Western Conference (NBA)

Western Conference

File:Western Conference (NBA) logo.gif
Formerly	Western Division (1946–1970)
League	National Basketball Association
Sport	Basketball
Founded	1946
No. of teams	15
Most recent champion(s)	Golden State Warriors (5th title)
Most titles	Los Angeles Lakers (31 titles)

The Western Conference of the National Basketball Association is made up of fifteen teams, and organized in three divisions of five teams each.

Since 2006, the three division winners and the non-division winner with the best record are seeded 1 through 4 for the playoffs in order of their record, with all remaining non-division winners seeded 5 through 8. This leaves open the possibility that a #2 or #3 seed could be a non-division winner. Home-court advantage in a playoff series is decided by record, not by seeding, so if a #4 and #5 team met in a playoff series in which the #5 team had the better record, the #5 team would have home-court advantage.

The reasoning behind this seeding arrangement is that a non-division winner could have a better record than the winners of the two divisions other than the one that produced the non-division winner in question. If the three division winners were seeded 1 through 3 for the playoffs in order of their record, and all non-division winners seeded 4 through 8, it would be possible for the two leading teams of the conference to meet in the Conference Semifinals. This actually happened in the 2006 NBA Playoffs when the two best teams in the Western Conference, the San Antonio Spurs and the Dallas Mavericks, both from the Southwest Division, faced one another in the Western Conference Semifinals while the 3rd seed, the Northwest Division-leading Denver Nuggets, had fewer wins than the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th seeds. The NBA proposed and approved of the current format to ensure that the best two teams of a conference can meet no earlier than the NBA Conference Finals.

The Western Conference playoffs is divided into two playoffs rounds, and the NBA Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Eastern Conference champion in the NBA Finals to determine the champion. All playoff series are best-of-seven.

The current divisional alignment was adopted at the start of the 2004–05 season, when the now Charlotte Hornets began play as the NBA's 30th franchise. This necessitated the move of the New Orleans Pelicans from the Eastern Conference's Central Division to the newly created Southwest Division of the Western Conference.

Current standings

Western Conference
#	Team	W	L	PCT	GB	GP
1	z – Golden State Warriors *	67	15	.817	–	82
2	y – San Antonio Spurs *	61	21	.744	6.0	82
3	x – Houston Rockets	55	27	.671	12.0	82
4	x – Los Angeles Clippers	51	31	.622	16.0	82
5	y – Utah Jazz *	51	31	.622	16.0	82
6	x – Oklahoma City Thunder	47	35	.573	20.0	82
7	x – Memphis Grizzlies	43	39	.524	24.0	82
8	x – Portland Trail Blazers	41	41	.500	26.0	82
9	Denver Nuggets	40	42	.488	27.0	82
10	New Orleans Pelicans	34	48	.415	33.0	82
11	Dallas Mavericks	33	49	.402	34.0	82
12	Sacramento Kings	32	50	.390	35.0	82
13	Minnesota Timberwolves	31	51	.378	36.0	82
14	Los Angeles Lakers	26	56	.317	41.0	82
15	Phoenix Suns	24	58	.293	43.0	82

Notes

• z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
• c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
• y – Clinched division title
• x – Clinched playoff spot
• * – Division leader

Teams

Team	Division	City	Year	From
			Joined
Dallas Mavericks	Southwest	Dallas	1980–present	—†
Denver Nuggets	Northwest	Denver	1976–present	ABA‡
Golden State Warriors	Pacific	Oakland San Francisco	1962–present	Eastern Division
Houston Rockets	Southwest	Houston San Diego	1967–1971 (San Diego) 1971–1972, 1980–present (Houston)	—† Eastern Conference
Los Angeles Clippers	Pacific	Los Angeles San Diego	1978–present	Eastern Conference
Los Angeles Lakers	Pacific	Los Angeles Minneapolis	1948-1960 (Minneapolis) 1960–present (Los Angeles)	—†
Memphis Grizzlies	Southwest	Memphis Vancouver	1995–2001 (Vancouver) 2001–present (Memphis)	—†
Minnesota Timberwolves	Northwest	Minneapolis	1989–present	—†
New Orleans Pelicans	Southwest	New Orleans New Orleans and Oklahoma City[a]	2004–2005; 2007–present (New Orleans) 2005-2007 (New Orleans-Oklahoma City)	Eastern Conference
Oklahoma City Thunder	Northwest	Oklahoma City Seattle	1967–2008 (Seattle) 2008–present (Oklahoma City)	—†
Phoenix Suns	Pacific	Phoenix	1968–present	—†
Portland Trail Blazers	Northwest	Portland	1970–present	—†
Sacramento Kings	Pacific	Sacramento Kansas City Kansas City and Omaha Cincinnati Rochester	1948-1957 (Rhochester) 1957–1962 (Cincinnati) 1972-1975 (Kansas City-Omaha) 1975-1985 (Kansas City) 1985–present (Sacramento)	—† Eastern Conference
San Antonio Spurs	Southwest	San Antonio	1980–present	Eastern Conference
Utah Jazz	Northwest	Salt Lake City	1979–present	Eastern Conference

