What teams are in the NBA's Central Division?
The Central Division consists of five teams: the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers, and the Milwaukee Bucks.
Questions about Central Division (NBA)
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When was the current NBA Central Division created?
The current Central Division was created at the start of the 1970-71 season, when the NBA expanded from 14 to 17 teams by adding the Buffalo Braves, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Portland Trail Blazers.
How many NBA championships have come from the Central Division?
Thirteen NBA champions have come from the Central Division. The Chicago Bulls won six of those titles, the Detroit Pistons three, the Milwaukee Bucks two, and the Bullets and the Cleveland Cavaliers one each.
Have the Indiana Pacers ever won a Central Division championship?
No, the Indiana Pacers are the one Central Division team that has not won an NBA championship. They reached the NBA Finals in 2000 and again in 2025 as Eastern Conference champions.
What is the Wayne Embry Trophy in the NBA's Central Division?
The Wayne Embry Trophy is the award given to the Central Division champion each season since 2021-22. It is named after Wayne Embry, a Hall of Famer who played for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1968-69 season and became the NBA's first African American general manager when the Bucks hired him in 1972.
Did the NBA have a Central Division before 1970?
Yes, an earlier five-team Central Division existed for the 1949-50 season, made up of the Chicago Stags, the Fort Wayne Pistons, the Minneapolis Lakers, the Rochester Royals, and the St. Louis Bombers. It was disbanded before the 1950-51 season after six league teams folded.