriors (1971–present)
San Francisco Warriors (1962–1971) 		San Francisco, California
Oakland, California 		1970 Western Division
Los Angeles Clippers (1984–present)
San Diego Clippers (1978–1984) 		Inglewood, California
Los Angeles, California
San Diego, California 		1978 Atlantic Division
(as Buffalo Braves)
Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles, California 1970 Western Division
Phoenix Suns Phoenix, Arizona 1972 Midwest Division
Sacramento Kings Sacramento, California 1988 Midwest Division

Former teams

[edit]
Team City Joined Left Current division
Year From Year To
Houston Rockets (1971–present)
San Diego Rockets (1967-1971) 		Houston, Texas
San Diego, California 		1970 Western Division 1972 Central Division Southwest Division
Portland Trail Blazers Portland, Oregon 1970 —† 2004 Northwest Division Northwest Division
Seattle SuperSonics (1967–2008, now Oklahoma City Thunder) Seattle, Washington 1970 Western Division 2004 Northwest Division Northwest Division
Notes

Team timeline

[edit]
Denotes team currently in the division
Denotes team that has left the division
Sacramento KingsLos Angeles ClippersPhoenix SunsSeattle SuperSonicsGolden State WarriorsHouston RocketsPortland Trail BlazersLos Angeles Lakers

Chuck Cooper Trophy

[edit]

Beginning with the 2021–22 season, the Pacific Division champion has received the Chuck 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 the Boston Celtics selected him with the first pick in the second round of the 1950 draft. The Cooper Trophy consists of a 200-millimetre (7.9 in) crystal ball.[3]

Division champions

[edit]
^ Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season
Season Team Record Playoffs result
1970–71 Los Angeles Lakers 48–34 (.585) Lost conference finals
1971–72 Los Angeles Lakers^ 69–13 (.841) Won NBA Finals
1972–73 Los Angeles Lakers 60–22 (.732) Lost NBA Finals
1973–74 Los Angeles Lakers 47–35 (.573) Lost conference semifinals
1974–75 Golden State Warriors 48–34 (.585) Won NBA Finals
1975–76 Golden State Warriors^ 59–23 (.720) Lost conference finals
1976–77 Los Angeles Lakers^ 53–29 (.646) Lost conference finals
1977–78 Portland Trail Blazers^ 58–24 (.707) Lost conference semifinals
1978–79 Seattle SuperSonics 52–30 (.634) Won NBA Finals
1979–80 Los Angeles Lakers 60–22 (.732) Won NBA Finals
1980–81 Phoenix Suns 57–25 (.695) Lost conference semifinals
1981–82 Los Angeles Lakers 57–25 (.695) Won NBA Finals
1982–83 Los Angeles Lakers 58–24 (.707) Lost NBA Finals
1983–84 Los Angeles Lakers 54–28 (.659) Lost NBA Finals
1984–85 Los Angeles Lakers 62–20 (.756) Won NBA Finals
1985–86 Los Angeles Lakers 62–20 (.756) Lost conference finals
1986–87 Los Angeles Lakers^ 65–17 (.793) Won NBA Finals
1987–88 Los Angeles Lakers^ 62–20 (.756) Won NBA Finals
1988–89 Los Angeles Lakers 57–25 (.695) Lost NBA Finals
1989–90 Los Angeles Lakers^ 63–19 (.768) Lost conference semifinals
1990–91 Portland Trail Blazers^ 63–19 (.768) Lost conference finals
1991–92 Portland Trail Blazers 57–25 (.695) Lost NBA Finals
1992–93 Phoenix Suns^ 62–20 (.756) Lost NBA Finals
1993–94 Seattle SuperSonics^ 63–19 (.768) Lost first round
1994–95 Phoenix Suns 59–23 (.720) Lost conference semifinals
1995–96 Seattle SuperSonics 64–18 (.780) Lost NBA Finals
1996–97 Seattle SuperSonics 57–25 (.695) Lost conference semifinals
1997–98 Seattle SuperSonics 61–21 (.744) Lost conference semifinals
1998–99[a] Portland Trail Blazers 35–15 (.700) Lost conference finals
1999–00 Los Angeles Lakers^ 67–15 (.817) Won NBA Finals
2000–01 Los Angeles Lakers 56–26 (.683) Won NBA Finals
2001–02 Sacramento Kings^ 61–21 (.744) Lost conference finals
2002–03 Sacramento Kings 59–23 (.720) Lost conference semifinals
2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers 56–26 (.683) Lost NBA Finals
2004–05 Phoenix Suns^ 62–20 (.756) Lost conference finals
2005–06 Phoenix Suns 54–28 (.659) Lost conference finals
2006–07 Phoenix Suns 61–21 (.744) Lost conference semifinals
2007–08 Los Angeles Lakers 57–25 (.695) Lost NBA Finals
2008–09 Los Angeles Lakers 65–17 (.793) Won NBA Finals
2009–10 Los Angeles Lakers 57–25 (.695) Won NBA Finals
2010–11 Los Angeles Lakers 57–25 (.695) Lost conference semifinals
2011–12[b] Los Angeles Lakers 41–25 (.621) Lost conference semifinals
2012–13 Los Angeles Clippers 56–26 (.683) Lost first round
2013–14 Los Angeles Clippers 57–25 (.695) Lost conference semifinals
2014–15 Golden State Warriors^ 67–15 (.817) Won NBA Finals
2015–16 Golden State Warriors^ 73–9 (.890) Lost NBA Finals
2016–17 Golden State Warriors^ 67–15 (.817) Won NBA Finals
2017–18 Golden State Warriors 58–24 (.707) Won NBA Finals
2018–19 Golden State Warriors 57–25 (.695) Lost NBA Finals
2019–20 Los Angeles Lakers 52–19 (.732) Won NBA Finals
2020–21 Phoenix Suns 51–21 (.708) Lost NBA Finals
2021–22 Phoenix Suns^ 64–18 (.780) Lost conference semifinals
2022–23 Sacramento Kings 48–34 (.585) Lost first round
2023–24 Los Angeles Clippers 51–31 (.622) Lost first round