Former teams

Team	City	Year	From	Year	To	Current conference
		Joined		Left
Anderson Packers	Anderson, Indiana	1949	—†	1950	defunct	defunct
Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949–1951) Milwaukee Hawks (1951–1955) St. Louis Hawks (1955–1968) Atlanta Hawks (1968–present)	Moline, Illinois Milwaukee St. Louis, Missouri Atlanta	1949	—*	1970	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
Baltimore Bullets	Baltimore	1947	—†	1948	Eastern Division	defunct
Charlotte Hornets	Charlotte, North Carolina	1989	Eastern Conference	1990	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
Chicago Bulls	Chicago	1966	—†	1980	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
Chicago Packers (1961–1962) Chicago Zephyrs (1962–1963) Baltimore Bullets (1962–1973)	Chicago Baltimore	1961	—†	1966	Eastern Division	Eastern Conference (as Washington Wizards)
Chicago Stags	Chicago	1946		1949	Central Division	defunct
Cleveland Rebels	Cleveland, Ohio	1946		1947	defunct	defunct
Denver Nuggets	Denver, Colorado	1949	—*	1950	defunct	defunct
Detroit Falcons	Detroit	1946		1947	defunct	defunct
Fort Wayne Pistons (1948–1957) Detroit Pistons (1957–present)	Fort Wayne, Indiana Detroit	1948 1950 1970	—* Central Division Eastern Division	1949 1967 1978	Central Division Eastern Division Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
Indiana Pacers	Indianapolis	1976	ABA‡	1979	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
Indianapolis Jets	Indianapolis	1948	—*	1949	defunct	defunct
Indianapolis Olympians	Indianapolis	1949	—†	1953	defunct	defunct
Miami Heat	Miami	1988	—†	1989	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
Milwaukee Bucks	Milwaukee	1970	Eastern Conference	1980	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
Orlando Magic	Orlando, Florida	1990	Eastern Conference	1991	Eastern Conference	Eastern Conference
Pittsburgh Ironmen	Pittsburgh	1946		1947	defunct	defunct
Sheboygan Red Skins	Sheboygan, Wisconsin	1949	—*	1950	defunct	defunct
St. Louis Bombers	St. Louis, Missouri	1946		1949	Central Division	defunct
Washington Capitols	Washington, D.C.	1947	—†	1948	Eastern Division	defunct
Waterloo Hawks	Waterloo, Iowa	1949	—*	1950	defunct	defunct

Notes

•   founding BAA team
• † denotes an expansion team.
• ‡ denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).
• * denotes a team that merged from the National Basketball league

Team timeline

	Denotes team that currently in the conference
	Denotes team that has left the conference

Conference champions

See also: NBA Conference Finals § Western Division / Conference

Western Conference was named Western Division until 1970

Bold	Winning team of the BAA Finals or NBA Finals
^	Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season

