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 – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs y – Clinched division title pi – Clinched play-in tournament spot (locked into a play-in spot but not able to clinch a playoff spot directly) x – Clinched playoff spot * – Division leader
Teams Team Division Location Year From Joined Dallas Mavericks Southwest Dallas, Texas –present — Denver Nuggets Northwest Denver, Colorado –present ABA Golden State Warriors Pacific San Francisco, California –present Western Division Houston Rockets Southwest Houston, Texas –present Western Division Los Angeles Clippers Pacific Los Angeles, California –present Eastern Conference Los Angeles Lakers Pacific Los Angeles, California –present Western Division Memphis Grizzlies Southwest Memphis, Tennessee –present — Minnesota Timberwolves Northwest Minneapolis, Minnesota –present — New Orleans Pelicans Southwest New Orleans, Louisiana –present Eastern Conference Oklahoma City Thunder Northwest Oklahoma City, Oklahoma –present Western Division Phoenix Suns Pacific Phoenix, Arizona –present Western Division Portland Trail Blazers Northwest Portland, Oregon –present — Sacramento Kings Pacific Sacramento, California –present Eastern Conference San Antonio Spurs Southwest San Antonio, Texas –present Eastern Conference Utah Jazz Northwest Salt Lake City, Utah –present Eastern Conference
Former teams Team Location Year From Year To Current conference Joined LeftCharlotte HornetsCharlotte, North Carolina Eastern ConferenceEastern ConferenceEastern ConferenceChicago BullsChicago, IllinoisWestern DivisionEastern ConferenceEastern ConferenceDetroit PistonsDetroit, MichiganEastern DivisionEastern ConferenceEastern ConferenceIndiana PacersIndianapolis, IndianaABAEastern ConferenceEastern ConferenceMiami HeatMiami, Florida —Eastern ConferenceEastern ConferenceMilwaukee BucksMilwaukee, WisconsinEastern DivisionEastern ConferenceEastern ConferenceOrlando MagicOrlando, FloridaEastern ConferenceEastern ConferenceEastern Conference Notes denotes an expansion team. denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).
Team timeline Denotes team that is currently in the conference Denotes team that has left the conference
Conference champions
BoldWinning team of the NBA Finals ^ Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season Season Team Record Playoffs result Milwaukee Bucks^ 66–16 Won NBA Finals 4–0 Los Angeles Lakers^ 69–13 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers 60–22 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 Milwaukee Bucks^ 59–23 Lost NBA Finals 3–4 Golden State Warriors 59–23 Won NBA Finals 4–0 Phoenix Suns 52–30 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Portland Trail Blazers 49–33 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Seattle SuperSonics 46–36 Lost NBA Finals 3–4 Seattle SuperSonics 52–30 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers 60–22 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Houston Rockets 40–42 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Los Angeles Lakers 57–25 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Los Angeles Lakers 58–24 Lost NBA Finals 0–4 Los Angeles Lakers 54–28 Lost NBA Finals 3–4 Los Angeles Lakers 62–20 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Houston Rockets 51–31 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Los Angeles Lakers^ 65–17 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Los Angeles Lakers^ 62–20 Won NBA Finals 4–3 Los Angeles Lakers 57–25 Lost NBA Finals 0–4 Portland Trail Blazers 59–23 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 