Titles by team

[edit]
^ Denotes team that has left the division
Team Titles Season(s) won
Los Angeles Lakers 24 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
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^ (now Oklahoma 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

Season results

[edit]
^ 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
× Denotes team that qualified for the NBA play-in tournament
† Denotes team that did not qualify for the 2020 NBA Bubble season restart (Bubble happened due to COVID-19)
Season Team (record)
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
1970–71 Los Angeles* (48–34) San Francisco* (41–41) San Diego (40–42) Seattle (38–44) Portland (29–53)
1971–72 Los Angeles^ (69–13) Golden State* (51–31) Seattle (47–35) Houston (34–48) Portland (18–64)
1972–73 Los Angeles+ (60–22) Golden State* (47–35) Phoenix (38–44) Seattle (26–56) Portland (21–61)
1973–74 Los Angeles* (47–35) Golden State (44–38) Seattle (36–46) Phoenix (30–52) Portland (27–55)
1974–75 Golden State^ (48–34) Seattle* (43–39) Portland (38–44) Phoenix (32–50) Los Angeles (30–52)
1975–76 Golden State* (59–23) Seattle* (43–39) Phoenix+ (42–40) Los Angeles (40–42) Portland (37–45)
1976–77 Los Angeles* (53–29) Portland^ (49–33) Golden State* (46–36) Seattle (40–42) Phoenix (34–48)
1977–78 Portland* (58–24) Phoenix* (49–33) Seattle+ (47–35) Los Angeles* (45–37) Golden State (43–39)
1978–79 Seattle^ (52–30) Phoenix* (50–32) Los Angeles* (47–35) Portland* (45–37) San Diego (43–39) Golden State (38–44)
1979–80 Los Angeles^ (60–22) Seattle* (56–26) Phoenix* (55–27) Portland* (38–44) San Diego (35–47) Golden State (24–58)
1980–81 Phoenix* (57–25) Los Angeles* (54–28) Portland* (45–37) Golden State (39–43) San Diego (36–46) Seattle (34–48)
1981–82 Los Angeles^ (57–25) Seattle* (52–30) Phoenix* (46–36) Golden State (45–37) Portland (42–40) San Diego (17–65)
1982–83 Los Angeles+ (58–24) Phoenix* (53–29) Seattle* (48–34) Portland* (46–36) Golden State (30–52) San Diego (25–57)
1983–84 Los Angeles+ (54–28) Portland* (48–34) Seattle* (42–40) Phoenix* (41–41) Golden State (37–45) San Diego (30–52)
1984–85 L.A. Lakers^ (62–20) Portland* (42–40) Phoenix* (36–46) Seattle (31–51) L.A. Clippers (31–51) Golden State (22–60)
1985–86 L.A. Lakers* (62–20) Portland* (40–42) Phoenix (32–50) L.A. Clippers (32–50) Seattle (31–51) Golden State (30–52)
1986–87 L.A. Lakers^ (65–17) Portland* (49–33) Golden State* (42–40) Seattle* (39–43) Phoenix (36–46) L.A. Clippers (12–70)
1987–88 L.A. Lakers^ (62–20) Portland* (53–29) Seattle* (44–38) Phoenix (28–54) Golden State (20–62) L.A. Clippers (17–65)
1988–89 L.A. Lakers+ (57–25) Phoenix* (55–27) Seattle* (47–35) Golden State* (43–39) Portland* (39–43) Sacramento (27–55) L.A. Clippers (21–61)
1989–90 L.A. Lakers* (63–19) Portland+ (59–23) Phoenix* (54–28) Seattle (41–41) Golden State (37–45) L.A. Clippers (30–52) Sacramento (23–59)
