# Pacific Division (NBA)

The Pacific Division is one of the three divisions in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams: the Golden State Warriors, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Phoenix Suns and the Sacramento Kings. All teams, except the Suns, are based in California. Along with the American League West of Major League Baseball, they are one of two North American major league divisions with no animal themed nicknames.
The division was created at the start of the 1970–71 season, when the league expanded from 14 to 17 teams with the addition of the Buffalo Braves, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers. The league realigned itself into two conferences: the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference, with two divisions each in each conference. The Pacific Division began with five inaugural members: the Lakers, the Blazers, the San Diego Rockets, the San Francisco Warriors and the Seattle SuperSonics. The Lakers, the Rockets, the Warriors and the SuperSonics all joined from the Western Division.
The Lakers have won the most Pacific Division titles with 24. The Phoenix Suns have the second most titles with eight. 19 NBA champions have come from the Pacific Division. The Lakers have won 12 championships, the Warriors won 5, and the Blazers and Sonics won one championship each. All of them, except the 1976–77 Blazers, the 2001–02 Lakers and the 2021–22 Warriors, were division champions. In the 1991–92 season, six teams from the division qualified for the playoffs. In the 1977–78 season, all teams in the division had winning percentages above 0.500 (50%). The most recent division champions are the Los Angeles Clippers.
Since the 2021–22 season, the Pacific Division champion has received the Chuck Cooper Trophy, named after Hall of Famer Chuck Cooper.

## 2024–25 standings

| Pacific Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 23 | 17 | .575 | – | 14‍–‍6 | 9‍–‍11 | 5–2 | 40 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 22 | 17 | .564 | 0.5 | 14‍–‍6 | 8‍–‍11 | 6–2 | 39 |
| Sacramento Kings | 21 | 20 | .512 | 2.5 | 11‍–‍12 | 10‍–‍8 | 3–6 | 41 |
| Phoenix Suns | 20 | 20 | .500 | 3.0 | 13‍–‍8 | 7‍–‍12 | 5–4 | 40 |
| Golden State Warriors | 20 | 20 | .500 | 3.0 | 10‍–‍10 | 10‍–‍10 | 1–6 | 40 |

## Teams

| Team | City | Joined | Joined |
| Team | City | Year | From | Arena |
| Golden State Warriors (1971–present) San Francisco Warriors (1962–1971) | San Francisco, California Oakland, California | 1970 | Western Division |
| Los Angeles Clippers (1984–present) San Diego Clippers (1978–1984) | Inglewood, California Los Angeles, California San Diego, California | 1978 | Atlantic Division (as Buffalo Braves) |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Los Angeles, California | 1970 | Western Division |
| Phoenix Suns | Phoenix, Arizona | 1972 | Midwest Division |
| Sacramento Kings | Sacramento, California | 1988 | Midwest Division |

### Former teams

| Team | City | Joined | Joined | Left | Left | Current division |
| Team | City | Year | From | Year | To | Current division |
| Houston Rockets (1971–present) San Diego Rockets (1967-1971) | Houston, Texas San Diego, California | 1970 | Western Division | 1972 | Central Division | Southwest Division |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Portland, Oregon | 1970 | —† | 2004 | Northwest Division | Northwest Division |
| Seattle SuperSonics (1967–2008, now Oklahoma City Thunder) | Seattle, Washington | 1970 | Western Division | 2004 | Northwest Division | Northwest Division |

#### Notes

* † denotes an expansion team.

### Team timeline

* Denotes team currently in the division
* Denotes team that has left the division

## Chuck Cooper Trophy

Beginning with the 2021–22 season, the Pacific Division champion has received the Chuck Cooper Trophy. As with the other division championship trophies, it is named after one of the many African American pioneers from NBA history. Chuck Cooper became the first African-American to be drafted by an NBA team when the Boston Celtics selected him with the first pick in the second round of the 1950 draft. The Cooper Trophy consists of a 200-millimetre (7.9 in) crystal ball.

