What are the six NBA divisions?
You’ll probably know that the NBA is split into two conferences – the Eastern and Western Conferences.The Eastern Conference is home to the Atlantic Division, Central Division, and the Southeast Division. The Western Conference includes the Northwest Division, the Pacific Division, and the Southwest Division. There are five NBA teams in all of the NBA divisions. The top NBA teams in each division qualify for the postseason playoffs, while three other teams in each Conference can qualify.
How many basketball teams are there in the NBA?
The NBA is the world’s top men’s professional basketball league, with 30 NBA teams battling it out each year to try and reach the NBA Finals for a chance to win the Larry O`Brien Championship Trophy.
- Atlanta Hawks (Southeast Division)
- Boston Celtics (Atlantic Division)
- Brooklyn Nets (Atlantic Division)
- Charlotte Hornets (Southeast Division)
- Chicago Bulls (Central Division)
- Cleveland Cavaliers (Central Division)
- Dallas Mavericks (Southwest Division)
- Denver Nuggets (Northwest Division)
- Detroit Pistons (Central Division)
- Golden State Warriors (Pacific Division)
- Houston Rockets (Southwest Division)
- Indiana Pacers (Central Division)
- LA Clippers (Pacific Division)
- LA Lakers (Pacific Division)
- Memphis Grizzlies (Southwest Division)
- Miami Heat (Southeast Division)
- Milwaukee Bucks (Central Division)
- Minnesota Timberwolves (Northwest Division)
- New Orleans Pelicans (Southwest Division)
- New York Knicks (Atlantic Division)
- Oklahoma City Thunder (Northwest Division)
- Orlando Magic (Southeast Division)
- Philadelphia 76ers (Atlantic Division)
- Phoenix Suns (Pacific Division)
- Portland Trailblazers (Northwest Division)
- Sacramento Kings (Pacific Division)
- San Antonio Spurs (Southwest Division)
- Toronto Raptors (Atlantic Division)
- Utah Jazz (Northwest Division)
- Washington Wizards (Southeast Division)
Canadian NBA Teams and Players
What NBA teams are in Canada?
The Toronto Raptors are the only Canadian NBA franchise and play in the Eastern Conference within the Atlantic Division. The Raptors were founded in 1995 and joined the NBA at the same time as another Canadian expansion franchise – the Vancouver Grizzlies.
Unfortunately for the Grizzlies, they only lasted six years in British Columbia before the franchise was moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 2001. The Raptors have grown from strength to strength in recent times, battling past the Golden State Warriors to win the 2019 NBA Championship. In doing so, the Raptors became the first Canadian franchise to win a major league sport championship since the city’s Blue Jays won the MLB World Series in 1993.
The best Canadian NBA players
Wondering which Canadian players to look out for ahead of the 2022 – 2023 NBA season? Check out the four following Canadian stars to follow in the leading NBA rosters.
Murray is one of the Denver Nuggets’ most prized assets. He has the potential to be an All-Star player in the 2022-23 NBA season and has been ever-present with Denver since being the seventh overall pick of the 2016 Draft.
23-year-old Gilgeous-Alexander is a leading point and shooting guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. His versatility is one of his key strengths and it won’t be long before he too becomes an NBA All-Star.
Brampton-born Tristan Thompson will start the 2022-2023 NBA season with the Chicago Bulls. Thompson was initially traded to the Indiana Pacers in the February Draft but was quickly released by the Pacers to the Bulls.
26-year-old Brooks has been an ever-present with the Memphis Grizzlies since 2017. After a glittering college career with Oregon, the Grizzlies fans are still waiting for Brooks to hit his straps, but he has all the tools to do so.
NBA rosters explained
During the regular NBA season, NBA teams can only name 15 players on their NBA rosters. That figure changes during the offseason, when teams can have up to 20 players in their ranks, giving potential recruits a shot at earning a regular season spot in the NBA roster.
Aside from the standard 15-man NBA rosters, teams can also take on two players on “two-way contracts”. These players count towards the 20-man offseason limit, but don’t count towards the 15-man regular-season limit. These two players will play the majority of their season in the G League but can be called upon if needed.