1990–91 Portland* (63–19) L.A. Lakers+ (58–24) Phoenix* (55–27) Golden State* (44–38) Seattle* (41–41) L.A. Clippers (31–51) Sacramento (25–57)
1991–92 Portland+ (57–25) Golden State* (55–27) Phoenix* (53–29) Seattle* (47–35) L.A. Clippers* (45–37) L.A. Lakers* (43–39) Sacramento (29–53)
1992–93 Phoenix+ (62–20) Seattle* (55–27) Portland* (51–31) L.A. Clippers* (41–41) L.A. Lakers* (39–43) Golden State (34–48) Sacramento (25–57)
1993–94 Seattle* (63–19) Phoenix* (56–26) Golden State* (50–32) Portland* (47–35) L.A. Lakers (33–49) Sacramento (28–54) L.A. Clippers (27–55)
1994–95 Phoenix* (59–23) Seattle* (57–25) L.A. Lakers* (48–34) Portland* (44–38) Sacramento (39–43) Golden State (26–56) L.A. Clippers (17–65)
1995–96 Seattle+ (64–18) L.A. Lakers* (53–29) Portland* (44–38) Phoenix* (41–41) Sacramento* (39–43) Golden State (36–46) L.A. Clippers (29–53)
1996–97 Seattle* (57–25) L.A. Lakers* (56–26) Portland* (49–33) Phoenix* (40–42) L.A. Clippers* (36–46) Sacramento (34–48) Golden State (30–52)
1997–98 Seattle* (61–21) L.A. Lakers* (61–21) Phoenix* (56–26) Portland* (46–36) Sacramento (27–55) Golden State (19–63) L.A. Clippers (17–65)
1998–99[a] Portland* (35–15) L.A. Lakers* (31–19) Phoenix* (27–23) Sacramento* (27–23) Seattle (25–25) Golden State (21–29) L.A. Clippers (9–41)
1999–00 L.A. Lakers^ (67–15) Portland* (59–23) Phoenix* (53–29) Seattle* (45–37) Sacramento* (44–38) Golden State (19–63) L.A. Clippers (15–67)
2000–01 L.A. Lakers^ (56–26) Sacramento* (55–27) Phoenix* (51–31) Portland* (50–32) Seattle (44–38) L.A. Clippers (31–51) Golden State (17–65)
2001–02 Sacramento* (61–21) L.A. Lakers^ (58–24) Portland* (49–33) Seattle* (45–37) L.A. Clippers (39–43) Phoenix (36–46) Golden State (21–61)
2002–03 Sacramento* (59–23) L.A. Lakers* (50–32) Portland* (50–32) Phoenix* (44–38) Seattle (40–42) Golden State (38–44) L.A. Clippers (27–55)
2003–04 L.A. Lakers+ (56–26) Sacramento* (55–27) Portland (41–41) Golden State (37–45) Seattle (37–45) Phoenix (29–53) L.A. Clippers (28–54)
2004–05 Phoenix* (62–20) Sacramento* (50–32) L.A. Clippers (37–45) L.A. Lakers (34–48) Golden State (34–48)
2005–06 Phoenix* (54–28) L.A. Clippers* (47–35) L.A. Lakers* (45–37) Sacramento* (44–38) Golden State (34–48)
2006–07 Phoenix* (61–21) L.A. Lakers* (42–40) Golden State* (42–40) L.A. Clippers (40–42) Sacramento (33–49)
2007–08 L.A. Lakers+ (57–25) Phoenix* (55–27) Golden State (48–34) Sacramento (38–44) L.A. Clippers (23–59)
2008–09 L.A. Lakers^ (65–17) Phoenix (46–36) Golden State (29–53) L.A. Clippers (19–63) Sacramento (17–65)
2009–10 L.A. Lakers^ (57–25) Phoenix* (54–28) L.A. Clippers (29–53) Golden State (26–56) Sacramento (25–57)
2010–11 L.A. Lakers* (57–25) Phoenix (40–42) Golden State (36–46) L.A. Clippers (32–50) Sacramento (24–58)
