# Central Division (NBA)

The Central Division is one of the three divisions in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The division consists of five teams, the Chicago Bulls, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Detroit Pistons, the Indiana Pacers, and the Milwaukee Bucks. All teams except the Cavaliers are former Midwest Division teams; thus, the Central Division now largely resembles the Midwest Division in the 1970s.
An earlier five-team Central Division previously existed for the 1949–50 season as one of three divisions in the NBA, along with the Western and Eastern divisions. The current Central 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 in each conference. The Central Division began with four inaugural members, the Atlanta Hawks, the Baltimore Bullets, the Cincinnati Royals, and the Cavaliers. The Hawks were moved from the Western Division, while the Bullets and the Royals were moved from the Eastern Division.
Thirteen NBA champions came from the Central Division. The Bulls won six championships, the Pistons won three, the Bucks won two, and the Bullets and Cavaliers won one each. All of the teams, except the 1977–78 Bullets and the 2003–04 Pistons, were division champions. In the 2005–06 season, all five teams from the division qualified for the playoffs. Overall, the Bucks have won thirteen Central Division titles, followed by the Bulls and Pistons with nine division titles each. The Central Division has the highest percentage of teams that have won a championship, with four out of the five teams having won an NBA title. The Pacers are the lone exception, although they did advance to the NBA Finals in 2000.
Since the 2021–22 season, the Central Division champion has received the Wayne Embry Trophy, named after Hall of Famer Wayne Embry who played for the Bucks in the 1968–69 NBA season.

## 2024–25 standings

| Central Division | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div | GP |
| y – Cleveland Cavaliers | 56 | 11 | .836 | – | 30‍–‍5 | 26‍–‍6 | 11–1 | 67 |
| ps – Milwaukee Bucks | 38 | 29 | .567 | 18.0 | 24‍–‍12 | 14‍–‍17 | 7–7 | 67 |
| Indiana Pacers | 37 | 29 | .561 | 18.5 | 20‍–‍10 | 17‍–‍19 | 8–6 | 66 |
| Detroit Pistons | 37 | 31 | .544 | 19.5 | 18‍–‍16 | 19‍–‍15 | 4–9 | 68 |
| Chicago Bulls | 28 | 39 | .418 | 28.0 | 13‍–‍22 | 15‍–‍17 | 4–11 | 67 |

## Teams

| Team | City | Year | From | Arena |
| Joined ||
| Chicago Bulls | Chicago, Illinois | 1980 | Midwest Division | United Center |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Cleveland, Ohio | 1970 | —† | Rocket Arena |
| Detroit Pistons | Detroit, Michigan | 1978 | Midwest Division | Little Caesars Arena |
| Indiana Pacers | Indianapolis, Indiana | 1979 | Midwest Division | Gainbridge Fieldhouse |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1980 | Midwest Division | Fiserv Forum |

### Notes

* † denotes an expansion team.

### Former teams

| Team | City | Year | From | Year | To | Current division |
| Team | City | Joined | Joined | Left | Left | | Current division |
| Atlanta Hawks | Atlanta, Georgia | 1970 | Western Division | 2004 | Southeast Division | Southeast Division |
| Charlotte Hornets (1988–2002; 2004–present) | Charlotte, North Carolina | 1990 | Midwest Division | 2002* | Southeast Division | Southeast Division |
| Cincinnati Royals (1957–1972, now Sacramento Kings) | Cincinnati, Ohio | 1970 | Eastern Division | 1972 | Midwest Division (as Kansas City–Omaha Kings) | Pacific Division |
| Houston Rockets | Houston, Texas | 1972 | Western Division | 1980 | Midwest Division | Southwest Division |
| New Orleans Hornets (2002–present, now New Orleans Pelicans) | New Orleans, Louisiana | 2002* | —† | 2004 | Southwest Division | Southwest Division |
| New Orleans Jazz (1974–1979, now Utah Jazz) | New Orleans, Louisiana | 1974 | —† | 1979 | Midwest Division (as Utah Jazz) | Northwest Division |
| Orlando Magic | Orlando, Florida | 1989 | —† | 1990 | Midwest Division | Southeast Division |
| San Antonio Spurs | San Antonio, Texas | 1976 | ABA‡ | 1980 | Midwest Division | Southwest Division |
| Toronto Raptors | Toronto, Ontario | 1995 | —† | 2004 | Atlantic Division | Atlantic Division |
| Washington Bullets (1974–1997, now Washington Wizards) Capital Bullets (1973–1974) Baltimore Bullets (1963–1973) | Landover, Maryland Baltimore, Maryland | 1970 | Eastern Division | 1978 | Atlantic Division | Southeast Division |