Season	Team	Record	Playoffs result
1946–47	Chicago Stags	39–22 (.639)	Lost BAA Finals 1-4
1947–48	Baltimore Bullets	28–20 (.583)	Won BAA Finals 4-2
1948–49	Minneapolis Lakers	44–16 (.733)	Won BAA Finals 4-2
1949–50	Anderson Packers[b]	37–27 (.578)	Lost NBA Semifinals 0–2
1950–51	Rochester Royals	41–27 (.603)	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1951–52	Minneapolis Lakers	40–26 (.606)	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1952–53	Minneapolis Lakers^	48–22 (.686)	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1953–54	Minneapolis Lakers^	46–26 (.639)	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1954–55	Fort Wayne Pistons^	43–29 (.597)	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1955–56	Fort Wayne Pistons	37–35 (.514)	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
1956–57	St. Louis Hawks	34–38	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1957–58	St. Louis Hawks	41–31	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1958–59	Minneapolis Lakers	49–23	Lost NBA Finals 0-4
1959–60	St. Louis Hawks	41–31	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1960–61	St. Louis Hawks	51–28	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
1961–62	Los Angeles Lakers	54–26	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1962–63	Los Angeles Lakers	53–27	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1963–64	San Francisco Warriors	48–32	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
1964–65	Los Angeles Lakers	49–31	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
1965–66	Los Angeles Lakers	45–35	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1966–67	San Francisco Warriors	44–37	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1967–68	Los Angeles Lakers	52–30	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1968–69	Los Angeles Lakers	55–27	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1969–70	Los Angeles Lakers	46–36	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1970–71	Milwaukee Bucks^	66–16	Won NBA Finals 4-0
1971–72	Los Angeles Lakers^	69–13	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1972–73	Los Angeles Lakers	60–22	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
1973–74	Milwaukee Bucks^	59–23	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1974–75	Golden State Warriors	59–23	Won NBA Finals 4-0
1975–76	Phoenix Suns	52–30	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1976–77	Portland Trail Blazers	49–33	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1977–78	Seattle SuperSonics	46–36	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1978–79	Seattle SuperSonics	52–30	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1979–80	Los Angeles Lakers	52–30	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1980–81	Houston Rockets	40–42	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1981–82	Los Angeles Lakers	57–25	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1982–83	Los Angeles Lakers	58–24	Lost NBA Finals 0-4
1983–84	Los Angeles Lakers	54–28	Lost NBA Finals 3-4
1984–85	Los Angeles Lakers	62–20	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1985–86	Houston Rockets	51–31	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1986–87	Los Angeles Lakers^	65–17	Won NBA Finals 4-2
1987–88	Los Angeles Lakers^	62–20	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1988–89	Los Angeles Lakers	57–25	Lost NBA Finals 0-4
1989–90	Portland Trail Blazers	59–23	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
1990–91	Los Angeles Lakers	58–24	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
1991–92	Portland Trail Blazers	57–25	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1992–93	Phoenix Suns^	62–20	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1993–94	Houston Rockets	58–24	Won NBA Finals 4-3
1994–95	Houston Rockets	47–35	Won NBA Finals 4-0
1995–96	Seattle SuperSonics	64–18	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1996–97	Utah Jazz	64–18	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1997–98	Utah Jazz^	62–20	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
1998–99	San Antonio Spurs^	37–13	Won NBA Finals 4-1
1999–00	Los Angeles Lakers^	67–15	Won NBA Finals 4-2
2000–01	Los Angeles Lakers	56–26	Won NBA Finals 4-1
2001–02	Los Angeles Lakers	58–24	Won NBA Finals 4-0
2002–03	San Antonio Spurs^	60–22	Won NBA Finals 4-2
2003–04	Los Angeles Lakers	56–26	Lost NBA Finals 1-4
2004–05	San Antonio Spurs	59–23	Won NBA Finals 4-3
2005–06	Dallas Mavericks	60–22	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
2006–07	San Antonio Spurs	58–24	Won NBA Finals 4-0
2007–08	Los Angeles Lakers	57–25	Lost NBA Finals 2-4
2008–09	Los Angeles Lakers	65–17	Won NBA Finals 4-1
2009–10	Los Angeles Lakers	57–25	Won NBA Finals, 4–3
2010–11	Dallas Mavericks	57–25	Won NBA Finals, 4–2
2011–12	Oklahoma City Thunder	47–19	Lost NBA Finals, 1–4
2012–13	San Antonio Spurs	58–24	Lost NBA Finals, 3–4
2013–14	San Antonio Spurs^	62–20	Won NBA Finals, 4–1
2014–15	Golden State Warriors^	67–15	Won NBA Finals, 4–2
2015–16	Golden State Warriors^	73–9	Lost NBA Finals, 3–4

List of Western Conference teams with the most conference championships

• 31: Los Angeles Lakers/Minneapolis Lakers
• 6: San Antonio Spurs
• 5: Golden State Warriors/San Francisco Warriors
• 4: Houston Rockets
• 4: Atlanta/St. Louis Hawks
• 4: Oklahoma City Thunder/Seattle SuperSonics
• 3: Portland Trail Blazers
• 2: Fort Wayne Pistons
• 2: Milwaukee Bucks
• 2: Phoenix Suns
• 2: Utah Jazz
• 2: Dallas Mavericks
• 1: Anderson Packers
• 1: Baltimore Bullets
• 1: Chicago Stags
• 1: Sacramento Kings/Rochester Royals

