What is the difference between conference and division in the NBA? Taking a closer look

The NBA is split into two conferences, the East and the West. Each conference has three divisions. The Atlantic, Central and Southeast are the divisions making up the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the divisions of the Western Conference are Northwest, Pacific and Southwest.

The entry of the Charlotte Bobcats in 2004 brought the total number of teams to 30, making it logical to create three divisions per conference. There are now five teams comprising a division. Divisions help with the logistics of travel and cost.

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How the NBA bases its scheduling based on divisions and conferences

Making the schedule is one of the toughest jobs NBA organizers have on their plate. They have venue availability to consider, local holidays and other matters of importance that could affect a potential play date.

Every team has an 82-game schedule, evenly divided into 41 home and 41 road games. It’s with this basic principle that divisions and conferences matter in making a regular-season calendar.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the league reduced its number of games. During the 2019-20 season, the NBA played only 72 games. The 82-game schedule was re-installed starting the 2020-21 campaign.

Each division has five teams. A single team will play against the four teams in that division four times, which will result in 16 (4*4) games.

Four games will also be scheduled against opponents from the same conference but not from the same division. That brings the total to 24 (4*6) games

The rest of the 30 games will be played against opponents from the other conference. Each team will play a specific opponent twice, thus hitting 30 (15*2) games.

The NBA's framework based on conferences and divisions

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division

Boston Celtics
Brooklyn Nets
New York Knicks
Philadelphia 76ers
Toronto Raptors

Central Division

Chicago Bulls
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons
Indiana Pacers
Milwaukee Bucks

Southeast Division

Atlanta Hawks
Charlotte Hornets
Miami Heat
Orlando Magic
Washington Wizards

Western Conference

Northwest Division

Denver Nuggets
Minnesota Timberwolves
OKC Thunder
Portland Trail Blazers
Utah Jazz

Pacific Division

Golden State Warriors
LA Clippers
LA Lakers
Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings

Southwest Division

Dallas Mavericks
Houston Rockets
Memphis Grizzlies
New Orleans Hornets
San Antonio Spurs

About the author

Michael Macasero brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his coverage of basketball at Sportskeeda with over 18 years of diverse work experience. This includes stints at Convergys, Interpace and RunRepeat.

Michael's background in English and Journalism has provided him with the analytical skills and precision necessary for creating content, and he is a lifelong fan of the Boston Celtics. His favorite players include legends like Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, modern stars like Tim Duncan, and Nikola Jokic, as well as emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Michael respects Gregg Popovich, despite his contentious demeanor in interviews, and recognizes Popovich's genius in adapting his coaching style to maximize the talent on his roster over the years. Michael eagerly anticipates seeing how Popovich will structure the offense around emerging talent like Victor Wembanyama.

Understanding the story and details is crucial to Michael's reporting philosophy and he believes overlooking details, particularly when pressed for time, can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate conclusions.

Aside from work, Michael's children are his hobbies, and he also likes to go running, swimming and weightlifting.

Know More

Boston Celtics Nation! You can check out the latest Boston Celtics Schedule and dive into the Celtics Depth Chart for NBA Season 2024-25.

Edited by Michael Macasero