#### Notes

* † denotes an expansion team.
* ‡ denotes a team that merged from the American Basketball Association (ABA).
* * The Charlotte NBA franchise was inactive from 2002 to 2004 upon the relocation of the Hornets to New Orleans. A new franchise, initially known as the Bobcats, began play in the 2004–05 season. In 2013, the New Orleans Hornets were renamed the Pelicans, and the following season, the Bobcats were renamed the Hornets, acquiring the history and records of the 1988–2002 Hornets while retroactively designating the Pelicans as an expansion team.

### Team timeline

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

## Wayne Embry Trophy

Beginning with the 2021–22 season, the Central Division champion has received the Wayne Embry Trophy. As with the other division championship trophies, it is named after one of the African American pioneers from NBA history. Wayne Embry became the NBA's first African American general manager when he was hired by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1972. The Embry 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 | Baltimore Bullets | 42–40 (.512) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1971–72 | Baltimore Bullets | 38–44 (.463) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1972–73 | Baltimore Bullets | 52–30 (.634) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1973–74 | Capital Bullets | 47–35 (.573) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1974–75 | Washington Bullets^ | 60–22 (.732) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1975–76 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 49–33 (.598) | Lost conference finals |
| 1976–77 | Houston Rockets | 49–33 (.598) | Lost conference finals |
| 1977–78 | San Antonio Spurs | 52–30 (.634) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1978–79 | San Antonio Spurs | 48–34 (.585) | Lost conference finals |
| 1979–80 | Atlanta Hawks | 50–32 (.610) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1980–81 | Milwaukee Bucks | 60–22 (.732) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1981–82 | Milwaukee Bucks | 55–27 (.671) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1982–83 | Milwaukee Bucks | 51–31 (.622) | Lost conference finals |
| 1983–84 | Milwaukee Bucks | 50–32 (.610) | Lost conference finals |
| 1984–85 | Milwaukee Bucks | 59–23 (.720) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1985–86 | Milwaukee Bucks | 57–25 (.695) | Lost conference finals |
| 1986–87 | Atlanta Hawks | 57–25 (.695) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1987–88 | Detroit Pistons | 54–28 (.659) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 1988–89 | Detroit Pistons^ | 63–19 (.768) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1989–90 | Detroit Pistons | 59–23 (.720) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1990–91 | Chicago Bulls | 61–21 (.744) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1991–92 | Chicago Bulls^ | 67–15 (.817) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1992–93 | Chicago Bulls | 57–25 (.695) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1993–94 | Atlanta Hawks | 57–25 (.695) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 1994–95 | Indiana Pacers | 52–30 (.634) | Lost conference finals |
| 1995–96 | Chicago Bulls^ | 72–10 (.878) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1996–97 | Chicago Bulls^ | 69–13 (.841) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1997–98 | Chicago Bulls^ | 62–20 (.756) | Won NBA Finals |
| 1998–99 | Indiana Pacers | 33–17 (.660) | Lost conference finals |
| 1999–00 | Indiana Pacers | 56–26 (.683) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2000–01 | Milwaukee Bucks | 52–30 (.634) | Lost conference finals |
| 2001–02 | Detroit Pistons | 50–32 (.610) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 2002–03 | Detroit Pistons | 50–32 (.610) | Lost conference finals |
| 2003–04 | Indiana Pacers^ | 61–21 (.744) | Lost conference finals |
| 2004–05 | Detroit Pistons | 54–28 (.659) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2005–06 | Detroit Pistons^ | 64–18 (.780) | Lost conference finals |
| 2006–07 | Detroit Pistons | 53–29 (.646) | Lost conference finals |
| 2007–08 | Detroit Pistons | 59–23 (.720) | Lost conference finals |
| 2008–09 | Cleveland Cavaliers^ | 66–16 (.805) | Lost conference finals |
| 2009–10 | Cleveland Cavaliers^ | 61–21 (.744) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 2010–11 | Chicago Bulls^ | 62–20 (.756) | Lost conference finals |
| 2011–12 | Chicago Bulls^ | 50–16 (.758) | Lost first round |
| 2012–13 | Indiana Pacers | 49–32 (.605)† | Lost conference finals |
| 2013–14 | Indiana Pacers | 56–26 (.683) | Lost conference finals |
| 2014–15 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 53–29 (.646) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2015–16 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 57–25 (.695) | Won NBA Finals |
| 2016–17 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 51–31 (.622) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2017–18 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 50–32 (.610) | Lost NBA Finals |
| 2018–19 | Milwaukee Bucks^ | 60–22 (.732) | Lost conference finals |
| 2019–20 | Milwaukee Bucks^ | 56–17 (.767) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 2020–21 | Milwaukee Bucks | 46–26 (.639) | Won NBA Finals |
| 2021–22 | Milwaukee Bucks | 51–31 (.622) | Lost conference semifinals |
| 2022–23 | Milwaukee Bucks^ | 58–24 (.707) | Lost first round |
| 2023–24 | Milwaukee Bucks | 49–33 (.598) | Lost first round |
| 2024–25 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 55–10 (.846) | TBD |