Season results

^	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

Season	Team (record)
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th	11th	12th	13th	14th	15th
1946: The Western Division was formed with five inaugural members.
1946–47	Chicago+ (39–22)	St. Louis* (38–23)	Cleveland* (30–30)	Detroit (20–40)	Pittsburgh (15–45)
1947: Two expansion teams – the Baltimore Bullets and the Washington Capitols – joined the division. The Cleveland Rebels, the Detroit Falcons and the Pittsburgh Ironmen became defunct.
1947–48	St. Louis* (29–19)	Baltimore^ (28–20)	Chicago* (28–20)	Washington* (28–20)
1948: Three expansion teams – the Rochester Royals, the Minneapolis Lakers and the Indianapolis Jets – joined the division. The Baltimore Bullets and the Washington Capitols left to join the Eastern Division.
1948–49	Rochester* (45–15)	Minneapolis^ (44–16)	Chicago* (38–22)	St. Louis* (29–31)	Fort Wayne (22–38)	Indianapolis (18–42)
1949: Six expansion teams – the Indianapolis Olympians, the Anderson Packers, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, the Sheboygan Red Skins, the Waterloo Hawks and the Denver Nuggets – joined the division. The Indianapolis Jets became defunct. The Rochester Royals, the Minneapolis Lakers, the Chicago Stags, the St. Louis Bombers and the Fort Wayne Pistons left to join the Central Division.
1949–50	Indianapolis* (39–25)	Anderson* (37–27)	Tri-Cities* (29–35)	Sheboygan* (22–40)	Waterloo (19–43)	Denver (11–51)
1950: The Rochester Royals, the Minneapolis Lakers and the Fort Wayne Pistons joined the division. The Anderson Packers, the Sheboygan Red Skins, the Waterloo Hawks and the Denver Nuggets became defunct.
1950–51	Minneapolis* (44–24)	Rochester^ (41–27)	Fort Wayne* (32–36)	Indianapolis* (31–37)	Tri-Cities (25–43)
1951: The Tri-Cities Blackhawks relocated and became the Milwaukee Hawks.
1951–52	Rochester* (41–25)	Minneapolis^ (40–26)	Indianapolis* (34–32)	Fort Wayne* (29–37)	Milwaukee (17–49)
1952–53	Minneapolis^ (48–22)	Rochester* (44–26)	Fort Wayne* (36–33)	Indianapolis* (28–43)	Milwaukee (27–44)
1953: The Indianapolis Olympians became defunct.
1953–54	Minneapolis^ (46–26)	Rochester* (44–28)	Fort Wayne* (40–32)	Milwaukee (21–51)
1954–55	Fort Wayne+ (43–29)	Minneapolis* (40–32)	Rochester* (29–43)	Milwaukee (26–46)
1955–56	Fort Wayne+ (37–35)	Minneapolis* (33–39)	Milwaukee* (33–39)	Rochester (31–41)
1956: The Milwaukee Hawks relocated and became the St. Louis Hawks.
1956–57	St. Louis+ (34–38)	Minneapolis* (34–38)	Fort Wayne* (34–38)	Rochester (31–41)
1957: The Rochester Royals relocated and became the Cincinnati Royals. The Fort Wayne Pistons relocated and became the Detroit Pistons.
1957–58	St. Louis^ (41–31)	Detroit* (33–39)	Cincinnati* (33–39)	Minneapolis (19–53)
1958–59	St. Louis^ (49–23)	Minneapolis+ (33–39)	Detroit* (28–44)	Cincinnati (19–53)
1959–60	St. Louis+ (41–31)	Detroit* (30–45)	Minneapolis* (25–50)	Cincinnati (19–56)
1960: The Minneapolis Lakers relocated and became the Los Angeles Lakers.
1960–61	St. Louis+ (51–28)	Los Angeles* (36–43)	Detroit* (34–45)	Cincinnati (33–46)
1961: The Chicago Packers joined the division as an expansion team.
1961–62	Los Angeles+ (54–26)	Cincinnati* (43–37)	Detroit* (37–43)	St. Louis (29–51)	Chicago (18–62)
1962: The San Francisco Warriors joined the division. The Cincinnati Royals left to join the Eastern Division. The Chicago Packers was renamed the Chicago Zephyrs.
1962–63	Los Angeles+ (53–27)	St. Louis* (48–32)	Detroit* (34–46)	San Francisco (31–49)	Chicago (25–55)
1963: The Chicago Zephyrs relocated and became the Baltimore Bullets
1963–64	San Francisco+ (48–32)	St. Louis* (46–34)	Los Angeles* (42–38)	Baltimore (31–49)	Detroit (23–57)
1964–65	Los Angeles+ (49–31)	St. Louis* (45–35)	Baltimore* (37–43)	Detroit (31–49)	San Francisco (17–63)