Los Angeles Lakers 58–24 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 Portland Trail Blazers 57–25 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Phoenix Suns^ 62–20 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Houston Rockets 58–24 Won NBA Finals 4–3 Houston Rockets 47–35 Won NBA Finals 4–0 Seattle SuperSonics 64–18 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Utah Jazz 64–18 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Utah Jazz^ 62–20 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 San Antonio Spurs^ 37–13 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers^ 67–15 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Los Angeles Lakers 56–26 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers 58–24 Won NBA Finals 4–0 San Antonio Spurs^ 60–22 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Los Angeles Lakers 56–26 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 San Antonio Spurs 59–23 Won NBA Finals 4–3 Dallas Mavericks 60–22 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 San Antonio Spurs 58–24 Won NBA Finals 4–0 Los Angeles Lakers 57–25 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Los Angeles Lakers 65–17 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Los Angeles Lakers 57–25 Won NBA Finals 4–3 Dallas Mavericks 57–25 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Oklahoma City Thunder 47–19 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 San Antonio Spurs 58–24 Lost NBA Finals 3–4 San Antonio Spurs^ 62–20 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Golden State Warriors^ 67–15 Won NBA Finals 4–2NBA Season Recap |NBA.com Golden State Warriors^ 73–9 Lost NBA Finals 3–4 Golden State Warriors^ 67–15 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Golden State Warriors 58–24 Won NBA Finals 4–0 Golden State Warriors 57–25 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Los Angeles Lakers 52–19 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Phoenix Suns 51–21 Lost NBA Finals 2–4 Golden State Warriors 53–29 Won NBA Finals 4–2 Denver Nuggets 53–29 Won NBA Finals 4–1 Dallas Mavericks 50–32 Lost NBA Finals 1–4 Oklahoma City Thunder^ 68–14 Won NBA Finals 4–3 San Antonio Spurs 62–20 Lost NBA Finals 1–4
Conference championships by team
Team Championships won Last Los Angeles Lakers 19 2020 Golden State Warriors 7 2022 San Antonio Spurs 7 2026 Seattle Supersonics/Oklahoma City Thunder 5 2025 Houston Rockets 4 1995 Phoenix Suns 3 2021 Portland Trail Blazers 3 1992 Dallas Mavericks 3 2024 Milwaukee Bucks 2 1974^ Utah Jazz 2 1998 Denver Nuggets 1 2023 Memphis Grizzlies 0 N/A Minnesota Timberwolves 0 N/A New Orleans Pelicans 0 N/A Los Angeles Clippers 0 N/A Sacramento Kings 0 N/A
^Note: Milwaukee joined the Eastern Conference during the 1980–81 season.
Season results Legend ^ Denotes team that won the NBA Finals + 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
Season Team (record) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th MIL^(66–16) LAL*(48–34) CHI*(51–31) SF*(41–41) PHX(48–34) DET(45–37) SD(40–42) SEA(38–44) POR(29–53) LAL^(69–13) MIL*(63–19) CHI*(57–25) GSW*(51–31) PHX(49–33) SEA(47–35) HOU(34–48) DET(26–56) POR(18–64) MIL*(60–22) LAL+(60–22) CHI*(51–31) GSW*(47–35) DET(40–42) PHX(38–44) KC-O(36–46) SEA(26–56) POR(21–61) MIL+(59–23) LAL*(47–35) CHI*(54–28) DET*(52–30) GSW(44–38) SEA(36–46) KC-O(33–49) PHX(30–52) POR(27–55) GSW^(48–34) CHI*(47–35) KC-O* (44–38) SEA*(43–39) DET*(40–42) POR(38–44) MIL(38–44) PHX(32–50) LAL(30–52) GSW*(59–23) MIL*(38–44) SEA*(43–39) PHX+(42–40) DET*(36–46) LAL(40–42) POR(37–45) KC(31–51) CHI(24–58) LAL*(53–29) DEN*(50–32) POR^(49–33) GSW*(46–36) DET*(44–38) CHI*(44–38) SEA(40–42) KC(40–42) IND(36–46) PHX(34–48) MIL(30–52) POR*(58–24) DEN*(50–32) PHX*(49–33) SEA+(46–36) LAL*(44–38) MIL*(44–38) GSW(40–42) CHI(40–42) DET(36–46) KC(34–48) IND(30–52) SEA^(52–30) KC*(48–34) PHX*(50–32) DEN*(47–35) LAL*(47–35) POR*(45–37) SD(43–39) MIL(38–44) GSW(38–44) IND(38–44) CHI(31–51) LAL^(60–22) MIL*(49–33) SEA*(56–26) PHX*(55–27) KC*(47–35) POR*(38–44) SD(35–47) DEN(30–52) CHI(30–52) GSW(24–58) UTA(24–58)