### Titles by team

| ^ | Denotes team that has left the division |
| Team | Titles | Season(s) won |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 13 | 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 2000–01, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| Detroit Pistons | 9 | 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 |
| Chicago Bulls | 8 | 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2010–11, 2011–12 |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 8 | 1975–76, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2024–25 |
| Indiana Pacers | 6 | 1994–95, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2003–04, 2012–13, 2013–14 |
| Baltimore / Capital / Washington Bullets^ (now Washington Wizards) | 5 | 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75 |
| Atlanta Hawks^ | 3 | 1979–80, 1986–87, 1993–94 |
| San Antonio Spurs^ | 2 | 1977–78, 1978–79 |
| Houston Rockets^ | 1 | 1976–77 |

## 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 |
| Season | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) |
| Season | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
| 1970: The Central Division was formed with four inaugural members. An expansion team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, joined the division. The Atlanta Hawks joined from the Western Division, while the Cincinnati Royals and the Baltimore Bullets joined from the Eastern Division. |||||||||
| 1970–71 | Baltimore$^+$ (42–40) | Atlanta* (36–46) | Cincinnati (33–49) | Cleveland (15–67) |
| 1971–72 | Baltimore* (38–44) | Atlanta* (36–46) | Cincinnati (30–52) | Cleveland (23–59) |
| 1972: The Houston Rockets joined from the Pacific Division. The Cincinnati Royals, who relocated and became the Kansas City–Omaha Kings, left to join the Midwest Division. |||||||||
| 1972–73 | Baltimore* (52–30) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Houston (33–49) | Cleveland (32–50) |
| 1973: The Baltimore Bullets relocated and became the Capital Bullets. |||||||||
| 1973–74 | Capital* (47–35) | Atlanta (35–47) | Houston (32–50) | Cleveland (29–53) |
| 1974: An expansion team, the New Orleans Jazz, joined the division. The Capital Bullets were renamed the Washington Bullets. |||||||||
| 1974–75 | Washington$^+$ (60–22) | Houston* (41–41) | Cleveland (40–42) | Atlanta (31–51) | New Orleans (23–59) |
| 1975–76 | Cleveland* (49–33) | Washington* (48–34) | Houston (40–42) | New Orleans (38–44) | Atlanta (29–53) |
| 1976: An American Basketball Association (ABA) team that merged with the NBA, the San Antonio Spurs, joined the division. |||||||||
| 1976–77 | Houston* (49–33) | Washington* (48–34) | San Antonio* (44–38) | Cleveland* (43–39) | New Orleans (35–47) | Atlanta (31–51) |
| 1977–78 | San Antonio* (52–30) | Washington^ (44–38) | Cleveland* (43–39) | Atlanta* (41–41) | New Orleans (39–43) | Houston (28–54) |
| 1978: The Detroit Pistons joined from the Midwest Division. The Washington Bullets left to join the Atlantic Division. |||||||||
| 1978–79 | San Antonio* (48–34) | Houston* (47–35) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Detroit (30–52) | Cleveland (30–52) | New Orleans (26–56) |
| 1979: The Indiana Pacers joined from the Midwest Division. The New Orleans Jazz, who relocated and became the Utah Jazz, left to join the Midwest Division. |||||||||
| 1979–80 | Atlanta* (50–32) | Houston* (41–41) | San Antonio* (41–41) | Indiana (37–45) | Cleveland (37–45) | Detroit (16–66) |