1965–66	Los Angeles+ (45–35)	St. Louis* (38–42)	Baltimore* (36–44)	San Francisco (35–45)	Detroit (22–58)
1966: An expansion team, the Chicago Bulls joined the division. The Baltimore Bullets left to join the Eastern Division.
1966–67	San Francisco+ (44–37)	St. Louis* (39–42)	Los Angeles* (36–45)	Chicago* (33–48)	Detroit (30–51)
1967: Two expansion teams, the Seattle SuperSonics and the San Diego Rockets joined the division. The Detroit Pistons left to join the Eastern Division.
1967–68	St. Louis* (56–26)	Los Angeles+ (52–30)	San Francisco* (43–39)	Chicago* (29–53)	Seattle (23–59)	San Diego (15–67)
1968: An expansion team, the Phoenix Suns joined the division. The St. Louis Hawks relocated and became the Atlanta Hawks.
1968–69	Los Angeles+ (55–27)	Atlanta* (48–34)	San Francisco* (41–41)	San Diego* (37–45)	Chicago (33–49)	Seattle (30–52)	Phoenix (16–66)
1969–70	Atlanta* (48–34)	Los Angeles+ (46–36)	Phoenix* (39–43)	Chicago* (39–43)	Seattle (36–46)	San Francisco (30–52)	San Diego (27–55)
The Western Division became the Western Conference.
1970: The Detroit Pistons, the Milwaukee Bucks, and an expansion team, the Portland Trail Blazers, joined the conference. The Atlanta Hawks left to join the Eastern Conference.
1970–71	Milwaukee^ (66–16)	Los Angeles* (48–34)	Chicago* (51–31)	San Francisco* (41–41)	Phoenix (48–34)	Detroit (45–37)	San Diego (40–42)	Seattle (38–44)	Portland (29–53)
1971: The San Francisco Warriors relocated and became the Golden State Warriors. The San Diego Rockets relocated and became the Houston Rockets.
1971–72	Los Angeles^ (69–13)	Milwaukee* (63–19)	Chicago* (57–25)	Golden State* (51–31)	Phoenix (49–33)	Seattle (47–35)	Houston (34–48)	Detroit (26–56)	Portland (18–64)
1972: The Cincinnati Royals, who relocated and became the Kansas City–Omaha Kings, joined the conference. The Houston Rockets left to join the Eastern Conference.
1972–73	Milwaukee* (60–22)	Los Angeles+ (60–22)	Chicago* (51–31)	Golden State* (47–35)	Detroit (40–42)	Phoenix (38–44)	Kansas City -Omaha (36–46)	Seattle (26–56)	Portland (21–61)
1973–74	Milwaukee+ (59–23)	Los Angeles* (47–35)	Chicago* (54–28)	Detroit* (52–30)	Golden State (44–38)	Seattle (36–46)	Kansas City -Omaha (33–49)	Phoenix (30–52)	Portland (27–55)
1974–75	Golden State^ (48–34)	Chicago* (47–35)	Kansas City -Omaha* (44–38)	Seattle* (43–39)	Detroit* (40–42)	Portland (38–44)	Milwaukee (38–44)	Phoenix (32–50)	Los Angeles (30–52)
1975: The Kansas City–Omaha Kings was renamed the Kansas City Kings.
1975–76	Golden State* (59–23)	Milwaukee* (47–35)	Seattle* (54–28)	Phoenix+ (52–30)	Detroit* (44–38)	Los Angeles (36–46)	Portland (33–49)	Kansas City (30–52)	Chicago (27–55)
1976: Two American Basketball Association (ABA) teams that merged with the NBA, the Indiana Pacers and the Denver Nuggets, joined the conference.
1976–77	Los Angeles* (53–29)	Denver* (50–32)	Portland^ (49–33)	Golden State* (46–36)	Detroit* (44–38)	Chicago* (44–38)	Seattle (40–42)	Kansas City (40–42)	Indiana (36–46)	Phoenix (34–48)	Milwaukee (30–52)
1977–78	Portland* (58-24)	Denver* (50–32)	Phoenix* (49–33)	Seattle+ (46–36)	Los Angeles* (44–38)	Milwaukee* (44–38)	Golden State (40–42)	Chicago (40–42)	Detroit (36–46)	Kansas City (34–48)	Indiana (30–52)
1978: The Buffalo Braves moved, were renamed San Diego Clippers, and joined the conference. The Detroit Pistons left to join the Eastern Conference.
1978–79	Seattle^ (52–30)	Kansas City* (48–34)	Phoenix* (50–32)	Denver* (47–35)	Los Angeles* (47–35)	Portland* (45–37)	San Diego (43–39)	Milwaukee (38–44)	Golden State (38–44)	Indiana (38–44)	Chicago (31–51)
1979: The New Orleans Jazz, who relocated and became the Utah Jazz, joined the conference. The Indiana Pacers left to join the Eastern Conference.
