Western Conference (NBA)

The Western Conference is one of two conferences that make up the National Basketball Association (NBA), the other being the Eastern Conference. Both conferences consist of 15 teams organized into three divisions. The Western Conference comprises the Northwest, Pacific, and Southwest Divisions.

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

The NBA first started awarding a Western Conference championship trophy during the 2000–01 season, renaming it after Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson in the 2021–22 season. Also in 2021–22, the league began awarding the Earvin "Magic" Johnson Trophy to the Western Conference Finals Most Valuable Player, named after Hall of Famer Magic Johnson.

2025–26 standings

Notes

• z Ã¢Â€Â“ Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
• y Ã¢Â€Â“ Clinched division title
• pi Ã¢Â€Â“ Clinched play-in tournament spot (locked into a play-in spot but not able to clinch a playoff spot directly)
• x Ã¢Â€Â“ Clinched playoff spot
• * Ã¢Â€Â“ Division leader

Teams

Former teams

• denotes an expansion team.
• denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).

Team timeline

Conference champions

Conference championships by team

^Note: Milwaukee joined the Eastern Conference during the 1980–81 season.

Season results

Notes

• 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.

References