| 1980: The Chicago Bulls and the Milwaukee Bucks joined from the Midwest Division. The Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs left to join the Midwest Division. |||||||||
| 1980–81 | Milwaukee* (60–22) | Chicago* (45–37) | Indiana* (44–38) | Atlanta (31–51) | Cleveland (28–54) | Detroit (21–61) |
| 1981–82 | Milwaukee* (55–27) | Atlanta* (42–40) | Detroit (39–43) | Indiana (35–47) | Chicago (34–48) | Cleveland (15–67) |
| 1982–83 | Milwaukee* (51–31) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Detroit (37–45) | Chicago (28–54) | Cleveland (23–59) | Indiana (20–62) |
| 1983–84 | Milwaukee* (50–32) | Detroit* (49–33) | Atlanta* (40–42) | Cleveland (28–54) | Chicago (27–55) | Indiana (26–56) |
| 1984–85 | Milwaukee* (59–23) | Detroit* (46–36) | Chicago* (38–44) | Cleveland* (36–46) | Atlanta (34–48) | Indiana (22–60) |
| 1985–86 | Milwaukee* (57–25) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Detroit* (46–36) | Chicago* (30–52) | Cleveland (29–53) | Indiana (26–56) |
| 1986–87 | Atlanta* (57–25) | Detroit* (52–30) | Milwaukee* (50–32) | Indiana* (41–41) | Chicago* (40–42) | Cleveland (31–51) |
| 1987–88 | Detroit$^+$ (54–28) | Chicago* (50–32) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Cleveland* (42–40) | Indiana (38–44) |
| 1988–89 | Detroit^ (63–19) | Cleveland* (57–25) | Atlanta* (52–30) | Milwaukee* (49–33) | Chicago* (47–35) | Indiana (28–54) |
| 1989: An expansion team, the Orlando Magic, joined the division temporarily for one season. |||||||||
| 1989–90 | Detroit^ (59–23) | Chicago* (55–27) | Milwaukee* (44–38) | Indiana* (42–40) | Cleveland* (42–40) | Atlanta (41–41) | Orlando (18–64) |
| 1990: The Charlotte Hornets joined from the Midwest Division. The Orlando Magic left to join the Midwest Division temporarily for one season, then the Atlantic Division permanently thereafter. |||||||||
| 1990–91 | Chicago^ (61–21) | Detroit* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (48–34) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Indiana* (41–41) | Cleveland (33–49) | Charlotte (26–56) |
| 1991–92 | Chicago^ (67–15) | Cleveland* (57–25) | Detroit* (48–34) | Indiana* (40–42) | Atlanta (38–44) | Milwaukee (31–51) | Charlotte (31–51) |
| 1992–93 | Chicago^ (57–25) | Cleveland* (54–28) | Charlotte* (44–38) | Atlanta* (43–39) | Indiana* (41–41) | Detroit (40–42) | Milwaukee (28–54) |
| 1993–94 | Atlanta* (57–25) | Chicago* (55–27) | Indiana* (47–35) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Charlotte (41–41) | Milwaukee (20–62) | Detroit (20–62) |
| 1994–95 | Indiana* (52–30) | Charlotte* (50–32) | Chicago* (47–35) | Cleveland* (43–39) | Atlanta* (42–40) | Milwaukee (34–48) | Detroit (28–54) |
| 1995: An expansion team, the Toronto Raptors, joined the division. |||||||||
| 1995–96 | Chicago^ (72–10) | Indiana* (52–30) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Atlanta* (46–36) | Detroit* (46–36) | Charlotte (41–41) | Milwaukee (25–57) | Toronto (21–61) |
| 1996–97 | Chicago^ (69–13) | Atlanta* (56–26) | Detroit* (54–28) | Charlotte* (54–28) | Cleveland (42–40) | Indiana (39–43) | Milwaukee (33–49) | Toronto (30–52) |
| 1997–98 | Chicago^ (62–20) | Indiana* (58–24) | Charlotte* (51–31) | Atlanta* (50–32) | Cleveland* (47–35) | Detroit (37–45) | Milwaukee (36–46) | Toronto (16–66) |
| 1998–99 | Indiana* (33–17) | Atlanta* (31–19) | Detroit* (29–21) | Milwaukee* (28–22) | Charlotte (26–24) | Toronto (23–27) | Cleveland (22–28) | Chicago (13–37) |
| 1999–00 | Indiana$^+$ (56–26) | Charlotte* (49–33) | Toronto* (45–37) | Detroit* (42–40) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Cleveland (32–50) | Atlanta (28–54) | Chicago (17–65) |