1979–80	Los Angeles^ (52–30)	Milwaukee* (48–34)	Seattle* (50–32)	Phoenix* (47–35)	Kansas City* (47–35)	Portland* (45–37)	San Diego (43–39)	Denver (38–44)	Golden State (38–44)	Chicago (38–44)	Utah (31–51)
1980: An expansion team, the Dallas Mavericks, joined the conference. The San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets joined from the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks and the Chicago Bulls left to join the Eastern Conference.
1980–81	Phoenix* (57–25)	San Antonio* (52–30)	Los Angeles* (54–28)	Portland* (45–37)	Kansas City* (40–42)	Houston+ (40–42)	Golden State (39–43)	Denver (37–45)	San Diego (36–46)	Seattle (34–48)	Utah (28–54)	Dallas (15–67)
1981–82	Los Angeles^ (57–25)	San Antonio* (48–34)	Seattle* (52–30)	Denver* (46–36)	Phoenix* (46–36)	Houston* (46–36)	Golden State (45–37)	Portland (42–40)	Kansas City (30–52)	Dallas (28–54)	Utah (25–57)	San Diego (17–65)
1982–83	Los Angeles+ (58–24)	San Antonio* (53–29)	Phoenix* (53–29)	Seattle* (48–34)	Portland* (46–36)	Denver* (46–37)	Kansas City (46–37)	Dallas (38–44)	Golden State (30–52)	Utah (30–52)	San Diego (25–57)	Houston (14–68)
1983–84	Los Angeles+ (54–28)	Utah* (45–37)	Portland* (48–34)	Dallas* (43–39)	Seattle* (42–40)	Phoenix* (41–41)	Denver* (38–44)	Kansas City* (38–44)	Golden State (37–45)	San Antonio (37–45)	San Diego (30–52)	Houston (29–53)
1984: The San Diego Clippers relocated and became the Los Angeles Clippers.
1984–85	L.A. Lakers^ (62–20)	Denver* (52–30)	Houston* (48–34)	Dallas* (44–38)	Portland* (42–40)	Utah* (41–41)	San Antonio* (41–41)	Phoenix* (36–46)	Kansas City (31–51)	Seattle (31–51)	L.A. Clippers (31–51)	Golden State (22–60)
1985: The Kansas City Kings relocated and became the Sacramento Kings.
1985–86	L.A. Lakers* (62–20)	Houston+ (51–31)	Denver* (47–35)	Dallas* (44–38)	Utah* (42–40)	Portland* (40–42)	Sacramento* (37–45)	San Antonio* (35–47)	Phoenix (32–50)	L.A. Clippers (32–50)	Seattle (31–51)	Golden State (30–52)
1986–87	L.A. Lakers^ (65–17)	Dallas* (55–27)	Portland* (49–33)	Utah* (44–38)	Golden State* (42–40)	Houston* (42–40)	Seattle* (39–43)	Denver* (37–45)	Phoenix (36–46)	Sacramento (29–53)	San Antonio (28–54)	L.A. Clippers (12–70)
1987–88	L.A. Lakers^ (62–20)	Denver* (54–28)	Dallas* (53–29)	Portland* (53–29)	Utah* (47–35)	Houston* (46–36)	Seattle* (44–38)	San Antonio* (31–51)	Phoenix (28–54)	Sacramento (24–58)	Golden State (20–62)	L.A. Clippers (17–65)
1988: An expansion team, the Miami Heat, joined the conference.
1988–89	L.A. Lakers+ (57–25)	Utah* (51–31)	Phoenix* (55–27)	Seattle* (47–35)	Houston* (45–37)	Denver* (44–38)	Golden State* (43–39)	Portland* (39–43)	Dallas (38–44)	Sacramento (27–55)	L.A. Clippers (21–61)	San Antonio (21–61)	Miami (15–67)
1989: An expansion team, the Minnesota Timberwolves, joined the conference. The Charlotte Hornets joined from the Eastern Conference. The Miami Heat left to join the Eastern Conference.
1989–90	L.A. Lakers* (63–19)	San Antonio* (56–26)	Portland+ (59–23)	Utah* (55–27)	Phoenix* (54–28)	Dallas* (47–35)	Denver* (43–39)	Houston* (41–41)	Seattle (41–41)	Golden State (37–45)	L.A. Clippers (30–52)	Sacramento (23–59)	Minnesota (22–60)	Charlotte (19–63)
1990: The Orlando Magic joined from the Eastern Conference. The Charlotte Hornets left to join the Eastern Conference.
1990–91	Portland* (63–19)	San Antonio* (55–27)	L.A. Lakers+ (58–24)	Phoenix* (55–27)	Utah* (54–28)	Houston* (52–30)	Golden State* (44–38)	Seattle* (41–41)	Orlando (31–51)	L.A. Clippers (32–51)	Minnesota (29–53)	Dallas (28–54)	Sacramento (25–57)	Denver (20–62)
1991: The Orlando Magic left to join the Eastern Conference.
1991–92	Portland+ (57–25)	Utah* (55–27)	Golden State* (55–27)	Phoenix* (53–29)	San Antonio* (47–35)	Seattle* (47–35)	L.A. Clippers* (45–37)	L.A. Lakers* (43–39)	Houston (42–40)	Sacramento (29–53)	Denver (24–58)	Dallas (22–60)	Minnesota (15–67)