2011–12[b] L.A. Lakers* (41–25) L.A. Clippers* (40–26) Phoenix (33–33) Golden State (23–43) Sacramento (22–44)
2012–13 L.A. Clippers* (56–26) Golden State* (47–35) L.A. Lakers* (45–37) Sacramento (28–54) Phoenix (25–57)
2013–14 L.A. Clippers* (57–25) Golden State* (51–31) Phoenix (48–34) Sacramento (28–54) L.A. Lakers (27–57)
2014–15 Golden State^ (67–15) L.A. Clippers* (56–26) Phoenix (39–43) Sacramento (29–53) L.A. Lakers (21–61)
2015–16 Golden State+ (73–9) L.A. Clippers* (53–29) Sacramento (33–49) Phoenix (23–59) L.A. Lakers (17–65)
2016–17 Golden State^ (67–15) L.A. Clippers* (51–31) Sacramento (32–50) L.A. Lakers (26–56) Phoenix (24–58)
2017–18 Golden State^ (58–24) L.A. Clippers (42–40) L.A. Lakers (35–47) Sacramento (27–55) Phoenix (21–61)
2018–19 Golden State+ (57–25) L.A. Clippers* (48–34) Sacramento (39–43) L.A. Lakers (37–45) Phoenix (19–63)
2019–20 L.A. Lakers^ (52–19) L.A. Clippers* (49–23) Phoenix (34–39) Sacramento (31–41) Golden State† (15–50)
2020–21 Phoenix+ (51–21) L.A. Clippers* (47–25) L.A. Lakers* (42–30) Golden State× (39–33) Sacramento (31–41)
2021–22 Phoenix* (64–18) Golden State^ (53–29) L.A. Clippers× (42–40) L.A. Lakers (33–49) Sacramento (30–52)
2022–23 Sacramento* (48–34) Phoenix* (45–37) L.A. Clippers* (44–38) Golden State* (44–38) L.A. Lakers* (43–39)
2023–24 L.A. Clippers* (51–31) Phoenix* (49–33) L.A. Lakers* (47–35) Sacramento× (46–36) Golden State× (46–36)

Rivalries

[edit]
Main article: National Basketball Association rivalries § Pacific Division

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Main article: Lakers–Clippers rivalry

Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Main article: Lakers-Suns rivalry

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors

Main article: Lakers-Warriors rivalry

Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Main article: Kings-Lakers rivalry

Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors

Main article: Kings-Warriors rivalry

Notes

[edit]
  • 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]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
General
  • "NBA & ABA League Index". Basketball-Reference.com.
Specific
  1. ^ "1970–71 Season Overview: Kareem Rules the League". NBA.com. Turner Sports Interactive, Inc. Archived from the original on November 19, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ Conway, Tyler (April 11, 2022). "NBA Unveils Division Winner Trophies Named After Black Pioneers from League History". Bleacher Report. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  4. ^ 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 19, 2001. Retrieved May 31, 2011.
  5. ^ Jenkins, Lee (December 5, 2011). "'tis The Season". CNN Sports Illustrated. Time Warner Company. Archived from the original on December 10, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
[edit]
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