Western Conference
Founded 1970
No. of teams 15
Most recent champions Oklahoma City Thunder (5th title)Most titles Los Angeles Lakers (19 titles)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 Western Conference # Team W L PCT GB GP 1 z – Oklahoma City Thunder *64 18 .780 – 82 2 y – San Antonio Spurs *62 20 .756 2.0 82 3 x – Denver Nuggets 54 28 .659 10.0 82 4 y – Los Angeles Lakers *53 29 .646 11.0 82 5 x – Houston Rockets 52 30 .634 12.0 82 6 x – Minnesota Timberwolves 49 33 .598 15.0 82 7 pi – Phoenix Suns 45 37 .549 19.0 82 8 x – Portland Trail Blazers 42 40 .512 22.0 82 9 pi – Los Angeles Clippers 42 40 .512 22.0 82 10 pi – Golden State Warriors 37 45 .451 27.0 82 11 New Orleans Pelicans 26 56 .317 38.0 82 12 Dallas Mavericks 26 56 .317 38.0 82 13 Memphis Grizzlies 25 57 .305 39.0 82 14 Sacramento Kings 22 60 .268 42.0 82 15 Utah Jazz 22 60 .268 42.0 82
Notes
z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffsy – Clinched division titlepi – 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 leaderTeams Team Division Location Year From Joined Dallas Mavericks Southwest Dallas, Texas 1980 –present—† Denver Nuggets Northwest Denver, Colorado 1976 –presentABA ‡Golden State Warriors Pacific San Francisco, California 1970 –presentWestern Division Houston Rockets Southwest Houston, Texas 1970 –presentWestern Division Los Angeles Clippers Pacific Los Angeles, California 1978 –presentEastern Conference Los Angeles Lakers Pacific Los Angeles, California 1970 –presentWestern Division Memphis Grizzlies Southwest Memphis, Tennessee 1995 –present—† Minnesota Timberwolves Northwest Minneapolis, Minnesota 1989 –present—† New Orleans Pelicans Southwest New Orleans, Louisiana 2004 –presentEastern Conference Oklahoma City Thunder Northwest Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1970 –presentWestern Division Phoenix Suns Pacific Phoenix, Arizona 1970 –presentWestern Division Portland Trail Blazers Northwest Portland, Oregon 1970 –present—† Sacramento Kings Pacific Sacramento, California 1972 –presentEastern Conference San Antonio Spurs Southwest San Antonio, Texas 1980 –presentEastern Conference Utah Jazz Northwest Salt Lake City, Utah 1979 –presentEastern Conference
Former teams 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 Bold Winning team of the NBA Finals ^ Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season
Conference championships by team ^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 1970–71 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a 1971–72 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a 1972–73 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a 1973–74 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a 1974–75 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a 1975–76 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a 1976–77 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a 1977–78 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a 1978–79 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a 1979–80 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a —N/a