## Division champions

| ^ | Had or tied for the best regular season record for that season |
| Season | Team | Record | Playoffs result |
| 1970–71 | Los Angeles Lakers | 48–34 (.585) | Lost conference finals |
| 1971–72 | Los Angeles Lakers^ | 69–13 (.841) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1972–73 | Los Angeles Lakers | 60–22 (.732) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1973–74 | Los Angeles Lakers | 47–35 (.573) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1974–75 | Golden State Warriors | 48–34 (.585) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1975–76 | Golden State Warriors^ | 59–23 (.720) | Lost conference finals |
| 1976–77 | Los Angeles Lakers^ | 53–29 (.646) | Lost conference finals |
| 1977–78 | Portland Trail Blazers^ | 58–24 (.707) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1978–79 | Seattle SuperSonics | 52–30 (.634) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1979–80 | Los Angeles Lakers | 60–22 (.732) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1980–81 | Phoenix Suns | 57–25 (.695) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1981–82 | Los Angeles Lakers | 57–25 (.695) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1982–83 | Los Angeles Lakers | 58–24 (.707) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1983–84 | Los Angeles Lakers | 54–28 (.659) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1984–85 | Los Angeles Lakers | 62–20 (.756) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1985–86 | Los Angeles Lakers | 62–20 (.756) | Lost conference finals |
| 1986–87 | Los Angeles Lakers^ | 65–17 (.793) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1987–88 | Los Angeles Lakers^ | 62–20 (.756) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1988–89 | Los Angeles Lakers | 57–25 (.695) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1989–90 | Los Angeles Lakers^ | 63–19 (.768) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1990–91 | Portland Trail Blazers^ | 63–19 (.768) | Lost conference finals |
| 1991–92 | Portland Trail Blazers | 57–25 (.695) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1992–93 | Phoenix Suns^ | 62–20 (.756) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1993–94 | Seattle SuperSonics^ | 63–19 (.768) | Lost first round |
| 1994–95 | Phoenix Suns | 59–23 (.720) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1995–96 | Seattle SuperSonics | 64–18 (.780) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1996–97 | Seattle SuperSonics | 57–25 (.695) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1997–98 | Seattle SuperSonics | 61–21 (.744) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1998–99 | Portland Trail Blazers | 35–15 (.700) | Lost conference finals |
| 1999–00 | Los Angeles Lakers^ | 67–15 (.817) | Won NBA Finals |
| 2000–01 | Los Angeles Lakers | 56–26 (.683) | Won NBA Finals |
| 2001–02 | Sacramento Kings^ | 61–21 (.744) | Lost conference finals |
| 2002–03 | Sacramento Kings | 59–23 (.720) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 2003–04 | Los Angeles Lakers | 56–26 (.683) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2004–05 | Phoenix Suns^ | 62–20 (.756) | Lost conference finals |
| 2005–06 | Phoenix Suns | 54–28 (.659) | Lost conference finals |
| 2006–07 | Phoenix Suns | 61–21 (.744) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 2007–08 | Los Angeles Lakers | 57–25 (.695) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2008–09 | Los Angeles Lakers | 65–17 (.793) | Won NBA Finals |
| 2009–10 | Los Angeles Lakers | 57–25 (.695) | Won NBA Finals |
| 2010–11 | Los Angeles Lakers | 57–25 (.695) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 2011–12 | Los Angeles Lakers | 41–25 (.621) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 2012–13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 56–26 (.683) | Lost first round |
| 2013–14 | Los Angeles Clippers | 57–25 (.695) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 2014–15 | Golden State Warriors^ | 67–15 (.817) | Won NBA Finals |
| 2015–16 | Golden State Warriors^ | 73–9 (.890) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2016–17 | Golden State Warriors^ | 67–15 (.817) | Won NBA Finals |
| 2017–18 | Golden State Warriors | 58–24 (.707) | Won NBA Finals |
| 2018–19 | Golden State Warriors | 57–25 (.695) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2019–20 | Los Angeles Lakers | 52–19 (.732) | Won NBA Finals |
| 2020–21 | Phoenix Suns | 51–21 (.708) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2021–22 | Phoenix Suns^ | 64–18 (.780) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 2022–23 | Sacramento Kings | 48–34 (.585) | Lost first round |
| 2023–24 | Los Angeles Clippers | 51–31 (.622) | Lost first round |