1992–93	Phoenix+ (62–20)	Houston* (55–27)	Seattle* (55–27)	Portland* (51–31)	San Antonio* (49–33)	Utah* (47–35)	L.A. Clippers* (41–41)	L.A. Lakers* (39–43)	Denver (36–46)	Golden State (34–48)	Sacramento (25–57)	Minnesota (19–63)	Dallas (11–71)
1993–94	Seattle* (63–19)	Houston^ (58–24)	Phoenix* (56–26)	San Antonio* (55–27)	Utah* (53–39)	Golden State* (50–32)	Portland* (47–35)	Denver* (42–40)	L.A. Lakers (33–49)	Sacramento (28–54)	L.A. Clippers (27–55)	Minnesota (20–62)	Dallas (13–69)
1994–95	San Antonio* (62–20)	Phoenix* (59–23)	Utah* (60–22)	Seattle* (57–25)	L.A. Lakers* (48–34)	Houston^ (47–35)	Portland* (44–38)	Denver* (41–41)	Sacramento (39–43)	Dallas (36–46)	Golden State (26–56)	Minnesota (21–61)	L.A. Clippers (17–65)
1995: An expansion team, the Vancouver Grizzlies, joined the conference.
1995–96	Seattle+ (64–18)	San Antonio* (59–23)	Utah* (55–27)	L.A. Lakers* (53–29)	Houston* (48–34)	Portland* (44–38)	Phoenix* (41–41)	Sacramento* (39–43)	Golden State (36–46)	Denver (35–47)	L.A. Clippers (29–53)	Minnesota (26–56)	Dallas (26–56)	Vancouver (15–67)
1996–97	Utah+ (64–18)	Seattle* (57–25)	Houston* (57–25)	L.A. Lakers* (56–26)	Portland* (49–33)	Minnesota* (40–42)	Phoenix* (40–42)	L.A. Clippers* (36–46)	Sacramento (34–48)	Golden State (30–52)	Dallas (24–58)	Denver (21–61)	San Antonio (20–62)	Vancouver (14–68)
1997–98	Utah+ (62–20)	Seattle* (61–21)	L.A. Lakers* (61–21)	Phoenix* (56–26)	San Antonio* (56–26)	Portland* (46–36)	Minnesota* (45–37)	Houston* (41–41)	Sacramento (27–55)	Dallas (20–62)	Vancouver (19–63)	Golden State (19–63)	L.A. Clippers (17–65)	Denver (11–71)
1998–99	San Antonio^ (37–13)	Utah* (37–13)	Portland* (35–15)	L.A. Lakers* (31–19)	Houston* (31–19)	Phoenix* (27–23)	Sacramento* (27–23)	Minnesota* (25–25)	Seattle (25–25)	Golden State (21–29)	Dallas (19–31)	Denver (14–36)	L.A. Clippers (9–41)	Vancouver (8–42)
1999–00	L.A. Lakers^ (67–15)	Utah* (55–27)	Portland* (59–23)	San Antonio* (53–29)	Phoenix* (53–29)	Minnesota* (50–32)	Seattle* (45–37)	Sacramento* (44–38)	Dallas (40–42)	Denver (35–47)	Houston (34–48)	Vancouver (22–60)	Golden State (19–63)	L.A. Clippers (15–67)
2000–01	San Antonio* (58–24)	L.A. Lakers^ (56–26)	Sacramento* (55–27)	Utah* (53–29)	Dallas* (53–29)	Phoenix* (53–29)	Portland* (50–32)	Minnesota* (47–35)	Houston (45–37)	Seattle (44–38)	Denver (40–42)	L.A. Clippers (31–51)	Vancouver (23–59)	Golden State (17–65)
2001: The Vancouver Grizzlies relocated and became the Memphis Grizzlies.
2001–02	Sacramento* (61–21)	San Antonio* (58–24)	L.A. Lakers^ (56–26)	Dallas* (53–29)	Minnesota* (53–29)	Portland* (53–29)	Seattle* (50–32)	Utah* (47–35)	L.A. Clippers (45–37)	Phoenix (44–38)	Houston (40–42)	Denver (31–51)	Memphis (23–59)	Golden State (17–65)
2002–03	San Antonio^ (60–22)	Sacramento* (59–23)	Dallas* (60–22)	Minnesota* (51–31)	L.A. Lakers* (50–32)	Portland* (50–32)	Utah* (47–35)	Phoenix* (44–38)	Houston (43–39)	Seattle (40–42)	Golden State (38–44)	Memphis (28–54)	L.A. Clippers (27–55)	Denver (17–65)
2003–04	Minnesota* (58–24)	L.A. Lakers+ (56–26)	San Antonio* (57–25)	Sacramento* (55–27)	Dallas* (52–30)	Memphis* (50–32)	Houston* (45–37)	Denver* (43–39)	Utah (42–40)	Portland (41–41)	Golden State (37–45)	Seattle (37–45)	Phoenix (29–53)	L.A. Clippers (28–54)
2004: The New Orleans Hornets joined from the Eastern Conference.
2004–05	Phoenix* (62–20)	San Antonio^ (59–23)	Seattle* (52–30)	Dallas* (58–24)	Houston* (51–31)	Sacramento* (50–32)	Denver* (49–33)	Memphis* (45–37)	Minnesota (44–38)	L.A. Clippers (37–45)	L.A. Lakers (34–48)	Golden State (34–48)	Portland (27–55)	Utah (26–56)	New Orleans (18–64)
2005–06	San Antonio* (63–19)	Phoenix* (54–28)	Denver* (44–38)	Dallas+ (60–22)	Memphis* (49–33)	L.A. Clippers* (47–35)	L.A. Lakers* (45–37)	Sacramento* (44–38)	Utah (41–41)	New Orleans/ Oklahoma City[a] (38–44)	Seattle (35–47)	Houston (34–48)	Golden State (34–48)	Minnesota (33–49)	Portland (21–61)