| 2000–01 | Milwaukee* (52–30) | Toronto* (47–35) | Charlotte* (46–36) | Indiana* (41–41) | Detroit (32–50) | Cleveland (30–52) | Atlanta (25–57) | Chicago (15–67) |
| 2001–02 | Detroit* (50–32) | Charlotte* (44–38) | Toronto* (42–40) | Indiana* (42–40) | Milwaukee (41–41) | Atlanta (33–49) | Cleveland (29–53) | Chicago (21–61) |
| 2002: The Charlotte Hornets relocated and became the New Orleans Hornets. The New Orleans franchise, now known as the Pelicans, were retroactively designated as an expansion team in 2014, when the current Charlotte Hornets acquired the historical records of the 1988–2002 Hornets, while the Pelicans kept records of the Hornets after relocation to New Orleans. |||||||||
| 2002–03 | Detroit* (50–32) | Indiana* (48–34) | New Orleans* (47–35) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Atlanta (35–47) | Chicago (30–52) | Toronto (24–58) | Cleveland (17–65) |
| 2003–04 | Indiana* (61–21) | Detroit^ (54–28) | New Orleans* (41–41) | Milwaukee* (41–41) | Cleveland (35–47) | Toronto (33–49) | Atlanta (28–54) | Chicago (23–59) |
| 2004: The New Orleans Hornets left to join the Southwest Division. The Atlanta Hawks left to join the Southeast Division. The Toronto Raptors left to join the Atlantic Division. |||||||||
| 2004–05 | Detroit$^+$ (54–28) | Chicago* (47–35) | Indiana* (44–38) | Cleveland (42–40) | Milwaukee (30–52) |
| 2005–06 | Detroit* (64–18) | Cleveland* (50–32) | Indiana* (41–41) | Chicago* (41–41) | Milwaukee* (40–42) |
| 2006–07 | Detroit* (53–29) | Cleveland$^+$ (50–32) | Chicago* (49–33) | Indiana (35–47) | Milwaukee (28–54) |
| 2007–08 | Detroit* (59–23) | Cleveland* (45–37) | Indiana (36–46) | Chicago (33–49) | Milwaukee (26–56) |
| 2008–09 | Cleveland* (66–16) | Chicago* (41–41) | Detroit* (39–43) | Indiana (36–46) | Milwaukee (34–48) |
| 2009–10 | Cleveland* (61–21) | Milwaukee* (46–36) | Chicago* (41–41) | Indiana (32–50) | Detroit (27–55) |
| 2010–11 | Chicago* (62–20) | Indiana* (37–45) | Milwaukee (35–47) | Detroit (30–52) | Cleveland (19–63) |
| 2011–12 | Chicago* (50–16) | Indiana* (42–24) | Milwaukee (31–35) | Detroit (25–41) | Cleveland (21–45) |
| 2012–13 | Indiana* (49–32) | Chicago* (45–37) | Milwaukee* (38–44) | Detroit (29–53) | Cleveland (24–58) |
| 2013–14 | Indiana* (56–26) | Chicago* (48–34) | Cleveland (33–49) | Detroit (29–53) | Milwaukee (15–67) |
| 2014–15 | Cleveland$^+$ (53–29) | Chicago* (50–32) | Milwaukee* (41–41) | Indiana (38–44) | Detroit (32–50) |
| 2015–16 | Cleveland^ (57–25) | Indiana* (45–37) | Detroit* (44–38) | Chicago (42–40) | Milwaukee (33–49) |
| 2016–17 | Cleveland$^+$ (51–31) | Milwaukee* (42–40) | Indiana* (42–40) | Chicago* (41–41) | Detroit (37–45) |
| 2017–18 | Cleveland$^+$ (50–32) | Indiana* (48–34) | Milwaukee* (44–38) | Detroit (39–43) | Chicago (27–55) |
| 2018–19 | Milwaukee* (60–22) | Indiana* (48–34) | Detroit* (41–41) | Chicago (22–60) | Cleveland (19–63) |
| 2019–20 | Milwaukee* (56–17) | Indiana* (45–28) | Chicago† (22–43) | Detroit† (20–46) | Cleveland† (19–46) |
| 2020–21 | Milwaukee^ (46–26) | Indiana× (34–38) | Chicago (31–41) | Cleveland (22–50) | Detroit (20–52) |
| 2021–22 | Milwaukee* (51–31) | Chicago* (46–36) | Cleveland× (44–38) | Indiana (25–57) | Detroit (23–59) |
| 2022–23 | Milwaukee* (58–24) | Cleveland* (51–31) | Chicago× (40–42) | Indiana (35–47) | Detroit (17–65) |
| 2023–24 | Milwaukee* (49–33) | Cleveland* (48–34) | Indiana* (47–35) | Chicago× (39–43) | Detroit (14–68) |