### Titles by team

| ^ | Denotes team that has left the division |
| Team | Titles | Season(s) won |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 24 | 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2019–20 |
| Phoenix Suns | 8 | 1980–81, 1992–93, 1994–95, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2020–21, 2021–22 |
| Golden State Warriors | 7 | 1974–75, 1975–76, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19 |
| Seattle SuperSonics^ (now Oklahoma City Thunder) | 5 | 1978–79, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98 |
| Portland Trail Blazers^ | 4 | 1977–78, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1998–99 |
| Sacramento Kings | 3 | 2001–02, 2002–03, 2022–23 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 3 | 2012–13, 2013–14, 2023–24 |

## 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 |
| × | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA play-in tournament |
| † | Denotes team that did not qualify for the 2020 NBA Bubble season restart (Bubble happened due to COVID-19) |
| Season | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) |
| Season | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th |
| 1970: The Pacific Division was formed with five inaugural members. An expansion team, the Portland Trail Blazers, joined the division. The Los Angeles Lakers, the San Diego Rockets, the San Francisco Warriors and the Seattle SuperSonics joined from the Western Division. ||||||||
| 1970–71 | Los Angeles* (48–34) | San Francisco* (41–41) | San Diego (40–42) | Seattle (38–44) | Portland (29–53) |
| 1971: The San Diego Rockets had relocated and became the Houston Rockets. The San Francisco Warriors had also relocated to Oakland and became the Golden State Warriors. ||||||||
| 1971–72 | Los Angeles^ (69–13) | Golden State* (51–31) | Seattle (47–35) | Houston (34–48) | Portland (18–64) |
| 1972: The Phoenix Suns joined from the Midwest Division. The Houston Rockets left to join the Central Division. ||||||||
| 1972–73 | Los Angeles$^+$ (60–22) | Golden State* (47–35) | Phoenix (38–44) | Seattle (26–56) | Portland (21–61) |
| 1973–74 | Los Angeles* (47–35) | Golden State (44–38) | Seattle (36–46) | Phoenix (30–52) | Portland (27–55) |
| 1974–75 | Golden State^ (48–34) | Seattle* (43–39) | Portland (38–44) | Phoenix (32–50) | Los Angeles (30–52) |
| 1975–76 | Golden State* (59–23) | Seattle* (43–39) | Phoenix$^+$ (42–40) | Los Angeles (40–42) | Portland (37–45) |
| 1976–77 | Los Angeles* (53–29) | Portland^ (49–33) | Golden State* (46–36) | Seattle (40–42) | Phoenix (34–48) |
| 1977–78 | Portland* (58–24) | Phoenix* (49–33) | Seattle$^+$ (47–35) | Los Angeles* (45–37) | Golden State (43–39) |
| 1978: The Buffalo Braves, who relocated and became the San Diego Clippers, joined from the Atlantic Division. ||||||||
| 1978–79 | Seattle^ (52–30) | Phoenix* (50–32) | Los Angeles* (47–35) | Portland* (45–37) | San Diego (43–39) | Golden State (38–44) |
| 1979–80 | Los Angeles^ (60–22) | Seattle* (56–26) | Phoenix* (55–27) | Portland* (38–44) | San Diego (35–47) | Golden State (24–58) |
| 1980–81 | Phoenix* (57–25) | Los Angeles* (54–28) | Portland* (45–37) | Golden State (39–43) | San Diego (36–46) | Seattle (34–48) |