Season Team (record) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th PHX*(57–25) SAS*(52–30) LAL*(54–28) POR*(45–37) KC*(40–42) HOU+(40–42) GSW(39–43) DEN(37–45) SD(36–46) SEA(34–48) UTA(28–54) DAL(15–67) LAL^(57–25) SAS*(48–34) SEA*(52–30) DEN*(46–36) PHX*(46–36) HOU*(46–36) GSW(45–37) POR(42–40) KC(30–52) DAL(28–54) UTA(25–57) SD(17–65) LAL+(58–24) SAS*(53–29) PHX*(53–29) SEA*(48–34) POR*(46–36) DEN*(46–37) KC(46–37) DAL(38–44) GSW(30–52) UTA(30–52) SD(25–57) HOU(14–68) LAL+(54–28) UTA*(45–37) POR*(48–34) DAL*(43–39) SEA*(42–40) PHX*(41–41) DEN*(38–44) KC*(38–44) GSW(37–45) SAS(37–45) SD(30–52) HOU(29–53) LAL^(62–20) DEN*(52–30) HOU*(48–34) DAL*(44–38) POR*(42–40) UTA*(41–41) SAS*(41–41) PHX*(36–46) KC(31–51) SEA(31–51) LAC(31–51) GSW(22–60) LAL*(62–20) HOU+(51–31) DEN*(47–35) DAL*(44–38) UTA*(42–40) POR*(40–42) SAC*(37–45) SAS*(35–47) PHX(32–50) LAC(32–50) SEA(31–51) GSW(30–52) LAL^(65–17) DAL*(55–27) POR*(49–33) UTA*(44–38) GSW*(42–40) HOU*(42–40) SEA*(39–43) DEN*(37–45) PHX(36–46) SAC(29–53) SAS(28–54) LAC(12–70) LAL^(62–20) DEN*(54–28) DAL*(53–29) POR*(53–29) UTA*(47–35) HOU*(46–36) SEA*(44–38) SAS*(31–51) PHX(28–54) SAC(24–58) GSW(20–62) LAC(17–65) LAL+(57–25) UTA*(51–31) PHX*(55–27) SEA*(47–35) HOU*(45–37) DEN*(44–38) GSW*(43–39) POR*(39–43) DAL(38–44) SAC(27–55) LAC(21–61) SAS(21–61) MIA(15–67) LAL*(63–19) SAS*(56–26) POR+(59–23) UTA*(55–27) PHX*(54–28) DAL*(47–35) DEN*(43–39) HOU*(41–41) SEA(41–41) GSW(37–45) LAC(30–52) SAC(23–59) MIN(22–60) CHA(19–63)
Season Team (record) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th POR*(63–19) SAS*(55–27) LAL+(58–24) PHX*(55–27) UTA*(54–28) HOU*(52–30) GSW*(44–38) SEA*(41–41) ORL(31–51) LAC(32–51) MIN(29–53) DAL(28–54) SAC(25–57) DEN(20–62) POR+(57–25) UTA*(55–27) GSW*(55–27) PHX*(53–29) SAS*(47–35) SEA*(47–35) LAC*(45–37) LAL*(43–39) HOU(42–40) SAC(29–53) DEN(24–58) DAL(22–60) MIN(15–67) PHX+(62–20) HOU*(55–27) SEA*(55–27) POR*(51–31) SAS*(49–33) UTA*(47–35) LAC*(41–41) LAL*(39–43) DEN(36–46) GSW(34–48) SAC(25–57) MIN(19–63) DAL(11–71) SEA*(63–19) HOU^(58–24) PHX*(56–26) SAS*(55–27) UTA*(53–39) GSW*(50–32) POR*(47–35) DEN*(42–40) LAL(33–49) SAC(28–54) LAC(27–55) MIN(20–62) DAL(13–69) SAS*(62–20) PHX*(59–23) UTA*(60–22) SEA*(57–25) LAL*(48–34) HOU^(47–35) POR*(44–38) DEN*(41–41) SAC(39–43) DAL(36–46) GSW(26–56) MIN(21–61) LAC(17–65) SEA+(64–18) SAS*(59–23) UTA*(55–27) LAL*(53–29) HOU*(48–34) POR*(44–38) PHX*(41–41) SAC*(39–43) GSW(36–46) DEN(35–47) LAC(29–53) MIN(26–56) DAL(26–56) VAN(15–67) UTA+(64–18) SEA*(57–25) HOU*(57–25) LAL*(56–26) POR*(49–33) MIN*(40–42) PHX*(40–42) LAC*(36–46) SAC(34–48) GSW(30–52) DAL(24–58) DEN(21–61) SAS(20–62) VAN(14–68) UTA+(62–20) SEA*(61–21) LAL*(61–21) PHX*(56–26) SAS*(56–26) POR*(46–36) MIN*(45–37) HOU*(41–41) SAC(27–55) DAL(20–62) VAN(19–63) GSW(19–63) LAC(17–65) DEN(11–71) SAS^(37–13) UTA*(37–13) POR*(35–15) LAL*(31–19) HOU*(31–19) PHX*(27–23) SAC*(27–23) MIN*(25–25) SEA(25–25) GSW(21–29) DAL(19–31) DEN(14–36) LAC(9–41) VAN(8–42) LAL^(67–15) UTA*(55–27) POR*(59–23) SAS*(53–29) PHX*(53–29) MIN*(50–32) SEA*(45–37) SAC*(44–38) DAL(40–42) DEN(35–47) HOU(34–48) VAN(22–60) GSW(19–63) LAC(15–67)