2006–07	Dallas* (67–15)	Phoenix* (61–21)	San Antonio^ (58–24)	Utah* (58–24)	Houston* (52–30)	Denver* (45–37)	L.A. Lakers* (42–40)	Golden State* (42–40)	L.A. Clippers (40–42)	New Orleans/ Oklahoma City[a] (39–43)	Sacramento (33–49)	Portland (32–50)	Minnesota (32–50)	Seattle (31–51)	Memphis (22–60)
2007–08	L.A. Lakers+ (57–25)	New Orleans* (56–26)	San Antonio* (56–26)	Utah* (54–28)	Houston* (55–27)	Phoenix* (55–27)	Dallas* (51–31)	Denver* (50–32)	Golden State (48–34)	Portland (41–41)	Sacramento (38–44)	L.A. Clippers (23–59)	Memphis (22–60)	Minnesota (22–60)	Seattle (20–62)
2008: The Seattle SuperSonics relocated and became the Oklahoma City Thunder.
2008–09	L.A. Lakers^ (65–17)	Denver* (54–28)	San Antonio* (54–28)	Portland* (54–28)	Houston* (53–29)	Dallas* (50–32)	New Orleans* (49–33)	Utah* (48–34)	Phoenix (46–36)	Golden State (29–53)	Minnesota (24–58)	Memphis (24–58)	Oklahoma City (23–59)	L.A. Clippers (19–63)	Sacramento (17–65)
2009–10	L.A. Lakers^ (57–25)	Dallas* (55–27)	Phoenix* (54–28)	Denver* (53–29)	Utah* (53–29)	Portland* (50–32)	San Antonio* (50–32)	Oklahoma City* (50–32)	Houston (42–40)	Memphis (40–42)	New Orleans (37–45)	L.A. Clippers (29–53)	Golden State (26–56)	Sacramento (25–57)	Minnesota (15–67)
2010–11	San Antonio* (61–21)	L.A. Lakers* (57–25)	Dallas^ (57–25)	Oklahoma City* (55–27)	Denver* (50–32)	Portland* (48–34)	New Orleans* (46–36)	Memphis* (46–36)	Houston (43–39)	Phoenix (40–42)	Utah (39–43)	Golden State (36–46)	L.A. Clippers (32–50)	Sacramento (24–58)	Minnesota (17–65)
2011–12	San Antonio* (50–16)	Oklahoma City+ (47–19)	L.A. Lakers* (41–25)	Memphis* (41–25)	L.A. Clippers* (40–26)	Denver* (38–28)	Dallas* (36–30)	Utah* (36–30)	Houston (34–32)	Phoenix (33–33)	Portland (28–38)	Minnesota (26–40)	Golden State (23–43)	Sacramento (22–44)	New Orleans (21–45)
2012–13	Oklahoma City* (60–22)	San Antonio+ (58–24)	Denver* (57–25)	L.A. Clippers* (56–26)	Memphis* (56–26)	Golden State* (47–35)	L.A. Lakers* (45–37)	Houston* (45–37)	Utah (43–39)	Dallas (41–41)	Portland (33–49)	Minnesota (31–51)	Sacramento (28–54)	New Orleans (27–55)	Phoenix (25–57)
2013: The New Orleans Hornets were renamed the New Orleans Pelicans.
2013–14	San Antonio^ (62–20)	Oklahoma City* (59–23)	L.A. Clippers* (57–25)	Houston* (54–28)	Portland* (54–28)	Golden State* (51–31)	Memphis* (50–32)	Dallas* (49–33)	Phoenix (48–34)	Minnesota (40–42)	Denver (36–46)	New Orleans (34–48)	Sacramento (28–54)	L.A. Lakers (27–55)	Utah (25–57)
2014–15	Golden State^ (67–15)	Houston* (56–26)	L.A. Clippers* (56–26)	Portland* (51–31)	Memphis* (55–27)	San Antonio* (55–27)	Dallas* (50–32)	New Orleans* (45–37)	Oklahoma City (45–37)	Phoenix (39–43)	Utah (38–44)	Denver (30–52)	Sacramento (29–53)	L.A. Lakers (21–61)	Minnesota (16–66)
2015–16	Golden State+ (73–9)	San Antonio* (67–15)	Oklahoma City* (55–27)	L.A. Clippers* (53–29)	Portland* (44–38)	Dallas* (42–40)	Memphis* (42–40)	Houston* (41–41)	Utah (40–42)	Sacramento (33–49)	Denver (33–49)	New Orleans (30–52)	Minnesota (29–53)	Phoenix (23–59)	L.A. Lakers (17–65)

Notes

• ^{a 1 2 3} The New Orleans Hornets temporarily relocated to Oklahoma City due to the effect of Hurricane Katrina. The majority of home games were played in Oklahoma City, while a few remained in New Orleans.
• ^{b 1} For the 1949–50 season only, the NBA had three different conferences (called divisions at the time), resulting in three different conference champions. The Anderson Packers of the Western Division had to play the Minneapolis Lakers of the Central Division in a best-of-three series in the NBA semifinals, with the Lakers winning 2–0 and advancing to the 1950 NBA Finals to take on the Eastern Division champion Syracuse Nationals.