| 1981–82 | Los Angeles^ (57–25) | Seattle* (52–30) | Phoenix* (46–36) | Golden State (45–37) | Portland (42–40) | San Diego (17–65) |
| 1982–83 | Los Angeles$^+$ (58–24) | Phoenix* (53–29) | Seattle* (48–34) | Portland* (46–36) | Golden State (30–52) | San Diego (25–57) |
| 1983–84 | Los Angeles$^+$ (54–28) | Portland* (48–34) | Seattle* (42–40) | Phoenix* (41–41) | Golden State (37–45) | San Diego (30–52) |
| 1984: The San Diego Clippers relocated and became the Los Angeles Clippers. ||||||||
| 1984–85 | L.A. Lakers^ (62–20) | Portland* (42–40) | Phoenix* (36–46) | Seattle (31–51) | L.A. Clippers (31–51) | Golden State (22–60) |
| 1985–86 | L.A. Lakers* (62–20) | Portland* (40–42) | Phoenix (32–50) | L.A. Clippers (32–50) | Seattle (31–51) | Golden State (30–52) |
| 1986–87 | L.A. Lakers^ (65–17) | Portland* (49–33) | Golden State* (42–40) | Seattle* (39–43) | Phoenix (36–46) | L.A. Clippers (12–70) |
| 1987–88 | L.A. Lakers^ (62–20) | Portland* (53–29) | Seattle* (44–38) | Phoenix (28–54) | Golden State (20–62) | L.A. Clippers (17–65) |
| 1988: The Sacramento Kings joined from the Midwest Division. ||||||||
| 1988–89 | L.A. Lakers$^+$ (57–25) | Phoenix* (55–27) | Seattle* (47–35) | Golden State* (43–39) | Portland* (39–43) | Sacramento (27–55) | L.A. Clippers (21–61) |
| 1989–90 | L.A. Lakers* (63–19) | Portland$^+$ (59–23) | Phoenix* (54–28) | Seattle (41–41) | Golden State (37–45) | L.A. Clippers (30–52) | Sacramento (23–59) |
| 1990–91 | Portland* (63–19) | L.A. Lakers$^+$ (58–24) | Phoenix* (55–27) | Golden State* (44–38) | Seattle* (41–41) | L.A. Clippers (31–51) | Sacramento (25–57) |
| 1991–92 | Portland$^+$ (57–25) | Golden State* (55–27) | Phoenix* (53–29) | Seattle* (47–35) | L.A. Clippers* (45–37) | L.A. Lakers* (43–39) | Sacramento (29–53) |
| 1992–93 | Phoenix$^+$ (62–20) | Seattle* (55–27) | Portland* (51–31) | L.A. Clippers* (41–41) | L.A. Lakers* (39–43) | Golden State (34–48) | Sacramento (25–57) |
| 1993–94 | Seattle* (63–19) | Phoenix* (56–26) | Golden State* (50–32) | Portland* (47–35) | L.A. Lakers (33–49) | Sacramento (28–54) | L.A. Clippers (27–55) |
| 1994–95 | Phoenix* (59–23) | Seattle* (57–25) | L.A. Lakers* (48–34) | Portland* (44–38) | Sacramento (39–43) | Golden State (26–56) | L.A. Clippers (17–65) |
| 1995–96 | Seattle$^+$ (64–18) | L.A. Lakers* (53–29) | Portland* (44–38) | Phoenix* (41–41) | Sacramento* (39–43) | Golden State (36–46) | L.A. Clippers (29–53) |
| 1996–97 | Seattle* (57–25) | L.A. Lakers* (56–26) | Portland* (49–33) | Phoenix* (40–42) | L.A. Clippers* (36–46) | Sacramento (34–48) | Golden State (30–52) |
| 1997–98 | Seattle* (61–21) | L.A. Lakers* (61–21) | Phoenix* (56–26) | Portland* (46–36) | Sacramento (27–55) | Golden State (19–63) | L.A. Clippers (17–65) |
| 1998–99 | Portland* (35–15) | L.A. Lakers* (31–19) | Phoenix* (27–23) | Sacramento* (27–23) | Seattle (25–25) | Golden State (21–29) | L.A. Clippers (9–41) |
| 1999–00 | L.A. Lakers^ (67–15) | Portland* (59–23) | Phoenix* (53–29) | Seattle* (45–37) | Sacramento* (44–38) | Golden State (19–63) | L.A. Clippers (15–67) |
| 2000–01 | L.A. Lakers^ (56–26) | Sacramento* (55–27) | Phoenix* (51–31) | Portland* (50–32) | Seattle (44–38) | L.A. Clippers (31–51) | Golden State (17–65) |