Season Team (record) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 1980–81 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a 1981–82 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a 1982–83 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a 1983–84 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a 1984–85 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a 1985–86 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a 1986–87 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a 1987–88 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)—N/a —N/a —N/a 1988–89 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)—N/a —N/a 1989–90 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)—N/a
Season Team (record) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 1990–91 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)—N/a 1991–92 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)—N/a —N/a 1992–93 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)—N/a —N/a 1993–94 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)—N/a —N/a 1994–95 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)—N/a —N/a 1995–96 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)—N/a 1996–97 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)—N/a 1997–98 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)—N/a 1998–99 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)—N/a 1999–00 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)—N/a
Season Team (record) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 2000–01 SAS * (58–24)LAL ^ (56–26)SAC * (55–27)UTA * (53–29)DAL * (53–29)PHX * (53–29)POR * (50–32)MIN * (47–35)HOU (45–37)SEA (44–38)DEN (40–42)LAC (31–51)VAN (23–59)GSW (17–65)—N/a 2001–02 SAC * (61–21)SAS * (58–24)LAL ^ (56–26)DAL * (53–29)MIN * (53–29)POR * (53–29)SEA * (50–32)UTA * (47–35)LAC (45–37)PHX (44–38)HOU (40–42)DEN (31–51)MEM (23–59)GSW (17–65)—N/a 2002–03 SAS ^ (60–22)SAC * (59–23)DAL * (60–22)MIN * (51–31)LAL * (50–32)POR * (50–32)UTA * (47–35)PHX * (44–38)HOU (43–39)SEA (40–42)GSW (38–44)MEM (28–54)LAC (27–55)DEN (17–65)—N/a 2003–04 MIN * (58–24)LAL + (56–26)SAS * (57–25)SAC * (55–27)DAL * (52–30)MEM * (50–32)HOU * (45–37)DEN * (43–39)UTA (42–40)POR (41–41)GSW (37–45)SEA (37–45)PHX (29–53)LAC (28–54)—N/a 2004–05 PHX * (62–20)SAS ^ (59–23)SEA * (52–30)DAL * (58–24)HOU * (51–31)SAC * (50–32)DEN * (49–33)MEM * (45–37)MIN (44–38)LAC (37–45)LAL (34–48)GSW (34–48)POR (27–55)UTA (26–56)NO (18–64)2005–06 SAS * (63–19)PHX * (54–28)DEN * (44–38)DAL + (60–22)MEM * (49–33)LAC * (47–35)LAL * (45–37)SAC * (44–38)UTA (41–41)NO/OKC [a] (38–44)SEA (35–47)HOU (34–48)GSW (34–48)MIN (33–49)POR (21–61)2006–07 DAL * (67–15)PHX * (61–21)SAS ^ (58–24)UTA * (58–24)HOU * (52–30)DEN * (45–37)LAL * (42–40)GSW * (42–40)LAC (40–42)NO/OKC [a] (39–43)SAC (33–49)POR (32–50)MIN (32–50)SEA (31–51)MEM (22–60)2007–08 LAL + (57–25)NO * (56–26)SAS * (56–26)UTA * (54–28)HOU * (55–27)PHX * (55–27)DAL * (51–31)DEN * (50–32)GSW (48–34)POR (41–41)SAC (38–44)LAC (23–59)MEM (22–60)MIN (22–60)SEA (20–62)2008–09 LAL ^ (65–17)DEN * (54–28)SAS * (54–28)POR * (54–28)HOU * (53–29)DAL * (50–32)NO * (49–33)UTA * (48–34)PHX (46–36)GSW (29–53)MIN (24–58)MEM (24–58)OKC (23–59)LAC (19–63)SAC (17–65)2009–10 LAL ^ (57–25)DAL * (55–27)PHX * (54–28)DEN * (53–29)UTA * (53–29)POR * (50–32)SAS * (50–32)OKC * (50–32)HOU (42–40)MEM (40–42)NO (37–45)LAC (29–53)GSW (26–56)SAC (25–57)MIN (15–67)