## 1949–50 season

Before the 1949–50 season, the BAA merged with the NBL and was renamed NBA. The number of teams competed increased from 12 teams to 17 teams and the league realigned itself to three divisions, creating the Central Division. The division consisted of five teams, the Chicago Stags, the Fort Wayne Pistons, the Minneapolis Lakers, the Rochester Royals and the St. Louis Bombers. All five teams joined from the Western Division. The Minneapolis Lakers won the Central Division title. The division was disbanded before the 1950–51 season, after six teams folded and the league realigned itself back into two divisions. The Stags and the Bombers folded, while the other three teams returned to the Western Division.
| ^ | Denotes team that won the NBA championships |
| * | Denotes team that qualified for the NBA Playoffs |
| Season | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) | Team (record) |
| Season | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
| 1949: The Central Division was formed with five inaugural members. The Chicago Stags, the Fort Wayne Pistons, the Minneapolis Lakers, the Rochester Royals and the St. Louis Bombers joined from the Western Division. ||||||
| 1949–50 | Minneapolis^ (51–17) | Rochester* (51–17) | Fort Wayne* (40–28) | Chicago* (40–28) | St. Louis (26–42) |
| 1950: The Central Division ceased to exist. The Chicago Stags and the St. Louis Bombers folded. The Fort Wayne Pistons, the Minneapolis Lakers and the Rochester Royals re-joined the Western Division. ||||||