| 2001–02 | Sacramento* (61–21) | L.A. Lakers^ (58–24) | Portland* (49–33) | Seattle* (45–37) | L.A. Clippers (39–43) | Phoenix (36–46) | Golden State (21–61) |
| 2002–03 | Sacramento* (59–23) | L.A. Lakers* (50–32) | Portland* (50–32) | Phoenix* (44–38) | Seattle (40–42) | Golden State (38–44) | L.A. Clippers (27–55) |
| 2003–04 | L.A. Lakers$^+$ (56–26) | Sacramento* (55–27) | Portland (41–41) | Golden State (37–45) | Seattle (37–45) | Phoenix (29–53) | L.A. Clippers (28–54) |
| 2004: The Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle SuperSonics left to join the Northwest Division. ||||||||
| 2004–05 | Phoenix* (62–20) | Sacramento* (50–32) | L.A. Clippers (37–45) | L.A. Lakers (34–48) | Golden State (34–48) |
| 2005–06 | Phoenix* (54–28) | L.A. Clippers* (47–35) | L.A. Lakers* (45–37) | Sacramento* (44–38) | Golden State (34–48) |
| 2006–07 | Phoenix* (61–21) | L.A. Lakers* (42–40) | Golden State* (42–40) | L.A. Clippers (40–42) | Sacramento (33–49) |
| 2007–08 | L.A. Lakers$^+$ (57–25) | Phoenix* (55–27) | Golden State (48–34) | Sacramento (38–44) | L.A. Clippers (23–59) |
| 2008–09 | L.A. Lakers^ (65–17) | Phoenix (46–36) | Golden State (29–53) | L.A. Clippers (19–63) | Sacramento (17–65) |
| 2009–10 | L.A. Lakers^ (57–25) | Phoenix* (54–28) | L.A. Clippers (29–53) | Golden State (26–56) | Sacramento (25–57) |
| 2010–11 | L.A. Lakers* (57–25) | Phoenix (40–42) | Golden State (36–46) | L.A. Clippers (32–50) | Sacramento (24–58) |
| 2011–12 | L.A. Lakers* (41–25) | L.A. Clippers* (40–26) | Phoenix (33–33) | Golden State (23–43) | Sacramento (22–44) |
| 2012–13 | L.A. Clippers* (56–26) | Golden State* (47–35) | L.A. Lakers* (45–37) | Sacramento (28–54) | Phoenix (25–57) |
| 2013–14 | L.A. Clippers* (57–25) | Golden State* (51–31) | Phoenix (48–34) | Sacramento (28–54) | L.A. Lakers (27–57) |
| 2014–15 | Golden State^ (67–15) | L.A. Clippers* (56–26) | Phoenix (39–43) | Sacramento (29–53) | L.A. Lakers (21–61) |
| 2015–16 | Golden State$^+$ (73–9) | L.A. Clippers* (53–29) | Sacramento (33–49) | Phoenix (23–59) | L.A. Lakers (17–65) |
| 2016–17 | Golden State^ (67–15) | L.A. Clippers* (51–31) | Sacramento (32–50) | L.A. Lakers (26–56) | Phoenix (24–58) |
| 2017–18 | Golden State^ (58–24) | L.A. Clippers (42–40) | L.A. Lakers (35–47) | Sacramento (27–55) | Phoenix (21–61) |
| 2018–19 | Golden State$^+$ (57–25) | L.A. Clippers* (48–34) | Sacramento (39–43) | L.A. Lakers (37–45) | Phoenix (19–63) |
| 2019–20 | L.A. Lakers^ (52–19) | L.A. Clippers* (49–23) | Phoenix (34–39) | Sacramento (31–41) | Golden State† (15–50) |
| 2020–21 | Phoenix$^+$ (51–21) | L.A. Clippers* (47–25) | L.A. Lakers* (42–30) | Golden State× (39–33) | Sacramento (31–41) |
| 2021–22 | Phoenix* (64–18) | Golden State^ (53–29) | L.A. Clippers× (42–40) | L.A. Lakers (33–49) | Sacramento (30–52) |
| 2022–23 | Sacramento* (48–34) | Phoenix* (45–37) | L.A. Clippers* (44–38) | Golden State* (44–38) | L.A. Lakers* (43–39) |
| 2023–24 | L.A. Clippers* (51–31) | Phoenix* (49–33) | L.A. Lakers* (47–35) | Sacramento× (46–36) | Golden State× (46–36) |

## Rivalries

Los Angeles Lakers vs. Los Angeles Clippers
Phoenix Suns vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Golden State Warriors
Sacramento Kings vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Sacramento Kings vs. Golden State Warriors