Season Team (record) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 2010–11 SAS * (61–21)LAL * (57–25)DAL ^ (57–25)OKC * (55–27)DEN * (50–32)POR * (48–34)NO * (46–36)MEM * (46–36)HOU (43–39)PHX (40–42)UTA (39–43)GSW (36–46)LAC (32–50)SAC (24–58)MIN (17–65)2011–12 SAS * (50–16)OKC + (47–19)LAL * (41–25)MEM * (41–25)LAC * (40–26)DEN * (38–28)DAL * (36–30)UTA * (36–30)HOU (34–32)PHX (33–33)POR (28–38)MIN (26–40)GSW (23–43)SAC (22–44)NO (21–45)2012–13 OKC * (60–22)SAS + (58–24)DEN * (57–25)LAC * (56–26)MEM * (56–26)GSW * (47–35)LAL * (45–37)HOU * (45–37)UTA (43–39)DAL (41–41)POR (33–49)MIN (31–51)SAC (28–54)NO (27–55)PHX (25–57)2013–14 SAS ^ (62–20)OKC * (59–23)LAC * (57–25)HOU * (54–28)POR * (54–28)GSW * (51–31)MEM * (50–32)DAL * (49–33)PHX (48–34)MIN (40–42)DEN (36–46)NO (34–48)SAC (28–54)LAL (27–55)UTA (25–57)2014–15 GSW ^ (67–15)HOU * (56–26)LAC * (56–26)POR * (51–31)MEM * (55–27)SAS * (55–27)DAL * (50–32)NO * (45–37)OKC (45–37)PHX (39–43)UTA (38–44)DEN (30–52)SAC (29–53)LAL (21–61)MIN (16–66)2015–16 GSW + (73–9)SAS * (67–15)OKC * (55–27)LAC * (53–29)POR * (44–38)DAL * (42–40)MEM * (42–40)HOU * (41–41)UTA (40–42)SAC (33–49)DEN (33–49)NO (30–52)MIN (29–53)PHX (23–59)LAL (17–65)2016–17 GSW ^ (67–15)SAS * (61–21)HOU * (55–27)LAC * (51–31)UTA * (51–31)OKC * (47–35)MEM * (43–39)POR * (41–41)DEN (40–42)NO (34–48)DAL (33–49)SAC (32–50)MIN (31–51)LAL (26–56)PHX (24–58)2017–18 HOU * (65–17)GSW ^ (58–24)POR * (49–33)OKC * (48–34)UTA * (48–34)NO * (48–34)SAS * (47–35)MIN * (47–35)DEN (46–36)LAC (42–40)LAL (35–47)SAC (27–55)DAL (24–58)MEM (22–60)PHX (21–61)2018–19 GSW + (57–25)DEN * (54–28)POR * (53–29)HOU * (53–29)UTA * (50–32)OKC * (49–33)SAS * (48–34)LAC * (48–34)SAC (39–43)LAL (37–45)MIN (36–46)MEM (33–49)NO (33–49)DAL (33–49)PHX (19–63)2019–20 LAL ^ (52–19)LAC * (49–23)DEN * (46–27)HOU * (44–28)OKC * (44–28)UTA * (44–28)DAL * (43–32)POR * (35–39)MEM × (34–39)PHX (34–39)SAS (32–39)SAC (31–41)NO (30–42)MIN (19–45)GSW (15–50)
Season Team (record) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 2020–21 UTA * (52–20)PHX + (51–21)DEN * (47–25)LAC * (47–25)DAL * (42–30)POR * (42–30)LAL * (42–30)GSW × (39–33)MEM * (38–34)SAS × (33–39)NO (31–41)SAC (31–41)MIN (23–49)OKC (22–50)HOU (17–55)2021–22 PHX * (64–18)MEM * (56–26)GSW ^ (53–29)DAL * (52–30)UTA * (49–33)DEN * (48–34)MIN * (46–36)LAC × (42–40)NO * (36–46)SAS × (34–48)LAL (33–49)SAC (30–52)POR (27–55)OKC (24–58)HOU (20–62)2022–23 DEN ^ (53–29)MEM * (51–31)SAC * (48–34)PHX * (45–37)LAC * (44–38)GSW * (44–38)LAL * (43–39)MIN * (42–40)NO × (42–40)OKC × (40–42)DAL (38–44)UTA (37–45)POR (33–49)HOU (22–60)SAS (22–60)2023–24 OKC * (57–25)DEN * (57–25)MIN * (56–26)LAC * (51–31)DAL + (50–32)PHX * (49–33)NO * (49–33)LAL * (47–35)SAC × (46–36)GSW × (46–36)HOU (41–41)UTA (31–51)MEM (27–55)SAS (22–60)POR (21–61)2024–25 OKC ^ (68–14)HOU * (52–30)LAL * (50–32)DEN * (50–32)LAC * (50–32)MIN * (49–33)GSW * (48–34)MEM * (48–34)SAC × (40–42)DAL × (39–43)PHX (36–46)POR (36–46)SAS (34–48)NO (21–61)UTA (17–65)2025–26 OKC * (64–18)SAS * (62–20)DEN * (54–28)LAL * (53–29)HOU * (52–30)MIN * (49–33)PHX × (45–37)POR * (42–40)LAC × (42–40)GSW × (37–45)NO (26–56)DAL (26–56)MEM (25–57)SAC (22–60)UTA (22–60)
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.